Best Ping Pong Paddle For Beginners & Intermediate Player

As a beginner, it is essential to improve steadily and that requires the right amount of skills and equipment. You usually need to have the best beginner table tennis bat to ace the match in table tennis. Yes, ping pong paddle matters as that are your partner during all your table tennis matches. To get the best ping pong racket for beginners, you need to have suitable construction of the blade, comfortable grip, and attached rubber. These features will help in developing your skills while making it easy for you as well.

Looking into every ping pong paddle will take a lot of time therefore we have done your job for you.

All of these ping pong paddles for beginners have been tested by our experts and are top-rated paddles. Here’s a list of the best table tennis rackets for beginners. Additionally, we have given a guide on how to select ping pong paddles for beginners, so let’s get to it!

Comparison of 10 Best Ping Pong Paddle For Beginners in 2023

Top 10 Best Table Tennis For Beginners Reviews in 2023

1 Eastfield Allround Professional Table Tennis Racket-Best Ping Pong Paddle for Control

Beginners find control most convenient when playing table tennis and this racket gives them that. With a performance rating in control 10 out of 10, Eastfield Allround makes it easy to at least hit the ball. Also, the handle is of shake-hand grip type and is flared which allows swinging more easily.

Along with that, the blade is 5-ply wood with 2.1 mm thick rubber. Moreover, the rubber does not give topspin skills so as a beginner it’s best to stick to soft spins like on serves. Although the spin produced by rubber is limited, that’s what makes this more ideal for novices! In addition to all that, this is approved by ITTF so you can use this in tournaments as well. As a professional, you might find this not suitable due to the inability to perform table tennis skills, but as a beginner, this will serve best! Also, read the How to Play Smash in Table Tennis?

When it comes to other factors like speed and spin, it is relatively less than control and is 6 and 8 respectively. Also, the cost is effective plus the rubber is attached so it’s more durable. This helps save 20% money as there is no need to separately buy a handle and rubber! Its lightweight adds to its appeal to beginners, we loved how light and comfortable it is. Lastly, it is custom made and is of high-quality material.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood
• Rubber type: Eastfield A-Soft (ITTF approved)
• Weight: 18 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎91 x 0.98 x 10.24 inches

Final words

Overall, Eastfield is a new ping pong paddle brand but the paddle feels exceptional and provides great performance. Moreover, the weight is perfectly balanced throughout the design and the rubber has the right amount of stickiness. But the paddle does not come in a thin sheet over rubber which makes it hard to tell if it’s new or used. However, getting from a legit source is the best option.

2 STIGA Evolution Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket-Best Ping Paddle for High-end Technology

This is for skilled beginners and also intermediate sportsmen who need to play in tournaments. As this is ITTF-approved you will have no problem using it. Onto its construction firstly we have a 6-ply wood blade that uses Shock Dispersion Tube technology. The bade has an empty part that evens out the vibration caused by the ball, this helps in giving steady hits with a popping sound.

Secondly, we have rubber that is premium STIGA rubber with a sponge of size 2mm. Furthermore, rubber also has advanced crystal technology to give you more control. And is secured tightly with the handle to make it last longer. STIGA evolution table tennis racket’s handle is of standard shake-hand flared type that easily fits in all hands. In addition to that, the spin generated by rubber makes it easy to do skills like topspin so it’s also well-suited for intermediate skilled players. Also, read the Best Ping Pong Paddle Cleaners.

From the construction, it’s evident that this has a high control rating but the performance rating given by manufacturers says different. Speed, spin, and control ratings are 96,94, and 90 respectively. Although control may seem the least on testing it gives nice control over the ball with spin as well.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood
• Rubber type: STIGA Premium rubbers
• Weight: 35 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎‎12 x 7.3 x 2.8 inches

Final words:

Needless to say, STIGA is a leading brand when it comes to table tennis equipment. This paddle serves beginners and intermediates alike. As a beginner, the STIGA evolution racket will help you with your evolution in upgrade your skills! The only drawback is that in the performance rating the speed is given 96% but when playing with it the speed is less as compared to the rating. Aside from that, speed is not necessarily needed by defensive beginner players so that is not an issue either.

3 STIGA Apex Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket-Best Ping Pong Paddle for Affordability

STIGA Apex Performance combines quality with technology to give an amazing performance. Comparatively, it serves better than most ping pong paddles and comes at a reasonable price. Also being ITTF-approved gives it more value. When we look at its performance ratings, it goes perfectly for all skill levels. With speed, spin, and control being  65, 52, and 80, it’s easy to control while providing speedy spin shots or normal serves.

