Ping pong is the game of fast back-and-forth volleys that requires elite athleticism and lightning-fast reflexes. The game may look simple, but its complexities lie in the equipment and rules that have evolved over 150 years.
The game was invented by middle-to upper-class Victorian England society as a parlour game to be played after meals. It developed out of a need for winter-time activities as lawn tennis could not be played indoors. It quickly spread to China and the Soviet Union, where it would become an Olympic sport in 1988.
To play, players need two paddles (also known as bats or rackets), a ball, and a table. Today, ping pong paddles are usually made of wood and foam with pimpled or stippled rubber on both sides. The stippling on the paddle’s rubber allows the player to put spin on the ball by changing the way it bounces off the surface of the paddle.
Ping pong paddles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most common are about 2 inches thick with a grip on the top and bottom. These paddles are available in sporting discount stores for recreational play, but professionals use customized paddles that vary in size and shape.
Traditionally, the game was called ping pong in the United States and ping-pong in most of the world. However, in 1971, when a team of American table tennis players received an invitation from their Chinese counterparts to visit China, the news was hailed as “The Ping Heard Round the World.” This signaled that U.S.-China relations were improving, and led to Nixon’s secret trip to Beijing in 1972.