Table tennis and badminton in Singapore: where to play and how to find a kaki

To play table tennis or badminton in Singapore, book an ActiveSG sport hall through the ActiveSG app (table tennis from S$1.50 an hour, badminton from S$3.50 for citizens and PRs off-peak), try a community club court on onePA, or use the free tables at some MRT stations and sport centres. To find a regular partner, a badminton kaki, join a social session and keep turning up.

Why racket sports are good for making friends

Badminton and table tennis are made for meeting people. You need at least one other person, games are short, and doubles mixes everyone up. Rotating partners at a social session means you might play with six or seven people in an evening, and the regulars soon become familiar faces. Many groups head for supper afterwards, which is often where the friendships start.

Where to play

ActiveSG sport halls

ActiveSG, run by Sport Singapore, has the most predictable prices: the same rate at every sport centre. Rates as listed in August 2026:

Facility	Citizen/PR off-peak	Citizen/PR peak	Standard off-peak	Standard peak
Badminton court (per hour)	S$3.50	S$7.40	S$4.60	S$9.70
Table tennis table (per hour)	S$1.50	S$3.20	S$2.00	S$4.20
Badminton in school halls (per hour)	n/a	S$7.40	n/a	S$9.70

Peak is 6pm to 10pm on weekdays, and 7am to 10pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Off-peak is 7am to 6pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays. Badminton in school halls opened through ActiveSG is charged at peak rates only.

Table tennis tables are available at a handful of ActiveSG halls, including Clementi, Jurong East, Jurong West and Tampines, plus the MOE Sports Hall on Evans Road.

Community club courts

Community clubs list around 79 badminton facilities on onePA, and each club sets its own price. Recent examples ranged from S$4 to S$5 an hour at Bishan CC to S$10 to S$14 at Kampong Glam CC. You book on the onePA website or app with Singpass. New slots open daily at 10pm, up to 15 days ahead, with a limit of two hours a day. Many CC courts are marked on multi-purpose hall floors, so they play a little differently from a dedicated sports floor.

CCs also run social table tennis sessions. Anchorvale CC, for example, has listed a Tuesday evening session with five tables at S$2 per person. Sessions like this are ideal if you want company rather than quiet practice.

Free table tennis

• MRT stations: Esplanade, Marina Bay and Bayshore have free, air-conditioned tables under SMRT's Communities in Station programme. Reserve one-hour slots up to 14 days ahead in the Wink+ app, with up to two hours a day per person.
• Outdoor tables at sport centres: free, first come, first served, at venues including Sengkang Sport Centre, Our Tampines Hub, Heartbeat@Bedok, Pasir Ris Sport Centre, Jurong East Sport Centre and ActiveSG Park @ Jurong Lake Gardens.

Bring your own bats and balls.

Private halls

If you cannot get a public slot, private halls such as Singapore Badminton Hall at Sims and at Expo charge roughly S$10 to S$40 an hour depending on the court and time. OCBC Arena at the Kallang also opens courts to the public at set times, from S$5 an hour off-peak for locals.

How ActiveSG booking works

Popular slots go fast, so it helps to know the system:

• Off-peak slots open 12 days ahead at 12pm, first come, first served.
• Peak slots at many venues go through a ballot that opens 14 days ahead. Results come the next day, and winners must pay by 11.59pm that day or the slot is released.
• Limit: two badminton or table tennis slots per user per day, regardless of timing.

Tip: if you play with a regular partner, take turns booking so you can cover a two-hour session between you.

How to find a badminton or table tennis kaki

"Kaki" is Singlish for a buddy you do something with, so a badminton kaki is your regular court partner. Our guide to makan kaki, kopi kaki and more explains the word. Ways to find one:

1. Join social sessions. Community clubs run open sessions where you turn up, put your name down and rotate in.
2. Try Meetup. Singapore groups include Going Badminton, which had more than 5,000 members when we checked. Read recent event comments to see how often a group actually plays.
3. Use Facebook and Telegram groups. Singapore badminton groups are a good place to find players, and to spot social sessions hosted at community clubs.
4. Ask at the end of a game. If you enjoyed playing with someone, suggest a regular slot. "Same time next week? I'll book" is all it takes.

Court etiquette

• Arrive on time and leave on time. The next group is usually waiting.
• Bring shuttles or balls to share. If someone else supplied them last time, offer to bring them next.
• Wear indoor shoes that will not mark the floor.
• Be honest about your level. "I'm a casual player" helps everyone pick fair games.
• Rotate at social sessions. Do not hog a court with the same four people.
• Split costs promptly. A quick PayNow after the game keeps everyone happy.

Staying safe when meeting new players

Courts are public, which makes them a comfortable place to meet. Still, tell a friend if you are meeting someone new, make your own way there and back, and keep personal details private until you know people. Never send money to someone you have not met in person. If you are unsure about a request, call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799.

A new option: Now I'm Open

Now I'm Open is a new, free web app from Singapore, launched in October 2026 for adults 18 and over, so expect few members while it grows. In Friends mode you can post a card like "Open to casual doubles badminton, Bishan, Thu 8pm, intermediate level". You see like-minded people nearby by area only, and you connect only when you both say yes. Signed-in members see each other's photos, and selfie verification gives a Verified badge.

Looking for a running buddy as well? Or browse what is near you, such as Tampines, Jurong East or Bishan. You can also take the one-minute quiz to see what kind of company suits you.