| If you watch the sports channels on TV, such as | | | | Parker Brothers opted to go with the ping pong |
| ESPN, a lot, you're likely to catch a game of table | | | | name when they introduced the game to the United |
| tennis every so often. Table tennis, often called ping | | | | States. |
| pong, is played on a wooden table, with a plastic ball | | | | With the commercial availability of the equipment, the |
| and paddles covered in rubber and a net dividing the | | | | game continued to grow in popularity and the first |
| playing surface. It is sometimes called the miniature | | | | tournament was held in 1902. In 1921 the Table |
| version of tennis since the rules are so similar. | | | | Tennis Association was founded in England and less |
| Table tennis is a fun and exciting sport and it is easy | | | | than 10 years later, the first World Championships |
| to learn. A big advantage to taking up table tennis is | | | | also took place there. |
| that you don't need to spend a lot of money on | | | | Over time the sport spread to other parts of the |
| expensive equipment. The most expensive part is | | | | world. In the Far Eastern countries, such as China, it is |
| obviously the table. You can find inexpensive ping | | | | called ping pong, while in other countries similar terms |
| pong sets, consisting of the net, 2 paddles and a | | | | in the native language are used. |
| number of balls, in almost any department store in | | | | The 1950's rolled around and other innovations were |
| the toy or sporting goods section. | | | | made. As an example, a sponge layer was added to |
| The game of table tennis was invented in England in | | | | the paddles over the rubber, making the paddles |
| the 1880's by rich Victorians looking for an activity to | | | | lighter and easier for the players to use. And finally, |
| be played indoors. When the game was first played, | | | | after being around for more than a century, table |
| books served as a net, a knot of string or a | | | | tennis was included as an Olympic Sport in 1988. |
| champagne cork was used as a ball and cigarette | | | | In the latter part of 2000, the international body |
| box lids were employed as paddles. Apparently | | | | governing the rules of table tennis introduced more |
| people enjoyed this newly invented game with its | | | | changes. They decided to increase the size of the |
| make-shift equipment, since it continued to grow in | | | | plastic ball used in tournaments from 38mm to 40mm. |
| popularity. | | | | This was an attempt to slow the game down a little. |
| Improvements were made to the equipment during | | | | They also made changes to the way the game was |
| the early 1900's. The balls were being made from | | | | scored, now using a 11 point system as opposed to |
| celluloid and the paddles consisted of a piece of | | | | the traditional 21 points, which makes each set fast |
| rubber glued to a wooden handle. The word ping | | | | and exciting for the players and spectators. |
| pong originated because of the distinctive sound the | | | | Enjoy your experiences with table tennis, and |
| ball made when hit with the rubber paddle. And | | | | remember to keep your eye on the ball. |