Best Ping Pong Balls – 3 Star vs 1 Star Table Tennis Balls

Last Updated on July 28, 2020 by Jake

Ping Pong is an incredibly fun game no matter what your skill level.  Along with paddles and your table, ping pong balls are the most important piece of equipment to enhance your game.  There are several factors to consider when buying the best ping pong balls.

 

These factors make a lot of difference when it comes to pricing and the intended use of the balls. Ping pong balls are usually grouped into two categories based on their intended use. These categories are competition balls and training balls.

 

In this post, we’ll go over the different types of ping pong balls out there then give our best ping pong balls picks and reviews!

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Best Ping Pong Balls – 40+ or 40mm

 

Nowadays competition standard balls are 3-star 40+ balls. These balls have passed the requirements and standards set by the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation – the official global governing body for table tennis). What are 40+ balls or 3-star balls? Well, before 40+ balls, competition balls were made from celluloid. However, since 2014, the standard material for ping pong balls are hard poly plastic.

 

These poly plastic balls are referred to as 40+ balls. They are used in ITTF events worldwide. In turn, competitive table tennis players use celluloid 40mm balls for robot training, and practicing serves. For all competition level games, the 40+ balls are used. They are usually 5 to 10 times more expensive than 40mm balls are. As such, 40mm balls are recommended for club games and casual games.

 

 

Another difference between 40+ and 40mm is size. 40+ balls are slightly bigger than the 40mm balls.

 

What do Ping Pong Ball Stars Mean?

 

Table tennis balls can be 1-star, 2-star or 3-star. 1-star balls are the softest while 3-star balls are the hardest and spin more than a softer ping pong ball. For ITTF events, 3-star balls are used. 2-star and 1-star balls are designed for casual play, practice and youth play.

 

 

Best Ping Pong Balls Reviews

 

Competition Balls:

 

Competition balls are used for professional tournaments and events and therefore need to meet all the ITTF standards. They are usually 40+ balls and are made of hard plastic.

 

Xushaofa 40+ Seamless – 3 Star

 

 

The Xushaofa 40+ balls are a favorite among many tennis table enthusiasts. These poly plastic balls are more durable than celluloid balls are. The balls are hard and heavy.

 

They bounce very well; they have a superior spin; and they also offer a more predictable trajectory. What more can I say? Xushaofa 40+ are ping pong balls with great aerodynamics. In addition, they offer excellent value for money.

 

Size – 40+

Material – Hard plastic

Color – White

Other Features – USATT (USA Table Tennis) and ITTF approved

Number of Balls per Pack – 6 – 144 (comes in a variety of size packs – 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 144)

 

Pros

• Made of durable poly plastic.
• USATT and ITTF approved.
• Heavy and hard.
• Offers superior spin, great bounce, and predictable trajectory.

Cons

• No negatives here.

 

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DHS ABS D40+ 3-Star

 

 

DHS ABS D40 balls have been used in many ITTF professional competitions such as Challenge Croatia Open, Challenge Seamaster Brazil Open, Challenge Seamaster Chile Open, Challenge Slovenia Open, and the Seamaster World Tour Korea Open.

 

As you can see this ball brand is one of the best around. While the Double Happiness ABS D40+ balls may not be as popular as balls by brands such as Butterfly, Nittaku, and Stiga, they perform exceptionally well.

 

Size – 40+

Material – ABS Plastic (hard plastic)

Color – White

Other Features – ITTF approved, used in countless ITTF events

Number of Balls per Pack – 10, 20, 30, 40 (depends on pack size)

 

Pros

• Used in many ITTF competitions.
• ITTF approved.
• Hard and durable.
• Moves, bounces, and spins with accuracy. In addition, the consistency of ball movement is the best.
• Affordable.

Cons

• No negatives.

 

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Butterfly A40+ 3 Star

 

 

The Butterfly A40+ was the official ball for the World Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad, Sweden. That should tell all you need to know about the quality and movement uniformity of these balls. Made from ABS plastic, they are hard and durable. They offer good bounce and predictable movement. They are also easy to spin.

 

Size – 40+

Material – ABS Plastic (hard plastic)

Color – White

Other Features – ITTF approved, Official 2018 World Table Tennis Championships Ball

Number of Balls per Pack – 6/12

 

Pros

• Official ball in the World Table Tennis Championships Ball.
• ITTF approved.
• Durable.
• Spins, bounces, and moves with precision.

Cons

• They are not as firm as other hard plastic balls. In all, that is down to preference.

 

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Nittaku 3 Star Premium 40+

 

 

Higher specification and higher quality – these are the taglines of the Nittaku 3 Star Premium. Made in Japan, these balls are considered by many as simply the best. They are hard yet light – making them faster than other 40+ balls. It is easy to generate spin. Additionally, their movement and bounce are consistent.

 

Size – 40+

Material – Poly plastic (hard plastic)

Color – White/Orange

Other Features – Meets ITTF requirements

Number of Balls per Pack – 3

 

Pros

• Made in Japan.
• USATT and ITTF approved.
• Hard yet light.
• Offers superior spin, great bounce, and predictable trajectory.

