What Is Ping Pong?

By Author: Scott Torsin
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Ping Pong is a type of a sport played on a special table that is divided by a net. Two to four players can play the game at a time. The objective of the game is to hit the ball with a racquet into the opponent's side. The ball should bounce only once on either side of the table and should be successfully returned to the opponent. Ping-pong is very similar to lawn tennis - the only notable difference is that this game is played on a table, instead of on the court.

If the player hit the ball too hard that it fails to land on his opponent's side of the table, then it is a dead ball. A point will be given to the opponent. Ping-pong is a very fast game. Therefore, quick reactions are required. Skilled players even try to spin the ball as they hit it with the paddle so that it becomes hard for their opponent to predict which spot it would land.

The game Ping-pong originated from England in the year 1880's. It is commonly referred to as indoor tennis. During that time, players use common objects found inside their homes as equipments. The game is played on a regular dining table and they use books for a bat and ...
... a ball of yarn as the ball. It was only in 1901 that the game was marketed commercially. J. Jaques and Son Ltd. manufactured the most expensive game set. They sold it with the Ping-pong trademark.

A Ping-pong game is usually started with a toss coin. The outcome decides which player will serve the ball first. To serve the ball, the player needs to hit it with the bat approximately six inches above the table. The ball has to bounce on the serving player's side of the table and into his opponent's. As much as possible, the ball should not hit the net.

A point is awarded to you if your opponent fails to return the ball after it had bounced on their side. The ball has to go over the net and should not bounce on either side twice. Once the ball had landed on your table, you have to effectively return it to your opponent. Failure to do so will credit him a point. It is illegal for players to hit the ball before it has touched the table.