Ping Pong Table With Obstacles

How to build a ping pong table mixed with mini-golf-style obstacles

Step 1: Finishing the Base

1. Begin by obtaining a 4 ft. X 8 ft. piece of plywood.

2. Set the board up on a sturdy surface then cover the entire top of the board with two coats of blue paint.

Step 2: Marking the Lines

1. Obtain a roll of white duct tape.

2. Surround all four edges with the tape so that half of the width covers the depth of the plywood and the other half goes onto the top of the table for the out-of-bounds lines.

3. Measure out 4 feet of tape and cut its width in half to have two thinner 4 foot long strips. Put these two together to create an 8 foot long strip and place it down the middle of the table as shown in the picture.

Step 3: Applying the Net

1. Obtain a portable ping pong net that can stretch at least four feet.

2. Extend the net at the middle of the table to stretch across the center as shown in the picture.

3. Adjust the net to make sure it remains sturdy after stretching.

Step 4: Building the First Obstacles

1. Obtain a long roll of cardboard.

2. Cut four, 3 inch cylinders as shown in the picture using a knife.

3. Decide where to place each cylinder (2 on each side) as obstacles to hit into.

Step 5: Cutting Slits in the Center Pole

1. Find the remaining part of cardboard that was used for the small cardboard rings from the previous step.

2. Cut two slits on opposing sides of the pole with the same height as the net with a 2 mm thickness.

3. In the center of the net, slide the net through the slits as shown until the pole stands on the table as shown in the picture.

Step 6: Cutting the Auto-Win Holes

1. Measure one inch above the slits on the pole and mark that one inch line.

2. Now trace the shape of a ping pong ball but slightly larger at that one inch line, making sure to do so directly in between where the slits meet the net so the hole will be facing the end of the table.

3. Repeat step 2 on the opposite side of the pole.

4. Do the same thing but another 1.5 inches above the first hole, as shown in the picture.

5. These holes will serve as the "auto-win holes." Any player who hits the ball successfully through one of the holes automatically wins the game, but the rest of the pole still stands to be a large obstacle in the middle.

Step 7: Painting the Obstacles

1. Put all five obstacles in a big bin along with the can of paint.

2. Paint each obstacle with two coats of paint.

3. Let them dry then prepare to attach them to the table.

Step 8: Cutting the Bases for the Small Cylinders

1. Obtain a piece of Styrofoam poster board.

2. Use one of the small cylinders from earlier to trace four circles of that size as shown in the picture.

3. Using a knife, cut out the four circles.

Step 9: Attaching the Cylinder Obstacles

1. Plan on the table where you want to put the four cylinders as holes for the ball to go into during a point (2 on each side of the table).

2. Tape each of the four circle cut-outs to the table in the spots you planned.

3. Put double-sided tape on the edges of the circles.

4. Attach the cylinders to the taped edges as shown in the picture.

Step 10: Building the Bumpers

1. With the remaining poster board after cutting the four circles, Cut out a rectangle then cut that rectangle in half, leaving you with two identical rectangles that are about 6 in. X 24 in.

2. On each side of the table, tape the bottom of the bumper in the middle of the right side as shown in the picture. Make sure that it is taped on the right side for that particular side of the table meaning that when you're done they will be diagonal from each other.

Step 11: Adding Labels for the Obstacles

1. Write "+1 Point" and "+2 Points" two times each on white duct tape, creating four strips of tape, two for 1 point and two for 2 points.

2. For the obstacle closer to the net, attach the "+1 Point" tape as shown and for the obstacle farther away, attach the "+2 Points" tape.

3. Repeat this step on the other side of the table.

Step 12: Attaching and Labeling the Auto-Win Holes

1. Similarly to the previous step, write "Auto-Win" twice on white duct tape then cut out the strips to put one strip on each side of the big middle tube right above the "auto-win holes."

2. Once again, put the net through the slits in the tube to attach the tube to the middle of the table after painting it.

3. Add extra tape to the bottom if needed.

Step 13: The Auto-Win Cup

1. Obtain a "Solo Cup" and fit it through the hole in the top of the middle tube.

2. Label it with the same "Auto-Win" tape as in the previous step.

3. Landing the ball in this cup at any time during the game will have the same result as hitting the ball through one of the auto-win holes.

Step 14: The Final Product