Ping pong has grown into one of the world’s most popular sports, but did you know that it has a rich and fascinating history? From its humble beginnings as a parlor game to its meteoric rise to Olympic status, here’s the lowdown on the sport’s illustrious past.
In the early 1900s, ping-pong became a massive craze in England and Europe. It was even lauded as a healthful pastime, with pictures of adult ping-pong champions blazoned on the front pages of newspapers.
The popularity of the game was fuelled by the development and manufacture of specialized tables. In a bid to keep up with demand, Cornilleau began producing tables in large numbers. This democratised the sport and allowed people of all ages to enjoy it.
To improve your ping-pong skills, practice consistently. Focus on technique, footwork and serving. Once you’ve mastered these basics, then try to concentrate on your opponent’s weaknesses. For example, if your opponent has a shakehand grip, try to put the ball into their power zone. This is the area directly under their forehand, just behind their body on their backhand and in the center of their backhand.
Another ping-pong variation that has gained popularity is beer pong. In this game, players compete to hit the ping-pong ball into cups filled with drinks on the table. The team that reaches all of the cups first wins. The game is great for socializing and relaxing.