| Table Tennis or Ping Pong (referred to as t-term | | | | association became defunct in 1904. When |
| and p-term, respectively, throughout this article so | | | | interest in the sport began to revive in the 1920s, |
| as to avoid excessive keyword phrase use): | | | | it became referred to more often using the |
| which is the correct term to describe the Olympic | | | | t-term simply to avoid trademark disputes with |
| sport loved by many around the world? | | | | Parker Brothers'. The company was extremely |
| Depending upon whom you ask, you will probably | | | | aggressive in protecting their rights to the p-term |
| get a different answer. Some people believe the | | | | and threatened legal action when necessary. This |
| t-term is the proper name to use when referring | | | | fear of trademark infringement might explain why |
| to a more serious level of play. Athletes who train | | | | the governing body of the sport, the ITTF, uses |
| for hours each day train to play table tennis, not | | | | the t-term instead of the p-term in its title. |
| ping pong - according to some. | | | | Without question, a major divide was created |
| The p-term is a more relaxed term used to | | | | when manufacturers were no longer able to use |
| describe the recreational player. The group of kids | | | | the p-term when describing equipment they |
| playing in the basement or garage are playing ping | | | | manufactured for the sport. Manufacturers began |
| pong - again, the opinion of some. This logic is | | | | to label their items with the t-term. At that time |
| shared by many around the world, the exception | | | | there was not a difference between the |
| is China were the p-term is still an honorable title | | | | equipment other than the branding. Parker |
| for a sport which they dominate. The truth is that | | | | Brothers' simple act of trademarking and |
| the sport and the game were once considered to | | | | prohibiting use of the p-term created two camps |
| be one in the same, and the terms are still used | | | | of players. |
| interchangeably by many. | | | | In 1935, as pockets of players began to form |
| The t-term was first used in 1887 on a board | | | | around the United States, The American Ping |
| game created by J.H. Singer in New York. The | | | | Pong Association, whose members could afford |
| p-term was not registered as a trade name until | | | | to use the more expensive Parker Brothers' |
| 1901 by John Jacques in England. He later sold the | | | | equipment, the US Amateur Table Tennis |
| rights to the American gaming company Parker | | | | Association, and the National Table Tennis |
| Brothers. This was a time of intense popularity | | | | Association merged to form the USATT. The |
| for the game, and it was known by both names. | | | | hope was that one association would be more |
| At the height of its popularity, in December 1901, | | | | effective in setting guidelines and meeting |
| "The Table Tennis Association" and "The | | | | expectations for the sport. People continued then, |
| Ping-Pong Association" were formed in England. | | | | and continue to this day to use both terms to |
| The two associations merged in 1903 to form | | | | describe the sport. |
| "The United Table Tennis and Ping Pong | | | | Whichever term you choose to use, just continue |
| Association". This would seem to indicate that, at | | | | to play and encourage others to join you. |
| the time, the two terms were used to describe | | | | Promotion of the sport, using whichever name |
| the same activity. | | | | you choose, is more important than a fight over |
| As interest in the game began to diminish, the | | | | the name. |