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ITTF Approved 40mm Table Tennis Balls
Top tips to help you choose your ideal table tennis ball.
Part two - What criteria do ITTF approved 40mm balls have to meet
By Martin Hughes
Owner and Editor
Part One - Introduction & types of balls | Part Two - Approved 40mm TT balls
In part one we looked at the different types of table tennis balls and what the rules say about them.
We also looked at the two most recent major changes made to the ball which affected the size of the ball and the material used to make them.
So let's now take a look at the tests which are carried out on table tennis balls in order to meet the criteria set by the ITTF and then view a list of the balls which appear on the ITTF approved list of balls.
OK, let's get started...
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Tests are first carried out for...
General Appearance
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The ball must be white or orange, and matt, and must appear to be uniform and only have one seam.
The stamp on the ball may cover an area no greater than 280mm2 and be printed in one or two colours, but the same colour or combination must be used for all balls of the same brand and the wording must comply with ITTF regulations.
The balls must be packaged appropriately, e.g. in paper or plastic boxes or in a blister pack. And the wording used on this package has to contain either "40" or "40mm" for celluloid balls or "40+" for non-celluloid balls.
The packaging of the balls must also contain a date or a date code and must comply with the ITTF regulations.
TABLE TENNIS EXPERT
REVEALS HIS SECRETS
Click Here For Details
Click here for a large selection of
table tennis equipment at Megaspin *
Click here for a large selection of
table tennis equipment at Bribar *
(UK only)
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And then there are tests which are carried out on a batch of 24 balls which include the following...
Weight
The official rules state that the ball shall weigh 2.7g, but any weight between 2.67 and 2.77g is acceptable for any one ball. No more than 1 ball out of the 24 sampled may be outside this range. The sample mean must be between 2.69 and 2.76g.
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And its...
Size
The official rules state that the ball shall have a diameter of 40mm.
This is measured using a calibrated electronic device with a precision of at least 0.001mm and which measures the diameter with a precision of 0.01mm.
For celluloid balls the minimum diameter of every ball must be at least 39.50mm, and its maximum diameter must not exceed 40.50mm.
The sample mean average diameter, i.e. the mean of the average of the maximum and minimum diameters for each ball, must be in the range 39.60-40.40mm
For non-celluloid balls the minimum diameter of every ball must be at least 40.00mm and its maximum diameter must not exceed 40.60mm.
The sample mean average diameter, i.e. the mean of the average of the maximum and minimum diameters for each ball, must be in the range 40.00-40.50mm.
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And its...
Sphericity
The official rules state that the ball shall be spherical.
The sphericity of a ball - or more correctly the lack of sphericity - is the absolute difference between its minimum and maximum diameters.
By rotating the ball about its axes, the minimum and maximum diameters are determined. The difference between the two values gives the lack of sphericity.
For celluloid balls the sphericity of any ball must be less than 0.35mm, and the sample mean sphericity must be less than 0.25mm.
For non-celluloid balls the sphericity of any ball must be less than 0.25mm, and the sample mean sphericity must be less than 0.20mm.
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And its...
Bounce
All balls must rebound to a height of not less than 240mm or more than 260mm when dropped from a height of 305mm on to a standard steel block.
For non-celluloid balls all 24 balls must rebound to a height of not less than 240mm and not more than 265mm when dropped from a height of 305mm to a standard steel block.
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And its...
Veer
Veer is a measure of the total sphericity of the ball.
It's measured by rolling the ball down a slight incline onto a horizontal surface, and measuring the distance by which it deviates from a straight line as it rolls across the surface.
The incline is 100mm long at 14 degrees to the horizontal, and on a table that is 100cm long this gives a rolling time of about 3 seconds.
No more than two balls can deviate by more than 175mm from the center-line and each ball is measured at least three times.
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And its...
Hardness
Hardness is measured with a fully automated and computerised tester.
A 20mm diameter pin presses against a pole of the ball and the indentation is recorded to a precision of 0.01mm.
Measurements are made on each pole and the average for the poles provides a measure of the hardness.
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And also the...
Colour and Markings
The colour of the ball must meet the colour specifations which have been set for either white or orange.
The stamp on the ball must also include the following four components:
- The ITTF Approval. This may be indicated by the initials ITTF or "ITTF approved", or by using the ITTF logo
- the trademark or brand name
- the inscription "Made in" followed by the country of production
- the inscription "40" or "40mm" for celluloid balls
- the inscription "40+" for non-celluloid balls
No other text is permitted.
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Here's a video showing how the new DHS plastic balls are made and tested in China...
Here's a video showing how the new DHS plastic balls are made and tested in China...
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The following is a list of ITTF approved 40mm table tennis balls valid from 1st January - 31st December 2022.
