What Are Ping-Pong Tables Made Of?

According to the International Olympic Committee, ping-pong is the world's largest participation sport. It became an Olympic game in 1988 and tooday, over 40 million people play ping pong competitively all over the world.

  1. History

    • The English have been playing a version of the game since the 19th century. They started out using books and champagne corks. In 1901, the term "ping-pong" was trademarked by J. Jaques & Son Ltd. and subsequently sold to Parker Brothers.

    The Table

    • Official ping-pong tables are made from a coated Masonite top with a mesh net dissecting it. It sits atop metal legs and can usually be folded for easier storage.

    The Dimensions

    • According to the International Table Tennis Federation, (ITTF), a regulation ping-pong table is nine feet long by five feet wide by two and a half feet tall. The net is six inches tall.

    The Paddles

    • The English used cigar box lids as paddles until E.C. Goode replace them with sheets of dimpled rubber attached to thin wooden blades.

    The Ball

    • Balls started out as champagne corks or balls of string but were soon replaced by celluloid balls when Englishman James Gibb found them in the U.S. and realized the would be perfect for ping-pong.