The Best 6 Table Tennis Shoes (Reviews & Buyer's Guide 2023)

Last Updated: 5th Mar, 2022

Best Shoes for Table Tennis

1. Mizuno Wave Drive 8

{Feels lighter, accelerate faster and turn quicker}

Pros
+ Most popular professional table tennis shoes, backed by over ten years of research
+ Good lateral support, decent cushioning
+ Thin reinforced rubber outsole

Cons
- Slightly costly
- Not recommended for players who are overweight or have a history of foot injury

Mizuno Drive 8 Review

Mizuno Drive shoes have been in the market for well over a decade. These shoes have undergone a series of improvements over the years based on the player's feedback. To this day, this is one of the best professional shoes currently available in the market. Over the years, many of the top-ranked players have used these shoes as their weapon of choice. Some of the prominent ones are Ma long, Timo Boll etc.

Construction: Just like the name implies, this shoe is built for speed, stability, and quick movement on the court. This lightweight shoe (306 gm/each shoe) is made with breathable synthetic AirMesh top, and the anatomically molded removable insole provides maximum comfort and lateral support during play.

The non-marking sole is made with a thin yet sturdy heel wave plate with ap+, which provides a decent cushioning and excellent traction. The thin sole gives you a direct feeling of the floor, helping you generate ample energy in your shots. If you play on taraflex, gerflor, or sprung wooden floors, then these shoes are an ideal choice. However, if you play on hard floors or concrete, I would suggest going for Wave Medal 5 instead.

These shoes are quite durable and sturdy. A pair would easily last you for 1 to 1.5 years with around 30 hrs of play a month.

Fitting: The shoe is slightly narrow and is best suited for players with medium-wide feet.

Note: These shoes run 0.5 to 1 size smaller than your regular shoes.

Not recommended for: If you're overweight or have extra-wide feet or suffer from plantar fasciitis or some sort of knee/sole pain, then you should avoid this shoe. The thin sole of the shoe does not provide enough cushioning, which during the long and high-performance matches can adversely impact your heel and knees.

To summarize: The Mizuno Wave Drive 8 offers the right balance of performance, durability, and overall value. You can't go wrong with these shoes, and the price point is too good to pass up.

2. Butterfly Lezoline Rifones

{The best table tennis shoe that money can buy}

Pros
+ Professional quality shoes used by the likes of Timo Boll, Jun Mizutani and Harimoto
+ Comfort fit, great grip and excellent cushioning
+ Lightweight
+ Sturdy build quality
+ Visually appealing

Cons
- Costly

Butterfly Lezoline Rifones Review

The Butterfly Lezoline Rifones shoe is the perfect combination of top-of-the-line performance and style weaved into one single package. By no means, they are cheap though. In fact, they are one of the costliest table tennis shoes available in the market. But its price is vastly justified considering the performance enhancements and value these shoes have to offer.

Timo Boll (world rank 6th) has been wearing the Rifones for the last couple of years, and this highly speaks about the quality of these shoes. These shoes are built to suit the needs and performance requirements of professional players.

The shoe offers excellent support and comfort while maintaining a visually appealing look. The front upper layer of the shoe is constructed with KPU material which cushions the foot during the high impact lateral movements. The midsole is flexible with generous cushioning, while the grippy outsole provides excellent traction throughout. The unique shock absorption sponge is strategically placed in the rear and middle part of the shoe, providing excellent cushioning and stability to the feet during quick reflexes. The shoe is lightweight yet sturdy enough to prevent any shoe distortion during those peculiar/incorrect foot movements.

Due to the superior construction quality and high-quality KPU material, these shoes should easily last you 1 to 1.5 years with 40-50 hrs of practice every month.

To summarize: If you're looking for the very best table tennis shoe, look no further than the Butterfly Lezoline Rifones. The performance and the construction of these shoes are superior to any other shoe currently available in the market.

3. Butterfly Trynex Table Tennis Shoes

{Value buy, the right balance of price and performance}

Pros
+ Value for money
+ Breathable top air mesh provides excellent ventilation
+ EVA inner sole for a better fit
+ Very durable with decent cushioning
+ Free shoe bag

Cons
- Slightly heavy

Butterfly Trynex is a budget table tennis shoe offering a fine balance of performance, comfort, and pricing.

