Table tennis brands: where they come from
The best known table tennis brands come from Japan (such as Butterfly, Nittaku, Yasaka and Victas), Germany (Joola, Donic, Tibhar, andro), China (DHS, 729 Friendship, Sanwei), Sweden (Stiga), South Korea (Xiom) and France (Cornilleau, for tables). None is best for everyone: compare products by blade, rubber and sponge, not by logo.
In this article
Walk into a table tennis shop and you will see dozens of logos. Some brands have been around for more than 70 years, others are much newer, and almost all of them make paddles, rubbers and apparel. Knowing where a brand comes from helps you understand its style, but it does not tell you which is best for you.
This guide introduces the best known table tennis brands by origin, with no ranking and no product picks. The goal is to help you understand the market and know what to compare.
Table tennis brands by country
| Country | Example brands | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Butterfly, Nittaku, Yasaka, Victas | Blades, rubbers and balls; a long tradition |
| Germany | Joola, Donic, Tibhar, andro | Tensor rubbers, blades and tables |
| China | DHS, 729 Friendship, Sanwei | Tacky rubbers, pre-made paddles, balls and tables |
| Sweden | Stiga | Paddles, blades and tables |
| South Korea | Xiom | Blades and rubbers |
| France | Cornilleau | Tables, including outdoor ones |
These are well known examples, not a complete list. A brand's home country is also not the same as where it manufactures: many brands make gear in factories abroad.
A little history
Butterfly (Japan)
Founded in 1950 by Hikosuke Tamasu, a table tennis player himself, in Yanai, Japan. It grew alongside Japan's golden era in the 1950s and became one of the most recognized names in blades and rubbers.
DHS (China)
Double Happiness, known as DHS, is based in Shanghai. Its name is usually linked to two events in 1959: the tenth anniversary of the People's Republic of China and China's first men's singles world title, won by Rong Guotuan. The brand is closely associated with tacky rubbers and with tables and balls used at major tournaments.
Stiga (Sweden)
A Swedish brand with roots in the 1930s and 1940s. It is closely tied to the growth of table tennis in Sweden, one of Europe's strongest table tennis nations.
Joola (Germany)
A German brand that traces its origin to 1952, when it began making table tennis tables. Today it makes tables, paddles, rubbers and balls.
For the bigger picture of when these brands appeared, see the history of table tennis.
The rubber "schools"
More useful than memorizing brands is understanding product styles:
| Style | What it is like | Most common with |
|---|---|---|
| Tacky rubber | Sticky surface, hard sponge; lots of spin, needs a full stroke | Chinese brands |
| Tensor rubber | Grippy surface, springy sponge; fast with less effort | Japanese, German and other brands |
| Pre-made paddle | Comes assembled, often rated with stars | Nearly every brand |
These styles now overlap: European brands make tackier rubbers and Chinese brands make tensor rubbers. Each type is explained in table tennis rubber.
Does the brand matter?
Less than you might think. What changes your game is:
- blade speed and number of plies;
- rubber type and hardness;
- sponge thickness;
- handle and weight.
Two products from one brand can be opposites, and two from different brands can be nearly identical. Compare the specs, not the logo. The walkthrough is in how to choose a ping pong paddle.
Watch out for each brand's ratings
Many brands publish speed, spin and control numbers, or stars on pre-made paddles. Each brand uses its own scale, so "speed 9" from one is not "speed 9" from another. See what stars mean in what the stars on a ping pong paddle mean.
ITTF-approved rubber
For tournaments, the brand does not matter: what matters is whether the rubber is on the ITTF's approved list. Approved rubbers carry the ITTF logo and approval number near the handle. Many brands have approved rubbers. The full rules are in table tennis racket rules.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main table tennis brands?
Among the best known are Butterfly, Nittaku, Yasaka and Victas (Japan), Joola, Donic, Tibhar and andro (Germany), DHS, 729 Friendship and Sanwei (China), Stiga (Sweden), Xiom (South Korea) and Cornilleau (France, for tables).
What is the best table tennis brand?
There is no single best. Every brand makes products for different levels and styles. Compare blade, rubber and sponge.
Where is Butterfly table tennis from?
Japan. It was founded in 1950 by Hikosuke Tamasu and is known for blades and rubbers.
Are Chinese table tennis brands good?
Many are. Chinese brands are known for tacky rubbers, which give lots of spin but need a full stroke.
Does a brand need ITTF approval for tournaments?
The rubber is what gets approved, not the brand. For tournaments, use rubbers from the ITTF approved list.