It's a lot of fun playing ping pong at home if you have a table and during the recent pandemic, more people than ever outfitted their homes with one. While there's no doubt a racket is the most frequently purchased piece of table tennis equipment, it's also true the sales figures for tables increase every year. If you've been playing at a friend or relative's house and are shopping now yourself, consider a butterfly (folding) table tennis table. You can find excellent quality models in the mid-price range, and they're much easier to store. Nearly all butterfly tables have wheels, so they are easier to move.  

With the pandemic in the past, if you've now joined a table tennis center in your community and are playing more seriously, it's great to add a table at home. There's no substitute for playing against other competitive players at the racket club, but there are some ways you can practice skills on your table at home. Also, if you're fortunate to have other players at your level nearby, you can play practice matches on your new table. Don't be impulsive when you shop online and buy a table in the first ten minutes you've been browsing. Give yourself time to consider several options and sleep on them before you buy.

Mega retailers and big-box stores may come up first in your search, and there's no harm in browsing their selections. But do yourself a favor and check out table tennis specialty retailers as well.  They're more likely to have newer products and ones with more interesting (and useful) features. Large stores compete only on price and carry just the most popular models, and an excellent product that's recently introduced won't make their cut. Also, the salespeople at specialty retailers are often players and table owners themselves and can give you helpful advice. Knowing more leads you to a better decision.

A fun advantage of butterfly folding ping pong tables is the ability to fold up one side and play against it if you want to practice individually. When considering a folding table, most players focus on easier storage and moveability. But the ability for one person to practice is a nice feature that shouldn't be overlooked. When you're around the house and in the mood to play table tennis, you may surprise yourself with how many times you fold up one side and rally on your own. So if you're considering buying a table tennis table to keep and play on at home, give butterfly models strong consideration.