ITTF approved 40mm table tennis balls
| No | Brand | Product | Type | Stamp Color 1 | Stamp Color 2 | Color | Expires On |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 729 | 40+*** | Seamless | Black | Red | White | |
| 2 | 729 | P.S. 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 3 | 729 | Plus 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 4 | Abros | 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Pink | White | |
| 5 | Andro | 3S*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 6 | Asian Pacific | D40+*** | With Seam | Black | red | White | |
| 7 | Aurora | D40+*** | With Seam | Red | Black | White | |
| 8 | Butterfly | 40+*** | With Seam | Navy | Magenta | White | |
| 9 | Butterfly | G40+*** | With Seam | Gray | Magenta | White | |
| 10 | Butterfly | A40+*** | With Seam | Black | Magenta | White | |
| 11 | Butterfly | S40+*** | With Seam | Gray | Magenta | White | |
| 12 | Butterfly | R40+*** | With Seam | Black | Magenta | White | |
| 13 | Carlton | GT1 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 14 | Cornilleau | P-Ball ABS Evolution *** | With Seam | Black | Lime green | White | |
| 15 | Counterstrike Table Tennis | 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 16 | Decathlon Pongori | C40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 17 | Donic | P40+*** | With Seam | Black | Blue | White | |
| 18 | Double Fish | V40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 19 | Double Fish | V40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | Orange | |
| 20 | Double Happiness / DHS | DJ40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 21 | Double Happiness / DHS | D40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | Orange | |
| 22 | Double Happiness / DHS | D40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 23 | Dunlop | Fort Tournament 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 24 | E-Lian TT | E 40+ | With Seam | Red | Black | White | Dec 31 2022 |
| 25 | G. Yap | D40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 26 | Gambler | P40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 27 | Gewo | Ultra SLP 40+*** | Seamless | Black | White | ||
| 28 | Gewo | Select Pro 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Gold | White | |
| 29 | Giant Dragon | A40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 30 | GKI | Premium 40+*** | Seamless | Black | White | ||
| 31 | Guoqiu | 40+*** | Seamless | Black | Red | White | |
| 32 | Hanno | *** | Seamless | Blue | White | ||
| 33 | Joola | Flash 40+*** | Seamless | Blue | White | ||
| 34 | Joola | Prime 40+*** | With Seam | Blue | Gold | White | |
| 35 | Kamito | 40+*** | Seamless | Black | Red | White | |
| 36 | KBS | 40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 37 | Kingnik | Premium 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 38 | Kinson | K40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 39 | Lion | L40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 40 | MIBE | XtrA 40+*** | Seamless | Black | Red | White | |
| 41 | Mozuru | 40+ *** | With Seam | Black | White | Feb 28 2022 | |
| 42 | Nexy | Force 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 43 | Nittaku | Premium Clean 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 44 | Nittaku | Nexcel 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | Orange | |
| 45 | Nittaku | Nexcel 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 46 | Nittaku | NSD40+ | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 47 | Nittaku | NSD40+ | With Seam | Black | Red | Orange | |
| 48 | Nittaku | Premium 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 49 | Nittaku | Premium 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | Orange | |
| 50 | Ownwin | 40+*** | Seamless | Red | White | ||
| 51 | Palio | S40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 52 | Radak | R40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 53 | Raise | 40+*** | Seamless | Black | White | Feb 28 2022 | |
| 54 | Raise | ABS TEC 40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 55 | Red & Black | 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 56 | Sanwei | ABS 40+ Pro*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 57 | Sanwei | ABS HD 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Blue | White | |
| 58 | Sanwei | 40+*** | Seamless | Black | Red | White | |
| 59 | Schildkrot | Champion 40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 60 | Stag | Peter Karlsson 40+*** | Seamless | Black | White | Dec 31 2022 | |
| 61 | Stag | Supreme 40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 62 | Stag | World 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Gold | White | |
| 63 | Stiga | Perform 40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 64 | Sunflex | SX40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 65 | Sunnysix | 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Blue | White | Apr 01 2022 |
| 66 | Tagro | 40+*** | With Seam | Blue | Pink | White | |
| 67 | The World Connect | 40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 68 | Tibhar | 40+ SYNTT*** | With Seam | Black | White | Dec 31 2022 | |
| 69 | Tibhar | 40+ SL*** | Seamless | Black | White | ||
| 70 | Tibhar | 40+ SYNTT NG*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 71 | Tibhar | 40+ SYNTT NG*** | With Seam | Black | Orange | ||
| 72 | TSP | 40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 73 | TSP | CP40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 74 | Tuttle | T40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 75 | Unrex | Sun 40+ | With Seam | Black | Red | White | |
| 76 | Victas | VP40+*** | With Seam | Black | Blue | White | |
| 77 | Victory Armor | 40+*** | With Seam | Pink | Blue | White | |
| 78 | Winney | T40+*** | With Seam | Black | Red | White | Feb 28 2022 |
| 79 | Xiom | 40+*** | Seamless | Black | White | ||
| 80 | Xiom | Bravo 40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 81 | Xiom | Sensa 40+*** | With Seam | Purple | White | ||
| 82 | Xiom | OZA 40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 83 | Xiom | V40+*** | With Seam | Black | White | ||
| 84 | Xushaofa Sports | *** | Seamless | Black | White | Apr 01 2022 | |
| 85 | Yasaka | AB40+*** | With Seam | Black | Blue | White | |
| 86 | Yinhe | H40+*** | With Seam | Black | Purple | White | |
| 87 | Yinhe | *** | Seamless | Black | Blue | White | |
| 88 | Yinhe | S40+*** | Seamless | Black | Red | White | |
| 89 | Yinhe | Y40+*** | With Seam | Blue | Black | White |
Buy Your TT Balls Here
Butterfly, Stiga, Joola & more
|
|
Buy Your TT Balls Here
Butterfly, Stiga, Joola & more
Click here to buy at *
Click here to buy at *
Click here to buy at *
(UK only)
Part One - Introduction & types of balls | Part Two - Approved 40mm TT balls
^ Top of page ^
Click here for a large selection of
table tennis equipment at Megaspin *
Click here for a large selection of
table tennis equipment at Bribar *
(UK only)
^ Top of page ^
You Are Here: Home » Choosing Table Tennis Equipment » ITTF Approved 40mm Balls
