Tennis table dimensions: how to make a table tennis and ping pong table with your own hands

What size should a tennis table be? More than one ping-pong fan who wanted to buy or make this structure with his own hands has faced a similar question. Homemade tables are, of course, a good way to save money, but think about how much time it will take you to implement this idea. In addition, your craft may turn out to be uneven and have other defects that will deprive you of pleasure while playing. We recommend that it is better not to reinvent the wheel, but to buy a ready-made tennis table. Below are the important features of the types of tennis tables that you need to pay attention to before purchasing.

All-season tables

All-weather tennis tables, or, as they are also called, all-season, are considered universal because they are not afraid of precipitation, dampness and temperature changes. Such tables are covered with special materials, for example, aluminum composite or melamine, which are distinguished by their wear resistance. The table frame is also treated with special substances so that it does not succumb to corrosion. All-weather desks are typically more expensive than indoor desks and are also heavier. But you can use them anywhere and enjoy the quality of a ping-pong game.

What are the dimensions of a table tennis table?

The final requirements for the standards were established by the ITTF in 1937. with changing grid height. The dimensions and ratios of the surface faces were established much earlier. And to this day they have not changed.

Why is the table tennis table strangely sized?

An untrained eye, looking at the official dimensions of a tennis table, will immediately notice that the numbers are not rounded and “ugly”. All dimensions, even the height of the net and the old diameter of the ball, are perfectly converted into feet and the numbers there are already whole and do not hurt the eyes. A foot, in turn, is a measure of length in the English system of measures, which is in force in Great Britain to this day (unofficially since 1995). And what does England have to do with it? That's right, table tennis originated in Great Britain. And if this country had adopted the SI system together, say, with the Russian Empire, the dimensions would most likely have been different. Further, for clarity, we will indicate sizes in both the SI metric system and the English system of measures. We thought that before getting acquainted with the dimensions, we should shed some light on the history of its origin.

Standard table tennis table size.

Tennis table length.

The table surface is called the playing surface and is 274 cm long (9 feet, which is the length of one of the most popular pool table sizes). The playing surface may be matte, uniformly colored dark, with a white “side line” 2 cm wide along each edge. More often the table is painted dark green or dark blue.

What's the width?

The playing surface is 152.5 cm (5 ft) wide. Especially for doubles play, the halves are divided into 2 equal parts by a central line (3 mm wide) painted white.

Table tennis table height.

The table should be on a flat surface, at a height of 76 cm (2.5 feet) from the floor, it is not difficult to see that this is exactly half the width. Curvature of the floor at the installation site is not allowed.

Mesh kit dimensions.

The mesh is placed on a cord along the fastening brackets. The height of the table tennis net is 15.25 cm (0.5 ft). The mesh should not protrude more than 15.25 cm from the edge.

What material should the playing surface of the table be made of?

There are no clear requirements for surface material, but the ITTF only approves one material for competitions - wood. It may consist of any material provided that it provides a uniform rebound of approximately 23 cm (0.75 ft) when an official ball is dropped from a height of 30 cm (≈ 1 ft).

Ping pong table size.

If we consider ping pong as an independent discipline, then the same equipment of standard sizes is used. The difference in rules concerns mainly only the rackets.

Professional

These are the highest quality tables on which you can hold various types of ping pong competitions. The height, length and width of such tennis tables correspond to the above standards. As a rule, countertops for these models are made of fiberboard. Professional tables are also distinguished by their durability and quality, which is achieved through multi-stage production and testing of all the properties of the projectile. The thickness of professional tennis tables is approximately 25-30 mm. Another distinctive feature of these models is the anti-reflective coating.

What can you make a billiard table from?

A billiard table is a very complex product, it is a luxury item. The player can lean on the tabletop or put his entire weight on it, so the table must be heavy and durable. It should not vibrate or warp. The ideal dimensions would be: height - 80 cm, length - 2 m, width - 1 m.

The product consists of a frame, tabletop, base of the playing surface, supports, sides and pockets.

The billiard table has its own requirements:

• strength and reliability;
• mobility;
• be able to transform into a tennis or dining table.

