Best Budget-Friendly Ping Pong Balls: Meizhaouer 50 pcs/pack Colored Ping Pong Balls

These multi-colored ping pong balls are easy on the wallet. And we know some folks also love to use ping pong balls as toys for their pets who find them endlessly entertaining (Fluffy, I’m looking at you).

We thought Meizhaouer’s 50-piece set of balls was both budget-friendly and decent enough quality for ping pong practice.

What We Liked

• Love the colors!

• Great for party games.

• Affordable.

• Good practice balls.

What Needs Work

• No white balls. 

• Made of celluloid. That’s not as durable as more pricey ping pong balls.

• Quality control could be improved. A small number of the 50 balls in the pack we tested were not perfectly round—some had uneven thickness, or a more oval shape. That made them hard to bounce, as you might imagine!

Best Long-Lasting Ping Pong Balls: MAPOL 50 White 3-Star Table Tennis Balls

When it comes to better quality ping pong balls, we rely on the advice of our readers who are into table tennis. Their recommendation: MAPOL’s 50-pack of 3-Star Table Tennis Balls. These had the best durability of the brands we tested. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Good bounce.

• Suitable for ball machines.

• Durable. These balls last for quite a while!

• Affordable. 

What Needs Work

• Great for more advanced players . . . but probably not pros. We realize most of our readers don’t fall into the professional table tennis athlete category—but if you do, these balls may disappoint. These balls don’t measure up to premium balls like those from Japan’s Nittaku. Of course, those balls are much more expensive!

Best Beginner/Training Ping Pong Balls: KEVENZ 60-Pack 3-Star 40+mm Table Tennis Balls

If you are a beginner and need a practice ball, we thought KEVENZ’s 60 pack of ping pong balls were the best bet. They tested well and were recommended by ping pong enthusiasts among our readers for beginners. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• Orange color makes them easy to find.

• Made of polypropylene, which is more durable than celluloid.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Not for more advanced players. That’s because these balls aren’t always perfectly formed—a few in the pack we sampled were lopsided or off-balance. These small imperfections aren’t noticeable to beginners, however!

Best Ping Pong Ball + Paddle Set: Martin Kilpatrick Vortex 2 Player Table Tennis Racket Set

When looking for ping pong balls, we noticed that many of our readers also realize their paddles need to be replaced as well. If you need an affordable set of paddles + balls, we’d suggest Martin Kilpatrick’s Vortex seat: 2 paddles, 3 balls. Good quality that is perfect for amateurs or beginners.

What We Liked

• Flared handle grip on paddles.

• Paddles have rubber with sponge layer = nice rebound.

• Two-star ping pong balls. These aren’t as fancy as three-star balls, but good enough for most amateurs.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Rubber pads are too soft for some players. We thought they were fine, but the spongy rubber may frustrate more advanced table tennis folks!

• Handles are made from composite wood. That didn’t bother us—and that’s common at this price range.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability. When we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money. 

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!