Most of the time, we don’t pay attention to which exact table we are playing table tennis on. But for those of us who play in clubs or join tournaments often, just looking at the picture above will awaken feelings deeply buried in our hearts. I can already feel how the ball kicks off from this table and the sound it makes.
This is the CentreFold 25, the top-of-the-line table offering from Butterfly. Even if you are not aware, youโve probably played on one before. Why? Because this is the table of choice for many table tennis clubs, including PingPod which has 18 different locations in the US.
All of the โWe are Butterflyโ clubs use them, and even clubs that are not Butterfly-sponsored like the one I am working at uses these tables on their main venue. It is Butterfly after all, so you can imagine it will be the highest quality available.
On top of that, with its ITTF certification, sturdy undertray, and high-quality wood top it is one of the best competition tables available. Even with its above-average pricing, it is consistently on top of the best sellers list. Now we will discover what makes it great so you can see if it’s the table you have been looking for.
How do We Review Table Tennis Tables?
During my years as a table tennis player and as a coach, I have played in dozens of different clubs and joined countless tournaments. One thing was common in all of them and it was this table. Every club had at least one Butterfly Centrefold 25, and it was the primary choice of table during big tournaments.
My experience is not limited to just playing on this table. I have folded this table every night and moved it to storage, I have set it up every morning and changed the nets of it when it was needed.
We know shopping for a table is a bigger commitment than a blade or rubber. It is much more expensive and much more permanent. We also know it is not easy to gather real information about them.
That’s why I have combined my knowledge of the table with hours of research on brands’ official sites to know every single detail available. We also gathered information from blogs and reviews to our readers an unbiased review.
If you make a purchase after clicking any of the purchase buttons below we will receive a commission which helps fund our small blog and makes publishing new articles possible.
Butterfly Centrefold 25 In-Depth Review
Specs
- Top Thickness: 1″
- Top Material: Wood
- Surface color: Green/ Blue
- ITTF Approved: Yes
- Warranty: 5 years
- Assembly Time : 0
- Rail/Rim: 2″ x 3/4″ Steel
- Legs: 2″ Square Steel
- Wheels: 5″ Locking Rubber Wheels
- Weight: 280lbs
- Net Set: Comes with Europa Net Set
- Playback Position: No
- Adjustable Feet: Yes
- Boxed dimensions: 66″ x 60″ x 15″
- Folded dimensions: 60″ x 63″ x 19″
Butterfly Centrefold 25 Build Quality
Let’s start the review with the most important factor about competition tables, which is the wooden top and its thickness. The Butterfly Centrefold 25 top layer supports a thick 1โ(25mm) top layer, which is the go-to standard for competition tables.
Thanks to its Perfect Grip 25+ technology this tableโs consistency and reliability of the bounces are unmatched. From heavy chops to fast top-spins, this table makes the bounces incredibly consistent, giving the players more confidence during play.
It also supports an anti-skid finish that further helps with gripping the ball, resulting in a top-class playing experience. The top can be purchased in two different colors, blue and green.
When you have a class-leading top wood, you have to support and protect it well too, and Butterfly did just that with the quality they are known for.
The sides of the top are guarded with a PVC band and a two-inch steel apron to give it further rigidity and protect it from accidental damage. This protection also gives the table a unique look, with the corners of the table having the Butterflyโs classic magenta color.
The steel frame supporting all of the above is one of the strongest available, having legs that are 2 inches thick and made out of durable steel. Each leg has a high-quality height adjuster so you can level the top easily.
4 wheels are there to help you move the table to where you want to play. Two of the wheels have brakes on them so you can safely store it away and not worry about the table rolling.
These are not just random wheels, to carry all the weight and move freely when needed, Butterfly used 5โ heavy-duty rubber wheels. These beefy wheels are virtually silent when rolling the table.
To store the table away easily, we have Butterflyโs Centrefold folding system. This feature connects the two sides of the table, making the table one piece and synchronizing the folding on each side.
Not every table is certified for Paralympic Games, but this one is. It satisfies the regulation’s minimum distance between the end of the table and the first leg of the frame.
It also comes fully assembled so no tools or watching tutorials are required to start playing on this amazing table. Even the net is included in the box!
Durability of this Table
We talked about how these tables can be seen in many clubs and organizations, here is another reason why. They are indestructible. The ones we have in my club have been there for years.
They have gotten blades thrown into them, kids getting on top of them, blood sweat, and tears of the players โฆ And all we had to do was wipe the top to get rid of the dust and play.
The top is scratch-resistant, and the white paint used on the edges of the table is super durable. The only wear I saw on them was on the side skirts, meaning they did their job to protect the top, and the white paint near the net posts, which is usually where people wipe their sweaty hands during play.
