The widely loved sport of ping pong brings with it many elements. Besides understanding the fundamentals of the game strategies, you must have wondered about ping pong tables’ construction.
It is only natural for players to be curious about what these tables are made of because understanding the game equipment is rather essential. By comprehending all that goes into the table, you can decide if a ping pong table features a good build and design.
Moreover, a well-designed table also affects the game immensely. So today, in this article, we will break down all the elements of a ping pong table, what materials go into making it, and tell you everything you need to know. Let us begin.
The Table Top (Playing Surface)
When talking about tabletops, manufacturers prefer a range of multiple materials for preparing them. However, the sole decision of material relies on the ping-pong table’s intended usage.
The major categories of ping-pong tables are outdoor and indoor. The primary difference between these two is regarding tabletop material. Let’s dive into that a little more to help you understand better.
For Indoor Tables
With indoor ping-pong tables, most of the best quality models in the market consist of wooden material like plywood. However, over time, manufacturers also started preparing indoor tables from medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, and special-grade plastic material.
All these materials can create excellent and consistent ball bounce. However, for the best experience in ball rebound, MDF ping-pong table tops work best. They offer good correctness on the ball trajectory.
Most manufacturers also advise that you store indoor tables in an insulated or heated building to reduce top warping risk. You can only utilize these indoors.
For Outdoor Tables
From the sun’s scorching heat to wind moisture, so many things can ruin outdoor ping pong tables. Therefore, these have to be sturdy and strong enough to stand in all these conditions.
Keeping that in mind, manufacturers use aluminum table tops for outdoor tables. This material is highly resistant to corrosion and rust, and water does not warp or ruin it. It is also immune to the impacts of low and high temperatures.
Furthermore, composite materials are also used as table tops for outdoor tables. They can be a blend of fiberglass and aluminum or other resistant elements. However, aluminum reigns supreme as manufacturers prefer it since it lends similar bounce consistency to MDF or plywood tabletops.
Related: 8 Best Outdoor Ping Pong Tables (Updated)
The Paint
As for the paint, the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) has set aside some specifications, and they require the following. A standard ping pong table needs to have dark paint while outlines should be sharp and the edges clear to determine the playing boundaries. This paint layout is vital for legal gameplay.
The paint must also not be reflective and show the silhouette of a light source on the tabletop. The surface has to be flat, without any rooted dust, so manufacturers always paint in a neat environment.
The paint aspect is so crucial that ITTF has a certain set of rules regarding it. Manufacturers must tape the central line and the sidelines first. Then, the centerline must maintain a 1/8 inches width with the sidelines at 3/4 inches width.
Thereon, they can paint the ping-pong table by utilizing a roller, ensuring that their paint has a matte finish and a gloss of 60 degrees at most. These measurements have to be followed strictly without any deviation.
The preferred shades are black, dark green, or dark blue. It is noteworthy that the CIELAB lightness of the ping pong tables has to be 44%. In addition, the surface must be free from any defects and undue textures. It has to remain smooth and precise.
A primer must be applied first while painting the ping pong table. Then comes the dual application of the paint coats. Makers can only discard the tapes on the edges and center of the table if the primary paint has completely dried.
While indoor and outdoor tables use the alkyd paint, the major difference lies in outdoor tables getting a weatherproof coating. Moreover, outdoor tables get coated with a glare-reducing top layer, too.
Why Use Alkyd Paint?
Alkyd paint is the only standard for professional league ping pong tables. Not only is this paint standard in the game, but it is very durable and retains the surface texture free. Aside from attaining extraordinary smoothness on the table’s surface, alkyd paints further expand the table top’s sturdiness and quality.
This paint is also incredibly immune to corrosion or abrasion, rendering it an excellent option for competition tables. On a side note, alkyd is solely available in green and dark green.
Can You Repaint A Table?
Yes, you sure can! If you notice your ping pong table losing its shine, you can always retouch it. Besides alkyd, chalkboard paint can be a good alternative for painting a ping pong table as it results in a hard surface finish. It withstands excessive usage and is easy to clean. All you will need are alkyd or chalkboard paint, Primer, Regular-sized paintbrushes, and Masking tape.
Undercarriage
The undercarriage is definitely a highly important part of the ping pong table’s anatomy. It provides the table support from underneath. Therefore, its construction has to be extremely durable and sturdy as it essentially carries the entire table.
Some tables incorporate aluminum undercarriage. While this material is sturdy enough, as an underside material, it can get wobbly and shaky. This could potentially lead to the undercarriage wearing off.
High-quality ping pong tables feature an undercarriage prepared from heavy-steel tubing for absolute durability and strength. Moreover, they also include a defensive coating to withstand any kind of deterioration.
Legs
Legs are undoubtedly the most integral part of a ping pong table, holding everything, including the undercarriage. Therefore, their durability and strength receive extra attention. They cannot risk even a tad bit of shaking or jolting.
Manufacturers create legs with thick and heavy grade steel. They are made in a tubular construction and coated with damage resistance powder. Since rust is an issue, they ensure that the epoxy resistance powder can give the legs enough shield from any damage.
Final Words
Ping pong tables utilize a range of materials, and knowing about them can help you infer quality. As we explained everything about ping pong tables, we hope you have a better and more precise understanding of what goes into them.
While understanding a sport is vital for victory, it is also imperative to understand its equipment. This ensures that players are knowledgeable about every aspect of the sport and can decide better which materials will work better for their gaming style and environment.
Also Read: What Are Ping Pong Balls Made Of? And How?