The product is made from quality material. Previously, solid wood was used: oak or beech. For a cheaper option, they used pine. From the legs to the tabletop, one type of dense wood was taken.

The best materials for making countertops and sides are mahogany, ash, oak, and pine. The tabletop can be made from a solid stone slab, concrete, metal, plastic and chipboard (chipboard with a facing film based on paper and melamine resin) with a thickness of at least 20 mm, or more.

Chipboard table top

There should be no cracks on the chipboard sheet. The main condition for the product is a flat surface. It quickly wears out and becomes deformed due to the bounce of the balls. The thicker the sheet, the better.

Plywood table top

Plywood can be a cheaper option than stone or timber. It is better to use birch plywood with a thickness of at least 24 mm, which can be coated with water-based acrylic paint in 2-3 layers. This will improve the moisture resistance of the plywood.

Laminated plywood

The material is laminated with non-flammable melamine. Laminated plywood does not warp or bend during use. From this material you can make a tabletop solid or split. Can be used outdoors and tolerates temperature changes well.

The base plate of the product consists of three or five parts (depending on the size of the field), which are connected using threaded ties. The seam between the slabs is carefully puttied, the surface is leveled so that the joints between the slabs are invisible.

If you run your palm over the countertop, the joints should not be felt.

Base material

The base can be made of different materials. The main thing is that it is resistant to damage.

The base material for the product can be:

1. The natural stone is Ardesia slate. It is durable due to its slate structure. A falling ball weighing 290 grams will not leave dents or cracks on the slab. It has an ideal surface for rolling out balls; damage that may occur during operation can be easily eliminated.
2. Made from synthetic granite - synthetic granite. A composite material based on marble chips bound with epoxy resins. Has the property of crumbling.
3. It is more difficult to obtain a slab of the required size and thickness from marble. Marble is susceptible to damage and difficult to polish.
4. Made from laminated chipboard (laminated chipboard). The big advantage of a slab made of this material is its low weight, the minus is increased background noise. Chipboard wears out quickly.

A good foundation must withstand a considerable load of weight without changing its geometric parameters.

Amateur

These tables are designed for beginner tennis players who love this game, but do not aspire to become professionals. Such models have different dimensions, and the tabletop material is pressed chipboards. One of the subtypes of amateur models are mini-tennis tables, the dimensions of which are sometimes half that of a professional table - 110x61x64 cm. Thanks to their compact dimensions, they can safely be called children's tennis tables. The thickness of the table top for amateur models is 15-19 mm.

When every detail matters

The characteristics of a tennis table directly affect its playing qualities. Therefore, high-level sports competitions are held only on professional-class equipment. At the same time, it makes no sense to purchase such tournament models for amateur use and install, for example, in a country house.

The main parameters of tennis tables include: dimensions, class, type of construction (folding or not), materials of the tabletop and other parts, weight, color, type of transportation system. Below we will discuss each point in detail.

Summary and prices

If you are not a professional tennis player and will only play indoors, then you can safely buy a training or amateur tennis table with standard sizes; the price of such a purchase in our store will be from 16 thousand rubles. If you want to spend more summer days outside, then buy an all-season table that can be installed both outdoors and indoors. The price of such models in the “Sports Zone” starts from 20 thousand rubles. In this case, professionals will have to spend 27 thousand rubles on their purchase.

Equipment weight

The weight of a tennis table depends on the materials from which it is made. Therefore, it is quite logical that the professional-class products you described are heavier than amateur-level models - for example, they even have a much thicker tabletop. The supporting structure of tournament tables is also heavier, which guarantees the equipment the necessary stability.

Even the most massive models can be quite convenient to assemble and transport due to special systems. And we will talk about this in the next paragraph.

Equipment and accessories

Each tennis table model includes a net. Its standard size:

• height – 15.25 centimeters;
• length – 1.83 meters.

The material used for the nets is cotton, synthetics or metal.

For professional models, they mainly use nets made of high quality nylon or cotton. Nylon is used for amateur countertops that are installed outdoors. Nets made of this material are highly resistant to various weather factors.

