Ping Pong and Table Tennis Difference, History, Fun Facts

What is the difference between Ping Pong and Table Tennis? Let's find out if there is a difference by reading the History and some very interesting Fun Facts about Ping Pong and Table Tennis.

Is there a difference between ping pong and table tennis? Yes, there is! There are a lot of interesting facts about ping pong and table tennis that most people are not aware of, and the difference between ping pong and table tennis is one of them.

The only true difference between ping pong and table tennis is that ping pong is a trademark and table tennis is the name of the sport.

Ping Pong is a federally registered trademark first developed by Parker Brothers, Inc. and now owned by Escalade Sports. The name "Ping Pong" indicates a brand of equipment used to play the sport of table tennis. That's it! That's is the only difference between ping pong and table tennis.

You may (or maybe not) have wondered why Ping Pong is not in the Olympics. Well, the answer is that The Olympics Committee knew the difference between ping pong and table tennis and, therefore, uses the term correctly - table tennis is the sport played in the Olympics! All the industry associations relating to the sport are table tennis associations, again recognizing the fact that the sport is table tennis.

Now isn't that interesting?

CONFUSION, RUMOURS AND HERESAYS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PING PONG AND TABLE TENNIS

However, it's difficult to convince a lot of people that that is the only difference between ping pong and table tennis. Here are some rumours that are floating around:

• The difference between ping pong and table tennis is that in ping pong, the ball must bounce on your side of the table before going over the net after you hit it. WRONG!
• The difference between ping pong and table tennis is that Ping Pong was the name given to the game when it was played by gentlemen and ladies. Now it is a competitive sport it has to have a more catchy name but the rules are still the same. ALMOST CORRECT, BUT NOT QUITE!
• The difference between ping pong and table tennis is that in table tennis, only the serve has to hit the table on each side of the net, whereas in ping pong every shot has to hit the table on both sides of the net. WRONG AGAIN!
• The difference between ping pong and table tennis is that "Ping Pong" was the trade name for the table tennis sets originally sold to promote the game. SOUNDS BETTER!
• The difference between ping pong and table tennis is the relative seriousness of the participants. SERIOUSLY?
• The difference between ping pong and table tennis is that James Thurber pointed out that ping-pong backwards, gnop-gnip, sounds much more like a game of table tennis. PARDON?
• The difference between ping pong and table tennis is this: The official ball size for ping pong is 25mm in diameter. The official ball size of table tennis is 27mm in diameter. WRONG!
• Another rumour about the difference in the size of the ball used - Official ping pong balls are slightly larger than table tennis balls. Ping pong is 3.7mm in diameter, while table tennis is 3.4mm diameter. WRONG!

Let's set the record straight. There is absolutely no difference in how the game is played! The ONLY difference between ping pong and table tennis is that the sport is called table tennis and ping pong is a trademark or the brand of equipment used to play the game. Originally, there were both a "Ping Pong Association" and a "Table Tennis Association," established within a few days of one another in December 1901, but they merged in 1903. The references to a single bounce or double bounce service applied only to the period between 1900 and 1902. The references above to a double bounce in each rally and different sizes of ball are completely wrong.

For the record, the size of the ball is 40 mm in diameter. It used to be 38 mm, but it was changed to 40 mm. The 40 mm ball was introduced after the 2000 Olympic Games.

So there you go... I repeat, the only difference between ping pong and table tennis is that ping pong is a registered trademark and table tennis is the name of the sport. The game is the same.

Many people know ping pong as the game that is usually played in the basement with an opponent, with paddles in hand that made the distinctive noises when a ball is struck - PING! and when it hits the table - PONG!

Ping pong, as most people call the game, is a fun parlour or, should I say basement, game. You have to be fast though as the lightweight small white ball bounces faster than a blink of an eye.

There is a definite difference between how men and women play the game.   Women usually tend to play ping pong for fun.

Just look at these women having fun playing ping pong.

Ping pong can be very competitive.  There is definitely a difference in how the women and men play ping pong.  The guys tend to be more competitive when they play. Guys really take ping pong seriously and are really focused when playing. They play to win!

