The Top 10 Best Table Tennis Shoes of 2024

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  • Post last modified:January 4, 2024
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Like every sport, in table tennis, you need the best pieces of equipment to lift your skills. But, unfortunately, most of us neglect the importance of a good pair of shoes. Ping pong is a fast-paced game, and to coup up with this fast nature, you need good footwork. A good quality table tennis shoe helps you work on your footwork more smoothly and easily. But the difficulty everyone faces is finding the right one among the huge variety of stocks. So to make things easier for you, I have shortlisted the 10 best table tennis shoes and reviewed each of them along with the positive and negative sides. In the end, I have also added a buying guide and simple but effective maintenance steps.

A good table tennis shoe should be flexible, lightweight, and grippy. It also should have a low-heel cap, and thin outsole to give good performance while working on your footwork.

Best Table Tennis Shoes: Top Picks

Best Table Tennis Shoes Reviews

NameBrandRankPrice
(Size: 8)
Lezoline RifonesButterfly1$164.77
Lezoline ReissButterfly2$99.99
Lezoline GroovyButterfly3$159.18
Lezoline VilightButterfly4$104.99
Lezoline UnizesButterfly5$94.99
Wave Lightning Z6Mizuno6$99.25
Gel-Rocket 10Asics7$54.95
Lezoline TrynexButterfly—-Out-of-stock
Gel-Rocket 9Asics8$89.95
Upcourt 5Asics9$48.90
JOOLA CourtJOOLA10$59.95

Before going to the detailed reviews of the top 10 shoes, let’s have a look at the anatomy of a ping pong shoe (same as running shoes).

Anatomy of Running Shoe

Butterfly Lezoline Rifones Table Tennis Shoes

Key Technologies

  • B-Armor: Forefoot protection with the front upper part made with highly resistant KPU material
  • B-Absorber: For cushioning and 
  • B-Ridge: Middle sole supporting sliding motion
  • One-Sided Shoe Tongue: Preventing undesired movements and better feeling
  • Wingrip: High ability grip/ traction
  • STB: For stable footwork,

The Lezoline Rifones from Butterfly is a top-class table tennis shoe that has been designed for professional-level table tennis games. Timo Boll, Jun Mizutani, and Tomokazu Harimoto are some examples of top-level players who have found it useful for their footwork movement.

Butterfly Lezoline Rifones gives you the benefits of superior support, extreme cushioning for comfort, better flexibility for multi-directional movements, superb grip, and also protects your foot from injury.

This well-designed quality shoe covered with many innovative technologies ranks 1st among the best table tennis shoes.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Very comfortable and durable
  • Extreme grip
  • Many color options (7)

Cons

  • A bit tighter than the standard sizing
  • High price

Butterfly Lezoline Reiss

The Lezoline Reiss, the latest released table tennis shoe from Butterfly has been specifically designed for Beginners and intermediate players. The quality shoe offers good support for movement while maintaining the desired comfort.

Butterfly Lezoline Reiss consists of a synthetic upper with mesh linings, an EVA midsole, and a rubber outsole. It is a modern table tennis shoe that gives a comfortable fit and good traction for quick lateral movement. 

This good-looking, reasonably-priced shoe is available in four attractive colors, purple, blue, navy, and black.

Pros

  • Excellent grip
  • Well-built and durable
  • Comfortable
  • Value for money

Cons

  • Suitable for beginners and intermediates

Butterfly Lezoline Groovy

Butterfly Lezoline Groovy is a good table tennis shoe for beginners, intermediates, and also for professionals. The shoe looks stylish and feels comfortable. The mess toe box has been covered with synthetic material to add durability. Another specialty of the Lezoline Groovy is the wide-toe support. You don’t have to bother regarding toe pain during a long-duration match. 

The midsole is also made thin to close the gap between your foot and the floor which is good for stable footwork.