Thanks to the strong chassis, the table doesn’t see any unwanted forces or bending. That’s why you can fold and unfold them like they are brand new, even after years of use.
You don’t have to take my word for its durability, Butterfly is behind its product even after the sale for 5 years. Yes, 5 year guarantee. Unlike some other brands who give 1-year guarantees, (looking at you Donic,) or ones that give guarantees to only some parts of the table.
Portability and Storage of the Butterfly Centrefold 25
We can’t talk about moving the table around without mentioning its unique folding mechanism that gives the table its name. Unlike most other tables on the market that either fold separately or don’t separate at all; The Butterfly Centrefold 25 can be folded simultaneously by just folding one side of the table.
All you need is to make sure the safety lock is not active and lift one side of the table, and with the Centrefold mechanism, the other side will fold at the same time. This makes setting the table up and putting it away as simple and fast as it can be.
You can fold once and carry the table once instead of folding each side one by one and moving each side of the table one by one. When folded, it is 60″ wide x 63″ high x 19″ deep; when unfolded, it’s a regulation 9′ long x 5′ wide and 30″ high. Compared to Butterflyโs regular folding tables which are 63โ x 64โ x 25โ, it takes significantly less space.
The 5โ heavy-duty rubber wheels make moving the table around as easy and silent as it can be. Just don’t forget to put on the brakes once you fold it awayโฆ Speaking from personal experience it can cause some slight problems when a table this heavy starts rolling on its own.
The table weighs 280 Lbs in total, making it slightly heavier than similar models. The unique folding mechanism makes it easier to carry the table so I think the weight difference is not a problem.
Net System
The net system is standard. You can buy any net and post set that is up to today’s regulations and put it on this table, but you don’t have to. The table comes with the top-of-the-line Europa Table Tennis Net Set so you can start playing, without any compromises.
Butterfly Table Tennis Accessories
The only accessory the table comes with is the Europa net set. If you would like to get more accessories, you will have a whole list of butterfly products to choose from. Robots, table covers, racket holders, and more can be bought and used without much effort.
Who is this table for?
Butterfly Centrefold 25 is the top-of-the-line table from Butterfly. For those looking for the best competition table that will give them consistent bounces for years, don’t look further. It comes equipped with everything you would want from a quality table without extra gimmicks.
If you are looking for a table :
- with the best quality top and frame,
- that is compact but you don’t want to sacrifice quality,
- that will perform like brand new for years that won’t need replacing,
- simple to set up and fold away,
- for organizing tournaments regularly
then the Butterfly Centrefold 25 is the right table for you.
My Personal Opinion
This table has the best top for consistent bounces, the best frame that enables wheelchair competitions, and the best guarantee available. It’s the top table from Butterfly so we already know it will be the best.
When it comes to using it in real life, I can not emphasize enough how much the folding mechanism makes your life easier. Fold it away in seconds, roll it away and it takes the least space out of all regulation-size tables.
There are similar performing tables out there, that is when they are new. But when the other tables’ color starts fading away, and the folding mechanism starts getting sloppy; the Butterfly still shines like brand new.
The summary is, you really get what you pay for with this table.
Where to Buy the Butterfly Centrefold 25?
There are 3 main stores where you can buy the Butterfly Centrefold 25 in the US. From megaspin.net, Amazon, and from Butterfly’s website.
I would recommend buying from Megaspin for a few reasons:
- They specialize in TT equipment and can offer better customer service and offer warranty service on top of the manufacturerโs warranty.
- They offer better delivery service.
- You can compare many different alternative tables, brands and products on their site as opposed to Amazon which has a very limited amount of TT equipment.
- They have large comparison tables on their site like the one I made below but for much more products.
- Megaspin will also price match any other store so they will always have good prices.
- They offer a bundle with this table and the Butterfly Amicus Prime robot for a discount.
However if you want to save a few dollars butterfly has tournament used tables for sale on their website but they are only about $150 cheaper.
