How To Fix a Dented Ping Pong Ball

Yes, it's true-you got so tied up in your last ping pong battle that you ended up denting the ball. Luckily, you don't have to throw it away. Here's how to salvage a beat up ping pong ball.

Water method

1. Boil a pot of water.
2. Put the ping pong ball on top of the water. Leave it there until it resumes its spherical shape.
3. Take it out.
4. Put the ball in a tissue and wrap the tissue around it, taping all the edges together to form a little sack.
5. Hang the sack until the ball cools down.

Flame method

1. Find a helper who is handy with a lighter.
2. Gently run the flame under the ping pong ball so as not to set too much heat on it, but just enough to cause a reaction. Do not hold it still. Instead, run it back and forth slowly.
3. Continue until the gases within the ball expand, fixing the damaged ball and causing it to revert back to normal playing standards.
4. Hold it gently until it cools off.
5. Enjoy, relax, and play on!

Dryer Method

1. Put a ping pong ball into a conventional laundry dryer for 20 to 30 seconds (occasionally the ball will take up to five minutes to undent depending on the quality of the ball.)
2. Let the ball cool down to harden or it may dent again quite easily.

Even Easier "Dryer" Method

1. Grab a hair dryer with a high and hot setting.
2. Turn it on and point the air stream vertically.
3. Place the ping pong ball in the air stream keeping it vertical.
4. Watch carefully as it will expand. It may be wise to take it off and let it cool periodically as the gases inside expand the ball to ensure no deformities.

Nail Polish Method

1. Assemble another ping pong ball, nail polish remover (acetone) and fine sandpaper.
2. Cut a piece of material from the other ball.
3. Paste that piece onto the damaged area using nail polish remover.
4. Polish the area using the sandpaper.

Tips

• Don't put the ball down and let it sit on its side while it is still hot, or else it'll form a flat edge. Keep it suspended, whether by holding it gently or hanging it in some kind of soft fabric, until it cools off.

Warnings

• This will only work with Ping Pong balls that do not have cracks.
• Don't bring the flame too close to the ping pong ball or let it touch the ball - it will catch on fire quite spectacularly.
• Be aware of the obvious dangers of flames and boiling water. Do not allow children to do this without adult supervision.
• The ball may change slightly after heating it. It will increase in size, for example.
• Don't expect the ball to be as durable as it once was. After each time of reviving the ball, it will lose its durability, until it is punctured or cracks.
• Its bounce power might decrease also, and will result in altered games.
• Under no circumstances should you put a ping pong ball into a microwave oven. A few seconds of heating will cause spontaneous combustion at a temperature high enough to incinerate the interior.
• The table tennis ball gives off a bad smell.