A Brief History Of Table Tennis by Evert DuToit
If you watch the sports channels on TV, such as ESPN, a lot, you’re likely to catch a game of table tennis every so often. Table tennis, often called ping pong, is played on a wooden table, with a plastic ball and paddles covered in rubber and a net dividing the playing surface. It is sometimes called the miniature version of tennis since the rules are so similar.
Table tennis is a fun and exciting sport and it is easy to learn. A big advantage to taking up table tennis is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on expensive equipment. The most expensive part is obviously the table. You can find inexpensive ping pong sets, consisting of the net, 2 paddles and a number of balls, in almost any department store in the toy or sporting goods section.
The game of table tennis was invented in England in the 1880′s by rich Victorians looking for an activity to be played indoors. When the game was first played, books served as a net, a knot of string or a champagne cork was used as a ball and cigarette box lids were employed as paddles. Apparently people enjoyed this newly invented game with its make-shift equipment, since it continued to grow in popularity.
Improvements were made to the equipment during the early 1900′s. The balls were being made from celluloid and the paddles consisted of a piece of rubber glued to a wooden handle. The word ping pong originated because of the distinctive sound the ball made when hit with the rubber paddle. And Parker Brothers opted to go with the ping pong name when they introduced the game to the United States.
With the commercial availability of the equipment, the game continued to grow in popularity and the first tournament was held in 1902. In 1921 the Table Tennis Association was founded in England and less than 10 years later, the first World Championships also took place there.
Over time the sport spread to other parts of the world. In the Far Eastern countries, such as China, it is called ping pong, while in other countries similar terms in the native language are used.
The 1950′s rolled around and other innovations were made. As an example, a sponge layer was added to the paddles over the rubber, making the paddles lighter and easier for the players to use. And finally, after being around for more than a century, table tennis was included as an Olympic Sport in 1988.
In the latter part of 2000, the international body governing the rules of table tennis introduced more changes. They decided to increase the size of the plastic ball used in tournaments from 38mm to 40mm. This was an attempt to slow the game down a little. They also made changes to the way the game was scored, now using a 11 point system as opposed to the traditional 21 points, which makes each set fast and exciting for the players and spectators.
Enjoy your experiences with table tennis, and remember to keep your eye on the ball.
Evert DuToit is the webmaster and publisher of Table Tennis Facts, where you’ll find informative articles on table tennis, such as The Rules of Table Tennis.
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/A-Brief-History-Of-Table-Tennis/68719
|
|
London 2012 50p Sports Collection – Table Tennis £2.99 In January 2009 the Royal Mint launched its biggest ever competition, inviting the British public to design a series of new 50p coins. Thousands of excellent designs were received from all over the UK, featuring all 29 sports of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.The best designs were selected and now theyâ?TMve been made into coins for you to collect as lasting mementoes of London 2012. The T… |
|
|
Wild Wolf Ridley’s Table Top Ping Pong £9.90 Retro Table Top Ping Pong (Tennis). A true old favourite, this set includes 2 Bats, 3 Balls, a net and a handy carry bag. Part of the Ridley’s House of Novelties range. A collection of great gifts for kids and grown ups with wonderful retro packaging. Classic novelties, games, jokes, tricks and magic…. |
|
|
Pro Balls Box of 72 (White or Orange) £18.99 Pack of 72 x 40mm balls in WHITE or ORANGE for training use. The packaging has been especially designed for use by coaches during training sessions. Providing great ease of use. Ball Criteria: The quality of a Table Tennis Ball is determined by 4 criteria ( according to the rules of the ITTF). Weight, Roundness, Hardness & Rebound…. |
|
|
Advanced Table Tennis [DVD] £16.29 … |