also called (trademark) Ping-pong, ball game similar in principle to lawn tennis and played on a flat table divided into two equal courts by a net fixed across its width at the middle (see illustration). The object is to hit the ball so that it goes over the net and bounces on the opponent's half of the table in such a way that the opponent cannot reach it or return it correctly. The lightweight hollow ball is made of celluloid or a similar plastic and is propelled back and forth across the net by small rackets (bats, or paddles) held by the players. The game is popular all over the world. In most countries it is very highly organized as a competitive sport, especially in Europe and Asia, particularly in China and Japan.

History

Invented in England in the early days of the 20th century, the game was originally called Ping-Pong, a trade name. The name table tennis was adopted in 1921–22 when the old Ping-Pong Association formed in 1902 was revived. The original association had broken up about 1905, though apparently the game continued to be played in parts of England outside London and by the 1920s was being played in many countries. Led by representatives of Germany, Hungary, and England, the Fédération Internationale de Tennis de Table (International Table Tennis Federation) was founded in 1926, the founder members being England, Sweden, Hungary, India, Denmark, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Wales. Bythe mid-1990s more than 165 national associations were members.

The first world championships were held in London in 1927, and from then until 1939 the game was dominated by players from central Europe, the men's team event being won nine times by Hungary and twice by Czechoslovakia. After World War II, until 1953, Czechoslovakiawon four times and Hungary twice. These two countries produced some of the greatest players in the game. Victor Barna (five times world singles champion), Laszlo Bellak (twice a finalist), and Mike Szabados (once winner and twice finalist) all came from Hungary, as did Ferenc Sido, winner in 1953. From Czechoslovakia came Bohumil Vana, twice world champion and twice a finalist, and Ivan Andreadis, who was a great stylist and four times world doubles champion.

Another central European recognized as one of the greatest champions of all time was Richard Bergmann of Austria, who won the world singles title four times (twice as a naturalized English citizen). In the women's team event, central Europe has also been prominent. Of the 16 championships played between 1934 and 1956, Romania and Czechoslovakia won eight times. Great women players were Maria Mednyanszky (Hungary), who won the women's singles title 1926–31; Gizi Farkas (Hungary), who won the title 1946–49; and Angelica Rozeanu (Romania), with the record of six world singles titles, 1950–55.

The 1953–54 season saw the emergence of Asia as a breeding ground of champions, and fromthat time the men's team event has been won by either Japan or China, while the women's event also has been dominated, though to a lesser extent, by Japan and China. Japan has produced many great players, in particular Ichiro Ogimura and Toshiaki Tanaka, both twice world champions, and China, too, had a three times consecutive winner in Chuang Tse-tung. China suspended play during the Cultural Revolution (1966–69) but began to return to dominance in 1971 and by the 1980s had achieved it. North Korea also became an international force. In 1980 the first World Cup was held, and Guo Yuehua of China won the $12,500 first prize. Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988, with singles and doubles competition for men and women.

The game

Table tennis equipment is relatively simple and inexpensive. The table is rectangular, 9 feet by 5 feet (2.7 m by 1.5 m), its upper surface a level plane 30 inches (76 cm) above the floor. The net is 6 feet (1.8 m) long, and its upper edge along the whole length is 6 inches (15 cm) above the playing surface. The ball, which is spherical, hollow, and made of white celluloid or, since 1969, a similar plastic, weighs about 0.09 ounce (2.5 g) and has a diameter of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). The blade of a racket, or bat, is usually made of wood, is flat and rigid, and may be covered with a thin layer of ordinary stippled, or pimpled, rubber, which maybe laid over a thin layer of sponge rubber and may have the pimples reversed. Whatever combination is used, each of the two sides of a paddle must be different in colour. The paddle may be at any size, weight, or shape.

A match consists of the best of three or the best of five games, each game being won by the player who first reaches 21 points, or who, after 20 points each, wins two clear points ahead. A point is scored when the server fails to make a good service, when either player fails to make a good return, or when either player commits a specified infraction (e.g., touches the playing surface with his free hand while the ball is in play). Service changes hands after everyfive points until 20-all is reached, when it changes after every subsequent point.

The serve is made from behind the end of the table, the server tossing the ball upward from the palm of his free hand and striking it as it descends so that it first bounces on his own court and then, passing over the net, bounces on his opponent's court. In serving, no spin may be imparted to the ball by the fingers. This was not always so. Finger spin, especially in the United States, reached a stage where the experts could produce untakable services and the game became farcical. Finger spin was universally banned in 1937. The table tennis racket is usually gripped in one of two ways. One grip consists of“shaking hands”with the racket, asin lawn tennis, except that the table tennis racket is not held at the end of the handle. The forefinger rests along the blade on the rear (backhand) side, and the thumb rests on the forehand side. Many Asian players, including the Chinese and Japanese, use the“penholder”grip, in which the handle is held between forefinger and thumb as one would hold a pen. A penholder grip player strikes the ball only with the front side of the paddle.

Interest to the spectator lies in observing the ability of one player to defeat his opponent by well-thought-out strategy. Increasing the speed of the game, slowing it down, varying the direction of or imparting different spin or pace to the ball, and employing gentle drop shots over the net when the opponent is out of position are some of the tactics that may be used to support the strategy planned.

Slow or defensive play at one time was so dominant that, at the 1936 world championships in Prague, an hour was needed to decide a single point. Play is now restricted. If a game is unfinished 15 minutes after it has begun, the rest of that game and the remaining games of the match proceed under the Expedite System. Thereafter if the service and 12 following strokes of the server are returned by the receiver, the server loses the point. The service changes after each point.

Table tennis may be played with one player at each end of the table or with two players at each end who may be both men or both women or one of each. Worldwide, the women's game is comparable in organization to the men's, and women take part in world championships and all other organized events. Table tennis as well as being fully organized is also extremely popular as a recreational game and is so played in all types of sports clubs, social clubs, and game rooms, in the home, and even out-of-doors when conditions are reasonably calm.