History of Table Tennis

Table Tennis or Ping Pong likely began as a social hobby in England toward the end of the 1800´s. Dining-room tables and balls of cork made up some of the early equipment that was used. These early pioneers may have referred to their sport as gossima,

flim-flam, or ping-pong. Around the turn of the century, the game underwent a few changes in England. One person introduced a celluloid ball to the game, while another added pimpled rubber to the wooden paddle. The recreational game lost some of its popularity until various groups around Europe revived it as "table tennis" in the 1920s. The International Table Tennis Association (ITTF) was formed in 1926. The sport soon spread to Japan and other Asian nations. The Japanese dominated the sport for much of the 50s and 60s, however the Chinese soon closed the gap. China alone dominated the sport for much of the 60´s and 70´s, but after Table Tennis became an Olympic event in the 1980´s, other nations such as Sweden and South Korea have joined the top ranks.

Table Tennis Order of Play Rules:

In singles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return, and thereafter, server and receiver alternately shall each make a good return. In doubles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a good return, the partner of the receiver shall then make a good return, and thereafter, each player alternately in that sequence shall make a good return.

Table Tennis Point Rule:

Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point: If his opponent fails to make a good service. If his opponent fails to make a good return. If, after he has made a good service or a good return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by his opponent. If the ball passes beyond his end line without touching his court, after being struck by his opponent. If his opponent obstructs the ball, except as provided in Rule 9.1. If his opponent strikes the ball twice successively. If his opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racquet blade having an illegal surface. If his opponent, or anything he wears or carries, moves the playing surface. If his opponent, or anything he wears or carries, touches the net assembly. If his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface. If, in doubles, his opponent strikes the ball out of sequence established by the first server and first receiver. As provided under the expedite system. If the umpire assesses a penalty point against his opponent.

Table Tennis Rules

The ping pong table shall be in surface rectangular, 274 cm. (9 ft.) in length, 152.5 cm. (5 ft.) in width. It shall be supported so that its upper surface, termed the playing surface, shall lie in a horizontal plane 76 cm. (2 ft. 6 in.) above the floor. It shall be made of any material and shall yield a uniform bounce of about 23 cm. (8 3/4 in.) when a standard ball is dropped from a height of 30 cm. (12 in.) above the surface. The ping pong table playing surface shall be dark colored and matt, with a white line 2 cm. (3/4 inch) wide along each edge. The lines along the 152.5 cm. (5 ft.) edges or ends shall be termed end lines, and they shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions. The lines along the 274 cm. (9 ft.) edges or sides shall be termed side lines.