The first thing you would notice about the shoe is the simplicity of the design, yet how beautiful it looks (subjective view).

The shoe comes with a soft inner sole, which provides decent cushioning to the feet. The rubber gum outsole is grippy but not sticky, which is a definite plus during quick change in direction. Surprisingly, these shoes grip well, even on the concrete flooring.

The shoe has excellent ergonomics and provides good support to the feet while the breathable upper-half keeps the temperature and humidity low in the soles. The overall build quality is quite durable and sturdy, and a pair should last you easily over a year.

To Summarize: Priced at $75, we feel Butterfly Trynex offers a great value. The performance of the shoe is quite close to the premium shoes in the segment, and the price is significantly lower.

4. Mizuno Wave Medal 5

{For those who're looking for more cushioning and support}

Pros
+ Superior cushioning and support compared to Wave drive
+ Ergonomic fit offering good ankle, heel and knee support
+ Offers excellent traction and great comfort

Cons
- None!

Mizuno Wave Medal 5 Review

If extra cushioning and rearfoot support are what you're looking for, then the Wave medal 5 may be the right choice for you.

This shoe is quite similar to Wave Drive 8 in terms of performance. But it is customized to suit players who're looking for a shoe with extra support and cushion. Ideal for players who are a bit on the heavier side or those who experience pain in and around the heel/ankle/knee area.

Players who're looking for a high-performance shoe that offers maximum stability, cushioning, and at the same is lightweight will surely appreciate the Wave Medal 5. The shoe provides excellent support to your feet while keeping your feet locked-in during the play.

The SR touch insert in the forefoot facilitates faster movement and acceleration while the D-flex grooves offer good traction. The proprietary PoWne midsole provides sufficient cushioning to the arc and the rear foot. The anatomically molded removable cup insoles improve the overall comfort and, at the same time, offer excellent lateral support while the breathable upper Airmesh keeps your feet cool and dry.

Fitting: The shoe is a bit wide around the mouth and is suited for players with medium to medium-wide feet. Also, the shoe runs 0.5 to 1 size smaller than your regular shoes. 

To summarize: Whether you play on hard or soft floors, the Mizuno Wave medal 5 would not disappoint you. Excellent cushioning, good support, and above-par traction makes it a great choice. 

4. Butterfly Lezoline Groovy

{Flexible, lightweight and excellent grip}

Pros
+ The lightest shoes among all the shoes we reviewed
+ Thin midsole gives a barefoot feeling
+ Excellent grip, suppresses sideways shake
+ Very durable

Cons
- Can be a bit uncomfortable to wear for a long duration due to the missing air mesh

Butterfly Lezoline Groovy Review

Butterfly Lezoline Groovy is an excellent pair of shoes, and coming from the Butterfly brand, you can be assured about the quality. These beautiful looking shoes are designed to handle intense footwork and offer superior support.

The medium-thick outsole provides excellent grip for quick lateral movements, and the thin midsoles give you a good feeling of the ground. The non-marking soft sole offers decent support to the arc and the rear foot. The solid non-breathable upper half adds to the durability and stability of the shoe. Weighing just about 265 gm/shoe, the Butterfly Lezoline Groovy is one of the lightest pair of professional table tennis shoes. While it may weigh less than other shoes in the segment, the durability and construction of the shoe are top-notch.

To Summarize: If you're looking for a lightweight yet sturdy shoe which does not put a hole in your pocket, the Butterfly Lezoline Groovy may be an excellent option for you.

5. LI-NING Whirlwind

{Bang for the buck}

Pros
+ Sturdy build quality, durable with decent grip
+ Breathable air mesh
+ Anti-collision toe cap

Cons
- Heavy
- Minimal cushioning

LI-NING Whirlwind Review

If you're looking for a high-quality table tennis shoe that does not put a hole in your pocket, then you can't go wrong with the LI-NING Men Whirlwind shoe. The pricing may be cheap, but the quality of the shoe is top-notch. The testament to this is that many of the top Chinese national table tennis players, including Ma Long, use these shoes.

