Nittaku 3-Star Ping Pong Balls Review
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If you are wondering how to find the best ping pong balls, this is the post for you. These ping pong balls are available in different qualities, even when ITTF has given the official table tennis balls’ specifications. When talking about these balls, the first name that probably comes to anyone’s mind is the Nittaku ping pong balls. In this post, we are going to share every single detail about the Nittaku 3-Star Ping Pong balls.
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Evolving Specifications Of Table Tennis Balls
The celluloid ping pong balls were first introduced in 1900, after which they have undergone a few changes. In 1926, The guidelines for specifications of these balls initially laid down . After that, there has been hardly any change till 2000, except for the official color.
However, there was a major change. The balls’ size was increased from 38 mm to 40 mm, which is also the size of the Nittaku balls.
In 2011, ITTF, the governing body for international table tennis matches, decided to promote plastic balls instead of celluloid ones because of their raw materials’ hazards. The rule came into effect from July 2014.
Specifications & Features Of Nittaku Ping Pong Balls
To understand what makes the Nittaku Premium 40+ Balls so popular worldwide among professional and table tennis enthusiasts, one must first know the essential balls’ specifications. One thing to be mention here is that all Nittaku balls are manufactured and shipped from Japan.
All these balls strictly follow the guidelines of the ITTF when it comes to quality. Each ball is carefully test for quality before it is send out for sales. This is what makes it such a desired brand.
Weight
The weight of a table tennis ball is very crucial for the game to be good. The specified official weight is 2.70 gm. But, ITTF permits the ball to weigh anywhere between 2.67 and 2.77 gm. Nittaku table tennis balls are manufactured to conform to these standards. ITTF tests 24 balls, and the mean weight must be between 2.69 and 2.76 gm, which Nittaku ensures to maintain.
Size
The official diameter for ping pong balls is 40 mm. The size of the plastic or ABS balls’ size cannot be kept consistent and varies from 40 to 40.6 mm. All samples of balls tested must have a mean diameter between 40 and 40.5 mm. This brings us to why there are markings of “40+” on Nittaku balls.
While celluloid balls measure 40 mm, most non-celluloid plastic balls cannot maintain this size consistently. Nittaku ping pong balls are made with plastic, and they measure more than 40 mm.
This is why they are marked “40+”. This is true for all brands of table tennis balls made from non-celluloid materials. Ping pong balls do follow the official size standards.
Star Rating
Though this is not a physical property of these balls, it is a standard that professional players look for. There are one, two, and three-star rated balls. The one and two-star rated balls are not as durable as the three-start ones.
They usually lose shape or break during play. ITTF only accepts three-star rated balls. But even these are subject to rigorous testing and are selected only once the balls perform to their satisfaction.
Pros & Cons Of Nittaku Premium 40+ Balls
PROS
- Perfectly Shaped Balls
- Consistent & Durable
- High-Quality Permitted Raw Material Used
CONS
- Bounce is Wobbly At Times
- More Costly than other Popular Brands
FAQs
1. Where are Nittaku 3-Star Premium 40+ balls made?
All Nittaku balls are made at their facility in Japan.
2. What Nittaku Ping Pong Balls are made of?
Conforming to the ITTF guidelines, Nittaku balls are made from non-celluloid plastic material that doesn’t cause any hazards. The material provides it with all necessary qualities along with durability and maintenance of shape.
3. What is the size of Nittaku 3-Star Ping Pong Balls?
As per official requirement, every Nittaku table tennis ball is made to measure between 40 and 40.6 mm in diameter. This is confirmed by the “40+” marking on the balls.
Our Verdict
We have seen the parameters that a tournament-grade ping pong ball must-have. That brings us to the question of why Nittaku Premium 3 Star Balls are chosen over others by professionals around the world.
Made in Japan, every one of these balls conforms to the above parameters and gives players the best experience. The company started manufacturing table tennis equipment in 1920 and has been regularly delivering to World Championships, Olympic Games, and European Championships.
Qualities like the absence of veer have made this brand a favorite among table tennis players. A Ping pong ball is said to have no veer as its ability to travel in a straight line without deviation. This is the confirmation that the balls are evenly thick at all places. The Thickness of ping pong balls are measure ultrasonically.
The consistency in various parameters helps people play a better game as they can get more spin and have more control over the ball. The company has been taking extra care in maintaining the highest quality for its products, which makes it the most preferred brand in the world.
There is no doubt that Nittaku table tennis balls are the best ping pong balls available, and price should not prevent anyone from buying them. These balls promise to give you a playing experience that will surely compensate for its costs.
