ZARATE, CESAR ANGELO B.

BS CPE 2-4

History of Table Tennis

The game began in the 1880s, when lawn tennis players adapted their game to play indoors during
the winter.

Ping-Pong is a trademark name for table tennis and associated equipment. The name “Ping-Pong”
was invented by the English firm J. Jaques and Son at the end of the 1800s and later trademarked in the
United States by Parker Brothers, the board game company.

The game quickly caught on, and as early as 1901, tournaments were being conducted with over
300 participants. The Ping-Pong Association was formed but was renamed The Table Tennis Association
in 1922.

In 1902 a visiting Japanese university professor took the game back to Japan, where he introduced
it to university students. Shortly after, a British salesman, Edward Shires, introduced it to the people of
Vienna and Budapest, and the seeds were sown for a sport that now enjoys popularity all over the world. In
Britain, table tennis had also begun to spread outside the distinctly middle-class confines of London, and
leagues sprang up in provincial towns as far apart as Sunderland and Plymouth. In 1922, an All England
Club was formed, which boasted such luminaries as Jack Hobbs the cricketer and other famous names of
the time from the world of sport. The Daily Mirror organized and sponsored a nationwide tournament in
which there were 40,000 competitors.

Table tennis was firmly on the map, and on April 24, 1927, the English Table Tennis Association
was born, under the chairmanship and direction of Ivor Montague, son of Lord Ewatthling. He was not only
to become the architect of modern-day table tennis, but he also achieved critical acclaim as both a director
and film producer. At the time, The ETTA had a membership of 19 leagues but now has over 300, with
around 75,000 registered players.

The first world championships were held in 1927 and were won by a Hungarian, Dr. Jacobi. Apart
from the famous Fred Perry redressing the balance for England in 1929, this was to be the start of an
unprecedented run of success for the Hungarians, who completely dominated the game throughout the
thirties. Their team was led by the legendary Victor Barna, whose inspiration and skill did so much to
elevate the game to sports status.

The 1950s saw the game turned upside down by the invention of the sponge or sandwich rubber,
this new material for bats, which, up until now, had been a relatively simple affair with a universal thin
covering of pimpled rubber.

Until this time, spin had played only a minor part in a game that had been dominated by the
defensive style of play. But these new bats or paddles, introduced by the Japanese, had the capacity to move
the ball around in an almost magical way. The ITTF, the game’s governing body, was quick to legislate in
a bid to control this new development, seen in some quarters as equipping players with an unfair advantage.
The thickness of the sponge and rubber sandwich was controlled and remains so to this day. But the nature
of the game had been changed, establishing the fast attacking speed and spin style of the modern game.

Today, the sport both in England and abroad is very well established and is growing each year. The
culmination of this has been its recognition as an Olympic Games sport, being featured for the first time in
the 1988 games in Seoul. Television coverage of the men’s singles final attracted an incredible worldwide
audience of 2 billion. In China, the game is played by literally millions at work, in school, and in community
parks. Chinese top players are regarded as national heroes with pop star statuses.
ZARATE, CESAR ANGELO B. BS CPE 2-4

The game was invented in England in the early days of the 20th century and was originally called
Ping-Pong, a trade name. The name table tennis was adopted in 1921–22 when the old Ping-Pong
Association formed in 1902 was revived. The original association had broken up about 1905, though
apparently the game continued to be played in parts of England outside London and by the 1920s was being
played in many countries. Led by representatives of Germany, Hungary, and England, the Fédération
Internationale de Tennis de Table (International Table Tennis Federation) was founded in 1926, the
founding members being England, Sweden, Hungary, India, Denmark, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria,
and Wales. By the mid-1990s more than 165 national associations were members.
The first world championships were held in London in 1926, and from then until 1939 the game
was dominated by players from central Europe, the men’s team event being won nine times by Hungary
and twice by Czechoslovakia. In the mid-1950s Asia emerged as a breeding ground of champions, and from
that time the men’s team event has been won by either Japan or China, as has the women’s event, though
to a lesser extent; North Korea also became an international force. In 1980 the first World Cup was held,
and Guo Yuehua of China won the $12,500 first prize. Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988, with
singles and doubles competition for men and women.

