Ping Pong Fun Facts

Since the 12th century, table tennis hashim to put more spin on the ball. It resulted to a
undergone several changes in equipment as welldramatic speed in the game which led to the
as in game rules, eventually becoming one of theproduction of pimpled rubber racket. His ingenious
most popular competitive sports in the wholediscovery also dominated the racket sales around
world.the world.
In the 1880s, British army officers stationed inThe popularity of the game was then followed by
colonial areas such as South Africa or India wouldan increase in demand for regulations and serious
often play "Royal Tennis" using cigar lids ascompetition. In 1903, two organizations were
paddles, rounded wine corks as balls, and rows offormed: The Ping Pong Association in the United
books as an improvised net. This inventive gameStates, and the Association in England. With the
was quite popular with the army officers since itever increasing popularity of the game, the
was quick and highly entertaining.desires of the people to compete on an
During the Victorian era, upper class meninternational level called for the formation of a
considered table tennis, then known asnew organization. In 1926, the International Table
"Wiff-Waff" or "Gossima," as an after-dinner socialTennis Federation (ITTF) was formed in Berlin and
activity. They would clear off the dining table toin 1927, the ITTF held the first official World
be used as the playing surface. The opponentsChampionship in London. The ITTF is also
would hit rounded objects, sometimes a ball maderesponsible for the many changes it has
of string/yarn, with a book over a "net" madeundergone.
out of piled up books. "Wiff-Waff" then becameTable tennis also had its Eras. There was the
quite popular which led to the manufacturing ofClassic Hard Bat Era wherein Europe dominated
the first official paddle made out of a frame withthe table tennis sport. But the 1952-1970's period
stretched parchment paper over it.became known as the Sponge Bat Era, Rise of
Shortly afterward, British enthusiast of tableJapan and China.
tennis, James Gibb, introduced hollow celluloid ballsMany countries still compete in Championship
to England in 1900. John Jacques then registeredTable Tennis games all over the world. From its
the name "Ping-Pong" as a trade name in England.humble beginnings as a simple past time to
In 1901, Jacques & Sons sold the copyrightedbecoming one of the world's most popular
name to the well known United States gamecompetitive sports, ping pong has truly gone far.
manufacturer, Parker Brothers. Parker BrothersEven though the equipment has changed over the
then began marketing Ping-Pong sets in the hopescourse of the years, the enthusiasm, popularity,
of increasing its popularity in the United States.and serious competition associated with ping pong
In 1902, An Englishman named E.C. Goode placedhave never truly wavered.
a pebbled rubber on his wooden blade, allowing