The JOOLA Inside Table is a great option for all the tennis lovers out there. It features an affordable price, a short assembly time, and it is one of Amazon’s best sellers.
It is a great option for recreational play (or if you choose to go for the more expensive table, for professional play as well). It is sure to bring you many moments of fun! So let us dive into this review.
What Are The Specifications Of The JOOLA Inside Table?
- Table Dimensions – 9 ft x 5 ft (regulation size)
- Assembly – 10 – 20 minutes (comes 95 percent preassembled)
- Table Surface thickness – 5/8″ (15mm) tabletop (also features other models)
- Table weight – 137lbs
- USATT Approved – It’s USA Table Tennis approved for quality
- Our rating – 9.9/10
What Are The Different Models Of The JOOLA Inside Table?
There are three different models of the JOOLA Inside Table, two of which are not approved by the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation). These two are more suited for either beginners or table tennis players that view the sport as more of a hobby and less of a professional endeavor, and the last one (the JOOLA Inside 25 table) is more suited for those at a level intermediate or above that look at the sport as a real passion and a profession.
Here are the three JOOLA Inside options you have to choose from:
- The JOOLA Inside 15 Table (it features a 5/8 inches or 15mm surface thickness)
- The JOOLA Inside 18 Table (it features a 3/4 inches or 18mm surface thickness)
- The JOOLA Inside 25 Table (it features a 1 inch or 25mm surface thickness and is ITTF approved)
All of these tables feature a wood composite surface. The average table tennis table has a 19mm surface thickness. The gist of the issue with table surface thickness is that the thicker the table playing surface, the better the bounce will be on your ball. This means you will not have to hit the ball as hard to get the same return on your bounce, you will be able to do better tricks, you will have consistent ball bounce, and you will generally have an easier time playing.
Lastly, the ITTF, or the International Table Tennis Federation, is the federation that regulates the proper industry and tournament standards, meaning if you are looking to be a professional, you should look for products that are ITTF approved, since that will mean they are professional-grade (or competition-grade) and you can use them during tournaments.
What Are The Pros Of The JOOLA Inside Table?
There are several pros to the JOOLA Inside table tennis table. It is especially easy to assemble, taking up only about 15 minutes of your time as it will come straight out of the box already 95 percent preassembled. Usually, most ping pong tables on the market take anywhere from a few to several hours to put together as you have to do it all yourself or have someone else do it for you. This is not the case with this table since all you need to do is put the legs on.
It also conveniently splits into two separate table halves, meaning you will be able to fold it up and put it in storage easily, as it will take up much less space (it can pack down to compact storage dimensions of 21½ x 61¾ inches), and it also means you have the single-player playback mode (also called the playback position), where you lift up one of the halves to be able to practice by yourself whenever you need.
Each half of the table has four 3″ locking caster wheels that feature a spring-loaded locking safety latch system on the bottom of the table that keeps it in place and prevents it from unfolding unintentionally. This table also features very heavy-duty steel legs that are one and a half inches thick and with powder coated chassis to prevent rust.
At the bottom of each of the table legs are 1.25″ adjustable height levelers to help make sure that your table will be completely level. The leg levelers will also help you adjust it to your ideal size. You will also receive corner protectors to make sure it does not scratch anywhere or hurt you or your family.
Additionally, on the feet of the table, there are also rubber ends to prevent any scratches to your floor. Dual safety locking devices prevent it from leaving the folded or playback position. All of these features and more make it a very safe table to play at.
Another great feature is that it is quite a lightweight foldable table, only weighing about 137 pounds, meaning it is also quite portable and you can move it around at will. The manufacturer also offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee as well as a great return policy in case you have any problems with your product.
The company, JOOLA, has been manufacturing both recreational tennis products (tables as well as ping pong paddles) and professional tennis products, some of which have even been used in the Olympics and official tournaments all over the globe. They are a great, high-quality brand with many years of experience.
Finally, the crown jewel of this ping pong table is that it is currently Amazon’s best-selling indoor table tennis table, so you can easily see how many people have enjoyed and continue to enjoy this great table. So, to sum up:
- It is so easy to assemble
- It splits into two halves
- It features a personal playback mode
- There are eight 3″ wheels for easy mobility
- There is a strong steel undercarriage
- There are height adjusters
- There are corner protectors included
- It is a safe
- It is lightweight
- It is portable
- There is a 100% satisfaction guarantee
- It features a great return policy
- This a great brand
- It is very popular
What Are The Cons Of The JOOLA Inside Table?
There are also some cons to the JOOLA Inside table. Unsurprisingly to anyone that has read through any table tennis table review or buying guide, the biggest concern with these tables is the surface thickness.
As it was mentioned a few sections ago, there are three different models of the JOOLA Inside table: the JOOLA Inside 15 (it features a 5/8 inches or 15mm surface thickness), the JOOLA Inside 18 (it features a 3/4 inches or 18mm surface thickness), and the JOOLA Inside 25 (it features a 1 inch or 25mm surface thickness and is ITTF approved).
