PING PONG TABLE DEMAND SURGES AND LI-NING OFFERS 5 CHOICES TO MEET DEMAND

The world has changed, and the way consumers shop and the products they desire have certainly changed as well. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few years as the pandemic subsides and some normality resumes. In the meantime, homeowners are improving their homes in record numbers, and the addition of a ping pong table has become a trendy home improvement item. To install a ping pong table in the house, you will require a room with enough space. The space needed for recreational table tennis play is 28’ x 13,’ and Olympic play is 46’ x 23’. Most ping pong table installations in the home are in spaces less than the stated requirement, which is fine as long as you know there will be times when returning the ball may be tricky because of the restricted space. Instead of installing a ping pong table inside, consider placing it outdoors where space is less confined, but your game will be impacted by wind and weather. Ping pong tables are available in a wide range of grades. The play level largely determines the grade. The higher the play level, the higher the grade of the table. For example, if you are starting to learn how to play, you won’t benefit much from a professional-grade table from a playability standpoint. If you are just beginning, our training grade ping pong tables are offered with a convenient four-piece top that makes transporting easy because it fits in a car as small as a Honda Civic. All ping pong tables have two sides. The training table also has two sides, but each side folds in half on a hinge to be packed in a box half the usual size and easily transported. There is no need to be concerned with the seam where the ping pong table folds as it is made in a way that, when assembled, is perfectly smooth. A training ping pong table has a 15mm top and 1” frame which is the minimum construction standard to create an attractive entry-level price point.

RECREATIONAL GRADE TABLES ARE A BEST SELLER IN CANADA

Our recreational grade ping pong table is the same construction as our training grade option, but the top is two pieces, not 4. Everything else is equal. It will take about 45 minutes to assemble the training table vs 10 minutes to assemble the recreational table. The legs are the only items that require assembly on the recreational table, making it quick and easy, but it is slightly more expensive to buy. If you want to step up because your game is more advanced or want a ping pong table with a studier look, consider our Competition Grade ping pong table option. The tabletop is 17% thicker at 18mm, and the frame is 50% thicker at 1.5” vs 1”.  In addition to a more aggressive-looking stance, the Competition Grade ping pong table feels and plays studier resulting in a more enjoyable play experience. If you’ve honed your skills, Competition won’t be enough. You will want a professional-grade ping pong table made for avid table tennis players. We offer Professional grade ping pong tables in 2 options. Both options have a 25mm top, which is the Olympic standard. A 25mm top gives the firmest bounce and best play experience. Our entry-level professional table has a 1.5” frame, just like the Competition option. This is an excellent product for those that want a 25mm top at a budget price. For those that want a true ITTF and Olympic spec table, our top-of-the-line professional table boasts a 25mm top and 2” frame with integrated paddle and ball holders. Nothing is more satisfying than playing ping pong on a professional grade ping pong table. The bounce is firm, the sound is equally solid and most of our tables come with free ping pong paddles so you're off to the races from day one.

PRO TABLE TENNIS PLAY REQUIRES TRAINING AND RECOVERY

It’s pretty standard for people to buy a ping pong table for their home and get the table tennis bug! Table tennis is an Olympic sport and is one of the most popular sports in Asia. In fact, it’s Chinas national sport, and they boast some of the top players and table tennis athletes in the world. In North America, the basement version is often considered a game instead of a sport. Still, it is physically demanding when your play level becomes advanced, just like any other sport. Top table tennis athletes are like other professional athletes where their life evolves around daily training and playing. National table tennis associations assemble teams and training centers to help athletes prepare for major national and international competitions. The world table tennis championships and Olympics are the pinnacle competitions of the sport. To reach this level, athletes engage in a rigorous strength training regiment, cardiovascular training and skills training. Many top athletes have the luxury of physiotherapy and other treatments to keep their bodies in top form. A rare group of top athletes even benefit from using a hot tub for hot water and hydrotherapy to help with their daily training recovery. The everyday use of a hot tub as part of an advanced training routine gives athletes an advantage because of its pain management and healing capabilities. Hot tubs are standard in the Western World, where table tennis is not overly popular in the professional version of the sport. In Asia, where table tennis is a nationally televised event, hot tubs are not something that is readily accessible, so unless the athletes have access to a sports clinic or commercial facility with a hot tub, they will not benefit from a hot tubs hot water and hydrotherapy healing capabilities. And if you think you want to buy a hot tub to help with your professional table tennis training, just like ping pong tables, hot tubs are in high demand so plan ahead or be prepared to wait for 9 to 12 months!  

ULTIMATE TABLES AND PING PONG VS TABLE TENNIS TABLES

We covered the differences between training, recreational, competition and professional ping pong tables but wait; there is a grade above them all. An Ultimate Grade ping pong table is a significant step above the rest. Our Ultimate table options are more like a fine piece of furniture for the home. Consumers who want nothing but the best select these tables because play level is not usually factored into their purchase decision. The decision is based on integrating the ping pong table into the home décor more than anything else. The top of an Ultimate ping pong table is a whopping 28mm thick, and the fame is much different than a traditional table. It has a base, not a frame. The base gives it the look of the furniture, not the top. The all-black finish gives it a rich and premium look and feel, and it typically can fit in with most interior design plans. The term table tennis is used to describe the professional version of the sport, whereas ping pong is used to describe the recreational version. In Canada and the USA, ping pong is a popular pastime enjoyed indoors or out. In Asia and other parts of the world, table tennis is a serious business with national pride and prize money on the line. No matter what you call it or how you play it, table tennis is fun to play and provides hours of entertainment for people of all ages from all over the world to enjoy.