Table Tennis Clearance

Ping-pong balls: plastic, stars, and outdoor version

The table tennis ball measures forty millimetres in diameter and weighs about 2.7 grams, and it has been made of plastic since the international federation switched from celluloid in 2014. The printed stars indicate its quality: a three-star ball, perfectly round and uniform, is used for matches, while training balls sold in packs of six or ten like those from Tibhar are used for drills and repetitive exercises. The outdoor balls from Tibhar, heavier and more durable, maintain a stable trajectory despite the wind on a garden table. The Dunlop Pro, sold in a pack of three, is suitable for a regular player who wants a more precise ball for their matches.

Other clearance items

Clearance is available in other sports:

• Badminton.
• Handball.
• Basketball.
• Fitness.

All clearance items can be found on the clearance page.

Tibhar and Donic rackets: from beginners to club play

A ready-made racket combines a blade and two pre-glued rubbers, ready to play. At Tibhar, the Rookie and Fun Edition target beginners, featuring soft rubbers that tolerate imprecise hits, while the Hobbyset combines rackets and balls for immediate play. The XXX Powergrip Edition and PRO Blue Edition, more dynamic, accompany players starting to seek spin. Donic names its entry and mid-range series after Jan-Ove Waldner, the Swedish Olympic champion from 1992 in Barcelona, who has been loyal to the German brand since childhood. The higher the number of the Waldner series, the faster the racket is quick.

Mizuno Wave Medal and Wave Drive: shoes for the table

A table tennis shoe features a thin and flat sole, made of clear rubber, keeping the foot close to the ground for quick reactions to short balls. Mizuno, a Japanese brand founded in Osaka in 1906, has made this its specialty: the Wave Drive, very light and minimally cushioned, provides excellent ground feel on quality floors, while the Wave Medal, more supportive and cushioned, is suitable for harder floors and long training sessions. Both include the Wave plate, a wavy blade that stabilises support. Joola also offers indoor court shoes. They are reserved for the gym to keep the rubber clean and maintain its grip on the smooth club floors.

Covers, cleaner, and glue: maintaining your rubbers

The rubbers of a racket wear out the quickest: dust and sweat reduce their grip, and light hardens them. A dedicated cleaner, like the one from Tibhar, should be sprayed on after each session and wiped off with a soft sponge. The cover then protects them: round and fitted to the shape of the blade, or rectangular with a pocket for a few balls, like the Tibhar Hexa models. Players who change their own rubbers use a water-based glue, like the Donic Vario Clean: since 2008, the international federation has banned glues containing volatile solvents, which were previously used to speed up the ball.

Frequently asked questions

Why do we say table tennis rather than ping-pong?

Ping-Pong was originally a brand name registered in the early twentieth century by a game manufacturer. Federations have therefore retained the term table tennis for the official discipline, while the term ping-pong remains associated with leisure.

How many points do you need to win a game?

A game is played to eleven points, with a two-point margin required at ten-all. The serve changes hands every two points, then at every point once it reaches ten-all, and a match is usually played in three or four winning games.

What are the dimensions of a table tennis table?

A regulation table measures 2.74 meters long by 1.525 meters wide, and its top is 76 centimetres from the ground. The net stands at 15.25 centimeters high, and at least two meters of space is needed behind each side.

How do you serve in ping-pong?

The ball rests in an open palm, behind the baseline, then it is thrown vertically at least sixteen centimeters before being struck. It must bounce once on your side, and then once on the opponent's side.

Can you play competitively with a blue rubber?

Yes, since October 2021, the international federation allows pink, purple, green, and blue in place of red. However, one side must remain black, so that the opponent always knows which rubber hits the ball.