Sportcraft is known for constructing ping pong tables made with the utmost quality and craftsmanship. Their tables are widely acclaimed by professional ping pong players and are perfectly appropriate for tournament or professional use, as well as for recreational use in bars or at home. With their superior strength, durability, and longstanding reputation, Sportcraft is a reliable and trusted name in the table tennis table industry.
With their myriad ping pong table options available today, consumers can choose from a wide-range of materials, accessories such as nets, and pricing to meet their individual needs.
Read on below for an easy-to-read simple guide on how to choose your next Sportcraft table tennis table purchase! Now all you need is a couple of quality ping pong paddles and ping pong balls and you’re good to go!
The Essential 10 Point Guide:
- Dimensions
- The size of your room
- Playing-surface thickness
- Convenience features
- Safety features
- Frequency of table usage
- Types of players
- Availability of space
- Environment
- Price
Dimensions:
Choosing a ping pong table is largely reliant on the dimensions of the table itself along with the necessary dimensions of the playing area you are working with. Table tennis tables can be used in a variety of locales, all of which have different requirements for playing area dimensions.
Check below to see the dimensions of many commonplace locales for ping pong tables.
- International games, championships, or tournaments
Dimensions need to be at least 46 feet by 23 feet
- National games, championships, or tournaments
Dimensions need to be at least 46 feet by 20 feet
- Local games, championships, or tournaments
Dimensions need to be at least 30 feet by 16.6 feet
- Recreational use, at-home use, casual use
Dimensions need to be at least 28 feet by 13 feet
The Size of the Room
After determining the dimensions of the playing area you require, you will need to assess the size of your room. Most ping pong table buyers are purchasing tables for recreational use within their home, office, or business and can easily gauge whether or not they have the available dimensions to accommodate the size of the table. As mentioned above, the needed dimensions for recreational, casual, or at-home use is 28 feet by 13 feet.
Convenience and Safety Features
After you ascertain there is an appropriate amount of room for a new ping pong table purchase, you can begin to contemplate the different aspects, accessories, and components that come with different ping pong tables.
Many tables come equipped with features including the following:
- Powder-coated steel frames for maximum durability
- Steel aprons
- Large swivel-style locking wheels with rubberized treading
- Springs featuring gas pressure functionality for effortless opening, folding, and unfolding of table and increased security and weight neutralization
- Under-table locks to secure two-pieced tables
- Automatic mechanism providing click-in-place notification for secure storage and varying playing positions
- Wheelchair accessible
- Wooden construction
- MDF or resin coated surfaces
- Combination game functionality (ex. ping pong with billiards, bowling, finger-basketball, or air hockey)
- Adjustable leg levelers
- Reinforced corners and edging
Frequency of Table Usage
How frequently will you be using your table? Will it be used every day? Once a week? Once a month? Very rarely? It is of critical importance to estimate how often your table will be used, particularly if space is at a premium. If your new ping pong table is going to be housed in the family living room and will only be rarely used, it is undoubtedly a wise idea to purchase a table that you can conveniently fold into halves or quadrants for easy stowing in closets or under beds or couches.
Conversely, if you will be using your table often and have ample amount of space, you might be more interested in a full-sized table for a tournament-style feel and competitive play.
Types of Players
Types of ping pong players can include the following:
- League players
- Club players
- Pro players
- Seasoned players
- Novice/beginner players
- Entry level players
- Casual/Occasional players
It’s also very important to gauge what types of players will be playing on your ping pong table. Entry level players and beginners will be perfectly suited for base model tables free of many of the bells and whistles found on the premium, higher-end models that seasoned experts and professional players are readily accustomed to and expect.
Availability of Space
Closely linked to the importance of frequency of use, the availability of space is an additional aspect that should be carefully considered. If you are purchasing a table for at-home use and frequently have guests, parties, or get-togethers within your home, it is important to ensure that your ping pong table does not encumber your guests, the amount of comfortable space, and is ultimately able to be easily folded and stowed away.
Locale
Locales can include many of the following:
- At-home
- Offices
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Sports clubs
- Fitness clubs
- Ping pong events
- Ping pong tournaments
Will your table be situated in a bar or restaurant with an ongoing play that can be lively, vigorous, and at times rowdy? If so, a higher-end model that features a heavier weight and robust construction might be the perfect table for your needs. The heavier weight will provide increased durability for a prolonged table life, in addition to providing safety and security by ensuring the table rests firmly on the ground, despite any instances of rough playing.
At-home players will be better suited for a mid-range, lower-weight table featuring their choice of accessories.
Environment
Ping pong tables are available in indoor and outdoor models. Many players prefer outdoor models for the ability to play while enjoying the fresh air and sun. If you are interested in an outdoor ping pong table, ensure that the model you choose has all-weather protection and can withstand rain, heat, and wind.
It’s a well-known fact that ping pong tables exposed to extended sunlight can experience irreparable warping. Additionally, the wind can overturn lighter-weight tables or blow debris onto the surface during game play.
Buyers should also note that outdoor tables come with many different features such as coming preassembled, extended warranties specific to outdoor use, wheeled options, stationery options, and models with storage/ball/paddle pockets.
Price
Ping pong tables are available in a wide-range of prices from just over a $100 all the way up to the top end of the pricing spectrum with models priced at several thousands of dollars.
Conclusion
By perusing the easy-to-read guide above, consumers will be able to arm themselves with essential information to make well-educated, informed purchase decisions for their new ping pong table. In determining the dimensions of the table, the available size of the room where the table will be situated, and any desired safety and convenience features, buyers can remove much of the confusion out of the buying process and streamline the process to procure the best and most appropriate table for their needs.