Both the JOOLA Inside 15 and the JOOLA Inside 18 models have a lesser-than-average surface thickness, meaning your ball bounce will not be optimal. However, if you are willing to shell out for the JOOLA Inside 25 model, then you will have a great ball bounce and your problems will be solved.
Another issue with this table is that, as the name suggests, it is made for indoor use only since it should not be used in high heat or in a high humidity area and is therefore not a good outdoor table tennis table. This means that if you do decide to bring it outside it will not have the same lifespan as it would if it was only ever used inside.
Furthermore, the included post and net set you will get with this ping pong table are not the best quality. Some customers that have used it reported the clamps which are meant to keep the net attached to the table tend to become loose easily. Finally, there is no manufacturer warranty with this product, however, you will still get the customer satisfaction guarantee and the return policy to appease this issue. So, to sum up:
- It does not feature the best surface thickness
- It is an indoor table only
- The net and post set is not great
- There is no manufacturer warranty
What Are The Reviews Of JOOLA Inside Table Like?
This section is for transparency’s sake. Here, you can see what real people think and what their issues might be. This means you can check that it matches up to what we have written in this review. We believe that this can be quite important so that you are aware that you can place your trust in us and this review. We have cut down these reviews to more bitesize chunks but you can believe that we have kept the most essential content.
We have also decided to include both a positive and a negative review so that you know what people on both sides of the aisle are saying and what their experiences are. We believe this is the best way for you to see what the main benefits and the possible downsides are with the JOOLA Inside Table. So without further ado, here is the positive review:
“We are loving this table. It was super easy to assemble, although I would recommend having two people, due to the weight of the pieces. [..] Putting up one side for practice is a little awkward if your table is on carpet (like mine) as you have to separate the pieces, fold it up (super easy), and then put the pieces back together. […] For the price, I would definitely recommend this table for a first time purchase. [..]”
Now onto the negative review of the JOOLA Inside Table:
“After doing extensive research, I settled on the JOOLA Inside as the best table tennis table for my family – in part based on the preponderance of reviews being highly positive. […] However, to my dismay, when setting up the table, I noticed that two of the metal pieces which were screwed into the underside of the table had pulled away. I attempted to screw them back in, however it soon became clear that the holes that had been drilled into the table were too large to accommodate the screws, making the entire assembly “flimsy”.[..]”
What Are Other Table Tennis Tables Like?
The JOOLA Inside Table’s main competitor in the current market is the STIGA Advantage Table, another great table tennis table that gives the JOOLA Inside Table a run for its money. There are several similarities between these two ping pong tables.
They both feature a quick assembly, they are both highly portable and can fold away, they both feature a strong and durable frame as well as a smooth playing surface. They also both feature a single-player playback mode, they both come with a net and posts included, they are both very affordable. They both feature a return policy, great reviews on Amazon, and come from a trustworthy brand.
Similar to the JOOLA Inside Table, the STIGA Advantage Table also comes in three different models, where, again, similarly to the JOOLA models, the only real and significant difference between them is the table surface thickness. Here are the three models and their respective table surface thickness:
- The STIGA Advantage Lite – 1/2″ (13mm)
- The STIGA Advantage – 5/8″ (16mm)
- The STIGA Advantage Pro – 3/4″ (19mm)
As you can see, while the STIGA Advantage Pro model does reach the ITTF’s (International Table Tennis Federation) recommended table surface thickness for professional players and professional tournaments, all of the models of the STIGA Advantage Table have considerably less table surface thickness than the JOOLA Inside Table models.
This means that although both of these products have a lot of similarities and are essentially interchangeable, especially if you are not a professional player, on the element of table surface thickness, the JOOLA Inside Table wins out. If you are already a professional player or you are training in order to become one, then we recommend that you stick with the JOOLA Inside Table option.
However, at the same time, if you are actually not a professional player and just play ping pong as a hobby, then you could go with the STIGA Advantage Table, as it is actually the cheaper option (obviously depending on the models you are comparing, as the STIGA Advantage Pro will be more expensive than the JOOLA Inside 15 Table).
There is also a final advantage to the STIGA Advantage Table models, and that is that, unlike the JOOLA Inside Table, you can use their tables outside as well as inside. Often, if you have a smaller home or just generally less space inside for your table, you might want the option to place it outside without having it lose out on its lifespan. If this is something that concerns you, then it is more likely that the STIGA Advantage will be the best option for you.
Similarly, if you own a business such as a bar or a cafe with an outside area and would like to give your guests the option to play without losing the seating area inside, then this other option can be the better one for you. You can go for the STIGA Advantage Pro as well if you are concerned with the table surface thickness, as while it is not certified for professional play, it should do just fine for recreational play.
Final Verdict:
The JOOLA Inside table is a great option for affordable, high durability, and easy to set-up way to have fun with your family and your friends. It has great features that are sure to give you many years of enjoyment and practice. Although it is not meant for professionals or serious players (unless you pick the JOOLA Inside 25, as it has a much better surface thickness and is, therefore, a tournament quality table and ITTF approved), you should still have a great time using this table. If you need any more convincing, the fact that it is Amazon’s best-selling indoor table should tell you all you really need to know.
Bonus tip: Check out this cool video about some crazy, incredible table tennis shots!