Partitions for tennis tables can be removable or stationary. Removable models are attached to the tabletop with special screws or clips. Tension nets can be adjusted using a cord located on top.

The color of the mesh has no specific standards. But having a white edge 1.5 centimeters wide is a must. The mesh itself has a woven structure with cells ranging in size from 1.3 to 1.5 centimeters.

Nets are usually included in kits for amateur and some training models. Professional tables, as a rule, are produced without such equipment.

Racket

To play tennis well, you need to choose the right racket. Such sports equipment is selected individually

It is important that the racket does not slip in your hand and is comfortable. Their thickness, including linings, can range from 150 to 500 grams

There are several types of table tennis rackets:

1. For beginner players. Such rackets are designated by one star. Their spin speed on a scale of 100 points is no more than 50. The racket control indicator is 100 percent. Such parameters make it easy to manage such inventory.
2. For advanced players. Torsion is carried out at a speed of 70 points, and control reaches 90 percent. Their marking is 2 or 3 stars.
3. For experienced players. Rotation has an indicator of 100 points, the level of control is 90 percent. Such rackets have 4-5 stars.

Professionals mainly use prefabricated racket structures.

Balls

When choosing a tennis ball, the hardness of its surface is taken into account. This characteristic is important for a good bounce off the table. In professional tennis, two colors of balls are allowed - white and orange. Equipment colored or with a different shade is produced for entertainment.

According to the category, tennis balls are marked with the number of stars:

• one - cheap products of low quality:
• two or three – balls intended for training, having all the worthy characteristics;

In sports competitions, durable and strong equipment is used that is not deformed by strong impacts on the table. Such balls have an ITTF quality certificate.

Characteristic features of all-weather tennis tables

Outdoor tables, which are designed to be used in all weathers, have a special top quality. It is made of waterproof material that can withstand any weather changes.

These tables have a strong edging that ensures high durability. The table top has a matte finish. Therefore, there cannot be any reflections from the sun's rays on it.

Minuses

Inconveniences are caused by the lack of transport rollers on the table, a thin tabletop and materials that cannot ensure a uniform rebound.

This drawback is found in outdoor products: melamine countertops are inferior in performance to chipboard, and metal edging disrupts the uniformity of rebound.

Operational problems arise in the following cases:

• there is no anti-reflective coating on the surface;
• the rollers are made of insufficiently strong material and cannot withstand weight;
• The tabletop material is fragile;
• the surface is uneven, damaged or deformed.

Guarantee

The manufacturing company provides a guarantee for the product only if the buyer followed the rules of operation and storage. The terms vary from six months to several years. A common option is a one-year and three-year warranty period.

The product warranty means free repairs at the manufacturer’s service center throughout the entire warranty period. Upon purchase, a warranty card with the date and stamp of the store is issued, this is the basis for providing repair services.

The buyer is given the opportunity to:

• return goods whose quality does not correspond to the declared one within the first 15 days after purchase;
• exchange the product for a similar one;
• receive warranty repairs during the warranty period;
• return the goods of proper quality within the first 14 days after purchase, if the appearance is not damaged, the packaging and documents are preserved.

The presence of a defect is determined by a service center expert. The defective model is replaced with a working similar one. If the buyer does not want to exchange the product, the purchase amount will be returned.

If the package is damaged (a part is missing), then the seller is obliged to provide the missing elements within three days.

Damage assessment during the warranty period is carried out at the service center. If it is determined that the damage was not caused by violation of the rules of operation and storage, the manufacturer will repair the product free of charge.

The warranty does not apply to the following situations:

• if the product serial number has been changed, removed or damaged;
• if a piece of equipment or an individual part is replaced with non-original components;
• if the manufacturer has changed the design;
• if the cause of the breakdown is improper operation.

Malfunctions and repairs

Self-repair of professional equipment is not recommended: if it was carried out during the warranty period and then contacted the service center, specialists will refuse warranty repairs.

