Are Table Tennis Shoes Worth It? (7 Helpful Tips)

As an athlete or an occasional hobbyist, everyone still needs proper equipment for whatever sport they are playing. Table tennis certainly isn’t different. One of the most usual questions considering table tennis gear is are the shoes worth the cost? Well, that’s what we are here to find out.

This article will teach you everything you need to know about table tennis shoes, how to choose a pair, what is so special about them, and some additional things that every player should know. Before we go to those things, we need to know are table tennis shoes worth it in the first place?

Table tennis is worth it if you are serious about your table tennis training and want to maximize the performance. Table tennis shoes are light, yet they have excellent durability. In addition, the bottom of the shoe is specifically designed for the rough table tennis hall floor.

On the other hand, if you play only occasionally and don’t really care about table tennis in that manner, it might not be worth the cost. Well, get more into that later.

My recommended shoes: 7 Best Table Tennis Shoes (The Complete Guide)

Why are table tennis shoes worth it

Now, let’s begin by looking at the advantages table tennis shoes offer and why it would make sense to invest in a good pair.

1. Allows lighter movement

The great thing about table tennis shoes is that they are light. Think about all the back and forth, front and back movements you do. It can get intense, and you need a light pair of shoes to move as fast and effortlessly as possible.

When you change your old and heavy indoor shoes to table tennis shoes, you can spot the difference, at least I could, and I did feel a little sharper and faster.

2. Shoes enables a good grip

Another important factor for proper table tennis performance is that you need to have a good grip. You need to move quickly from point A to point B while stopping nearly immediately, and this requires good grips.

Table tennis shoes have been specifically designed for this purpose, and when you combine that to the table tennis club’s floor, you have a great advantage over your opponent that isn’t wearing pair.

3. You should have a pair if you train on table tennis floors

A great number of proper table tennis court floors are taraflex floors. These floors can wear out improper shoes really fast because they have such a good grip; therefore, if you don’t have table tennis shoes specifically made for taraflex floors, they will wear out quickly.

However, if you aren’t playing on those grippy and soft taraflex floors, other indoor shoes such as volleyball or badminton shoes can be just as good as table tennis shoes.

4. Better overall performance

All this put together will give you better overall performance on the table tennis court. Personally, I want proper equipment if I am even remotely serious about my hobbies, sports, and actually anything.

However, this is only a small part of the performance, and skill and training really give you the results. But if you want to maximize your game, then table tennis shoes are worth it.

Recommended inexpensive table tennis shoes: Butterfly Lezoline Vilight

Recommended table tennis shoes for advanced players: Butterfly Lezoline Rifones

Why aren’t table tennis shoes worth it

As we can see, there are some great benefits to table tennis shoes. However, there are some cons for specific people so let’s take a look at those next.

1. May be expensive

If you don’t have much money to invest in table tennis shoes or find a better use for them, they might not be worth buying. However, there are many shoes out there, and the prices go anywhere from $30-$200, so there are still options for the future.

2. Aren’t essential if you don’t train much

Also, you probably don’t need table tennis shoes if you don’t train much anyways. If you have an occasional training session that lasts 1 hour and you just go play a casual and relaxed game with friends, then you really don’t need table tennis shoes.

If you would train multiple times a week, and want to compete with others then table tennis shoes is a must.

3. If you are a total beginner

Finally, if you are a complete beginner, new shoes shouldn’t be on top of your mind. There are many to proper table tennis footwork that you need to learn before starting to maximize your performance.

However, if you feel like table tennis is your calling and you want to really invest time and energy for it, then table tennis shoes would be a worthwhile purchase. Keep in mind that proper footwork will give 90% of the results.

How do I choose table tennis shoes

There are many different kinds of table tennis shoes out there, from different price ranges to different features. Before you buy table tennis shoes, you should definitely keep the following things in mind. Let’s take a look!

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1. Weight

One of the most important things about table tennis shoes is the weight. In general, the less the shoe weight, the better. If you compare table tennis shoes to volleyball shoes, for example, you can notice that the weight difference can vary with multiple pounds, and that’s why specifically table tennis shoes are the best for just table tennis.

2. The sole

Another great thing about table tennis shoes is the sole. When choosing table tennis shoes, you should look for thing soles because it minimizes the risk for injuries.

Think about it when you are in the heat of a game, and you constantly move from side to side. You can easily misstep and straining your ankles because if the sole was too high. The closer your feet are to the ground, the safer.

3. Material

Most table tennis shoes are made from nylon mesh, synthetic leather with a rubber sole, but the important thing to look at here is quality. When it comes to the materials, I said they really are in table tennis shoes.

Also, the shoes must be breathable. I personally use only shoes that have air holes on the side, and the more there are, the better, at least in my opinion.

4. Support

There are two kinds of table tennis shoes when looking at the support feature. Short cuts and long cuts offer different playing experiences, so you should think about which one you like and try both on and jump around like you would when playing table tennis.

Most table tennis shoes have low cuts because most people feel like a long cut comes on the way, and it also adds to the overall weight; however, people have different angles, so you should try what fits the best for you.

5. Your skills

As previously said, if you are a total beginner, then you should probably look at beginner-friendly shoes. If you haven’t played a lot of table tennis, you should check out the shoes on the affordable side because you should be sure that you want to play table tennis before purchasing expensive, quality shoes.

However, if you are sure, you are probably ready for proper table tennis shoes. The importance of good shoes becomes grow alongside your skills.

6. Shock absorption

Proper table tennis shoes should also be included with shock absorption. This means that there is a special sponge that is usually placed between the outer and middle soles.

This gives comfort and flexibility, and it absorbs a lot of the shock energy transferred to your food. Resulting in longer training sessions for you!

7. Playing environment

Finally, it goes without saying that if you plan to play table tennis outdoors, then you shouldn’t invest in table tennis shoes because they don’t offer the benefits when you play outside. Also, if you use your table tennis shoes on asphalt, sand, or gravel, you risk damaging them.

8. Brand

The brand has a lot to do with the quality, reputation, and price of the shoe. This is really up to you whether you want a pair from a great brand or will an unknown brand suffice for you.

Keep in mind that a pair from a well-known table tennis brand is of better quality; however, the price will follow as well. This also depends really on how much do you play and like table tennis.

One of the best table tennis shoe brands is undoubtedly Butterfly. It offers shoes from a low price point to a high with all variations of features that you could look for. However, Butterfly isn’t the only great brand that you can trust. I have an in-depth article where I review the top 11 dominating table tennis brands so you should definitely check that out.

9. Price

Naturally, a big portion of any product choice is the price. In the end, you should really reflect on how much do you play, how passionate about table tennis you are, your current financial situation, and you are going to keep with table tennis for a long time.

Your table tennis shoes will probably last for years; therefore, you shouldn’t overspend on a great pair if you don’t have the return of investment on it. On the other hand, if you are all of the things above and really love table tennis, then you shouldn’t underspend either but get that great pair that you deserve and enjoy.

Do table tennis shoes make a difference

Table tennis shoes are designed specifically for table tennis players. The shoes often feature shock absorption, extremely lightweight, thin sole that prevents injuries with a great grip, and comfortable materials that allow pleasant training sessions for long periods of time.

Conclusion

All in all, investing in a pair of table tennis shoes is totally worthwhile if you find the time and willingness to use them. After all, table tennis is your hobby, whether it is a serious or casual one, and you should be able to play it with a great set of equipment which gives you the performance you want.