What's a Good Price for a Ping Pong Paddle?

The best price for a ping pong paddle depends on why you are buying it. For example, it may not be ideal to get an expensive ping pong paddle if you just want to play at home for fun. However, if you play to get a cardio workout or competitively and if you can afford it, why not?

Generally, a lot of ping pong players would want to get quality for their money. Therefore, it is better to get a ping pong paddle that will fit the purpose. In other words, let your level of playing and budget determine the kind of table tennis paddle you buy.

By the way, do you know the basic qualities of top ping pong paddles? And their price. So, let’s take a look!

How Paddles are Priced

Many players put paddles into 3 categories of quality. The first is your run-of-the-mill paddle that you can pick up at a general store like Walmart. These will cost you anywhere from $2 - $15. Most feel fairly cheap but do well for family games and players with minimal skill (especially kids who are just learning).

Your second tier are the high quality pre-made paddles. These are usually purchased from a specialty sports store and can range from $50 - $200 or more. Their quality is much more higher than their cheaper cousins and is reflected by the higher price range. But, overall the playing experience is much better. And, you can make them last for years if you’re careful with them and get accessories like a case.

The last tier are custom paddles. For example, the blade (bat) and rubber are purchased separately. And, you can customize them according to your playing style and needs. Now, these paddles can range anywhere from $150 up to $2,500 or more, depending on your budget. Incidentally, the highest priced paddles aren’t necessarily the best, it’s more about matching the equipment to your specific playing style.

Qualities of a Good Ping Pong Paddle

Like every ping pong equipment, a good paddle makes playing fun and exciting. As they say a good working tool makes the difference. So, you don't have to be worried about the handle of the paddle flying off while you're playing. If you must know, a quality paddle also improves your performance while playing a table tennis game.

A ping pong paddle without these qualities listed below is not worth spending a dime on.

Control: If you can't control the ping pong ball with your paddle effectively, then opt for another one. The ability to control the ball is key and very important. Imagine if all your serves fall short because the paddle doesn't offer the required control.
Speed and Spin: The quality of your paddle also affects the swiftness of your serves. No matter how fast your hand moves, a bad paddle will not generate the expected spin and speed to beat your opponent.
Firm: If the paddle is wobbly, then reject it immediately. It may fly off your hand when you serve the ball.
Thickness: One of the materials used to make the ping pong paddle is rubber. In fact, thick rubber makes the ball bounce well on a ping pong table.

Components of a Ping Pong Paddle

The most noticeable components of a ping pong paddle are the rubber surface and handle. In case you don’t know, these components make a good ping pong paddle what it’s worth.

The Blade: Depending on the brand, a ping pong blade is usually made up of five to six layers of plywood. The blade consists of a mixture of soft and hard wood. Aside from a wooden blade, some manufactures also use carbon materials to manufacture a ping pong blade. Although carbon blades are good too, wooden blades are largely preferred because of their durability and their ability to offer much more control.
Rubber: Most often, the rubber used to cover the blade is pimpled. Sometimes synthetic or natural rubbers are used to cover the blade. The density of the rubber surface is often ten to thirty per square centimeter. A very thick rubber surface generates more speed and spin. Furtherore, some paddles have a different rubber coating on both sides. Whichever the case, verify that the rubber is very thick.
Handle: A firm handle makes the difference when playing ping pong. Depending on your preference, you can opt for flared, straight, or an anatomic handle. Usually, your grip style and pattern should determine the kind of handle you go for.

Top-notch Ping Pong Paddles

Instead of reading reviews and opinions why not opt for these ping pong paddles. A few have been chosen to meet any level of playing. Let’s take a sneak peek!

• Butterfly 401

If you are a beginner at ping pong, you can opt for Butterfly 401. It offers speed and spin. Therefore, if you are running low on budget, you can opt for this paddle. Most pros often started with Butterfly 401.

• DHS-Hurricane-II

This paddle is the best option for pros. Because of its amazing features, DHS-Hurricane is widely used by professional ping pong players around the world. If you are attack-minded, then opt for this ping pong paddle. To move a little step up from the Butterfly 401, DHS-Hurricane-II is a great option.

• Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5-FL

Apart from being the most expensive paddle here, Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5-FL offers incredible speed, spin, and firm control. It’s perfect for looping and best for offensive ping pong players. It is also designed with Tenergy 80 FX features.

Final Word

Don’t get carried away with the price of the ping pong paddle. Simply ensure that it offers you the features you need to better your game. As a beginner, what matters is your ability to develop your ping pong skills.

Use lesser grades of ping pong paddle to train. That way you will appreciate a high-quality paddle more: starting small is always the best.