Countertop material
The material from which the surface of the table is made. This surface often has a special coating that provides additional protection and resilience, but the key characteristics of the countertop still depend on the base material.
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Chipboard. Chipboard is one of the best countertop materials in terms of performance. Such a surface allows you to achieve an excellent rebound of the ball, and at the same time, it is inexpensive. One of the key disadvantages of chipboard is its sensitivity to moisture, and therefore this material is typical mainly for tables installed indoors (see "Type").
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Laminated chipboard. Tabletop made of laminated chipboard (see above) is supplemented with a protective coating in the form of a polymer film. This film improves rebound characteristics, as well as increases strength and moisture resistance, which has a positive effect on service life. In terms of performance, laminated chipboard tables are between chipboard and MDF products (see below).
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Melamine. It is a specific type of plastic. The main advantages of melamine are strength and excellent resistance to moisture and temperature changes, which has led to its wide popularity in all-weather tables (see "Type"), including high quality. At the same time, compared to chipboard, melamine is noticeably more expensive, while it is also more viscous, which is why
...the rebound is somewhat worse.
— Aluminium. Another material used in all-weather tennis tables along with the melamine described above. It is an aluminium base, on which a layer of special plastic is applied on top. This combination provides relatively good rebound characteristics; in this characteristic, the aluminium composite is noticeably superior to melamine (although it does not reach chipboard characteristics). However, such tables are much more expensive than melamine ones.
— Plywood. In the construction of tennis tables, usually, moisture-resistant plywood is usually used, due to which such models are most often referred to as all-weather (see "Type"). Plywood achieves better rebound properties than melamine but is less commonly used because more difficult to manufacture (to achieve the desired reliability, you have to apply various technological tricks).
— MDF. Abbreviation for Medium Density Fibreboard. MDF is somewhat more expensive than chipboard, but it is a more elastic material, which has a positive effect on the quality of the ball rebound and is also more resistant to deformation. However, it is found exclusively among indoor tables (see "Type").
— Concrete. As paradoxical as it sounds, traditional concrete can also play the role of a tennis table material. Such countertops are found in some all-weather models. Concrete is expensive and weighs a lot; the latter is exacerbated by the fact that the tabletop must have a fairly large thickness, otherwise it will be too fragile. As a result, the weight of such tables is usually several hundred kilograms. On the other hand, a concrete countertop is practically “indestructible”, it perfectly resists precipitation and other weather elements, and it is very difficult to damage such a surface, even if you specifically set yourself such a goal. This makes tables made of this material perfect for public areas where there is a risk of vandalism. However, due to these shortcomings, relatively few such models are produced.Countertop thickness
The thickness of the countertop — the surface of the tennis table.
The thicker the countertop — the more high-quality and professional the table is considered to be, the better rebound it provides, the less prone to deformation and, accordingly, the more expensive it is. However, note that only countertops made of the same material can be compared in thickness (see above). So, countertops made of chipboard up to 18 mm thick are usually classified as amateur, from 18 to 22 mm — as semi-professional, and from 25 mm — as professional. In turn, for the most advanced melamine models, the thickness of the working surface does not exceed 10 mm.
Base profile
The size of the main parts of the table base in a section, in other words, the thickness of these parts. A larger profile, on the one hand, has a positive effect on strength and massiveness (see "Weight"), on the other hand, it affects the cost. Manufacturers select this parameter in such a way that the base can at least normally withstand the weight of the countertop; and since advanced models are equipped with thick and, accordingly, heavy countertops, their base must also be strong. This means that a large profile is often (though not always) a sign of a high-quality table.
Design
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Anti-reflective coating. A special coating that reduces the ability of the tabletop to reflect light and, accordingly, reduces the amount of glare that hits the eyes and creates discomfort when playing. This feature will be useful both for all-weather tables and for indoor use (see "Type") — both natural and artificial lighting can cause glare.
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Net. To play table tennis by all rules, the net is mandatory. Thus, it is included in the delivery of most modern tennis tables. The advantage of a complete net over a separately purchased one is that it optimally fits a given table in terms of size and method of attachment.
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Adjustment of net tension. A system that allows you to change the degree of net tension. Typically, such adjustment is carried out by changing the inclination of the supports between which the net is stretched: when tilted outward, the distance between the supports increases and the tension increases while tilting inward, and vice versa. This feature is convenient because the nets can wear out and sag as they wear; by tightening such a net, you can restore its normal position. Of course, the net will have to be changed sooner or later anyway, however, adjusting the tension allows you to use it longer without replacement.
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Full folding. The ability to fold the table completely — usually, by
...raising both halves to a vertical position. This feature will be very useful for storage and transportation.
— One-sided folding. The ability to fold one half of the table, lift it to a vertical position, and leave the other half open. Such an opportunity is useful primarily for single training: the raised half of the table can act as a “rival”, from which the ball thrown over the net bounces.
— Height adjustment. The ability to change the height of the tabletop. It makes sense to look for a model with this function if children will play at the table — the standard height of 76 cm, prescribed in the official table tennis rules, may be too large for them.
— Transport rollers. Small wheels are designed to move the table from place to place. The weight of modern tennis tables can exceed 100 kg, and it would be difficult to carry such a structure on weight even by a group of people; even a person who is not distinguished by great strength can easily roll a table.
— The holder of balls and rackets. A device for storing balls and rackets, installed directly on the table. Provides additional convenience — players do not have to look for places for inventory that is not currently used. In addition, the design of the holder is optimized for balls and rackets and minimizes the risk of damage to them.
— Bump compensator. A system designed to keep the table stable on a surface with small irregularities, such as a wooden floor or lawn. The principle of operation of such a system is that each leg can be individually adjusted in height within a few centimetres. This allows you to set the height of the legs in such a way that they all make secure contact with the support. Using the built-in compensator is easier and more convenient than looking for impromptu stands for individual legs.Weight
The weight of a tennis table is, to some extent, an indication of its overall class. A more advanced model, usually, also weighs more: it has a thicker tabletop, and a more solid base, such a table is more stable and harder to move. Among models for indoors (see "Type"), weight up to 70 kg is typical for amateur tables, from 70 to 110 — for semi-professional, and above 110 — for professional. The weight of all-weather tables can vary from 40 to 100
