Players hit a small plastic ball back and forth over a net.
The net is across a table.
Table tennis is sometimes called ping-pong.
Table tennis is a fast game.
How to play table tennis
Table tennis equipment. ©Getty
Players in a table tennis match use bats to hit a small ball back and forth over a net set up across a wooden table. The ball is made of a type of plastic called celluloid (say: sell-you-loyd). The bats are covered with rubber.
Matches can be between two players and are called singles matches or they can be between four players, two at each end, and are called doubles matches.
Players score points for making the other players miss the ball or make mistakes. The first player to reach 21 points wins the game.
Read more about how to play table tennis
A social doubles match. ©Getty
History of table tennis
The game was developed around 1881 by James Gibb from great Britain and was known as 'Gossima'. At first the game was played with rubber balls and wooden-framed bats covered with dry animal skins. Later celluloid balls were used. Because of the noise the ball made as it is hit back and forth on the table, the game became commonly known as 'ping-pong'
Table tennis is an Olympic sport
Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988. At the Olympic Games, table tennis competition includes men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and women's doubles.
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A competition match. ©Getty