Ping pong, AKA table tennis, is an incredibly popular sport. It’s no surprise that it has become even more popular during the lockdown period we all had to endure because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the pandemic it is not as safe to go out to take part in physical activities, so we had to do our best to entertain ourselves & stay fit while staying at home. Ping pong is very convenient to play at home. If you have a table, paddles, ping pong balls & the essential Equipment for Table Tennis. Speaking of tables, Joola is arguably the most famous ping pong table brand online. In my Joola ping pong table reviews, I’ll tell you just how good Joola ping pong tables are, by reviewing three of the best ping pong tables from this famous brand.
About Joola
Joola is a globally renowned table tennis equipment manufacturer. Though Joola USA is more famous nowadays, the company started its journey in Germany in 1952 when the sport department of the legendary department store group Jooss took the initiative to produce Joola’s first ever table tennis table.
Richard Lee is the founder of Joola North America. In the continent, Joola has been very active in the table tennis industry. Forming a partnership with North American Table Tennis (NATT), Joola has made its bonds much stronger with the sport in North America. For the past twenty years Joola has won the hearts of so many ping pong lovers across America. Renowned for the quality of their products, it is expected that Joola will continue to expand their operations in different parts of the world in the upcoming years.
Isn’t it quite intriguing that the company entered the table tennis industry with tables? No wonder their most famous products are ping pong tables. By now, you might be really excited to know about the quality and features of the main ping pong tables Joola produces, let’s get into that right now!
Joola Midsize Compact Ping Pong Table: Best Cheap Ping Pong Table
Overview
Joola Midsize Compact Table Tennis Table Review
Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Type: All-round
Length: 72 inches(1829mm)
Width: 36 inches(915mm)
Height: 30 inches(762mm)
Storage Dimensions: 36 x 36 inches(915 x 915mm)
Net & Posts Included: Yes
Assembly Time: 100% Preassembled
You know, so many people are afraid of creating a small table tennis space in their homes because they believe that they will have to spend a fortune to purchase a table & need tons of space to play. A Ping pong table is substantially the most expensive piece of table tennis equipment you need to buy in order to play the game, but that does not mean there are not many good, affordable options. The Joola Midsize Compact Table is by far the best in this category.
To begin with, this is not a competition size ping pong table. Well, you can’t expect one at this price either. This table is designed and built specifically for the people who want to play table tennis at home, but don’t have much space. Its smaller size might not let you play competitive level ping pong, but it’s small size has great benefits.
Benefits of a Small Ping Pong Table
Firstly, the small size means that it requires a smaller space to set up & play your ping pong game in. As you’ll see in the video below, it requires much less space compared to a competition sized ping pong table. Why should people living in apartments or families with smaller free space be deprived of enjoying fun games of ping pong during their spare time. The other huge benefit is that this table requires less space to store it when it’s not being used. You can easily fit it inside a closet once you are done playing. This way you won’t have to dedicate an entire space for your ping pong table.
Unlike competition size ping pong tables, you won’t have to take the trouble of assembling this one from scratch. The design ensures hassle free quick-set up as the table is 100% preassembled. It is divided into two equal parts, each part having U-shaped legs. You can fold the legs underneath when you no longer need it. When you want to play ping pong, put the two parts together and set up the net at the middle. It does not get easier than this! The 2 individual halves of the ping pong table can also be used as 2 stand alone tables which are ideal when you have a couple of friends over for your regular poker night.
So many expensive ping pong tables don’t come with net and post sets, and I can’t stress this enough! Joola ping pong tables never disappoint in that regard. I was quite amazed to see that Joola is generous enough to include the net and post set at this price. This is a definite steal!
Pros
- Compact size for house ping pong players
- No assembling required
- Comes with net and post set
- Multi-purpose use
- Extremely affordable
Cons
- Base material is not the best quality
Joola Inside Table Tennis Table – The All Rounder
Overview
Joola Inside Ping Pong Table Review
Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Length: 108 inches(2743mm)
Width: 60 inches(1524mm)
Height: 30 inches(762mm)
Foldable: Yes – 2 Halves
Folded Length: 62 inches
Folded Width: 26 inches
Folded Height: 65 inches
Net & Posts Included: Yes
Assembly Time: 10-20 Minutes, Comes 95% Preassembled
If you want to bring some tournament quality table tennis in your home, then the Joola Inside Table Tennis Table is the perfect choice for you. This Joola ping pong table comes in competition-grade 9×5 foot regulation size. That means, even Olympic table tennis is played on tables of the same dimension.
It is not the cheapest ping pong table around, but the features included in the Joola Inside completely justify the price. It is made of medium-density fiberboard, making it very durable and aesthetically pleasing. You can choose from four different options in terms of color coating thickness. I personally prefer the 18mm version. It is thick enough to last for a long period of time, at the same time not too thick to affect bouncing balls.
Easy Assembly
Like every other competition size ping pong table, it also needs to be assembled. However, don’t be afraid, the assembling process is pretty much hassle free. The manufacturer delivers this table 95% pre-assembled. You’ll need just around 10-15 minutes to take care of the rest. All you need to do is to attach the legs with the 8 bolts that come with the package. The legs are pretty flexible as well, as you can adjust leg height to create a level playing surface.
Though the Joola Inside is a heavy ping pong table, you won’t face much difficulty moving it around because of the separate 4-wheel trolley system. The table is divided into two parts, and you can fold it on the trolley system to conveniently move it around. You’ll receive additional piece of mind due to the automatic anti-tilting locking devices and locking caster wheels.
Due to the foldable nature of the Joola Inside, you will be able to practice even when you don’t have a partner. Just fold one of the two parts vertically and hit the ball on its surface. I know that it’s not the most enjoyable ping pong training routine, but something is better than nothing, right?