Pros

  • Lightweight and durable
  • Wide foot support
  • Good grip

Cons

  • Expensive

Butterfly Lezoline Vilight

Butterfly Vilight, the new Lezoline series shoe represents the symbol of speed. It is a stylish, lightweight table tennis shoe that is available in 4 eye-catching colors, navy, red, turquoise, and red.

The excellent outer sole gives you the advantage of speedy and accurate footwork. The lightweight midsole is good for cushioning and the upper half provides sufficient ventilation and resistance.

Pros

  • Stylish and lightweight
  • Excellent grip
  • 4 eye-catching colors

Cons

  • Some issues with durability

Butterfly Lezoline Unizes Table Tennis Shoe

The Unizes of Butterfly Lezoline series can meet the demands of a wide range of players, from beginners to advanced players. It is a lightweight and flexible shoe. The synthetic upper with mesh provides good breathability. The joint areas are reinforced with artificial leather to enhance the durability of the shoe.

Butterfly Lezoline Unizes is made with EVA midsole for shock absorption and rubber sole for traction. The rubber sole is extended sidewise for easy side-to-side movement.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Good grip

Cons

  • Expensive

Mizuno Men’s Wave Lightning Z6

Key Technologies

  • Wave Technology: Distributing shock uniformly throughout the entire sole
  • D-Flex Groove: A diagonal groove in the midfoot area
  • XG Rubber: An outsole material with maximum traction

The latest Wave Lightning Z6 from Mizuno is a lightweight shoe that gives you the advantage of quick acceleration and at the same time provides stability. The EVA midsole is good for shock absorption which is further enhanced by the addition of the Wave technology. Another noticeable aspect of Mizuno Wave Lightning Z6 is the diagonal groove in the midfoot area which helps with directional changes without any loss of power and speed.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable
  • Perfect grip

Cons

  • High price

Other Variant: “Mizuno Women’s Wave Lightning Z6


Butterfly Lezoline Trynex

The Lezoline Trynex, one of the best table tennis shoes, has been designed for extreme breathability. The whole upper synthetic cover has a mesh construction that enhances the air exchange rate between your foot and the outside atmosphere. The EVA midsole absorbs shocks during abrupt movement to keep your heel and knee safe.

The rubber outsole has good traction to work on your footwork with confidence.

Pros

  • Lightweight and true fit
  • Super breathability
  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Slightly expensive

Asics Women’s Gel-Rocket 9

Key Technologies

  • Breathable upper mesh
  • Gel Technology
  • Trusstic System
  • Removable sock liner

Asics Women’s Get-Rocket 9 is lightweight, easy to wear, and has wide-toe support. The Gel technology gives you the extra benefit of maximum shock absorption on your heel area. Further, the springy EVA midsole adds to the cushioning effect.

One important feature of a table tennis shoe is its stability during multi-directional movements. The innovative Trusstic System technology works in that area. The sock liner molds the shape of your foot in a way so that you can play foot inside the shoe.

The outsole is made with gum rubber that offers the best grip for smoother and quicker movement.

Pros

  • True fit and stability
  • Very comfortable
  • Good traction

Cons

  • Ankle support

Other Variant: “ASICS Men’s Gel-Rocket 9


ASICS Men’s Gel-Rocket 10

Asics Gel Rocket 10 is the top-class product of the renowned Asics Sports Brand which is famous for its superior quality in terms of comfort, stability, and gripping capacity.

Key Technologies

  • Breathable upper mesh
  • Gel Technology
  • Trusstic System
  • Heel Wrap-up
  • Flex Grooves

The Gel-Rocket 10, the latest release of the Get-Rocket series, has improved stability with an extra layer of flexibility. In addition to the features of the previous model Gel-Rocket 9, the sole is designed to enhance smoother landing, sidewise movement, and better gripping with improved flexibility.