Featuring 5-ply wood and ASC technology inverted rubber with a 2mm sponge makes it highly effective in matches. Moreover, with Balsa technology constructed blade and rubber it aims for the bounce of the ball to make sure you do not lose a point. Also, the handle comes in a concave Italian design which makes it non-slippery and comfortable. Also, check the Benefit of Playing Table Tennis.

Talking about comfort, its handle also optimizes WRB ( Weight Balance, Rate of Recovery, and Ball Sensitivity) technology to give a well-structured and comfortable handle. Along with that, the packaging is done with caution, and the paddle rubber area comes with a thin sheet to make sure you get an undamaged paddle. Lastly, this racket is perfect for beginner table tennis players who are on a budget.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood
• Rubber type: Drive inverted with ACS technology
• Weight: 3 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎4 x 15.2 x 0.6 inches

Final words

All in all, STIGA Apex is best for beginners who are learning table tennis skills. Once you use it, this will help in giving flawless strokes without missing the ball. This goes well for both beginners and intermediate players, but they do not last for a year which is the expected lasting date of ping pong paddles. We recommend using it during the training phase and going for an expensive paddle once you have mastered skills.

4 Airblades 5000 Table Tennis Racket-Best Ping Pong Paddle for High-quality Construction

Usually, beginner ping pong paddles are not of high quality, but the AB-5000 ping pong paddle says otherwise. With its unique design of white lines and logo on the handle, it is easily recognizable. Furthermore, it consists of a 5-ply wood blade whose layers are divided as three layers of Ayuos light plywood sandwiched in between 2 layers of Koto hardwood. With such specific use of wood, the blade makes attacking and blocking more enjoyable.

In addition to that, a 2mm sponge with 1.6mm rubber makes bouncing the ball easy by giving suitable friction. Also, the handle has its perks of being highly satisfactory with slope hand design. Once you grip it, it’s easy to tell it’s of high quality and perfect for all skill levels. Furthermore, the handle comes in a custom design with a curved shape to fit into different hands. Moreover, This small ping pong paddle has a smooth design that will not cause scratches on your hand. It will help you enhance your blocking, and serving while also smashing forehand drives. Also, read the Table Tennis Stance.

Although it is not ITTF-approved it still offers a lot. Not many ping pong paddles come with a warranty, however, Airblades gives a warranty for a lifetime but you can only return it in 1 month. Lastly, AB-5000 comes with a Hard carry case for your paddle. This makes it easy to carry this paddle around with you without damaging it!

Specifications:

• Material: Ayous & Koto Wood
• Rubber type: Inverted rubber
• Weight: 70 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎‎10.5 x 6 x 0.75 inches

Final words

To conclude, Airbaldes 5000 has perfect quality and performance for beginners. It gives amazing sponge, rubber, and blade construction for effective performance. However, it is not approved by ITTF so you can not use it in tournaments. But you can use this to upgrade your skills like topspin, backhands, and other drills in leisure-friendly matches.

5 STIGA Tournament-Quality Titan Table Tennis Racket-Best Beginner Ping Pong Paddle for Speed

Just like all other STIGA ping pong paddles, the titan table tennis racket has a 5-ply wood blade along with a WRB technology handle. Also, the rubber is an inverted tournament rubber so you can play in national competitions. With crystal technology that provides a sticky and hardened sweet spot for the ball, you can easily take control. Furthermore, the handle is of standard Italian concave curved style that is firm to grip. You Can also check the Interesting Fun Facts About Table Tennis.

Talking about ease of holding, it’s comfortable to hold and light enough for all types of players. A professional can also use this as a practice paddle. Also, the manufacturers have given their performance ratings too. Control has the highest rating of 82, then we have a speed of 80 and a spin of 77.

In addition to that, The 5-ply wood combined with a 2mm sponge aids to give speed during matches but controls even out any chance of missing points. This is ideal for beginners who are quick in learning skills. The paddle’s exceptional speed and response time are aided by its amazingly light Balsa wood and center-ply. Aside from that, it is quite durable as well.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood
• Rubber type: ITTF Approved Inverted Rubber
• Weight: 35 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎12 x 7 x 3 inches

Final words

To sum it up when you’re just getting started, the Stiga Titan Ping Pong Handle will prove to be useful because it’s lightweight, inexpensive, and well-made. It’s the ideal companion for anyone trying to enhance their talents, and it doesn’t cost that much either.  As this is lightweight it would be difficult to hit powerful shots but it does provide spin shots easily. Keep in mind, if you hit powerful shots the control gets messed up.