Actions you can do yourself:

• replacing the mesh on models that provide this action;
• care of the playing surface, maintaining cleanliness;
• installation and dismantling of the structure according to the instructions;
• monitoring the condition of the mesh fasteners - if necessary, they are tightened.

Other actions involve risks, may damage the quality of the equipment and further cause injury to the player.

Do-it-yourself repairs are usually carried out when the warranty period expires, or if there was no warranty in the first place. Home repairs include amateur-grade and outdoor options that have been damaged by weather.

Frequent breakdowns include damage to plastic clamps and fasteners, abrasions, cracks and bubbles on the playing surface.

The equipment may become unstable. If you purchased a table without an anti-reflective coating, you can cover it with a special varnish or paint yourself.

The faulty fastener or retainer is replaced with a new one. Spare parts are purchased from the manufacturer or manufactured by analogy with the damaged ones. The scratched rough surface must be evenly covered with putty, dried, painted and varnished.

To eliminate glare, varnishes and paints are used: uniform application is important. If you apply the paint unevenly, the ball's bounce rate will suffer.

Assembly

The last stage of work on making the table will be attaching the playground to the metal base. This can be done in two ways.

First option. Three or four holes are drilled in each table leg plate and the tabletop is secured with screws.

Second way. Through holes are drilled in the table legs, as close to the surface as possible. The playground can be fixed motionlessly either with pieces of reinforcement or with massive wooden splinters inserted into the holes. This option allows you to remove the platform and store it in a dry room during the winter.

The process of building a tennis table with your own hands

Below we will describe step by step how to make a tennis table with your own hands according to all the rules.

We dig in the legs of the future table

A tennis table must be as stable as possible . Its basis, namely the metal frame, must be made conscientiously.

• The first step is cutting the necessary parts:
• Profile pipe - 4 pcs. one and a half meters.
• Angle steel - 4 pcs. 2 m each, as well as 4 pcs. 1 m each.

The corner trimmings should be divided into 8 shares of 0.5 meters each.

The two parts of the pipe must be positioned in parallel and joined together by welding using two two-meter crossbars made of angle steel. One should be installed at a height of 20 cm from the top edge of the leg, and the second should be 70 cm lower than the first.

First of all, we start assembling the frame using millimeter tacks , straighten the diagonals of the rectangle that has arisen inside and then seal the seams. Using a similar method, you need to make the second pair of legs.

In the place where you plan to install the table, you need to mark a rectangle of 150 by 100 cm with lacing and pegs. Making an indent of 10 cm in each direction from the lacing, you should remove the turf and dig a not too large trench, which in depth will be equal to a bayonet or slightly more. As for the bottom, the floor needs to be well cleaned. At the corners of the trench, four pits should be made, which will have a depth of 80 cm and a width of 50 cm, so that the center is on the marking pegs.

15 cm of dry sand is poured into all pits , after which the legs can be inserted so that the upper ends are at a height of 80 cm from the ground level. Now proceed to level the legs in a horizontal plane, using a slatted level and a long rule for this; the process will become much more comfortable if you place broken bricks under the lower crossbars. Proceed to connect a pair of legs to each other using 1.5-meter sections of the corner; the attachment points should be shifted by welding 60 mm lower from the longitudinal crossbars. After you have made the base frame, it must be removed from the pits. From now on, you will not be able to cope without the help of a partner.

What: chipboard or plywood?

Wood (chipboard) and plywood are best suited for making countertops. When choosing a material, special attention should be paid to the quality of the surface , which should provide the required rebound height of the ball.

The dimensions of the plywood sold will fit perfectly into the manufacture of a folding table, i.e. The tabletop is made of two parts.

Most often, plywood with dimensions of 1525x1525 mm , but the smallest sheets of 1475x1475 mm available for sale are also suitable. At the same time, plywood has a suitable surface quality and does not require additional processing. If you place a tennis table in the yard, you should choose moisture-resistant plywood marked FB and FSF or laminated.

