A Comprehensive Guide to Table Tennis Barriers

While table tennis barriers are absolutely required when there are multiple tables in a room, so ping pong clubs and tournaments will need them. But they are far from essential in a casual setting. Despite this, they are a good buy to ensure the action never stops! 

Table tennis balls have a habit of covering every corner of a room if you let them, so ping pong barriers help prevent you from interrupting others’ games and getting yours interrupted. They are also very useful if you play in a large hall. I hate running long distances to retrieve balls, and barriers mean I don’t have to do it very often.

Size and Assembly of Table Tennis Barriers

There is no standard size for a barrier on a ping pong table, however, most of the barriers used in tournaments have a size of 78″ x 28″ or 200cm x 72cm.

The vast majority of barriers are quick to assemble. Simply connect the center pole to the other lateral poles, insert the pole into the cover, and then connect the leg poles by feeding them through the cover material at a 90-degree angle. Every part should click into place nicely.

Table Tennis Barrier Materials

Many table tennis court barriers are constructed from nylon. However, other materials such as PVC are quite common as it is very cheap. 

If you opt to go the nylon route, you should know that nylon comes in different grades. The unit of measurement for nylon quality is denier (D). The higher the denier, the higher the density (more strands of nylon), therefore the higher the quality of nylon.

210D

The barrier made from this type of fabric is suitably used for temporary training courses or a billboard.

420D

420D barriers not only use thicker nylon fabric, but the skeleton is also thicker. Its overall construction is strong and stable. These types of barriers are suitable for building family fences or use in an arena activity room.

600D

The nylon and fabric used for 600D are even thicker, which makes the barrier strong and durable. It is suitable for use in business arenas, corporate units, or in regular competitions.

PVC

PVC or polyvinyl chloride is one of the most commonly used plastic polymers worldwide. Its density and low cost make it a great option for table tennis barriers. Of course, it is one of the more basic options and feels much cheaper than the likes of PU leather.

PU Leather

Some table tennis fences are made from PU leather. These are built with a spacious bottom to make them even more stable. PU leather barriers are suitable for high-end stadiums, large and medium-sized business units, or world competitions. This type of barrier can look very smooth and delicate.

Skeleton

The skeleton or the tube of the barriers can be made from many different materials. The materials commonly used include plastic draping, steel, vinyl, and metal. The tube’s diameter is usually 2cm, and the thickness of the tube can be 0.75cm, 0.85cm, or 0.95cm. The thicker the tubing, the stronger the frame.

Safety Precaution

Before we proceed with our top table tennis barrier recommendations, a quick safety warning. You shouldn’t place table tennis barriers too close to where you are playing, otherwise, you can end up running into them. It’s happened to me plenty of times, and it’s never fun. So be warned.

Also, be aware of the legs of ping pong barriers. If you don’t have barriers meeting at a right angle, their legs will be exposed, which you can step on. As the legs are not in your peripheral vision, you can’t see them, so slipping on them is easier than you think.

The Top Table Tennis Barriers

JOOLA Pro Barriers

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Pros

• Good value for money
• Stylish
• More robust than other barriers

Cons

• Only available in packs of 5

If you’re looking for the highest quality table tennis barrier you need look no further than the JOOLA Pro barrier. As it is part of the pro line, it is higher quality than the generic barriers you find at most clubs. Where most barriers have material that hangs from the metal frame, the JOOLA Pro barrier has its cover attached to the frame on all sides.

In fact, it uses a magnetic assembly system which is certainly more elegant than the norm. These barriers are also lightweight which makes them very easy to move around.

While they are our favorite ping pong barrier from a functional point of view, they are also our favorite aesthetically speaking. They really do look great and have designs on both sides. The front has the logo in yellow, with “JOOLA” in grey, whereas the back has just the logo, larger, and in grey.

Of course, we quickly need to cover the drawback with this barrier — it only comes in a set of 5. This may put off some people. However, for most, I think 5 barriers is a good amount to have, and you are more likely to need more than 5 rather than less than 5.  The JOOLA Pro barrier set is also pretty good value for money.

Butterfly Europa Barrier

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Pros

• Available as singles

Cons

• Made of a cheap material — presumably PVC

The Europa barrier is the official barrier from Butterfly. It’s very basic looking, and only has the logo displayed on one side of the cover. It’s not the highest quality barrier but it certainly serves its purpose.

The Butterfly Europa barrier measures 7’8″ x 2’4″.

Killerspin Barriers

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Pros

• Fairly priced

Cons

• Only available in packs of 5

Made from steel tubes and polyester covers, the Killerspin barrier is not quite as durable as some other barriers you find. However, provided you don’t abuse it, it should last for many years to come. After all, it will mainly be tackling rogue table tennis balls and the occasional instance where it is knocked over.

The front of the barrier has the Killerspin logo and website, with the reverse side having the text “UnPlug Play” and the website domain once again.

Conclusion

Table tennis barriers are far from essential, but they do certainly help enhance your experience while playing. Forever collecting balls is a bit of a nightmare, and nobody likes their points constantly interrupted.

My recommendation is to consider getting a set of barriers if you play in an area with multiple tables. And don’t think too hard about the specific brand you buy. While the model matters a great deal with equipment such as your rubbers and blade, this is not the case when it comes to barriers.

You don’t need anything flash or expensive as they fulfill a very basic purpose. That being said, my favorite is the JOOLA Pro barrier. Simply because it looks the best and is well-priced.

Related posts:

• Getting the Right Ping Pong Accessories
• Table Tennis Brands: What’s in a Name?
• What Is Meant by a TT Board?
• Basic Types of Table Tennis Equipment