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).
Official Equipment Specifications
Table
- Material: Masonite
- Alternatively, any material that is smooth and low-friction
- Length: 9 feet (274 cm)
- Width: 5 feet (152.5 cm)
- Height: 30 inches (76 cm)
Ball
- Weight: 2.7 grams
- Size: 40 mm in diameter
- Material: Celluloid
- Often white- or orange-colored with a matte finish
- Should bounce back 23 cm when dropped from 30 cm high
Paddle
- Common material: Wood and rubber
- Alternative materials: Fiberglass, Aluminum, Titanium, Acrylate, Aramids
- Construction: Layered one or both sides with rubber, textured to enhance or detract from spin on the ball
Ping Pong Blogs and Forums
Pingpongmastery: Table Tennis Mastery Blog
Denis' Table Tennis World: Ping Pong Forum
Table Tennis Master: Table Tennis Forum
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References
Fast Facts
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Origin
England, late 19th century
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Fact:
Winner is the first to score 11 points
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Fact:
Must have a two-point lead to win
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Fact:
Paddle also called a "bat" or a "racket"
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Fact:
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Fact:
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Fact:
China consistently leads the way in professional table tennis competition
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Fact:
Ping pong inspired the first commercially successful video game, Pong