Cons

• One of the priciest, if not the priciest, 40+ ball on the market.

 

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YinHe 3 Star S40+ Table Tennis Balls 6-Pack

 

 

This is one of the best ping pong balls for the money you’ll spend. It is a competitive ball yet it’s very affordable. Don’t let the affordability fool you though; these balls are very durable. can serve you well for years. They are ITTF approved and seamless. The bounce and movement of this ball are consistent.

 

Size – 40+

Material – Poly plastic

Color – White

Other features: ITTF approved, Seamless

Number of Balls per Pack – 6

 

Pros

• Long-lasting ping pong balls.
• Hard and fast.
• Offers consistent bounce and movement.

Cons

• Not a well-known brand, if that matters to you.

 

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Best Ping Pong Balls for Training

 

Training with competition balls can be expensive. One alternative option is to use training balls. They may not be as aerodynamic as competition balls but they are much more affordable. Additionally, training table tennis balls are great for robot training as well as practicing your serves. Also, when used for a club game, a school event or a casual game, training balls are more than satisfactory.

 

JOOLA Magic 2-Star Training Balls

 

 

The JOOLA Magic 2 Star training balls come in two colors – orange and white. They are excellent for friendly games at home, practicing serves, or practicing with a robot. They are made from plastic and they follow ITTF regulations.

 

Size – 40mm

Material – Plastic

Color – White/Orange

Other Features – follows ITTF regulation size and shape

Number of Balls per Pack – 144

 

Pros

• Affordable.
• Performs well for casual games and practicing serves.

Cons

• Pricey for a training ball.

 

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Butterfly Training 40+ Balls

 

 

Butterfly brand is one of the most easily recognizable when it comes to table tennis balls. Their ping pong accessories are well-known for their quality and reliability. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that they manufacture a quality training ball.

 

These balls are hard and heavy. They are great for games with friends and family, club games, and training with a robot. They are also made in Germany. You will be hard-pressed to find better training balls.

 

Size – 40+

Material – Plastic

Color – White

Other Features – USATT approved

Number of Balls per Pack – 120

 

Pros

• High quality (these balls are as dependable as most 3-star competition balls on the market.)
• Best ball to practice with.
• Durable.
• Made in Germany.

Cons

• One of the most expensive training balls.

 

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Cornilleau Pro Table Tennis Balls

 

 

If you want an affordable ball for casual games, then the Cornilleau balls will serve you well. They bounce well, and last long. You can use them for robot training as well. they are perfect for beginners, casual games, and schools. However, for competitive training, these 1-star balls aren’t recommendable. Cornilleau pro table tennis balls serve their purpose very well.

 

Size – 40mm

Material – Plastic

Color – White

Number of Balls per Pack – 72

Price – £18.77

Price per Ball – £0.26

 

Pros

• Good beginner’s ball
• Very affordable.
• Durable (These balls last long.)

Cons

• 1-star ball.
• Not the best ball for competitive training.

 

 

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Stiga 3-Star Ping Pong Balls

 

 

These Stiga 3-Star Balls are some of the best on the market. They are USATT approved and conform to the ITTF size and weight regulation. This means you get the size and weight of an international tournament ball. They offer ‘superior bounce, spin, and control’. In all, these are the perfect balls to get started with. Since they are celluloid balls, they are not to be used for competitive games.

 

Size – 40mm

Material – Celluloid

Color – Orange

Other Features – USATT approved

Number of Balls per Pack – 6

 

Pros

• Conforms to the ITTF size and weight regulation.
• Well-made and don’t doesn’t easily.
• Has great bounce and spin.

Cons

• Pricey for a celluloid ball.

 

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GOGO 3-Star 40mm Seamless

 

 

GOGO 3 Star 40 mm Seamless are solid all-round balls. They are excellent for competitive training, as well as robot training. They can be used for school sporting events, club sports, and casual games. These balls may not be competition level balls, but they are a step above most training balls. They are light, fast, and offer excellent bounce. Best of all, they are budget-priced.

 

Size – 40mm

Material – Celluloid

Color – White/Orange

Number of Balls per Pack – 144

 

Pros

• Durable celluloid ball
• Reasonably priced.
• Great for robot training.

Cons

• No complaints. While not as high grade or quality as competition balls, these are excellent training balls.

 

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Wrap Up

 

When buying ping pong balls, the intended use is important. 40+ are for professional level games, while 40mm balls are for everything else. If you wish to be a professional player, then you need to train with 40+ balls. However, for robot training and practicing your serves, good quality 40mm balls will do. This is a great way to save money since 40+ balls are costly.

 

Since the best ping pong balls can be expensive, you need to take good care of them. Remember not to leave them in direct sunlight. Also, always store them in a cool dry place. You can also clean with a clean damp cloth from time to time to elongate their lifetime.

 

Be sure to check out our other posts on ping pong equipment!

Last update on 2021-01-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API