Saturday, March 18, 2017

Table Tennis Table Selection Guide

Top Thickness:  A table top should be 3/4" thick or more to be resistant to warpage. 1/2" and 5/8" thick tops are too thin to provide much resistance to warping. Tops less than 3/4" thick do not bounce consistently over the entire surface of the table. A too thin top will cause the ball to bounce too low in places and makes it difficult to play especially for children.

Table tennis table tops range from 1/2" to 1" thick. Generally the thicker the top the better if the material used is of the same quality.  A thicker top generally enhances the quality of a table tennis table. The quality of the material (particle board is used for almost all table tennis tables) used is also very important Some table tennis table tops are made of a high resin material that can have a higher resistance to warpage than regular particle board. The evenness of support under the top is also important in determining the bounce quality of a ping pong table.


Frame (chassis) Durability & Thickness:  Larger size legs are generally thought to improve durability; however a table with many connecting points within the chassis may have greater durability even though the legs and bracing may be thinner. A table tennis table like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so a table tennis table with thick legs that are strong in appearance, without enough connections in the right places may not be as strong as a table tennis table with thinner higher quality connections that are placed in the optimum places.


Table Tennis Table Stability 
The table tennis tables commonly available through mass market retailers lack the proper design and support to allow the table to hold together very long before loosening and collapsing. Call us to go over your intended usage and we will help evaluate what table model would best work for you.



Table Tennis Table Warpage 
Warping of table tennis table tops is a common problem. There needs to be enough built-in resistance to warpage for your environment and usage. Call us to go over your intended usage and we will help you select the model that most suits your needs with the highest resistance to warping.



Country of manufacturing for Table Tennis Tables

Table tennis tables are made in many countries around the world. The relationship  between country of manufacturing and quality of table tennis tables is about the same as it is for other goods. Germany produces quality goods, and is also the home of the worlds largest professional table tennis league. Germany has a table tennis league that has over 800,000 participants. Germany as a result has manufacturing capability that allows it to produce many of the worlds finest table tennis tables.

Why buy from megaspin?

They have the best price on the best table tennis tables.  They have a wide variety of the best tables and they really know and will recommend a table for your usage that will last years for your usage at a great price.

They are located in the U.S. and they are not at all new at the table tennis table business. Many companies on the internet are new and not even located in the US. They have operated a table tennis mail order catalog business since then. 

Megaspin processes the warranties. If you have a problem with a product you have bought from them, you would contact them. They process warranties by contacting the manufacturers. It is still the manufacturers warranty, but they do the processing for you.

Many companies that sell table tennis tables are new at it. Sometimes they do not have any real presence in the U.S. Often shipment is made only through independent  warehouses.

Wood vs. Aluminum Encapsulated Table Tennis Tables


Wood: Most table tennis table tops are made entirely of wood. These should not be exposed to excessive humidity, moisture, or temperature extremes.

Aluminum:  The table tennis tables with aluminum encapsulation have a great resistance to moisture and warpage. These tables are suitable for outdoor patio usage.   The encapsulation process makes these tables warp proof.
Table tennis tables that are encapsulated in aluminum are wood table that are enclosed in aluminum, top, bottom, and sides. Aluminum encapsulated tops can delaminate if not properly designed and manufactured. A well designed and made table of this type can last for many years.  

 Features

Roll-Away & Storage Positions: Roll –Away table tennis tables usually have the halves of the table attached to a center frame with wheels allowing quick set-up and fold up for storage. It is important for long term chassis durability that the wheels on each side of the table have adequate connections between them to maintain stability. It is the wheels and whatever connects that will need to support the weight of the entire table tennis table when it is folded up for storage. Without adequate connections between the wheels, the legs and the whole chassis will loosen causing the legs to wobble and overall chassis to loosen. It is very important that the chassis have enough connections to provide an overall strength; some Roll-A-ways have 4 wheels on each side allowing each half to be rolled away separately.

Playback Demonstration

Playback feature: Some tables can be used by one player alone for practice by raising one half of the table to the storage position to be used as a practice backboard.  Some tables have a gap between the folded up side and the net when folded up for the playback. Such a gap will cause you to have to hit the ball hard enough to clear the gap which will cause the ball to go off the end a lot. With a gap the trajectory of your shots is limited also, and in many ways not like playing regular table tennis. Some tables will allow the folded up table half to fold flat against the net which will allow normal play. Children like the playback feature. A gap-less playback with a lighter weight (for easier fold up) can be a more useful table for a home with children.  

Stationary Net & Post: Many roll-away tables have net brackets permanently attached to the table frame for both playing and storage. This type makes setup a little faster, but is sometimes less adjustable and sturdy than separate net and post sets. However some permanent table tennis table net & posts are stronger and more adjustable than others.

Net Included: Most tables come with a net and post included.

Compact Storage: When not in use, these tables store in a smaller space, particularly important for some clubs, schools or recreational facilities storing multiple tables in limited storage space.

Leg Thickness: The thicker the legs, the more stable the table will be in terms of its tendency to remain ion place.

Casters: The larger the casters, the easier the table will be to move around. Dual wheel casters can make a table easier to roll.  

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