Best Table Tennis Shoes for Beginners and Professional Players [2023]

All table tennis players know how difficult it is to find comfortable and effective table tennis shoes. In our opinion, grip and comfort are two factors that must be combined, otherwise, the purchase of the shoes would be an unnecessary expense for the table tennis player.

In this article, you’ll get some tips that will help you better understand how to purchase your perfect table tennis shoes. We’ll also show you the 6 best table tennis shoes on the market:

Best table tennis shoes of 2023

What Is Different about Table Tennis Shoes?

Unlike your regular sneakers or other shoes you wear for other sports such as soccer, table tennis shoes are designed to make your movements easier. They are lighter, have a good grip, and have thin soles that allow quicker and easier side-to-side and front-to-back movements.

Why Do You Need Professional Table Tennis Shoes?

It is essential to choose a pair of professional table tennis shoes that will provide you with sufficient support to protect your feet, especially for competitive players.

This is because quick movements make the ankles and feet strained. Important characteristics to consider to choose the best tennis shoe are the terrain, foot shape, comfort, stability, resistance, cushioning, weight, and size.

6 Best Table Tennis Shoes

1. Mizuno Men’s Wave Inspire – Editor’s Choice

Mizuno Men's Wave Inspire
Mizuno Men’s Wave Inspire

The Wave Inspire is considered the best Mizuno table tennis shoes on the market and it’s not so hard to see why. Having been on the market for more than two decades, the shoes have seen several improvements over the years based on feedback from table tennis players.

To date, this is one of the best professional shoes available on the market. Over the years, many top players have made use of these shoes. Some of the celebrities are Ma Long and Timo Boll.

These shoes are built for stability, speed, and quick movements. This lightweight shoe is engineered from a breathable, synthetic mesh upper and the responsive Mizuno Enerzy foam.

Best Table Tennis Shoes Mizuno

Pros

  • Highly breathable
  • Decent foam cushioning
  • Good support for lateral movements
  • Durable and robust

Cons

  • A bit expensive
  • Not recommended for players with knee or heel problems

2. Butterfly Lezoline Rifones Shoes – Premium Pick

These table tennis shoes are designed for use by both men and women. Flexible with athletic support and a B-Absorber shock-absorbing cushion, these ping pong shoes are comfortable as well as light.

With the front upper part made of KPU material, the shoes are highly gripping and would be ideal for fast back-and-forth movements. Our premium pick, these are some of the best Butterfly table tennis shoes on the market presently.

Butterfly Lezoline Rifones Shoes
Butterfly Lezoline Rifones Shoes

Pros

  • Good shock-absorbing cushion
  • Ideal for those who want good athletic support
  • Excellent grip
  • Can also be used for badminton
  • Soft and lightweight

Cons

  • Very narrow

3. ASICS Men’s Solution Speed Tennis Shoes – Cheapest Table Tennis Shoes for Beginners

ASICS Men's Solution Speed Tennis Shoes
ASICS Men’s Solution Speed Tennis Shoes

You can enjoy your most powerful performance on the court with the ASICS men’s tennis shoes which are equipped with speed solution technologies. One of the best Asics shoes for table tennis, they are good quality shoes with good value for money.

The TWISTRUSS technology midsole helps absorb shock while increasing rebound. Meanwhile, the sock liner conforms to your feet for an unmatched feel of comfort under the feet. The special durability in the shoe’s upper part creates additional stability and comfort.

Pros

  • Very lightweight and comfortable
  • An upgrade to the previous version
  • Ideal for fast acceleration

Cons

  • Small in height
  • Narrower than other ASICS

4. Nike Men’s Air Max Torch 4 – Best Nike Shoes for Table Tennis

Nike Men's Air max Torch 4 Running
Nike Men’s Air Max Torch 4

Designed of 100% synthetic fabric, the Nike Air Max also has a man-made sole material with a synthetic outer material.

It has a mesh construction that provides breathability. In addition, the mesh construction ensures breathable comfort. The shoes have what Nike calls the Max Air cushioning system, which includes channels that impact shock and turn it into a dynamic energy return.

Pros

  • Includes a rubber outsole
  • Mesh system lets your feet breathe well
  • Attractive and stylish
  • True to size

Cons

  • The shoe may soon be discontinued
  • Narrow and tight

5. Butterfly Lime Green Lezoline Rifones Shoes – Best outdoor table tennis shoes

These unisex table tennis shoes are the same model which emerged as our premium pick. However, we think the lime green option is the best for outdoor use. This is because it’s the most colorful in the Butterfly Lezoline Rifones lineup.

