Basics About Utah Table Tennis

By Sonya Riley


In Utah table tennis is also referred to as ping pong like it is referred to in many other places around the world. The game involves 4 or 2 participants who hit a sphere back and forth rackets. The ball is normally small and lightweight specifically meant for the game. The sport can be played indoors or in an outdoor environment on a hard-top playing platform.



The origin of this game is England during 1880s. At that time it was only played by members of the upper class after dinner. Suggestions have it that the game was originally developed by officers of the British military in either South Africa or India. After the officers developed it, they took it back to their home country. During that time, books were placed at the middle of the playing platform to serve as a net.

This game has undergone a lot of enhancements and development since its first invention. As it continued to gain more popularity, companies began manufacturing equipment for the sport. The initial rackets were parchments stretched on frames. The sound generated by the rackets led to the first nick-names of the game, that is, wiff waff and ping pong. The broad popularity of the sport led to the establishment of an organization in Britain that oversaw standards and practices in the sport.

The equipment utilized in playing comprise a playing platform, racket, and ball. Specifications of the playing ball are specified by international laws. It must be a light-weight ball of precisely 2.7 grams with the diameter measuring 40mm. According to international rules, balls should bounce to an altitude of between 24 to 26 centimeters when released from an altitude of 30.5cm on a standardized block of steel. This means that it must have coefficient of restitution lying between 0.89 and 0.92.

The ball is produced from a high bouncing celluloid that is packed with air or plastic materials of same kind. The color may be either white or orange depending on factors like playing platform color and environment. The ball is decorated with stars to show its quality. Three stars indicates best quality and the item may be used for official competitions.

The playing platform measures 5 feet wide, 30 inches high, and 9 feet long. The gaming surface is uniformly colored and divided into two halves using a net of 6 inches high. The players bear a racket that may be wooden on one or both sides. Commonly used kind of wood for the racket include hinoki, cypress, limba, and balsa. The blade should have an average size of 6.5 inches.

First serve in the game is usually decided by lot, often a coin toss. Besides the first serve, in the rest of the serves, the ball must be allowed to spring back only once on table. If the ball springs back more than once or goes off the table, serving player gets a point.

Utah table tennis is practiced on professional grounds. There are also several training facilities in which beginners can get coached by people who have experience in the sport. Charges for registering or signing in a training amenity are affordable and friendly.




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