Similar Alternative Table Tennis Tables:
| Price | Top Thick-ness | Top Material | Wheels | Playback Position | Folded Dimensions(L x W x H) | Weight | ITTFCertification | Warranty | Color Options | |
| Butterfly Centrefold 25 | $2,159 | 25mm | Wood | 5โ Rubber x 4 | No | 60โ x 19โ x 63โ | 280 lbs | Yes | 5 years | Blue/ Green |
| Cornilleau 850 Wood ITTF Indoor | $3,099 | 25mm | Chipboard | 5โ Rubber x 4 | Yes | 62โ x 26โ x 64โ | 308 lbs | Yes | 3 years | Blue |
| STAG Peter Karlsson Competition 25mm | $1,799 | 25mm | Wood | 5โ Rubber x 4 | No | 64โ x 26.5โ x 65.75โ | 308 lbs | Yes | 5 years | Blue |
| Stiga Premium Compact | $1,799 | 25mm | N/A | 5โ Rubber x 4 | No | 60โ x 22โ x 62โ | 310 lbs | Yes | 1 year | Blue |
| Butterfly Octet 25 | $1,899 | 25mm | Wood | 4โ Rubber x 8 | Yes | 63″ x 25″ x 64″ | 275 lbs | Yes | 5 years | Blue/ Green |
| Donic Waldner Premium 30 | $1,545 | 30mm | Wood | 4โ Rubber x 8 | Yes | 63″ x 26″x 64″ | 280 lbs | Yes | 1 year | Blue |
| Joola Tour 2500 | $839 | 25mm | MDF | 4โ Rubber x 8 | Yes | 62โ x 24โ x 65โ | 249 lbs | No | 1 year | Blue |
Cornilleau 850 Wood ITTF Indoor
If you don’t mind paying extra for looks
- Top thickness: 25mm
- Storage Dimension: 62โ x 26.3โ x 64โ
- Warranty – 3 years
- Certification – ITTF
- Color – Only Blue
| Pros | Cons |
| Unique style with beautiful wood finish | The price tag |
| Fold-up playback mode | |
| Convenient fixed net system | |
| 3-year warranty |
STAG Peter Karlsson Competition 25mm
Almost identical to the Centrefold 25 but about $400 cheaper
- Top thickness: 25mm
- Storage Dimension: 64โ x 26.5โ x 65.75โ
- Warranty – 5 years
- Certification – ITTF
- Color – Only Blue
| Pros | Cons |
| The same folding mechanism as Centrefold 25 | Takes up the most amount of space when folded |
| Spring Loaded net posts included | |
| Can be used for wheelchair competitions | |
| 5-Year Top/3-Year Frame warranty |
Stiga Premium Compact
The second smallest footprint when folded, slightly cheaper than the Butterfly too
- Top thickness: 25mm
- Storage Dimension: 60โ x 22โ x 62โ
- Warranty – 1 Year
- Certification – ITTF
- Color – Only Blue
| Pros | Cons |
| 22โ deep when folded | Only one year warranty |
| Excellent folding system | |
| Includes a high-quality Stiga Net set | |
| Comes fully assembled |
Butterfly Octet 25
Centrefold 25, without the centrefold technology and a cheaper price
This is basically the same as the centrefold but it doesnโt fold up in one piece, it has to be broken up into 2 separate pieces and it takes up more space when folded and stored. You really see the difference on the videos of these 2 different tables being folded on megaspin.net.
This is a great budget version if the portability, storage and pre-assembly is not a concern for you.
- Top thickness: 25mm
- Storage Dimension: 63″ x 25″ x 64“
- Warranty -5 years
- Certification – ITTF
- Color – Blue/ Green
| Pros | Cons |
| Butterflyโs top quality 25mm top | Not fully assembled |
| Can fold in half for playback | |
| Green/Blue color options | |
| 5-year warranty |
Donic Waldner Premium 30
More wood, less money
- Top thickness: 30mm
- Storage Dimension: 63″ x 26″x 64″
- Warranty – 1 year
- Certification – ITTF
- Color – Only Blue
| Pros | Cons |
| The thickest wooden top available | Only one year warranty |
| Solid 60mm tubular frame | |
| Can fold in half for playback | |
| Made in Germany |
Joola Tour 2500
The cheapest 25mm option on the list
- Top thickness: 25mm
- Storage Dimension: 62โ x 24โ x 65โ
- Warranty – 1 year
- Certification – USATT
- Color – Only Blue
| Pros | Cons |
| Cheapest 25mm table | MDF top is not as good as wood |
| USATT certification | Only one year warranty |
| Sturdy 50mm frame | Not ITTF Approved |
| Includes a net set |
You Get What You Pay For…
There are cheaper tables with similar performance, there are more expensive ones with more features. But there is no other table like the Butterfly Centrefold 25 that combines quality, portability, ease of use, and customer service.
We also looked at some alternatives so you can see how it stacks up against the competition. Just like Butterflyโs rubber, it is one of the best options if you dont mind the price tag. The alternatives are all great options on their own too, but none of them offers the same package the Butterfly does.
We hope this review answers all the questions you have. If you have any questions, or suggestions about what we should cover next, please contact us!
