A table tennis conversion top is a masterful invention. It’s so simple I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. Anyway, it’s basically just the top of a ping pong table. No legs. That’s it.

You buy it and then it fits right onto the top of your pool or billiards table. They cost about $150 and up. As always, the more you pay, the better your play. So I have compiled this guide to the four most basic things that anyone should consider when trying to figure out which top is ideal for them. I consider myself sort of an expert in this field.

1. How large is your current pool table?

This is almost never a problem, because table tennis conversion tops are very versatile and are designed to fit over a pool table that is almost any length and width. But it wouldn’t hurt to measure it, just so you can confidently purchase. No one likes to return a huge item like this.

2. Is you pool table currently outdoors?

If your table is outdoor, don’t worry. Pretty much every major ping pong manufacturer makes a weatherproof conversion top. Now, I doubt you play pool out under the open sky. Maybe you have it in an enclosed porch or in the garage, where it is subject to more weather, wind, and sun, etc. If so, you will probably want to look into a weatherproof table tennis conversion top. That’s all!

3. How serious a player are you?

For the most serious players I would without a doubt recommend you get a conversion top that is at least 5/8” wide. This makes the table sturdier and will give a better, more consistent play when you’re having “serious” matches with your friends. The ping pong ball will bounce a lot truer and you will be able to spin it with some degree of consistency. I’m not saying this is USTTA or Chinese Olympic team certified, just that to some degree you get what you pay for.

Table tennis conversion tops typically come anywhere from ½” thick up to ¾”. Don’t worry about the increased weight; they are pretty convenient to move around and pop on and off your current pool table.

4. The obvious question: what is your budget?

Answer this question along with Number 3, because the more use you expect to get out of the table, the more I feel it is worth investing in it. Also, don’t forget that you’re saying both money and space by just buying the top and not the entire ping pong table.

I hope this has at given you some clarity on what to look for when you want to buy a table tennis conversion top. They are a great economical solution to the twin problems of space and money; but more than that they are just plain fun. If you have kids, this will give them a game besides pool to play. And I can almost guarantee they will love it.

But beyond just the kids, table tennis is (in my humble opinion) one of the best games there is in the world. (What’s that, you think it’s a sport, not a game. Well, fine.) The bottom line is that hours upon hours of paddle swatting fun await you and yours in this convenient modification to the standard pool table. Bon jour!