6 Palio Expert 2.0 Table Tennis Racket-Best Ping Pong Paddle for Spin

Palio Expert is attractively distinct due to its 2mm thick Chinese CJ8000 rubber that provides an exceptional spin to the ball. Spin techniques are usually used by beginners so these work best for skilled beginners. Also, the design is a combination of two major companies that are Palio and Expert Table tennis.

Along with that, the performance rating for control is 10, spin is 9  and lastly, the speed rating is 6.  All these are out of ten so it provides exceptional control and spin which is best served for advanced beginners.

Talking about its handle we have a flared-shake-hand type of handle instead of a pen-hold. This makes it easy to swing as beginners who are learning. In addition to that, to ensure you get a new and fresh paddle the rubber has a thin sheet coverage. You need to remove the thin sheet before using the ping pong paddle for the game. Moreover, you get a free paddle case for extra longevity and protection of your paddle.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood
• Rubber type: Palio CJ8000 rubbers
• Weight: 44 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎‎11.02 x 7.28 x 0.91 inches

Final words

Overall, Palio Expert being an upgraded version of Palio Expert 1 appeals to more advanced beginners than just novices. As this has a low-speed rating this is best for beginners but not professionals. Aside from that, it’s quite malleable, and the handle is easy to grip without inflicting hand blisters. It has incredible longevity for the price, but the rubber is not as durable as other materials. However, if you keep it maintained and away from the dust then the rubber can last long as well!

7 Killerspin Jet series-Lime Ping Pong Paddle-Best Ping Pong Paddle For The Intermediate Player

Killerspin Jet Lime ping pong paddle has a speed of  6, a spin of 7, and control of 8.5, all out of ten. The construction includes 5-ply wood with jet basic rubber and the edges are covered with elastic PVC tapes. Also, with a 1.8mm sponge, the ball bounces nicely without any hindrance. Moreover, the smooth design and edges make it easy to use. Additionally, the packaging is done simply without any fancy features. But it is not ITTF-approved so it’s best for leisure matches rather than tournaments. You Can also check the How to Choose Ping Pong Paddle?

Furthermore, the flared reinforced grip enables you to hit powerful shots. The dimensions of the handle are 6×6 ⅛ inches which are easily holdable in all hands. Also, they come in various colors like navy blue and mocha color, you can go for the one you find more attractive. Moreover, the paddle’s high-quality design attempts to provide even distribution of weight for both experienced and inexperienced players. It will not only improve your feel but will also assist in improving your ability by allowing you to make precise powerful shots. Lastly, players who find it difficult to control strokes can use this for improvement.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood
• Rubber type: Jet Basic Rubbers
• Weight: 5 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎94 x 3.94 x 3.15 inches

Final words:

In summary, the Killerspin jet 200 paddle has various colors for likeability and has a performance that clicks with all types of players. Although you can not use it in tournaments it gives effective shots that are at par with ITTF-approved paddles. Also, the rating of spin and control is close to perfect which makes it suitable for beginners.

8 NIBIRU SPORT Ping Pong Paddle-Best Lightweight Ping Pong Paddle Set

Instead of getting individual tennis rackets, how about a complete set? NIBIRU sports ping pong paddle set consists of four ping pong paddles, 8 ping pong balls, and a carrying case. Do not fret due to the number of paddles, these paddles do not compromise on quality either and come with combination colors of orange and red. With the construction of 5-ply wood, anti-peel rubber, and bouncy sponge, these are some of the best paddles for beginners. To make sure that the rubber does not come off manufacturers have used adhesive glue to stick it all in place!

Each paddle has a light yet sturdy blade that focuses on generating spin and control on every stroke. Also, to aid to spin there is also spongy rubber that has an inverted area for providing control as well. Also, check the How to Play Table Tennis Double?

