When you have decided that you are in the market for a ping pong table, one of the first decisions you will need to make is, do you want an indoor or an outdoor ping pong table?
This isn’t necessarily a hard choice to make, but you should know what the differences are and why you might want one over the other.
Outdoor Ping Pong Tables
The biggest difference that you will find is that outdoor ping pong tables are meant be left outside year round.
Since they have to deal with any variety of weather conditions they will be constructed differently.
One of the first areas that you might notice a difference in is the weight.
Since you don’t want a table tennis table flying off with any gust of wind the whole thing will be heavier than an indoor model.
This is great if you are in a windy area, but it also means that you will be looking for help anytime you want to move it.
You’ll also find that the various components, to include the table top, are crafted primarily to withstand the elements.
This isn’t a problem if it is the only table that you are looking to play on, however if you are considering competing, you should know that most venues will use indoor tables.
Indoor Tables
Since these tables don’t need to deal with the weather, they are crafted for the performance of the sport.
This means that the ball will react slightly differently bouncing off an indoor table than it would an outdoor one.
Also, these tables will normally be much lighter, often times bending in the middle for ease of movement and storage.
There are any number of different types of ping pong table that is made to be used indoors, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Some will go onto of another table, often a billiard table, which makes double use out of the area.
Others can fold which give you the option to fold up half for practice or fold up both sides and use the area for another activity.
Can I Take an Indoor Table Outside?
Some people will select an indoor table and then move it outside on nice days.
While this sounds like a good idea, you will want to take into account more than just wind, rain and snow.
These can all be damaging to a table made to be used indoors, but even on the most beautiful of days you still face a danger to your table.
The Sun.
With just a few hours of exposure to sunlight some table can warp.
While it may not be noticeable to the naked eye, a warped table can affect the movement of the ball.
This will throw off your game anytime you play away from your home table.
Taking your table out onto a covered deck or other shady area may not be a bad plan to enjoy a nice day, but don’t leave it out too long.
Final Thoughts
You can find a quality ping pong table that is meant to stay outside or go inside, but you’ll have to decide what is most important to you in the process.
There is a third consideration to think about – a ping pong conversion top.
If you have some yard space and are just looking for something fun to do during a cookout the outdoor table can be a great choice.
If you have thoughts of competing it might be best to stick with the type of table you’ll come across in most competitions.
We’d love to hear from you.
Which option did you end up selecting and why? Let us know in the comments section below.