My Ping Pong Buddy (MPPB) Ball Picker V6 - Detailed Review

Friday, April 28, 2023

by ThePongProfessor

A good ball picker is indispensable if you are using many balls during practice. At our club, we have utilized a couple of different pickers over the years and were therefore excited to try out the My Ping Pong Buddy (MPPB) Ball Picker V6.

The MPPB arrives well-protected and disassembled in a rectangular box that has a sticker that proudly notes that the picker is handmade in the USA. Inside the box you’ll find the top part of the MBBP, the telescoping handle, a business card that doubles as a thank you note, and two spare string in different colors and thicknesses.

The business end of the MPPB is essentially a badminton racket head fairly that is kept in a patriotic red, white and blue color scheme and angled at ~50 degrees (this is the angle between the handle and the head when it’s placed on a flat surface). The side of the head facing the balls to be picked up has eight strings, separated by approximately 1 inch, running horizontally across the head. The side of the head that’s facing away from the balls is closed off by a green, double-layered net, that the balls are collected in. When the MPPB is turned around, the collected balls can be released through a funnel-like opening in the green net.

The racket head screws firmly onto the telescoping aluminum handle, which can be expanded from ~23 ¾ inches to ~39 inches using a twist lock mechanism, allowing the MPPB to be used by kids and tall adults alike. A blue grip at the end of the handle provides additional grip support. The racket head and handle seem very sturdy, as do the horizontal strings, which look like high-quality white braided fishing line.

I tested the MPPB at a standard practice session at our club, during which we use ~100 balls. The MPPB is very easy to use and picks up balls quickly and reliably. The racket head must be held flat against the ground with the horizontally spun strings facing the balls. All that’s needed is a gentle whip from the wrist to force the balls into the green netting. Multiple balls can be collected at the same time. The MPPB works best if the balls are in an open area, but balls can still be easily collected even if they are rolled up against a wall or in corners as the frame of the head is quite thin. It was also easy to pick up balls below the table. I was ble to collect at least 60 balls in less than a minute, if not faster. It was easy to dump the balls into the basket that we use. Simply turn the MPPB around, grab the green net above the upper layer of balls, and squeeze the first couple of balls through the tunnel-like exit, and let gravity do its thing. Super easy.

To conclude, the MPPB is an excellent ball picker. Its ergonomic design and long expandable handle will save your back. You will be able to pick up 50+ balls in a matter of no time. I recommend this product.

Related Links

• My Ping Pong Buddy (MPPB) Ball Picker V6 (April 2023)
• My Ping Pong Buddy (MPPB) Ball Picker V5 (April 2020)

About The Author

Patrick "ThePongProfessor" Hrdlicka is a table tennis enthusiast, who was introduced to the sport by his parents at the age of six. He progressed to play in the top national cadet and junior leagues in his native Denmark. With college looming, Patrick quit the sport for nearly twenty years. During this hiatus, he obtained a Ph.D.-degree in chemistry and moved to the US as he accepted a chemistry professor position. Since his return to the sport in 2015, he has been combining his analytical skills with his passion for table tennis by testing and writing about a wide range of table tennis equipment. He is a ~2200-USATT-rated left-handed doubles specialist who counts his 2017 US Open (O40 doubles) and 2018 Portland Open (open doubles) titles and Top-16 finish at the 2018 World's Veteran Championships (40-44 year doubles) among his fondest memories. He has a controlled offensive playing style and currently uses a 7-ply limba/ayous based all-wood blade and DHS Hurricane 3 and driving-type short pips in his FH and BH, respectively.