Moving onto the handle, the handle is sweat-resistant and does slip. Also, it comes in a shake-hand and flared design for easy holding. Next, the balls are all 3-star with 40mm thick ABS material. Moreover, the setting does not matter as the paddles and balls go well both outdoors and indoors.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood
• Rubber type: Anti-peel rubber
• Weight: 2 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎45 x 2.45 x 10.45 inches

Final words

All in all, for playing table tennis with family or friends this is your savior. Firstly, it’s all a complete set with a portable case. Secondly, the quality of balls and paddles is amazing. Lastly, it provides a nice feel that even beginners or amateurs can use to play ping pong flawlessly. But one thing to look out for is that it’s not for professionals as it does not give much speed. The quality may not be as good as ITTF approved ones but it still is durable.

9 Butterfly 401 Table Tennis Racket Set-Best Beginner Ping Pong Paddle for Powerful Shots

Butterfly 401 table tennis racket set is for more skilled beginner players rather than just novices. This is approved by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) so you can opt for this during table tennis tournaments. The sticky Yuki rubber and 2mm sponge are best for players who want powerful shots. Going into details of rubber, the rubber and sponge area contains a spring action and increased tackiness. To help you beat your opponent, it also generates spin when the ping pong ball strikes. Moreover, you can use this even if you are an intermediate-skilled player or an expert player. Keep in mind to regularly clean the rubber as stickiness may attract dust particles as well. You Can also check the Best Table Tennis Shoes.

Furthermore, the multiple-colored flared handle has an ergonomic yet firm holding design of shake-hand style. The handle is quite easy to hold if you have small-sized hands. Also, the FL handle is sweat-resistant so it does not slip from our hands while playing intense matches.

Along with the racket a racket case is also included for convenience. There’s no need to fret about having your racket exposed to dust or other particles. Lastly, the manufacturers have given a performance rating of 80 in both speed and spin whereas the rating for control is 85.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood
• Rubber type: Yuki 2mm
• Weight: 83 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎‎‎7 x 12 x 1.75 inches

Final words

To sum it up when it comes to control and spin Butterfly 401 wins. But when in speed, it’s on the slow side. Also, the handle is too rounded and small for players with large hands. If you are a complete beginner or amateur then this is not for you, but beginners who have been in table tennis for a few months can go for this to improve faster. Overall the racket gives a powerful shoot with spin and control.

10. Butterfly Viscaria Table Tennis Racket -Best Ping Pong Paddle for Stable Handle

This is a table tennis blade that comes with no rubber or sponge but with five layers of wood and two layers of aryl carbon. Players who do not know about Arylate Carbon should know that it is perfect for counterattacks. With features like shock absorptions, this blade helps in mining vibrations caused by the ball. Furthermore, it’s lightweight and flexible so it is easy to swing without taking much energy.

You might be familiar with this blade as this is used by world champion Zhang Jike. As a matter of fact, it will not make you a professional but its features help in the improvement of beginners. Also, check the How to Fix a Ping Pong Ball?

Moving onto its design, the blade has a thickness of about 5.7-5.8mm and has a smooth surface area. Moreover, the wide sweet spot area makes it easy to hit balls and reduces the chances of missing shots. In addition to that, the flared handle is quite large but comfortable to hold. And the size of the handle is 100mm which fits in all types of hands without any slipping. Lastly, it’s ITTF-approved and the performance rating of this table tennis racket is quite high out of a total of ten; the speed is 8.2, control 8, and spin of 7.8.

Specifications:

• Material: Wood and carbon
• Rubber type: No rubber
• Weight: 18 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎89 x 7.17 x 1.65 inches

Final words

In final words, Butterfly Viscaria is made for players that wish to use spins to launch quick strikes. We have seen it mostly used by professionals however by equipping it with a 1.6 mm rubber it provides amazing performance for beginners as well.Also, this is just a blade so rubber needs to be bought separately which will cost more. The initial price of this blade is also expensive so pay attention to the budget when getting this.

Buying Guide:

Not every beginner table tennis player has the know-how about selecting ping pong paddles. You should not blindly spend your money if you don’t know what you want in your ping pong paddle. Investing in sports equipment like table tennis rackets should be thought of thoroughly as they can last for a year.

Therefore, we will assist you by giving you a few features that should be considered when getting a ping pong paddle as a beginner. Keep in mind all the under-mentioned aspects as they will help in your selection.

Material:

The paddle construction consists of rubber, a sponge, and layers of the blade.