Pros

  • Super comfortable
  • Perfect fit
  • Enhanced grip

Cons

  • The insole is not removable

Other Variant: “ASICS Women’s Gel-Rocket 10


Asics Women’s Upcourt 5

Key Technologies

  • Synthetic leather paneling
  • Round-toe design
  • Closer lace-up
  • Mesh Underlays

Asics Upcourt 5 is a good-looking lightweight shoe, available at the lowest price range among the superior APACS indoor shoes.

Like most Asics shoes, the upper part of the Upcourt 5 is designed with synthetic leather overlays with mesh lining. This design gives you support and stability for movement. The other benefit is the smooth air exchange that makes you feel comfortable.

Its supportive midfoot overlays offer better stability when changing direction in movement. The gum rubber outsole of this indoor shoe has improved gripping to prevent slippage while working on your footwork.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable
  • Good gripping
  • Durable

Cons

  • A little effort is required to remove the insole

Other Variant: ASICS Men’s Upcourt 5


JOOLA Court Table Tennis Shoe

joola court table tennis shoe

The last one on this list is the JOOLA Court shoe. This lightweight shoe fulfills all the benchmarks satisfactorily for featuring one of the best table tennis shoes. The faux leather upper and soft insole make it a nice fit. The outsole is made with rubber which provides a good grip and also has enough flexibility for sidewise movement.

Pros

  • Super lightweight
  • Comfortable
  • Reasonable price

Cons

  • Size issue (may require one size larger)

How to Choose Table Tennis Shoes

There are 7 key factors based on which you can judge whether a table tennis shoe is good or not.

Grip/Traction

It is the first and foremost criterion for a table tennis shoe. The game of ping pong involves side-to-side, in-and-out, and cross-over footwork actions, and to do that effectively, a good grip is a must. If the grip is not good enough, there are chances of slipping down on the floor which may bring injuries.

Thin but Hard Sole

A thin sole brings your foot closer to the ground, thus lowering your center of gravity. This gives you the much-needed stability in your footwork. Also, the sole should be hard enough for a good balance in your foot movement.

Lightweight

The weight of a good table tennis shoe should be around 200 grams. Your shoe should not be too heavy to restrict your movement during the game.

Cushioning

The material for cushioning is another important aspect of a ping pong shoe. Proper cushioning absorbs shocks on impact and keeps your knees and feet safe from pain and injuries.

Breathability

Table tennis is a fast-paced game and due to the heat generation, your feet get sweated during play which not only makes you feel uncomfortable but also creates undesired smells. A well-constructed ventilated shoe keeps your feet dry and cool during practice/ play.

Flexibility

A table tennis shoe should be flexible enough for multi-directional movements.

Price

The price of table tennis shoes is directly proportional to your playing level. As a beginner, you do not have to worry about investing too much. But when you are competing at the highest level, a good pair of shoes (which cost more) gives you the advantage to work on your footwork with more confidence.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can badminton shoes be used to play table tennis?

If you are a beginner or intermediate, it is okay to use badminton shoes for playing table tennis. But at higher levels, badminton shoes are not good enough as they are relatively heavier and harder.

Can running shoes be used for table tennis?

The simple answer is no. Running shoes have thicker soles and high heels which will restrict your side-by-side movements. 

Which are the best table tennis shoe brands?

There are not many manufacturers of table tennis shoes. Among them, Butterfly, Mizuno, Asics, and JOOLA are the best.

How often should a table tennis shoe be replaced?

The durability depends upon the frequency of use and the quality of the shoe material, especially the upper near the toe box. On average, a quality shoe lasts around 2 years.


How to Care for Your Table Tennis Shoes

  • Clean your shoes at regular intervals after play/ practice.
  • Don’t dip your shoes into the water while washing.
  • Don’t expose your shoes to direct water.
  • Use cold water and mild detergent while handwashing your shoes with the help of a soft cloth.
  • Don’t machine wash.
  • Keep your shoes away from heating elements and chemicals.
  • Don’t dry up shoes under direct sunlight.
  • Keep your shoes in a well-ventilated place.

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