By PING PONG
THE rules for the games of table tennis were first published in 1927 by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
There were several rule changes made after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, hoping to make table tennis a televised spectator sport.
These included increased ball size to slow down the game, changing the point system from the 21 to 11 point system.
The idea was to make the game faster paced and more exciting.
New balls were introduced with a new poly material.
A British table tennis enthusiast discovered novelty celluloid balls on a trip to the United States in 1901.
This was the official material used in table tennis balls and was changed to plastic balls in 2014.
The first table tennis ball was actually a champagne cork.
In a rally, a plastic ball bounces higher than a celluloid ball and flies faster but is more difficult to produce spin than with a celluloid ball.
The ball started as a 38cm ball as standard till 2000 Olympics when it was replaced by a 40cm ball.
Celluloid was fast becoming an obsolete material, as Europe was running out of this material and was becoming expensive to make.
It was extremely flammable material and difficult to transport.
Plastic materials in their wide spread use made it an easy transition from celluloid and to plastic.
The only difference is plastic has more speed and less spin.
Our keenagers group on Monday and Thursday mornings (8am to 10am) are probably not aware of all the finer intricacies behind table tennis history, it is just fun to pick up a bat and ball and have a hit, no pressure and go with the flow.
So if you’re interested, you’re very welcome just come down to the Wangaratta Showgrounds and have some fun.