History of Ping-Pong

History of Ping-Pong

Table tennis, the official name of which is table tennis when played as a sport, is a very popular pastime. We invite you to discover the origins of this discipline and the main developments in the game and the equipment used.

The origins of Ping-Pong

Like its big brother tennis, tennis table was invented in England in the late nineteenth century to 1881.

A simple transposition of origin Tennis turf on, this game was practiced by good society Victorian

While early players used rudimentary equipment (cork balls, net board and racket in hard book cover), full equipment sets appeared in 1898 and were marketed in England by the John Jacques Company.

Where does the name Ping-Pong come from?

It is the Hamsley's company which marketed this game in the United States under the brand "Ping-Pong" in 1901.

The term Ping-Pong, which refers to the sound of the ball against the racket, is only one of the pictorial names that have been used to designate this game.

We also spoke of "Pim Pam" in France or "Whiff Whaff "in the United States.

The commercial term of Ping-Pong was then abandoned in favor of "table tennis" for legal reasons.

In everyday language, the term is rather used to denote the game of leisure, while the name of tennis table means the sport.

Evolution of the material

Popularity of this game

Anecdote

In 1971, in the context of the Cold War, the tennis table served as a pretext to rapprochement of China and the United States.

During the world championships in Hong Kong, the Chinese authorities invited the American delegation to come and face the Chinese table tennis players "in a friendly manner".

Since that time, one speaks of "Ping-Pong diplomacy" to designate the steps of international conciliation by the means of sporting meetings.

The history of table tennis

Table tennis was born at the end of the 19th century, in the middle of the English bourgeoisie. Tennis had then conquered high society for several decades. Legend has it that during a social dinner, a lord wanted to explain some playing (tennis) tactics to the guests. They arranged the books on the table as a net, chose the cork of a good champagne as a ball and boxes of cigars for rackets. The activity proving to be very amusing and adapted to English winters, it improved and spread. Manufacturers took over the market and the first international tournament was held in Hungary in 1897. The game reached China through European concessions.

The originally rubber bullet came close to its present design when James Gibb returned in 1901 from America with a lighter, celluloid bullet. Rubber was then used as a coating on racquets.

The International Table Tennis Federation was created in 1926 and that of France the following year. At the start of the twentieth century, the podiums of table tennis championships were dominated by Eastern Europe, before Asia was widely imposed, from 1960. The Olympic Games hosted the Olympic Games for the first time. Table tennis, in Seoul in 1988.

School practice of table tennis

Table tennis is a difficult activity for the youngest. This APS is generally offered from the 4th year until the end of the year. A real learning cycle can then be set up, responding perfectly to the programs. Coordinating your movements and adapting them to the environment, playing a role, managing your emotions, participating in a dual activity, quickly making a decision… are all skills exercised by table tennis.

From primary school onwards, it is possible to offer racquet sports sequences, by setting up simplified workshops, using rackets and table tennis balls, in parallel with tennis and badminton equipment. Experimenting with supports and observing the results of one's actions are highly targeted skills in the practice of PE before college.

The rules of table tennis

This sport is practiced on a table of regulatory dimensions, cut into two fields by a net. As with tennis, table tennis is played in singles or doubles. Players exchange the ball on either side of the net. Before returning the ball, the player must imperatively observe a rebound on his own ground.

A competition is played over three or four winning rounds. The winner of a round is the first to total 11 points, with 2 points difference. Without this gap, play continues until either player scores two more points than their opponent.

The rules are the same as in singles, but the serve is imposed diagonally. Then the players play one after the other.

Table tennis service

The first player to serve is determined by drawing lots; the other will serve the first serve in the next set. Each player serves for two rallies in a row, whether or not he wins the point. From a 10-10 result, the serve is taken in turn.

The singles serve can be done diagonally or linearly. The player throws the ball and hits it with his racquet so as to make a rebound first in his court, then in the opposing court. If in passing, the ball hits the net, there is a “let” and the service must be restarted.

The regulations require that the service respect the following instructions: start with the ball in the open and immobile palm, thrown vertically to at least 16 cm in height and hit when it comes down.

Table tennis fouls

A point is earned when the opponent commits a fault.

The most common mistakes:

The other faults counted in competition: