Table tennis is an indoor sport played on a scaled-down tennis court with a ball and rackets. It started as a recreational game but has become a worldwide sport. The paddle can be held in different ways and has different textures for ball spin. The table is 9 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 2.5 feet high with a net dividing it. It was invented in England in the late 19th century and has become an international game dominated by Asian countries, reaching Olympic competition in 1950.
Table tennis is an indoor sport played on a table with a ball and rackets. Also known as table tennis, it started out as a recreational game but has developed into a worldwide sport. It is played on a scaled-down tennis court, over a table with a short net running through the center. Players, one or two from each team, stand at either end of the table and throw the ball over the net. The name comes from a brand of equipment made for the sport in the mid-1900s and has been used interchangeably with its official designation ever since.
A small wooden paddle with a handle is used to serve the empty ping pong ball across the net on a rebound. The ball, the size of a golf ball but very light, must be returned in the air or after a bounce over the net. A point is earned when the opponent fails to return the ball to the table, and games are played to 11. If play is within one point at that time, it continues until one side gains a two-point lead. In doubles and singles table tennis the rules are the same.
The paddle can be one of many different styles and can be held in many different ways. It can be held with one hand around the handle only, like a baseball bat. Alternatively, it can be held with three fingers around the handle and forefinger extended behind the surface of the paddle, for control and support. The paddle is often colored differently on each side and can also have different textures, with different types of rubber. The rubber can include varying degrees of stickiness or small bumps called pimples for different levels of ball spin.
The ping pong table is 9 feet (2.7m) long, 5 feet (1.53m) wide, and 2.5 feet (76m) high. The net divides the table in width and is 6 cm (15.3 inches) high. The table usually has a smooth finish and the official ones are green or blue in color. The ball can hit anywhere on the table, even if there is a line dividing the table lengthwise to serve in doubles play. In doubles, the serve must come from the right side of the table and land over the net on the other side of the line.
Table tennis was invented in England in the late 19th century as a recreational activity for families or friends to play at home. It was played on simple equipment and could be a fun, fast-paced activity for those without high athletic ability, strength, or endurance. Table tennis has become an international game since the 1919s, dominated by many Asian countries. Playing in professional competitions becomes a fast-paced sport for those with excellent reflexes and precise hand-eye coordination. It reached the level of Olympic competition in 1950 and has been played during the Games ever since.
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