Like all the other Joola ping pong tables I’ve reviewed, the Joola Inside also comes with a net and post set. In fact, the net and post set provided with this table is premium quality. Are you ready to enjoy some exciting ping pong at home?
Pros
- Tournament level table dimensions
- Thick MDF paint coating
- Easy to move around
- Easy to assemble
- Premium build quality
- Comes with premium quality net and post set
Cons
- The locking mechanism can break under pressure
Joola Nova DX Outdoor Ping Pong Table: Best Quality Ping Pong Table
Overview
Joola Nova DX Outdoor Table Tennis Table Review
Overall Rating: 4.4 out of 5
Length: 108 inches(2743mm)
Width: 60 inches(1524mm)
Height: 30 inches(762mm)
Foldable: Yes – 2 Halves
Folded Length: 62 inches
Folded Width: 22 inches
Folded Height: 67 inches
Net & Posts Included: Yes
Assembly Time: 10-20 Minutes, Comes 95% Preassembled
If money is not an issue for you and you want the absolute best, then the Joola Nova DX is the ping pong table you are looking for. This is one of the best ping pong tables Joola has ever produced. You already know how great Joola ping pong tables are, so there is no doubt about the quality of the best of the bunch.
You can play with this ping pong table anywhere, as long as there is enough space. Want to play outdoors? Buy it. Want to play indoors? Still buy it! It is a tournament size ping pong table that is used in official competitions as well. If you are thinking of opening a table tennis club, it won’t be complete without having one of these beasts!
The Joola Nova DX is made of the best quality fiberboard. I don’t know if you would face any issues with this table, but durability is definitely not going to be one of them. You will be able to continue playing on this ping pong table without any repairs for many years as long as you look after it properly.
Easy Assembly
Just like the Joola Inside, the Nova DX is also very easy to assemble. Due to the package including a 95% assembled table, you won’t have to take the trouble of doing everything yourself. All you need to do is to install the legs, and you are done! The 4-wheel trolley system is really efficient. You will be able to easily move around this table to wherever you want. The three-inch heavy duty caster wheels are able to glide over rough surfaces as well. You can easily take the table outdoors with the trolley.
The folding mechanism of the Joola Nova DX is absolutely brilliant. I haven’t seen any ping pong table that can be folded so easily. The modern engineering makes it easy to fold and store in a large closet if necessary. You’ll have to take the legs off though.
Just like the table top, the legs are very durable too. With leg thickness of 40mm x 40mm, you can just assemble it in your gym & forget about it being damaged. Moreover, you will receive a weather resistant net set along with net tensioning system and a classic screw design. This means you can keep the table outdoors with the nets installed. The weather will not be able to damage it. Basically price of this ping pong table is higher than the Joola Inside because of these better quality accessories.
Pros
- Best for both indoors and outdoors
- Weather resistant
- Perfect apron thickness
- Heavy duty caster wheels
- Easy to fold
- Easy to assemble
- Beautiful design
Cons
- A bit on the heavier side
- Higher price tag
How to Choose a Ping Pong Table?
Well, this section is not particularly about Joola Ping Pong tables. When you’re looking to investing in a ping pong table it is important to know how you should choose the ping pong table that’s best for your needs. I want to describe the major factors that should determine your choice.
Dimensions of a Ping Pong Table
You might wonder why dimensions should be considered when purchasing a ping pong table. First, you have to decide where you want to keep your ping pong table. You may want to keep it in the free space of your garage to occasionally play with your friends. If that is the case, then you might not have enough space for a competition sized ping pong table. You should settle with a midsized one. Go for an even smaller one if midsized ones don’t fit in your free space you intended to use. Likewise, having enough space in your house or your back yard should motivate you to buy a full-sized table tennis table.
Full size tables mean that you can hit the ping pong ball as hard as you would if you were playing in a tournament which will help improve you game. If you decide to take table tennis up as a sport & join a club then you will be used to playing on the correct size table. The amount of space you have to store your table when you’re not playing on it is also very important. Knowing how much space you have for storage and comparing that to the dimensions of the table when it is folded is also very important to know if the table will fit into your home.
Portability of a Ping Pong Table
Portability depends on two things. First of all, is it easy to move the table around? Ideally you may not want to move your ping pong table that much, but there will be times when it will become a necessity. If your ping pong table is too difficult to move, you’ll have a hard time. Secondly, is the table foldable? Foldable ping pong tables are not only easy to move around, but also can be stored in closets in some instances. This is a great way to save space, and enjoy playing table tennis at home. If it is an indoors/outdoors ping pong table which can be played on both indoors & outdoors then moving it from inside your home to outside on a warm day can make the portability of the table very important
Coating of a Ping Pong Table
The coating, or paint on the table is really important. Eventually, the coating determines how the ball is going to bounce when you play on the table. If the paint thickness is not enough, you won’t be able to control the ball properly. Ball spin is an essential component of ping pong, but bad coating messes it up big time. The quality of the paint is another consideration you have to make. Low quality paint gets damaged over time, causing you to spend extra money.
Brand Value
Last but not the least, you have to consider the brand value of the manufacturer you are buying the table from. Ping pong tables are very expensive and you wouldn’t want to spend your money on a low quality product. That’s why going for trusted brands is always recommended. My personal favorites are Joola ping pong tables.
Conclusion
Joola has manufactured so many ping pong tables over the course of decades. Whenever they manufactured a new one, it created a lot of fuss among table tennis lovers as well as professional table tennis players. Over time Joola made a lot of new additions to their ping pong tables in order to make sure their tables stay ahead of the competition. Joola takes feedback from their consumers very seriously and it has been reflected very well in their last few ping pong tables. So, which one of these ping pong tables is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section!