Scribd
Upload
98 views1 page

Table Tennis: Origins and Evolution

The sport of table tennis originated in Victorian England as an after-dinner parlour game played by the upper class. British military officers developed makeshift versions in India in the 1860s-1870s and brought it back, using books as a net and rackets. The name "ping-pong" was trademarked in 1901 but then described the game played with expensive equipment, while other manufacturers used "table tennis". The next major innovation was celluloid balls in 1901 found to be ideal, and improved rackets with rubber added to wood blades. Table tennis grew such that tournaments and books emerged by 1901.

Uploaded by

Micaella Lalamoro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
98 views1 page

Table Tennis: Origins and Evolution

The sport of table tennis originated in Victorian England as an after-dinner parlour game played by the upper class. British military officers developed makeshift versions in India in the 1860s-1870s and brought it back, using books as a net and rackets. The name "ping-pong" was trademarked in 1901 but then described the game played with expensive equipment, while other manufacturers used "table tennis". The next major innovation was celluloid balls in 1901 found to be ideal, and improved rackets with rubber added to wood blades. Table tennis grew such that tournaments and books emerged by 1901.

Uploaded by

Micaella Lalamoro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Ball

The sport originated in Victorian England, where it was played among the upper-class
as an after-dinner parlour game.[1][2] It has been suggested that makeshift versions of
the game were developed by British military officers in India in around 1860s or Table Tennis Plastic Ball 40+ mm
1870s, who brought it back with them.[6] A row of books stood up along the center of
The international rules specify that the game is played with a sphere having a mass
the table as a net, two more books served as rackets and were used to continuously
of 2.7 grams (0.095 oz) and a diameter of 40 millimetres (1.57 in).[23] The rules say
hit a golf-ball.[7][8]
that the ball shall bounce up 24–26 cm (9.4–10.2 in) when dropped from a height of
The name "ping-pong" was in wide use before British manufacturer J. Jaques & Son 30.5 cm (12.0 in) onto a standard steel block thereby having a coefficient of
Ltd trademarked it in 1901. The name "ping-pong" then came to describe the game restitution of 0.89 to 0.92. Balls are now made of a polymer instead of celluloid as of
played using the rather expensive Jaques's equipment, with other manufacturers 2015, colored white or orange, with a matte finish. The choice of ball color is made
calling it table tennis. A similar situation arose in the United States, where Jaques according to the table color and its surroundings. For example, a white ball is easier
sold the rights to the "ping-pong" name to Parker Brothers. Parker Brothers then to see on a green or blue table than it is on a grey table. Manufacturers often
enforced its trademark for the term in the 1920s making the various associations indicate the quality of the ball with a star rating system, usually from one to three,
change their names to "table tennis" instead of the more common, but trademarked, three being the highest grade. As this system is not standard across manufacturers,
term.[9] the only way a ball may be used in official competition is upon ITTF approval[23] (the
ITTF approval can be seen printed on the ball).
The next major innovation was by James W. Gibb, a British enthusiast of table tennis,
who discovered novelty celluloid balls on a trip to the US in 1901 and found them to The 40 mm ball was introduced after the end of the 2000 Summer Olympics.[19] This
be ideal for the game. This was followed by E.C. Goode who, in 1901, invented the created some controversies. Then World No 1 table tennis professional Vladimir
modern version of the racket by fixing a sheet of pimpled, or stippled, rubber to the Samsonov threatened to pull out of the World Cup, which was scheduled to debut
wooden blade. Table tennis was growing in popularity by 1901 to the extent that the new regulation ball on October 12, 2000.[24]
tournaments were being organized, books being written on the subject,[7] and an
unofficial world championship was held in 1902.

You might also like