Just look at these guys playing ping pong. Take no prisoners!

From its humble beginning in the 12th century, table tennis has gone through significant changes, in both equipment and in official rule guidelines, evolving into one of the most popular competitive sporting games played in several different countries.

• Around 1880, British soldiers stationed abroad would often play "Royal Tennis", using cigar lids as paddles, and corks or webbed wrapped devices as a table tennis ball. The exciting game became very popular with the soldiers since the game was a quick and highly mobile entertainment vehicle to pass idle time.
• In 1880, the game had become fashionable among the upper classes in England.
• In 1887, the first use of the name "Table Tennis" appeared on a board and dice game in 1887 by J.H.Singer of New York.
• In 1890, David Foster patented in England an action game of Tennis on a table.
• On 16 July 1891, a full year after David Foster's Table Tennis game in 1890, John Jaques & Son of Hatton Garden, London, England registered Gossima.
• In 1900, the celluloid balls were introduced to replace rubber and cork ones. The celluloid ball had the perfect bounce, and the game became a huge success.

1901

• John Jacques registered "Ping Pong" as a trade name in England. Jacques sold the American rights to the name to Parker Brothers.
• Table Tennis Association and rival Ping Pong Association formed in England; amalgamated in 1903.
• The first books on the game published in England.
• The game was introduced in China via western settlements

And so who invented Table Tennis?

The ITTF have thoroughly researched the game and they have the definitive answer - it was Englishman David Foster who invented table tennis.

• In 1904, Ping Pong craze fades, some pockets of popularity in eastern Europe continue
• In 1922, Revival of the game in Europe, though laws varied; Establishment of standard laws of the Game in England

1926

• International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) initiated in Berlin
• First World Championships held in London, England.
• ITTF Constitution adopted, along with first set of standardized Laws.

European Dominance

1920s - 1950s, Classic Hard Bat Era - European Dominance

• 1926 - 1931, Maria Mednyanszky (HUN) wins the World Championships five times consecutively. Mednyansky wins 18 gold medals over-all
• 1930 - 1935, Victor Barna (HUN) becomes five times world champion and is runner-up 1931 losing the final against his compatriot Miklos Szabados. Barna wins a record 22 gold medals at world championships during his career, 40 medals overall
• 1936 - Tenth World Championships held in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The longest rally took place, the first point taking over two hours
• 1938 - The ITTF lowers the net from 6-3/4 inches to 6 inches, and bans the fingerspin serves which had been used with devastating effect by the American players.
• 1939 - First continental association formed: South America; First World Championship held outside Europe: Cairo, Egypt
• 1950 - 1955, Angelica Rozeanu-Adelstein (ROU) wins the World Championships six times in a row and is the last non Asian to win the female singles title until today

Beginning of Asian Dominance

1950s - 1970s, Age of Sponge Bat and Technology - Beginning of Asian Dominance

1952

• Nineteenth World Championships held in Bombay, India. The first to be staged in Asia and Japan’s entry to the international scene.
• Hiroji Satoh (JPN) became the first player to win a World Championship when using a racket covered with thick sponge. He wins the 1952 World Championship over Jozsef Koczian of Hungary, and begins a period of Asian male domination in the sport which will last until Sweden rises to supremacy from 1989 into the early 1990s.
• Inauguration of the Asian Federation & First Asian Federation Championships

• In 1953, China entered the World Championships for the first time

• In 1954, Ichiro Ogimura (JPN) is the epitome of Japanese dominance with technological development and physical training
• In 1956, Tomie Okada-Okawa (JPN) is the first female player from Asia to win the World Championships and stops the European reign on world’s female table tennis.
• In 1957, World Championship changes to a two-year cycle
• In 1958, First European Championships, Budapest, Hungary. The USSR made their entry to the international scene

1959

• Rong Guotuan (CHN) is the first Chinese world champion in any sport
• Racket standardization laws enacted

• In 1962, First All-Africa Championships, Alexandria, Egypt
• In 1967, Ivor Montagu retired as President of the ITTF after forty years in office

1970's - 1989 - China is the dominant force in both men's and women's events on the world scene, winning multiple events at all world championships.

