Cornilleau Sport One Outdoor Table:

THIS MODEL IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2017

We recommend the Cornilleau 250S

The Cornilleau Sport One outdoor table features a 4mm laminate top. Designed for beginners and yet still resists all weather conditions like rain, snow, and sun. The wheels allow you to quickly maneuver the table to anyplace in your yard or neighborhood. The feet come with an adjustment system and pad so you can get level playing surfaces. The net is adjustable for tension on the side net posts. Store up to 2 paddles (bats) on the side of the Cornilleau Sport One. The resin laminate surface is sufficient at 4mm, although the higher level Cornilleau tables (500M and 510 Pro) offer up 7mm which provides a superior bounce to the ping pong ball. The galvanized steel frame on the Cornilleau Sport One outdoor will hold up to all climates and the table is wheelchair friendly. The playback mode is what we often set ours for in the office as employees like to improve their skills against a consistent opponent (the wall). They are all priced within a $100 or so of each and offer similar features. We will go into those features and break down which models are better or worse in each one.

Cornilleau 150 Outdoor

Frame/Design – The frame on the Cornilleau Sport One
is noticeably different than their other outdoor models (250S, 400M, 500M). It’s a galvanized steel frame that is relatively easy to assemble, although we wish it were more heavy duty. The 4 legs have adjustable feet so you can get level playing conditions on almost any surface. We adjust the legs on our Sport One up or down depending on where we situate the table. The net is adjustable for tension and height and can be removed easily if you need to. There is storage for 2 rackets on the side of the table. Opening and closing the Cornilleau Sport One for play or storage is straight forward and safe. For $800, the table could have better quality features, but Cornilleau has a reputable brand name and their products typically outlast the competition. The tabletop is what you should be most concerned with and their 4mm resin laminate surface will play just fine in any environment. We prefer the frame design on the JOOLA, Prince, and Killerspin models since it makes them so easy to assemble and store in compact places.

Cornilleau 150 Outdoor

Assembly – Putting together the Cornilleau Sport One is not too difficult at all. You can watch the video we have provided showing all the steps involved. We say that you should expect about 1 hour to get it all assembled. Compared to most outdoor ping pong tables, the Sport One is easier than most. The only ones that are slightly faster in terms of getting assembled are the Killerspin or JOOLA tables. Kettler and Butterfly are notorious for taking hours.

cornilleau-sport-one4

Playability – The tabletop thickness is 4mm on the Cornilleau Sport One. That compares to 7mm surface on the Cornilleau 500M. A closer comparison would be the 5mm playing surface on the Cornilleau 250S which sells for $1000. The Sport One is $200 less and you will sacrifice a bit on the table bounce. Most recreational players don’t have to worry about authentic indoor bounces on outdoor tables. The bounce is similar to the Kettler Top Star XL. Yes, a thicker tabletop usually coincides with better bounce, but it’s not always noticeable amongst beginner players. Overall the Cornilleau Sport One has excellent bounce and is easy to setup. It does not have the SoftMat or MATTOP finish found on more expensive Cornilleau models , but playability is still above average. If superior ball bounce is something you’ll be critiquing the table on, then consider the 500M. Both tables are wheelchair friendly.

Cornilleau Sport One

Safety Features – First, we like that the tabletop can be locked or unlocked quite easily with the simple push of a button. The Cornilleau Sport One features the Push’N Lock design. Located on the bottom and top of the side of the ping pong table is the locking mechanism buttons. There are 8 locking points so opening and closing the table is safe and effective. The more expensive 250S and 500M from Cornilleau have superior safety locks, but the Cornilleau Sport One meets all safety standards.

Cornilleau Sport One

Storage/Movability – The table has double notched tread wheels. We feel the wheels could be stronger and potentially more durable, but again you have to sacrifice something with the price. We still find that moving the table across surfaces like dirt and grass was rather easy. Going across pebbles was slightly more difficult, but remember that the table is barely 100 pounds so it’s light enough to maneuver. The wheels have brakes for keeping the table stable in one position. Storage on the Cornilleau Sport One is compact and efficient. Yes, Killerspin and JOOLA offer more compact storage options on their tables.

Cornilleau Sport One

Advantages – You get the Cornilleau warranty of 3 years on the frame and 10 years on the tabletop surface. Pretty nice guarantee for the money you are spending. The weatherproof playing surface is solid, the safety features are better than most other tables in this price range, and it’s easy to maneuver around patios, decks, or yards.

Cornilleau Sport One

Disadvantages – We feel like the wheels and frame could be slightly heavier duty. It would also be nice to see some added corner protection so that no kids get hurt on them.