Like the other ones, the shoes have good athletic support and a shock-absorbing cushion. The shoes are comfortable as well as light. The front upper part is made of KPU material, so the shoes are also well gripping. They would be ideal for fast back and forth movements.

Butterfly Lime Green Lezoline Rifones Shoes – Best outdoor table tennis shoes
Butterfly Lime Green Lezoline Rifones Shoes

Pros

  • Colorful lime green finish
  • Highly shock absorbent
  • The outer sole has good grip for all surfaces
  • Ideal for those who want good athletic support 
  • Available in different sizes

Cons

  • Very narrow

6. Butterfly Trynex Table Tennis Shoes – Beginner’s Choice

Sold for a starting price of less than $80, these Butterfly shoes are the cheapest table tennis shoes for beginners. These ping pong shoes are stylish and forgiving. They are made for use by both men and women.

The sneakers come in a size range from 4.5 to 10 and are available for sale in white and blue, white and black, white and navy, and white and red. They are high-performance shoes that are quite flexible and lightweight. The shoes have good support for fast lateral movements.

Butterfly Trynex Table Tennis Shoes - Beginner's Choice
Butterfly Trynex Table Tennis Shoes

Pros

  • Stylish
  • Light and flexible
  • Good lateral movements
  • High-performance shoes
  • Cheap and ideal for beginners

Cons

  • The sizes aren’t accurate

10 Criteria for Choosing Table Tennis Shoes

Table tennis shoes should be chosen with care by the table tennis player. In our opinion, these can directly influence performance and physical health. To have the right amount of freedom of movement for jumps and sprints in the table tennis game, your toes should have about an inch of clearance in the shoe.

This prevents the nails from pressing against the shoe when jumping and this painful tension from causing bleeding on the nail. Therefore, many customers choose to buy their tennis shoes one size larger.

Below are 10 more tips on the criteria to consider before choosing a pair of table tennis shoes:

1. Brand

Mizuno, Asics, Butterfly, Adidas, Nike, Li-ning, Stiga, and Joola offer very good models when it comes to table tennis shoes. With the different models of these brands, the player invests in a shoe that perfectly absorbs shocks, especially lateral. Rapid movements can therefore be carried out in complete safety, with a well-supported foot.

2. Gripping & Non-slip

While playing table tennis, we frequently move quickly and precisely. Table tennis shoes must therefore have sufficient grip so that they do not slip during a sharp stop. In addition, the absorption of shocks associated with sudden stops must also be a strong point of the shoe.

3. Lightweight & Flexibility

We always take the weight of the shoe into account before buying a pair. A shoe that is too heavy could slow down movements and thus reduce performance during a match, especially during competitions. It is, therefore, necessary to choose shoes with a thin, lighter, and flexible sole, taking into account the fact that the movements will never be held on the length, but rather on the dynamism.

4. Thin soles & Pliable

Ping Pong shoes need a thin, pliable, and grippy sole in order not to slip on the hall floor. They should also have flat heels, which ensure easy lateral movements. Normal running shoes should therefore generally not be used for table tennis, as they have too thick soles and high heels, which affects mobility.

5. Shock absorption and cushioning

Ping Pong shoes should also provide you with optimal cushioning to prevent ankle and knee injuries. In fact, in tennis, when you run, jump or make rapid movements back and forth, from left to right, your joints undergo numerous shocks which can create trauma. It is therefore important to protect your feet, ankle, and knee from these impacts by choosing suitable tennis shoes with good cushioning.

6. Durable materials

Many manufacturers reinforce the sides or bands with a sturdy fabric for a better hold. For optimal temperature regulation of the foot, many tennis shoes have an upper material with ventilation holes or mesh inserts.

In addition, the fabric of the shoe must be breathable to prevent excessive sweating. Many manufacturers also use mesh as a material in this area.

7. Breathable and comfortable

It is also recommended that the shoes are breathable so that your feet stay cool during the game. The ability of the material to allow water vapor to pass through the nature of the material is called breathability.

Your feet, in full effort, need to breathe in the shoes. This is why it is important to check the ventilation zones that the manufacturer has provided on the shoes. Shoes with a good ventilation system ensures breathability, and thus, feet comfort.

