History of Ping Pong

Ping Pong, also called table tennis, is a popular sport that has its roots in Britain. The rules are easy to learn, but becoming a top-notch player requires work since the game is very fast-paced. Over the years, the equipment and techniques to play the game have advanced, but the basic concept of the game has remained the same.

Beginnings of Ping Pong

It is thought that Ping Pong first originated in Britain during the 1880s. At this time, the game was commonly referred to as "wiff-waff" and was a popular parlor game and provided after-dinner entertainment. In the beginning, the equipment was crude. A row of stacked books usually served as the "net" and paddles were usually built from old cigar box lids. The ball was usually sculpted from an old champagne cork. The game exploded in popularity in just a few years and many companies began manufacturing specialized equipment for the sport.

Popularity explosion

By early 1900, the game had spread from Britain to far corners of the globe. In the United States, Japan and other countries, it became a favorite pastime for people of all ages and social classes. There were several companies marketing equipment under the name "ping-pong," and paddles, tables, nets and balls became more refined. The first major advancement came with the introduction of the celluloid ball. Celluloid made the ball more lightweight and allowed its shape to stay perfectly round and balanced. This ball was a perfect compliment to E.C. Goode's rubber-coated paddles, created in 1901. Tournaments were now common place and many books were written about the sport.

World championships

1928 marked an exciting year for the sport of Ping Pong. This year, the International Table Tennis Federation was formed and held its very first world championship tournament. Technique and equipment advances helped propel the sport to become one of the world's most popular pass times, following the end of World War II. In 1988, Ping Pong made its debut at the Olympics and drew teams to compete from around the world.

Today, many consider the popularity and technological advances of the sport to have already peaked. Despite this, it is still a game played around the globe and by people of all cultures. Many variants of the game have arose, but most follow the same basic set of rules created in the 1880s.