Why Are Ping Pong Balls Orange? (Fast & Detailed Answer)

Whether you are a party animal that plays beer pong or an advanced table tennis athlete, we all know that many ping pong balls are orange in color. But why is that? That’s what I’m here to explain!

This article will teach you everything you need to know about the coloring of ping pong balls, what is the difference between the balls, and some additional information about them. Before we move on to those topics, we need to understand why ping pong balls are orange in the first place?

Ping pong balls are orange because the ball is easier to see in certain surroundings. Whether an orange or white ball is used is based on the court floor, tables, and surrounding colors. Orange balls are used in casual games or training but never in tournaments or advanced competitions.

There are various opinions between people, whether using an orange ball is beneficial even in the surrounding surroundings because the white ball is so common and used in competitions. Since nearly all table tennis tables are blue, the white ball will is far easier to notice; therefore, they are the vast majority of ping pong balls today.

Read also: What Are Ping Pong Balls Made Of?

Is there a difference between orange and white ping pong balls

The difference between an orange and white ping pong ball is the color. International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has researched the colors and determined that white balls are best suited for the players and the audience on TV for better visibility.

However, orange balls can be a better choice for training, depending on the surrounding colors where the trainers are playing. This is because a casual table tennis club, community center, or an outdoor table tennis area hasn’t thought out the color blends and the competition, tournament, or even Olympic organizers.

There is certainly more into the subject so if you are truly interested what’s the difference between orange and white ping pong balls, I have an in-depth article about it that I think you should check out.

Is there a difference in ping pong balls

There are 4 differences in ping pong balls. First, the 2 ball colors are white and orange. Second, weight differences where the heaviest is 2.77g, and lightest 2.66g. Third, the 2 sizes are 38mm and 40mm. Finally, three ratings going from 1 to 3 stars, where the 3 is the highest quality and durability.

What color ping pong balls do pros use

Pro table tennis players use white 40+ 3-star ping pong balls approved by the International Table Tennis Federation(ITTF). Also, pro ping pong balls are 40mm in size, as the regulations require, and they are made from celluloid or modern ABS plastic.

What is inside a ping pong ball

Ping pong balls are hollow; therefore they are filled with air. However, there are balls that are made completely out of sponge foam composite, which allows table tennis players to play the sport with minimal noise. Naturally, these balls aren’t hollow.

What does 40+ ping pong ball mean

If you notice a ping pong ball labeled with a 40+ label, it is authorized by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for competition. This is why only balls that are 40+ are used in competition. What the 40+ actually means is that the ball is measured above 40mm, 40.2mm to be precise.

There are many other differences in addition to the size of the ping pong balls so if you want to know how to choose the right ping pong ball for you, check out my comprehensive article about it.

What is the best brand of ping pong balls

According to many table tennis players and the balls that are shown used in the competition. Nittaku, DHS, Killerspin, Butterfly, and Joola are the far most superior ping pong ball brands that are being used. Out of all these 5 brands, DHS seems to be the one that the professionals praise.

What ping pong balls are used in the Olympics

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, table tennis matches were played with DHS DJ40+ 3-star seam ball. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, the ball was also provided by DHS. If we go as far as the Summer Olympics 2012 in London, the ball was provided by Nittaku instead of DHS.

Learn more about table tennis and the Olympics: Why Is Table Tennis In The Olympics?

How fast is a ping pong ball

In most cases, a ping pong ball can reach the speed of 60-70mph (96-112kph) at the most because of its really light 2.7g weight. The air resistance is too fast, for it goes faster, even when the striker is good. However, the world record for the fastest table tennis hit is 72mph (116kph), which is impressive.

Conclusion

There is a lot to learn about ping pong ball’s colors, construction, and features. In history, there have been made a couple of important changes to the ball, which is shaped the sports we see today. Table tennis equipment is taken extremely seriously because even a small ball can make a big difference in the game.

I hope this article helped you understand why ping pong balls are orange, among other facts about them.