8. Athletic Support

In table tennis, as in most racket sports, it is essential to have athletic support and good stability to avoid any risk of injury but also to move more easily. TableTennis places a lot of stress on the joints, especially on the lower body, Achilles tendons, ankles, and knees. The shoes should provide good support for the foot and ankles to limit injuries or trauma such as sprains.

9. Fitted feet size

As always, you have to choose the right shoe sizes that fit your feet. If your feet are thin, choose shoes that are tighter and narrower for better support and more comfort. There are also several types of strides for each type of foot:

  • The pronator feet: These are also called pronator or flat feet and have an inward stride;
  • The supinator feet: These are types of feet with strong arch. They have outward strides.
  • Neutral feet: People with neutral feet usually have normal strides.

So, you can choose table tennis shoes based on your foot strides.

10. Reasonable price

In specialized stores or online as on Amazon, you will find a wide range of quality tennis shoes for all types of players from beginners to professional shoes. The higher the price, the more innovative and comfortable the shoes are.

The reasonable price range for these shoes is between $70 and $100. Entry-level models cost less than $70. Mid-range models cost between $75 to $110 while some high-end shoes can reach $300 in price.

FAQs

What Are The Different Types of Foot Arches?

There are three types of arch shapes that give rise to different types of feet:

  • The hollow or plantar arch which gives a hollow foot;
  • The normal arch of the foot;
  • The sagging arch gives a flat foot.

Hollow or flat feet can cause loss of balance when trying to stand on one foot because the arch does not do its stabilizing work properly.

The height of the arch also changes the space the foot needs in the shoe. For example, a hollow arch will raise the instep. The person will therefore feel pressure on the top of the foot.

Are table tennis shoes necessary?

Table tennis shoes are necessary for players who play on wood or taraflex floors. The shoes will let you move better.

Can table tennis shoes help me win the game?

Definitely, table tennis shoes have the needed grip that ensures precise movements and sharp stops. So, they will ensure better movement than when playing with bare feet and better ease of movement due to their lightness, compared to mere sneakers.

How long do table tennis shoes last?

Table tennis shoes are designed to last for up to two years. The durability of your shoes will depend, as we have seen, on their resistance but also on your playing frequency.

The lifespan of tennis shoes is also evaluated in relation to the resistance of the upper and the sole mainly. This resistance depends on the quality of the materials, the workmanship but also the different reinforcements added by the brands to avoid too rapid wear of the upper and the sole.

What shoes does Ma Long use?

Ma Long is known to use the Mizuno Wave table tennis shoes. Not just her, over the years, many top players have made use of these shoes. Some of the other celebrities include Timo Boll, Zhang Jike, Xu Xin, and Fan Zhendong. 

What type of shoes are best for table tennis?

There’s no shoe for everyone. You just need to discover what your feet need and what your playing environment needs. However, lighter, breathable, and grippy shoes are always the pick for everyone.

Where are Butterfly table tennis shoes made?

Butterfly shoes are made in Japan, where the brand started 71 years ago. It also has offices in Moers Germany, Shanghai China, and Seoul Korea.

Where to buy table tennis shoes?

You can buy table tennis shoes from sports stores around, general retail stores such as Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress, online specialty stores such as pingpongdepot.com, decathlon.com, megaspin.net, and even directly from brand websites such as Butterflyonline.com, Nike, and more.

What are the most comfortable tennis shoes for wide feet?

When it comes to choosing the right tennis shoes, you should try out the pairs that are available as widely as possible. Of course, the shoes should not pinch anywhere and their fit should be adjustable over the entire length of the instep using the laces.

Are badminton and ping pong shoes the same?

Badminton and ping pong shoes aren’t the same. However, many ping pong shoes can be used for badminton. One of these is the pair of Butterfly Lezoline Rifones Shoes.

Are tennis shoes good for ping pong games?

As tennis shoes are designed for harder courts, they are ideal for you if you want more durable shoes. Meanwhile, they won’t offer the lightness you need in specialty ping pong shoes.

Can you wear table tennis shoes for volleyball?

As a sportsman, it’s ideal that you wear the corresponding shoes for your type of sport. Table tennis shoes are for table tennis while volleyball shoes are for volleyball.

Other Articles on Table Tennis Equipment You May Need:

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