The Nippon 22 Rollaway is the perfect table tennis table for your home. Equipped with competition-level bounce, as well as a stylish design with efficient storage capacity, this is an investment that’ll lead to many years of family fun. For this piece, we’ll provide the complete Butterfly Nippon 22 Review.

Specifications

Top thickness22mm
Assemble timeNo assembly needed
Weight270lbs.
Dimensions9ft x 5ft
Playback-modeYes
StorageCompact folding system
Height levelersN/A
Net systemNational League net
Price$$

Who is it for?

Who is it not for?

This is the perfect table for a family of passionate table tennis players. Competition-grade bounce with a sleek, stylish design. 

This table isn't ITTF approved, meaning it wouldn't be ideal to practice on for more serious table tennis players.

Butterfly Nippon 22 Review

For the review, we’ll focus on the main components of any table and how this table rates in functionality, storage, transport, and performance. These are the key features we will talk about:

  • Table top
  • Assemble time
  • Storage
  • Playback functionality
  • Wheels
  • Height levelers
  • Net system
  • The brand

If interested, we’ve written a full table tennis table buyers guide here, which may help you in determining which table suits your home the best.

Tabletop

A 22mm tabletop means the Nippon 22 provides incredibly solid and consistent bounce. Many recreational tables will have a width of around 18mm, so 22mm is definitely a step up.

The top is impressively scratch-proof and is protected by a hard PVC band with a strong 2-inch steel rim – meaning the Nippon can take quite a beating.

The tabletop is also supported by 2-inch square wooden legs, which give the table even greater sturdiness during games.

Assemble time

Unlike some of the other Butterfly tables, such as the Centrefold 25, the Nippon 22 needs to be assembled by the player.

The process of building the table shouldn’t take longer than an hour and Butterfly provide clear and helpful guidelines on how to set it up.

This is a one-time job, so this shouldn’t be something to worry about when looking to buy a table such as the Nippon 22.

Storage

The Nippon 22 has a pretty neat folding system. Two halves fold into one and the folded dimensions are 60 x 73 x 30 inches. This makes the Nippon pretty space-efficient when the table is not in use.

Butterfly makes this feature a priority with all of their top-end tables, as they realize the importance of it for all types of venues. Whether it’s a home, club, or school.

Playback functionality

One can practice alone with the Nippon 22, as the table offers playback functionality. Fold one-half of the table up and work on all kinds of strokes whether defensive or offensive when there’s no one else to join you for a game.

Wheels

The Nippon 22 features a pretty effective transport system. Two 5 inch rubber wheels on either side ensures the table can be moved and stored efficiently whenever necessary.

A vital feature is having a locking feature on the wheels – and the Nippon 22 covers this.

Height levelers

This is definitely one of the limiting features of the Nippon 22. Because of the square wooden legs – there are no adjustable feet or height levelers on the table.

This isn’t a huge issue, but it does mean you’ll have to find a perfectly even surface to ensure an even bounce at all times.

Net system

Butterfly’s National League net is used for the Nippon 22. This is an ITTF approved net that has been around for decades and has been used in some of the biggest tournaments the sport has to offer.

This is a screw-on net system that is extremely sturdy, meaning you’ll never really have to make adjustments during the game.

The brand

Butterfly is without a doubt one of the biggest names in table tennis. They have sponsored some of the best players in the sport, and continue to develop equipment that competes with the best out there.

Butterfly’s recreational and professional tables are extremely durable, and consistent which has led them to become one of the most successful in the industry.

General Overview:

We’ve listed some of the major pros and cons for the Nippon 22:

Pros
  • 22mm thick table means competition grade bounce with impressive consistency
  • Top is protected by hard PVC rim as well as being scratch-proof
  • Efficient folding system when not in use
  • Offers playback functionality for solo practice
  • Large locking rubber wheels are extremely durable and effective for transport
  • National League net system is sturdy and durable – it’s also been around for decades
Cons
  • No ball and paddle storage features/add-ons
  • No height levelers as it uses wooden legs
  • No ITTF approved
  • Quite a heavy table compared to other Butterfly tables

Conclusion

Butterfly’s Nippon 22 Rollaway is the perfect option for a family that is looking to have a tough, durable table that is set up most of the time. This table is guaranteed to last you years of high-level bounce and fun, plus the table looks pretty stylish itself.