What do the stars on a ping pong paddle mean?

On the shelf, lots of pre-made paddles show stars on the box or handle: 1 star, 3 stars, 6 stars, sometimes even 10. It is easy to assume there is an official chart behind them, like hotel stars. There is not.

This guide explains what the stars on a ping pong paddle actually mean, why comparing stars across brands does not work, and what to look at instead.

What the stars mean

Stars are a manufacturer's internal rating. They organize one brand's line of pre-made paddles from the most basic model to the most advanced. Within the same brand, usually:

• fewer stars: slower paddles with simpler rubber and thin sponge, meant for fun and beginners;
• more stars: faster blades, better rubbers and thicker sponge, meant for players who already attack.

The habit is very common on pre-made paddles from Chinese brands, but you will see it on brands from many countries.

There is no official star rating

Three key points:

1. Each brand picks its own scale. One goes from 1 to 5, another from 1 to 7, another from 1 to 10. Some use names instead of stars.
2. Stars from different brands do not compare. A "5 star" paddle from one brand can be slower than a "4 star" from another.
3. The ITTF does not give stars to paddles. The international federation approves rubbers (each one carries the ITTF logo and an approval number) and sets rules for the blade. It does not rate pre-made paddles for quality.

There is also no direct link between stars and price, or between stars and "pro paddle". Top players almost always use custom paddles, which have no stars at all.

What about stars on ping pong balls?

This is where the confusion comes from. Balls also come with 1, 2 or 3 stars, and there 3 stars marks the manufacturer's top quality line. Competition balls must be an ITTF-approved model, and many of them are sold as 3 star. But again, the stars come from the maker and the approval comes from the ITTF: two different things. More in ping pong balls.

How to use the stars

Stars help in one situation: choosing between models from the same brand. If you like a paddle and want something a little faster, going up a star or two in the same line is a reasonable move.

What to compare instead of stars

To really compare paddles, look for:

• Blade: speed class (DEF, ALL, OFF-, OFF, OFF+), number of plies and whether it has carbon. See table tennis blade.
• Rubber: inverted or pips, and whether it is ITTF approved.
• Sponge: thickness in millimeters. Thicker is faster.
• Weight: very heavy paddles tire your arm.
• Handle: straight, flared or anatomic.

With that, you can compare any paddle from any brand. The full walkthrough is in how to choose a ping pong paddle.

How many stars for a beginner?

For beginners the right question is not "how many stars" but "how much control". A control paddle with an ALL blade and 1.5 to 1.8 mm sponge helps you learn. In many lines that means the middle-star models, not the top ones. The highest-star models are usually too fast for someone still grooving their strokes. See best ping pong paddle for beginners.

Frequently asked questions