If you agree with me that there’s nothing more important than durability when you search for an outdoor table, don’t miss this Joola Nova DX vs Pro Plus review.
Joola Pro Plus is one of the most praised outdoor tables, thanks to its robust frame and undercarriage. Its durable 6-inch wheels also give a fantastic performance as an outdoor table.
On the other hand, you can hardly find any all-weather tables that have such an inviting price tag as Joola Nova DX.
My reasons for why Joola Pro Plus is better than Nova DX are as follows.
Joola Nova DX vs Pro Plus: Comparison Chart
Joola Nova DX vs Pro Plus: Differences
The winner: Joola Pro Plus (1-0)
This Joola Pro Plus stands out because of its sturdy frame and undercarriage, plus its caster wheels are six inches in diameter.
Weight
The winner: Tie
There are good reasons why Pro Plus is heavier than Nova DX. Apart from their identical 6mm tabletops, Pro Plus has larger parts in general.
For example, its undercarriage is 40x40mm, notably bigger than Nova DX 30x30mm. This means it is more robust and capable of carrying the tabletop’s weight. The same goes with its frame.
So overall, Pro Plus’s design is more durable. Yet it’s also undeniable that its heavyweight will cause some issues.
Regarding transportation, moving 65kg of Nova DX’s package is no easy task (two other friends and I had to lift it together). Moving the Pro Plus package required even more effort.
Thankfully, the weight of Pro Plus causes no more trouble than that. Once the table parts were out of the box, the process became much more straightforward.
Now you know that both heavyweight and lightweight have advantages and disadvantages, it’s up to your preferences which one is better.
Caster wheels
The winner: Pro Plus
Pro Plus earns my praise with the 6-inch caster wheels.
For outdoor tables, caster wheels are notably larger than indoor ones because they have to deal with uneven surfaces, even muddy and rocky ones – such difficult conditions will shatter indoor wheels after some tries.
For that reason, Pro Plus’s 6-inch wheels are qualified for outdoor purposes; on the other hand, I can not reason why Joola gave Nova DX 3-inch wheels. This size only does its job indoors and doesn’t fit an outdoor table’s profile at all.
So regarding caster wheels, my vote goes to Pro Plus.
Joola Nova DX vs Pro Plus: Similarities
Thickness and Tabletop
You need to keep in mind two things about outdoor tables’ tabletop: 1. The material is aluminum or aluminum mixed with plastic, making the product more resistant to harsh conditions than wooden tabletops 2. The thickness ranges from 4mm to 9mm.
What does this information tell us about Pro Plus and Nova DX?
Firstly, both tables follow the industry code of material and thickness. However, regarding thickness. 6mm is qualified but definitely not the most luxurious option out there. Its playability reminds me of 15mm indoor tables, which means it’s made for entry-level players. On the other hand, if your skills are of higher rank, professional practices are not an option with these two.
Net
Clamp-styled net has been a household name for some time, but that doesn’t mean people forget the good things of the more old-fashioned designs like the screw-on net.
But as much as I expected Pro Plus’s screw-on net to put on a show, it didn’t live up to my expectations. What’s worse, there’s not one positive point I can tell about it: the set-up was complicated, and the tension adjustment was problematic.
Leg levelers
Don’t overlook this detail when searching for outdoor tables. A leg leveler may not mean much indoor or when its users are adults only; however, this feature becomes critical for outdoor tables.
The reason is that the ground is rarely smooth, unlike the surface of a floor. You will then need leg levelers to adjust the height of each leg, so your table stands evenly and doesn’t affect your matches.
More particularly, leg levelers of Nova DX and Pro Plus are both 2 inches in height.
All-weather proof
I should remind you that despite producers’ claim that their tables are resistant to all-weather, it’s better if you prepare additional protection.
Yes, the tables will survive special conditions, but they are not indestructible whatsoever. I’ve looked for online reviews, and there are countless feedbacks from customers complaining that their tables were severely damaged after going through rough weather.
So what you want to do is to get a protection cover for your tabletop to preserve its surface; also, choose a place where shadow can shelter your tables.
I also don’t recommend you leave your tables outside all the time. If it’s going to take a while before the next use, you should store tables in your garage.
Because my assessment of Nova DX’s durability is not the best, do consider placing it inside your garage instead of bringing it outside.
Quick Rundown of Joola Pro Plus
- JOOLA - AN OLYMPIC TABLE TENNIS BRAND TRUSTED FOR 60+ YEARS: Launched in the 1950s, JOOLA has been the proud sponsor of the biggest tournaments in the world, Including the Olympics, World Championships, and US Open. Equipment designed for all levels
- TOURNAMENT QUALITY OUTDOORS: Competition-grade 9x5 foot regulation size ping pong table outdoor. Combines JOOLA's indoor ping pong table quality with outdoor durability. Looks great with any patio set and perfect for your deck, backyard or playground
- NO HASSLE, QUICK SET-UP: Comes 95% pre-assembled. Simply attach the legs with only 8 bolts TOTAL. Tournament grade table tennis net is a classic screw clamp design for easy attachment
- 40mm UNDERCARRIAGE & 6 INCH WHEELS: Tabletop is a durable 6mm thick aluminum plastic composite surface, resistant to warping and chipping. The table sits on a 40mm x 40mm rust-resistant, powder-coated undercarriage
- PLAYBACK MODE & COMPACT STORAGE: Foldable ping pong table separates into 2 independent halves, more portable table tennis table & stores in smaller spaces. Utilizing the automatic anti-tilting locks, easily unfold one table half for solo playback mode
Quick Rundown of Nova DX
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