These shoes are medium-heavy (324gm/each), constructed with breathable synthetic leather and mesh. The medium-wide construction of the shoe firmly holds the feet in place during those high-intensity matches while the air vents keep the temperature and humidity low inside the shoe.

The EVA innersole provides decent cushioning and relieves the impact of tight landings, thus reducing the chances of injuries. The outsole is constructed with high-quality grippy rubber, which offers good traction, and the thin sole provides a great feeling of the ground. The heels are further reinforced to reduce the impact of hard landings.

To Summarize: Overall, you can't go wrong with these shoes - bang for the buck with a superior all-round performance.

Table Tennis Shoes: Ultimate Buyer's Guide

Picking a table tennis shoe requires you to account for a couple of points like your foot type, size, the type of court you plan to play on, and maybe the aesthetic aspect of the shoe.

Let's discuss each of the factors:

Shape for your feet

Although not often discussed, the shape of the feet is one of the most crucial factors to look for while choosing a shoe. And this is not just limited to table tennis, but any sport which involves foot movement. Your foot construction decides how you walk, run, or stand and ultimately affects how the shoe fits, feels and performs.

 Broadly there are three types of feet:

1. Supination or high arch – Cushioning shoes
2. Neutral or normal arch – Stability shoes (fits most of the shoes)
3. Pronation or Flat foot – Motion control shoes

The best way to check your feet type is by doing a wet feet test. Simply law down an A4 sheet on the ground, drip your feet in the water, and stand over the sheet. Now analyze the water impression to determine your feet type.

Based on your feet construction, choose the correct shoe type for you.

Shoe Width

Shoes primarily come in two shapes – narrow-mouth or wide-mouth. If your feet are narrow to average wide, then go for normal-mouth shoes. For wide feet, go for a wide-mouth shoe.

Court Type

Table tennis can be played on almost any surface from outdoor grass to concrete to professional floorings. But unfortunately, you can’t use the same shoes across different floorings. For concrete and hardwood flooring, it’s best to go for high cushioning shoes with hard outsole. The cushioning limits the stress on the joints while the hard outsole prevents the shoe from wearing out sooner due to the friction. For gerflor or taraflex flooring, you can go for any non-marking shoe which offers good traction. And for outdoors, I leave the decision up to you.

Playing Style

If you're an offensive player or developing an offensive technique, choose a shoe with better cushioning. For choppers and defensive players, it's best to go for lighter shoes with thin soles.

Budget

A professional shoe costs anywhere from $100 to $150, while an intermediate-level shoe can cost you between $50 to $100.

Q. Will my game considerably improve after using table tennis shoes?
I wish, but the answer is NO. But you would be able to move quicker, and at the same time, the chances of injuries will be lesser.

Q. Is there any risk of using these shoes?
Yes and No. While in most cases, there is no risk, but you may experience slight pain around your heels and knee joints. As these shoes do not provide ample cushioning, the shocks generated due to the foot movements can impact your joints. If you have a history of foot or knee pain or if you're overweight, it's best to go for shoes with better cushioning.

Q. As a beginner, do I need a table tennis shoe?
If you're purely a recreational player, then you don't need them. But if you're a beginner or an intermediate level player and regularly practice, it's best to invest in a reliable shoe.

Q. How often should I replace the shoe?
If you play 2-3 times a week and around 30 hrs a month, then a typical shoe would easily last you 1 to 1.5 years.

Q. Can I use squash, volleyball, or any indoor sports shoes for table tennis?
You may, but in the long run, it may be detrimental, and you could be prone to injuries. Table tennis as a sport has a unique set of requirements – thin sole, lateral support, grip type etc. Other athletic shoes may provide better cushioning but will hinder swift foot movements while playing table tennis.

Q. Do table tennis shoes require breaking in?
No, most shoes don't require any breaking in.

Q. What sort of socks work well with the shoe?
No formal socks! Jokes aside, it's purely based on your preference.

Q. Are there any rules for Table tennis shoes?
While ITTF does not have any specific rules for the shoes, generally, the shoes should be non-marking and clean.