The short version. ₹2,199 for a racket, plus a few balls, gets you playing if a table already exists somewhere you have access to it. ₹34,598 gets you a complete home setup, table included. Everything in between depends on one real question: do you need to buy a table, or does one already exist where you'll play?
Tier 1: You just need a racket — ₹2,199
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Powerkraft Rakshak Racket | ₹2,199 |
This is the actual floor — a school, a club, a friend's house, anywhere a table already exists. If that describes your situation, everything past this tier is optional.
You'll also need a few balls. Where there's already a table, there are often balls too, so we've left them out of this total. If not, a few balls are all you need to start. If you'd rather buy a full pack, the Double Fish 1-star training balls (₹2,100 for 100) are the cheaper choice and perfect for a beginner.
Tier 2: A complete kit, no table — ₹7,098
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Rakshak Racket | ₹2,199 |
| EVA Racket Case | ₹1,899 |
| Balls, pack of 100 | ₹3,000 |
| Total | ₹7,098 |
Adds a case to protect the racket between sessions — worth it the moment you're carrying the racket somewhere rather than leaving it at a fixed table.
Tier 3: A full home setup, table included — ₹34,598
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Rakshak Racket | ₹2,199 |
| EVA Racket Case | ₹1,899 |
| Balls, pack of 100 | ₹3,000 |
| Championship Edition Table, 18mm | ₹27,500 |
| Total | ₹34,598 |
The table is by far the biggest line item, and by far the biggest decision — see our table buying guide before committing to a specific model. This tier assumes the 18mm Championship Edition, which our home use guide recommends as proportionate for exactly this setup; a 25mm tournament-grade table would add ₹10,500–₹24,500 on top of this total.
Tier 4: A serious build-your-own setup — ₹31,896
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Butterfly Viscaria blade | ₹13,799 |
| 2× Butterfly Tenergy 05 (both sides) | ₹12,198 |
| Aluminium Racket Case | ₹2,899 |
| Balls, pack of 100 | ₹3,000 |
| Total | ₹31,896 |
This is what an advanced, build-your-own setup costs without a table — assuming you're playing at a club or school. It's a genuinely different purchase from Tier 1–3: you're choosing a blade and rubber separately rather than buying a matched pre-assembled racket, which our pre-made to custom setup guide covers in more depth if you're not sure that's the right move yet.
What isn't in any of these totals
- Gluing. A build-your-own setup (Tier 4) needs the rubber glued to the blade — see our gluing guide, or add our rubber gluing service and we glue it before dispatch.
- Replacement rubber. Rubber wears out every few months of regular play and isn't a one-time cost the way a blade or table is — factor in re-buying rubber sheets over time on any build-your-own setup.
- Club or coaching fees, if you're playing anywhere other than at home.
Frequently asked
What's the actual cheapest way to start playing?
₹2,199 — a Rakshak Racket and a few balls, assuming a table already exists somewhere you can access one. The table is what makes the other tiers meaningfully more expensive, not the racket itself.
Is it cheaper to buy a pre-assembled racket or build your own?
Pre-assembled is cheaper upfront every time — Tier 1–3 above all use one. Build-your-own (Tier 4) costs more initially but lets you replace just the rubber as it wears rather than the whole racket, which can work out cheaper over a year or two of regular play. See our racket price guide for the full range either way.
Do I need a table to start, or can I play somewhere else?
You don't need to own a table to play — a school, club, or community table works fine, and that's what Tier 1 and Tier 4 above assume. Buying a table (Tier 3) is only necessary if you want the ability to play at home on your own schedule.
What if I'm buying for a school or club, not myself?
The maths changes at scale — see our clubs and academies guide, since table durability under repeated daily use matters more than it does for a single home setup.