Plywood has disadvantages such as sagging and warping in large sheets.
Therefore, it is not recommended to make a tabletop from a solid sheet of plywood. Or use a reinforced support contour with additional beams. Advice: it is recommended to choose plywood sheets of grades I and II with one sanded side, the marking of which includes Ш1.
The dimensions of the chipboard sold are suitable for making a solid tabletop. Typically, sheets of 2750x1830, 2750x1750, 2750x1500 mm are used. In order not to waste time on additional surface treatment, it is recommended to immediately buy laminated sheets in blue or green. Compared to plywood, a chipboard table will look more massive, which increases its stability. Advice: when purchasing material, it is recommended to use cutting and trimming services, which will eliminate the need to purchase additional equipment.

It is not advisable to split the tabletop into more than two parts, because joints and fastening lines are only permissible under the mesh.

pros

Tennis tables have the following advantages:

• They are distinguished by the uniform rebound of the ball from the playing surface: this gives the player the opportunity to predict the trajectory and direction and calculate the force of the impact.
• The designs are convenient for transportation and storage.
• Outdoor options tolerate moisture, cold, heat and sunlight well, while indoor samples are protected from glare.

The following nuances are characteristic of outdoor all-weather tables:

• The material of the tabletop makes it resistant to weather conditions, the playing surface does not bubble from moisture and does not fade in the sun.
• Metal edging guarantees durability.
• The anti-reflective coating is applied in such a way that it becomes possible to play in conditions of excessive and uneven lighting.

Anti-vandal tables are securely reinforced, constructed of durable materials, and equipped with a metal mesh.

The advantages of professional tables include:

• Quality workmanship that guarantees durability and long-lasting playability.
• Ergonomic design: installation and dismantling require a minimum of time and effort, even with a large weight of the product.
• Playing qualities: professional options lead in game speed and ball rebound force.

Advanced or semi-professional equipment is convenient for training athletes. Amateur models are budget-friendly, lightweight and compact when assembled.

The advantages of folding systems are as follows:

• One-sided folding makes it possible to train without an opponent.
• Full folding is designed for regular transportation and convenient storage.

Final design

The assembly process is not difficult. It is advisable to make reinforcements in the places where the legs are attached. Load distribution is achieved by installing metal plates at the points of fastening with bolts or screws.

All that remains is to carefully secure both sides of the tabletop to the frame and make the necessary markings.

Features of manufacturing legs

Adjustable furniture legs for use in outdoor sports equipment are not very practical.
When installing the table on the ground, they will sink into the ground, and the tabletop will not stand level. In order for such legs to hold well, you need to use metal support structures. Also, such legs are evenly pressed into the soil to create stability. Support structures for outdoor tables are made in the form of a “goat” from wooden blocks or boards. This prevents the tabletop from sagging in the future. The dimensions of the “goat” can be made to any size, but they must be 30 cm shorter than the width of the tabletop.

Making a tennis table with your own hands will significantly save money and will not take much time. Allows you to choose the desired design and size. It will delight your family and friends and allow you to practice your favorite sport at any time.

Among the many wonderful opportunities that a private home or dacha can provide, it would be a sin not to pay attention to ways to actively promote health. For example, table tennis, also known as ping pong

For example, table tennis, also known as ping pong.

If earlier this game was accessible to a select few, now everything is in our hands, and by acquiring just a tennis table, you can have a beneficial effect on many aspects of your own health. Namely:

1. Physical health
2. vision - quickly changing the focus of the eyes on a flying ball is an extremely useful exercise, which, among other things, relieves fatigue from working at the computer;
3. getting rid of excess weight – seven to ten kilocalories of energy are burned per minute;
4. flexibility – develops and maintains high joint mobility;
5. agility - precision of quick movements;
6. speed of reaction - to develop this quality, ping pong is used by famous boxers;
7. endurance, strengthening the cardiovascular system, training the vestibular system - the list goes on;
8. Psychological health
9. getting rid of chronic fatigue syndrome - movement and positive emotions relieve stress and tension like nothing else;
10. concentration, self-control, analytical thinking... enough to understand: this is great!

And it’s no less great to realize that you don’t have to buy an expensive table from a well-known company. It is quite possible to do it yourself, with your own hands, and it will bring almost more joy. Tempting? Then it's time to dive into the topic!