1971

• First Commonwealth Championships held in Singapore
• Ping Pong Diplomacy: table tennis played an important role in international diplomacy when several teams were invited to China for a series of friendship matches after the 1971 World Championships. Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai: “Your visit to China has opened the door for people-to-people exchanges between China and the USA.”

The Swedish broke Chinese Dominance

• In 1971, Stellan Bengtsson (SWE) wins the men’s singles title and heralds the start of three decades of Swedish influence, with top players such as Kjell Johansson, Mikael Appelgren, Erik Lindh, Jan-Ove Waldner, Jörgen Persson, and Peter Karlsson.

• In 1977, ITTF received formal declaration of its recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• In 1988, for the very first time, table tennis was featured in the Olympic Games that were held in Seoul, South Korea

1989 - 1993 - Sweden breaks the Chinese stranglehold in Men's World Championships, winning the 1989, 1991 and 1993 Teams Events, and producing the 1989 and 1991 World Men's Champions (Jan-Ove Waldner and Jorgen Persson respectively). However, China continues its dominance in female ranks.

• In 1989, Jan-Ove Waldner (SWE) wins the Mens Singles title at the World Championships.
• In 1991, Jorgen Persson of Sweden wins the Mens Singles title at the World Championships.
• In 1992, Former World champion, Jan-Ove Waldner (SWE) became Olympic singles champion and reputedly, the first table tennis millionaire
• In 1993, Sweden wins the Mens Teams Events at the World Championships.

1995 - present - China reasserts its contol over the Mens Team and Mens Singles events at the World Championships. (except 1997 and 2000 Sweden wins)

• In 1995, the World Championships held in Tianjin, China. Total triumph for China for the second time, winning seven gold medals

• In 1996, the beginning of the ITTF Pro Tour, with events taking place all around the world
• In 1997, Jan-Ove Waldner (SWE) wins the Mens Singles title at the World Championships for the second time, this time without the loss of a single game.
• In 2000, after the Olympics in Sydney, the ball size is increased to 40mm for improved television viewing
• In 2000, a brief blip in the Chinese men's dominance occurs when the aging Swedish trio of Jan-Ove Waldner, Jorgen Persson and Peter Karlsson combine to steal the Mens Team title in a thrilling final.

• In 2001, the game score changed from 21 to 11 points World Championships held in Osaka, Japan. Total triumph for China for the third time, winning all of the seven gold medals
• In 2002, ITTF World Junior Circuit (U18) and World Cadet Challenge (U15 continental team competition) was implemented

• In 2004, during the Olympic Games in Athens, Table Tennis ranked 5th among all sports for television viewing audience
• In 2005, the World Championships held in Shanghai, China. Total triumph again for China, winning all of the five gold medals.
• In 2006, the World Championships held in Bremen, Germany. The Chinese athletes complete the collection with two gold medals in the team events

• In 2007, World Championships held in Zagreb, Croatia. Total triumph number five for China, winning all of the five gold medals

2008

• China sweeps the Team championships in Guangzhou
• China wins all the Gold at the Beijing Olympic Games

• 2010 - Table tennis is part of the first Youth Olympic Games

Table tennis is an exciting sport. Although it's not as popular as other sports, it is an exciting sport, at least for the enthusiasts.

Speaking of popular sports, which do you think is the most popular? I think football is arguably the most popular sport in the world. By "football" I mean the game played with the feet, not American Football. The American football, although it is the number one sport in America, is not played or even heard of in some parts of the globe.

In Canada, the most popular sport is hockey, which is an international sport, but only in Europe and North America.   We also have football, similar to the American football, but not quite and, sadly, very few Canadians even follow Canadian football.

There are also basketball, baseball, volleyball and rugby. But these sports are popular in some countries but not known in others.

On the other hand, table tennis is played around the world. In fact it is played every where, not just in the basement. Just take a look.

So ping pong anyone?

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