Originally, the size of a standard ping pong ball was 38 mm, but as of October 2000, the International Table Tennis Federation changed the standard to 40 mm, which is now the official size.

There were two major reasons for the change. The first was because it was discovered that 40 mm increases the length of rallies (stroke changes between players before a point is scored). The second was for the purpose of increasing the ball’s visibility on T.V. Therefore, you should make sure that you are playing with the right sized ping pong ball.

What you will discover when you go shopping for table tennis balls is that manufacturers grade balls based on a 3-star system.

• 0-star balls - Generally used for training and are cheaply made. This type of ping pong ball has the lowest quality and    is not ideal for using when playing a real or serious game. Due to their lower quality, these balls may not produce an    ideal bounce or be completely round.

• 1-star balls – A 1-star ping pong ball has the same caliber as a 0-star ball. Therefore, it should only be used for     practice.

• 2-star balls – These balls are more durable than the 0 and 1 stars, but they still do not have the quality required in    order to play a serious game. Furthermore, this particular type of table tennis ball is the rarest.

• 3-star balls – standard competition balls that feature the best quality. A 3 star usually always has an excellent bounce    and roundness. They are one of the most expensive ping pong ball out there. However, you shouldn’t expect them to    last much longer than the lower grade balls.

You should also know that some manufacturers will make premium 3-star balls. These are supposed to be an even better type than the standard 3-star ping pong ball. However, aside from the price, many table tennis players can’t tell the difference between the regular and the premium 3-star.

Finally, the last aspect you will discover when you shop for ping pong balls is that they come in a variety of colors and designs. Although the standard colors used in professional games and competitions are solid white or orange, you can also purchase balls that have checkered patterns, swirls, rainbow colors, glow in the dark, etc.

Therefore, unless you are making table tennis a serious hobby in order to become a pro, you can forget about the premium balls and stick to 1 or 3 star balls. In other words, select the ping pong ball that suits your tastes and budget.