Rubber:

Rubber is the part of the paddle that is the “spot” where the ball comes in contact. The best quality rubbers are tacky or sticky ones. For tournaments make sure that the rubber is ITTF-approved. People who want to have paddles to practice or have leisure matches as beginners should look into types of rubber: sandwich rubber and pimpled rubber. Firstly, a single layer of cellular rubber is sandwiched between two layers of regular pimpled rubber in the sandwich rubber type. Also, read the Table Tennis Injuries.

Secondly, pimpled rubber has little even dots on both sides one is pips-in and the other is pips-out, some paddles come with only one side. Beginners should go for pips-in rubber type as this is best for defending against spin shots.

Changing rubber once every year is a great way to maintain the longevity of the ping pong paddle.

Sponge:

No sponge paddles should be avoided as a beginner at all costs as it gives speedy shots. Moreover, players who are just building skills, need to have a thin sponge to upgrade their defense shots. Aside from that, sponges come in thick, medium, and thin sizes.  Where a thick 2mm sponge aids best in spin and fast shots which is for professionals, not beginners.

Blade:

Usually, paddles have blades made up of mixed wood, hardwoods, or softwoods. ITTF-approved paddles need to have an 85% wood blade. Also, the blades have layers in ping pong paddles which make up their performance as well. 5 or more layers of wood are recommended best for tournaments.

Anything less than 5 -ply will not give an effective performance in competitive table tennis matches. It’s all up to you what kind of match you will be playing. People who prefer lightweight paddles can opt for plywood blade ones.

Style of handle:

Ping-pong paddles do not have one true holding style just like many other things. Upon many handle styles, they can be broadly divided into the three most common ones. First is the flared handle, second is the straight handle and third is the anatomic handle. Also, check the Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing Table Tennis.

Flared handle comes in handy for front-hand play; a straight handle gives you options to change gripping style; an anatomic is similar to flared but with a wide holding area. For novice players, a flared handle serves best as it is most common and comfortable. And professionals use straight handles more.

Grip:

Generally, there are two types of gripping methods, shake-hand grip, and pen-hold grip. Most flared, straight and anatomic handles come in shake-hand grips, but there are some pen-hold grip ones as well. As a beginner, it’s best preferred to go for a shake-hand as it is easier than a pen-hold grip.

Performance:

Almost all ping pong paddles have performance ratings assigned to them about speed, spin, and control. These ratings do not define the actual value of paddle, but they come in handy in selection. A paddle that has a low-speed rating and high control rate serves best for beginners.

Ease of use:

Other features are based on your taste and comfort. For instance, big-handed players should get a paddle that has a long handle. Players who are just getting into table tennis should opt for lightweight paddles. In addition to that, ensure that you get budget ping pong paddles as a beginner. So when you upgrade your skill level you can change your paddle as well! Moreover, a few paddles also come with paddle cases so look into that too.

Final words:

All ping pong players play best with the equipment that suits them perfectly. Your skill set and techniques, along with your right to enjoy the game, are determined by the characteristics of your paddle. All the above-mentioned best ping pong paddles for beginners gave the performance which is recommended for beginners. Also, some intermediate players can opt for these table tennis rackets to upgrade their skills and drills!

Here are our top picks which we found best for beginners:

• Eastfield Allround Professional Table Tennis Racket-Best ping pong paddle for control: Our top pick is this due to reasonable cost with high quality. With features like perfect control and tacky rubber, this is ideal for beginners. It is custom-made and is ITTF-approved.
• STIGA Evolution Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket-Best ping paddle for High-end technology: Featuring advanced crystal technology and Shock Dispersion Tube technology, this takes second place. Being ITTF-approved makes it even more attractive!
• STIGA Apex Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket-Best ping pong paddle for affordability: The last pick is STIGA Apex for players who are on a tight budget. Do not be fooled by its cheap price tag as it offers a comfortable grip with ASC rubber for a more expensive feel.

FAQs

1. What is the foremost thing to consider in a ping pong paddle?

Having a lightweight paddle that is easy to hold is the first thing you should see when getting a ping pong paddle.

2. Which is a better handle type in table tennis paddle; shake-hand or pen-hold?

A shake-hand grip is easier to master. The shake-hand grip provides powerful shots while the pen-hold gives spin shots naturally.

3. Do ping pong paddles last for a year?

Yes, if you maintain it properly ping pong paddles can last up to 1 year.

4. Which table tennis racket’s blade and rubber are well-suited for beginner skilled players?

5-ply wood blades and pips-in rubber are recommended best for novice players.