Dimensions in Table Tennis

Table tennis equipment is relatively simple and inexpensive. The table is rectangular, 9 feet by 5
feet (2.7 metres by 1.5 metres), its upper surface a level plane 30 inches (76 cm) above the floor. The net is
6 feet (1.8 metres) long, and its upper edge along the whole length is 6 inches (15.25 cm) above the playing
surface. The ball, which is spherical and hollow, was once made of white celluloid. Since 1969
a plastic similar to celluloid has been used. The ball, which may be coloured white, yellow, or orange,
weighs about 0.09 ounce (2.7 grams) and has a diameter of about 1.6 inches (4 cm). The blade of a racket,
or bat, is usually made of wood, is flat and rigid, and may be covered with a thin layer of ordinary stippled,
or pimpled, rubber, which may be laid over a thin layer of sponge rubber and may have the pimples
reversed. Whatever combination is used, each of the two sides of a paddle must be different in colour. The
racket may be any size, weight, or shape.
ZARATE, CESAR ANGELO B. BS CPE 2-4

Different Types of Serves in Table Tennis

Forehand Pendulum

Description: You do this serve with the racket tip down, moving from right to left. The sidespin breaks
away from the receiver's backhand as the ball breaks left to right. This is by far the most popular serve in
the world. One reason for this is that it was the easiest serve to hide contact from the receiver, before that
became illegal a few years back, and so there are still generations of players who learned that serve for that
reason. Another is that it is the easiest to do right-to-left sidespin (so the ball breaks to the right). You can
do left-to-right sidespin (that breaks left) with any of the other three "major" serves, and so those who favor
that sidespin are split among those three.

Variations: Many players do this with a high toss. The higher toss means the ball is traveling faster when
you contact it, allowing more spin. The disadvantage of a high-toss is it is harder to control. Also, with a
lower toss, the ball is traveling more slowly at contact, allowing you more motion at the last second for
deception. Also, as noted below, you can use this motion and at the last second switch and do a reverse
forehand pendulum serve.

Advantages: Because the spin breaks away from receiver's backhand, it's awkward to receive with the
backhand. It is especially difficult to attack down the line with the backhand (except at the advanced levels),
and so the server can almost give up that line, since most returns will be to the backhand or middle of the
table. This is a great serve for those who wish to serve and forehand loop, especially if you like to loop
forehands from the backhand side. (This allows you to be in forehand position for the next shot as well.)

You can easily create the full range of spins with this serve, from pure backspin, side-backspin, sidespin,
side-topspin, and topspin. It's also easy to do backspin and no-spin combinations.

Another advantage of this serve is you can set up for this serve, and at the last second do a reverse forehand
pendulum serve instead.

This serve, when done long, is often done with more "corkscrewspin" than sidespin, with the axis of spin
pointing toward the opponent, which is what causes the big jump when it bounces on the table. A pure
sidespin has an axis that's up and down. (Topspin and backspin serves have an axis that's left to right.)
However, when you serve a pure sidespin, after it bounces on the table twice, the axis changes some and
the ball tends to have some corkscrewspin, giving the big break. This tends to be especially true of the
forehand pendulum and forehand tomahawk serves, with opposite spins.

Disadvantages: There are two main weaknesses of the serve. First, this type of sidespin is easier to loop
with the forehand, and so it might risky serving to the forehand side, or long to the backhand if the receiver
can step around and loop a forehand. Second, because it's the most popular serve in the world, everyone is
used to it.

How to Return: Ideally, loop it with the forehand. Alas, you can't do that if the serve is short, or if it's to
the wide backhand and you don't have super-fast feet.

Forehand Reverse Pendulum

Description: This is the same as the forehand pendulum serve, except now contact is left to right, and the
spin breaks into a receiver's backhand as it curves to the left. This serve isn't seen as often until the advanced
intermediate level.
ZARATE, CESAR ANGELO B. BS CPE 2-4

Variations: You can use this motion and at the last second switch and do a regular forehand pendulum
serve. It's also often done with a high toss, just as with the regular forehand pendulum serve.

Advantages: It's a great variation from the regular forehand pendulum serve, and so many advanced players
do both. Since it's seen less often, players often have more trouble with this serve, especially as they first
reach the advanced levels, since they haven't spent years facing the serve as most players do against the
regular pendulum serve.

The serve is especially effective short to the forehand, since you can create tremendous sidespin that breaks
away from the receiver. There's often a last-second lunge as the receiver reaches for the ball, leading to
many mistakes. When done short to the forehand, some players have great difficulty in taking this serve
down the line, and so you can serve and expect a return to the forehand over and over.

The serve can also be highly effective done fast to the backhand since many players simply aren't used to
that spin into the backhand, especially from what looks at first like a regular forehand pendulum serve.

It's also easy to do backspin and no-spin combinations.

Disadvantages: Because it breaks into a receiver's backhand, once they get used to it, it's generally easier
for them to attack it, especially with a backhand loop. It's also generally tougher to serve heavy underspin
with this serve. The service motion can be awkward when you are first learning the serve, and many players
tend to serve with less than maximum spin as they find it hard to control otherwise. However, at the higher
levels, this serve is done with great spin and full variation.

Since pendulum serves are mostly used by forehand attackers, they are done out of the backhand corner.
So you have less angle into the forehand with this serve, and so it's trickier doing it so that really breaks
away from the receiver. You can experiment by serving it more from the middle or even from the forehand
side, but it's often more effective to simply do a tomahawk serve from there. (See below.)

