Ping Pong

Ping pong, also known as table tennis, is a game where two or four players hit a small, hollow, plastic ball with paddles back and forth to each other on a table designed to appear like a miniaturized tennis court. Ping pong is popular worldwide, and the international league devoted to it is overseen by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Fast Facts

1. Origin: England, late 19th century
2. Winner is the first to score 11 points
3. Must have a two-point lead to win
4. Paddle also called a "bat" or a "racket"
5. Ping pong is an Olympic sport
6. Pro ping pong is popular in Europe and especially in Asia
7. China consistently leads the way in professional table tennis competition
8. Ping pong inspired the first commercially successful video game, Pong

Official Equipment Specifications

Table

1. Material: Masonite
2. Alternatively, any material that is smooth and low-friction
3. Length: 9 feet (274 cm)
4. Width: 5 feet (152.5 cm)
5. Height: 30 inches (76 cm)

Ball

1. Weight: 2.7 grams
2. Size: 40 mm in diameter
3. Material: celluloid
4. Often white- or orange-colored with a matte finish
5. Should bounce back 23 cm when dropped from 30 cm high

Paddle

1. Common material: Wood and rubber
2. Alternative materials: Fiberglass, Aluminum, Titanium, Acrylate, Aramids
3. Construction: Layered one or both sides with rubber, textured to enhance or detract from spin on the ball

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