Ping pong

Ping pong, also known as Table Tennis, is a sport that originated in the late 19th century and has since become a popular recreational and competitive activity worldwide.

History

Ping pong was first developed in England during the 1880s, where it was played among the upper-class as an after-dinner parlour game. It has been suggested that the game was first developed by British military officers in India or South Africa who brought it back to England. The game was originally played with improvised equipment on dining tables, or any flat surface, using books for nets and cigar box lids for paddles.

Equipment

The basic equipment required for a game of ping pong includes a table, a ball, and two rackets. The table is rectangular, 9 feet by 5 feet, and divided in half by a net. The ball is made of celluloid or similar plastics, and is 40mm in diameter. The rackets, also known as paddles or bats, are usually made from laminated wood covered with rubber.

Gameplay

A match is played best 3 of 5 games (or 4/7 or 5/9). For each game, the first player to reach 11 points wins that game, however a game must be won by at least a two point margin. A point is scored after each ball is put into play (not just when the server wins the point as in volleyball).

Rules

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is the governing body for all international table tennis associations. The role of the ITTF includes overseeing rules and regulations and seeking technological improvement for the sport of table tennis.

Popularity

Ping pong is popular worldwide, particularly in Asia, and is officially considered a Olympic sport, having made its debut in the 1992 Summer Olympics.

See Also

• Table Tennis at the Summer Olympics
• Table Tennis World Cup
• Table Tennis Techniques
• Table Tennis Equipment