Table tennis table (Outdoor) advice

daniel_b

Aloha,

visited my bro-in-law recently, and my nearly 10 year old daughter really liked playing table tennis, and took to it very quickly.

She's now decided she wants to get shot of the trampoline and climbing frame which frees up room to look for a decent outdoor table.

I have started research and it seems that a 5mm playing surface is the minimum for decent play and quality.

Cornilleau & Butterfly seem to be two of the main players, and it looks like ~£500 is the benchmark amount for buying one.
I have noticed other manufacturers, but it seems obtaining spare parts can be a mare.

Are there ever sales, or specific suppliers I should look at?

I won't buy from sports direct, but I have earmarked retailers so far such as:
Costco (Not a member but could be)
Decathlon
Tabletennis365.co.uk
Sweatband.com
table-tennis-tables.co.uk
homeleisuredirect.com

P.S I will buy a quality outdoor cover for it, and likely some outdoor (smaller and heavier) table tennis balls.

Vaguely open to a 2nd hand one, and missed one by a few hours that was only 30 miles away, going for £60 - looked in excellent condition, as opposed to a lot I see for sale that look in poor condition, but still strong money being asked.
Additionally though I have a van, it would be a bit of a squeeze to get one in, and if I have to hire a van, any savings are vastly eaten into, not to mention my time taken up.

Thanks!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

I don't really want to be that guy, but...

It would have to be one hell of a setup to not have the table tennis ball affected by breeze.

Is there room in your turbo mancave to set up a table, perhaps sub-standard size, which can then be tucked out of your way?

Pross

Yeah, I've never really played table tennis but I suspect that it would be very frustrating playing outside in the same way as badminton is.

MidlandsGrimpeur2

I played to quite a high level as a Junior. The two brands you mentioned are both top brands. Also, Joola, Kettler, Tibhar and Donic.

Avoid second hand as most will have been badly maintained.

If you can, go to a specialist shop that knows what they are talking about. Someone like Jarvis or Bribar. Although they may lean towards the higher end tournament stuff so Decathlon like you have mentioned would be a good shout Dan.

Stevo_666

Paging @pinno to the thread...

daniel_b

Thanks for the replies all - I neglected to say that my bro-in-laws table is permanently outside, down the bottom of their garden.

The wind very occasionally played a part, but we're not professionals, so to me it was just part of the game - admittedly it was a very still day that Saturday.

I've also played over at a mate's house, and that is outdoors as well.

My turbo room is full of car, cargo bike, and bikes for 4 people, plus my turbo, monitor etc etc, you get the idea, so not an option.

We do have a fairly sheltered patio up by the house, kind of hemmed in on 3 sides by the house, garage and fence, so I think it could work there pretty well, but on a still day right in the middle of the garden would be nicer, much more space to play/run.

Allegedly the 10% smaller, and a percentage heavier balls help reduce the effect of the wind as well, so I'll likely invest in some of those to see if it helps or not.

If it really was unplayable, we could re-organise the lounge/kitchen and bring it into the house, but I'd rather not if we can help it.

Thanks for those makes @MidlandsGrimpeur2 , had stumbled on Joola and Kettler but not heard of the other two, will add them to the potential list :-)
Like you, I suspect for our needs Decathlon will be the right place to buy from in all likelihood.
Thanks for the confirmation on 2nd hand ones too, will strike them off the list.

Will look up those shops too.

surrey_commuter

Canary Wharf has outside table tennis tables for public use and it is the windiest place on Earth. Frankly it makes the game more interesting

pinno

daniel_b said:

Aloha,

visited my bro-in-law recently, and my nearly 10 year old daughter really liked playing table tennis, and took to it very quickly.

She's now decided she wants to get shot of the trampoline and climbing frame which frees up room to look for a decent outdoor table.

I have started research and it seems that a 5mm playing surface is the minimum for decent play and quality.

Cornilleau & Butterfly seem to be two of the main players, and it looks like ~£500 is the benchmark amount for buying one.
I have noticed other manufacturers, but it seems obtaining spare parts can be a mare.

Are there ever sales, or specific suppliers I should look at?

I won't buy from sports direct, but I have earmarked retailers so far such as:
Costco (Not a member but could be)
Decathlon
Tabletennis365.co.uk
Sweatband.com
table-tennis-tables.co.uk
homeleisuredirect.com

P.S I will buy a quality outdoor cover for it, and likely some outdoor (smaller and heavier) table tennis balls.

Vaguely open to a 2nd hand one, and missed one by a few hours that was only 30 miles away, going for £60 - looked in excellent condition, as opposed to a lot I see for sale that look in poor condition, but still strong money being asked.
Additionally though I have a van, it would be a bit of a squeeze to get one in, and if I have to hire a van, any savings are vastly eaten into, not to mention my time taken up.

Thanks!

Outdoors is a PITA.
If you haven't got any indoor space then this is a tricky one.

My local Leisure centre hourly charge is about £5 pp ph.

10% smaller and heavier balls will not do her any favours in the long run.

The ideal scenario is that you get a roll-away table which could be wheeled out when there is no wind and used indoors.

https://taurussport.co.uk/products/tabletennis-stiga-outdoor-roller?currency=GBP&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwho-lBhC_ARIsAMpgMoejzPFeJZztSbWqSgvy-AP1xOGfLM-1smlcwbPU4FoCOGC1EEMNtqgaAkfeEALw_wcB

The Europeans play on concrete tables specifically built for the outdoors. They are everywhere. Go to Place d'Italie in Paris and play against the Chinese that are there (?! Yep, a strange one that one). There must be 40+ out door tables.
We haven't got the weather and the slightest breeze makes the game impossible.

I think, she should join a local club. There she will get help and perhaps they lay on coaching sessions or have a resident coach. Maybe Daddy could tag along too... or you can drop her off in Scotland twice a week.

If she is serious (and having a 10 years old myself I am familiar with whims), it would be far better for her to get a good start than knock around with Daddy picking up bad habits, not knowing grip and grip changes, not enhancing the wrist , not knowing about different rubbers and sponges, flared handle or straight, 5 ply or 7 ply, to speed glue or not to speed glue* (that is the question), pen hold or shake hand, serving and pushing, the different spins/bat angle etc etc etc. It's a highly technical sport. So much to learn.

'If table tennis was easy, they would call it football'

*Actually, that was banned on 2007. It's just a joke.

shirley_basso

We had tables at school outside the lunch queue. I missed many meals by accident playing TT and pool. Still useless at both.

focuszing723

I always played inside. To be honest outside sounds great because atleast you have an excuse when you're up against someone with a vicious cunning spin game.

TheBigBean

We used to just put a net on the kitchen table.

daniel_b

Thanks for the detailed and carefully constructed reply @pinno , I can see you have a lot of experience and knowledge of the game.

TheBigBean said:

We used to just put a net on the kitchen table.

I used to do this as a kid too, and we had an oval table

This has made me think though, at least in the short term, we now also have an oval table, but I do have a maybe 3/4 or 2/3 size 'table tennis top' that can be put onto a suitable sized table, which I think ours is, and has a net that clips on.
It used to sit on a pool table/dining table that we once had, now sold, but I hung onto these.

I think it would be viable to try that in the meantime, as it's a few minutes work to setup, see how she gets on and if she is still interested in it in the spring time, and then take it from there

Munsford0

Last summer the school must've found some money down the back of the sofa in the staffroom and a few Cornilleau tables appeared dotted around the place. Seem to be holding up quite well. I've even seen kids playing table tennis on them...