How to Return: You should be able to attack this serve more easily with the backhand, if you read the spin
properly. Since the spin will tend to put your return toward the server's forehand side, you need to aim to
the backhand side more. Many servers expect a return to the forehand or at most middle backhand with this
serve, so a return to the wide backhand can mess them up.

Backhand Sidespin

Description: Just as the name says, it's a backhand serve with the racket going from left to right. (Despite
the name, the serve can be done with pure backspin or - less frequently - pure topspin. The racket still goes
from left to right, but you contact it very early or very late in the motion, before or after it is moving
sideways.) This is the same spin as a reverse forehand pendulum serve. It's the second most common serve
used, especially at the beginning and intermediate levels.

Variations: You can also do a reverse backhand serve, as the great Chinese player Kong Linghui used to
do, but many players find this tricky, and so it's not done often. It's a pity as having a regular backhand
sidespin serve and a reverse version is a great one-two combo for those who master it.

Advantages: Like the forehand pendulum serve, you can easily create the full range of spins with this serve,
from pure backspin, side-backspin, sidespin, side-topspin, and topspin. It's also easy to do backspin and no-
ZARATE, CESAR ANGELO B. BS CPE 2-4

spin combinations. (You do the no-spin version by using a regular spin motion, but contact the ball near the
base of the blade, which isn't moving very fast at contact.)

Like with the reverse pendulum serve, this serve is especially effective short to the forehand, since the spin
breaks away from the receiver. There's often a last-second lunge as the receiver reaches for the ball, leading
to many mistakes. When done short to the forehand, some players have great difficulty in taking this serve
down the line, and so you can serve and expect a return to the forehand over and over.

This serve is often the easiest to control, allowing you to serve lower more easily than with other serves. A
key to this is to minimize the toss to as close to six inches as possible.

It's also easy to do backspin and no-spin combinations.

Disadvantages: Because it's such a common serve, many players are used to it. Since so few master a
reverse backhand serve, the sidepin is always the same. It's tricky doing a fast and deep serve with this
motion, taking away a major variation.

Since you do the serve with a backhand stance, it leaves you in a backhand position, so it can be harder to
follow with a forehand.

How to Return: You should be able to attack this serve more easily with the backhand, if you read the spin
properly. Since the spin will tend to put your return toward the server's forehand side, you need to aim to
the backhand side more. Many servers expect a return to the forehand or at most middle backhand with this
serve, so a return to the wide backhand can mess them up. (Note that his is the same as returning a reverse
forehand pendulum serve.)

Forehand Tomahawk

Description: Done with the forehand, tip up, with a right-to-left motion, creating a spin that breaks to the
left.

Variations: You can also do a reverse tomahawk serve, but many players find this tricky, and so it's not
done often. It's a pity as having a tomahawk serve and a reverse version is a great one-two combo for those
who master it.

Unlike the other major serves, this serve is often done from the forehand side as well as from the backhand
side.

Advantages: More than most serves, this serve is done with the intent of winning a point outright on the
serve alone. A lot of players, especially at the intermediate level, use this serve from the forehand side into
the receiver's wide forehand, causing mayhem as the ball breaks away and the receiver messes up. Done
from the forehand side, the motion allows maximum angle that really breaks into the receiver's wide
forehand.

Done from the backhand, it's similar to a backhand serve. It's most effective short to the forehand, but a
deep one to the backhand can also cause some players difficulty.

This serve, when done long, is often done with more "corkscrewspin" than sidespin, with the axis of spin
pointing toward the opponent, which is what causes the big jump when it bounces on the table. A pure
ZARATE, CESAR ANGELO B. BS CPE 2-4

sidespin has an axis that's up and down. However, when you serve a pure sidespin, after it bounces on the
table twice, the axis changes some and the ball tends to have some corkscrewspin. This tends to be
especially true of the forehand pendulum and forehand tomahawk serves, with opposite spins.

Disadvantages: Starting at the advanced intermediate level, players can loop this serve consistently if it's
deep to the forehand. It still might be a good surprise variation, but only if used occasionally. Against
stronger opponents, the serve becomes effective only if done short.

It's a bit harder to get the full range of spins with this serve, and many players find it difficult to serve a
truly heavy underspin with this serve. So while the serve creates havoc by going long to the forehand to
many intermediate players, against more advanced players the long serve is looped, and the short serve
doesn't have as much variety as a simple backhand serve. So this serve is used less and less as you reach
the higher levels. But it's still a great variation to throw at many opponents for a few free points.

How to Return: If the serve is short, it's pretty much the same as returning a reverse pendulum or backhand
serve. The main difference is it's more often done from the forehand side short to your forehand. This means
you can return down the line to take out the opponent's forehand.

References:
https://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-table-tennis.htm
https://www.britannica.com/sports/table-tennis
http://purplenotes.info/tips/
http://www.tabletenniscoaching.com/node/144