Table Tennis | Ping-Pong

Table tennis, also popularly called ping-pong, is a table sport where players use paddles (rackets) to hit a lightweight polymer ball over a central net. Played on a hard table surface that provides a uniform bounce to the ball, table tennis is a fast paced game that requires players to react quickly to the services and returns made by their opponents.

Points are score when a player does not return the ball across the net after a single bounce has occurred on their side of the table or if they themselves do not land the ball on the opposite surface. Ping-pong is a worldwide sport that can be played competitively in both two player (singles) or four player (doubles) formats.

Who invented ping pong?

Ping Pong (table tennis) was invented as a parlor game trademarked by the English firm of J. Jacques and Son in the 1880s. The game quickly grew in popularity and spread to the United States, Europe, and Asia over the next few decades.

How do you play ping pong?

Ping pong (table tennis) is played by first serving the ball across the net while bouncing it once on the service side of the table. Points are scored when a player fails to return the ball across the net after only one bounce on their side of the table. Service alternates between players after every two points. Ping pong games are commonly played to 21 or 11 points.

How do you score ping pong?

Ping pong (table tennis) games are played to either 21 points in casual games, or 11 points in competitive games. Games must be won by two points.

Table Tennis | Ping-Pong Guides
Browse through our curated Table Tennis | Ping-Pong Guides for additional categorizations, tips, details, variations, styles, and histories of Table Tennis | Ping-Pong. Guides provide additional insights into the unique properties and shared relationships between elements.

Table Tennis | Ping-Pong

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
5’5” | 1.65 m
January 15, 1994
Chen Meng
165.000
1994.00
2500
GUIDE
3D
Chen Meng
5’7” | 1.70 m
June 20, 1990
Ding Ning
170.000
1990.00
4500
GUIDE
3D
Ding Ning
5’10” | 1.78 m
October 3, 1965
Jan-Ove Waldner
178.000
1965.00
2900
GUIDE
3D
Jan-Ove Waldner
5’3” | 1.60 m
April 12, 1991
Liu Shiwen
160.000
1991.00
4600
GUIDE
3D
Liu Shiwen
Ma Long
32000
5’9” | 1.75 m
October 20, 1988
Ma Long
175.000
1988.00
32000
GUIDE
3D
Ma Long
1.57” | 40 mm (Diameter)
.095 oz | 2.7 g
Ping-Pong Ball
4.000
0.003
3320
https://p3d.in/e/LJdco
GUIDE
3D
Ping-Pong Ball3D model of a Ping-Pong Ball (Table Tennis Ball) viewed in perspective3D model of a Ping-Pong Ball (Table Tennis Ball) viewed in perspective
5.9” | 15 cm
.85”-.91” | 21.8-23 mm
9.45”-10.25” | 24-26 cm
2.47-3.53 oz | 70-100 g
Ping-Pong Paddle
15.000
2.300
26.000
0.100
11000
https://p3d.in/e/b3gyH
GUIDE
3D
Ping-Pong PaddlePerspective view of a 3D model of a Ping-Pong Paddle (Table Tennis Racket)Perspective view of a 3D model of a Ping-Pong Paddle (Table Tennis Racket)
Table Tennis Tables
https://p3d.in/e/uQeQ9
GUIDE
3D
Table Tennis Tables3D model of the Woolsey Ping Pong Table viewed in perspective3D model of the Woolsey Ping Pong Table viewed in perspective
Xu Xin
13000
5’11” | 1.80 m
January 8, 1990
Xu Xin
180.000
1990.00
13000
GUIDE
3D
Xu Xin
Xu Xin
Series of scaled illustrations comparing the height of Xu Xin with other related Table Tennis players

Chinese Xu Xin is ranked number two in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in the men's division. He also featured in the number one position in early 2013. As a professional table tennis player, he has a collection of seventeen World Tour Singles titles, three World's Championship in men's double, two in mixed doubles, and five in the team events. Xu Xin is nicknamed “showman” and  prefers penhold grip or left-handed playing style, and his main strength is shot variation plus fast forehand loops supported by his long arms. He collected gold in doubles and mixed doubles during the 2015 World Table Tennis Championship.

Xu Xin has a height of 5’11” (1.80 m).

Series of elevation drawings of Xu Xin in table tennis positions measured with overall height
Chinese Xu Xin is ranked number two in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in the men's division. He also featured in the number one position in early 2013. As a professional table tennis player, he has a collection of seventeen World Tour Singles titles, and three World's Championships

Xu Xin has a height of 5’11” (1.80 m).

Series of elevation drawings of Xu Xin in table tennis positions measured with overall height
Xu Xin
Height:
5’11” | 1.80 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Nationality: China

Years Active: 2009—

Birthday
January 8, 1990

Drawings include:
Xu Xin standing, swinging, stance

Details & Downloads

Downloads

2D Downloads

3D Downloads

Chen Meng
Height comparison diagram of Chen Meng compared to other Table Tennis players

Chinese table tennis player Chen Meng has proven that age is just a number in table tennis. Chen is world number one and considered this generation youngster in table tennis. Cheng is a three-time International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Grand Finalist, a gold and silver medalist of Women's singles, a fourteen-time ITTF World Tour champion, and the current ITTF Women's World Cup champion. She prefers the right-hand or shakehand grip play style. Chen came to the limelight by winning the World Junior Table Tennis Championship in 2011 in the Girls' Singles event.

Chen Meng has a height of 5’5” (1.65 m).

Collection of drawings of Chen Meng measured with overall height
Chinese table tennis player Chen Meng has proven that age is just a number in table tennis. Chen is world number one and considered this generation youngster in table tennis. Cheng is a three-time International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Grand Finalist.

Chen Meng has a height of 5’5” (1.65 m).

Collection of drawings of Chen Meng measured with overall height
Chen Meng
Height:
5’5” | 1.65 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Nationality: China

Years Active: 2012—

Birthday
January 15, 1994

Drawings include:
Chen Meng standing, swinging, stance

Details & Downloads

Downloads

2D Downloads

3D Downloads

Liu Shiwen
Height comparison diagram of Liu Shiwen compared to other Table Tennis players

While other table tennis players brag about major titles, Chinese Liu Shiwen also brags about being the fastest table tennis player. Though others consider her young and not yet proven herself well enough in the sport: her winning the World Cup five times; World Championship three times; International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Grand Finals three times; and four Asian Cups casts little doubts of her prowess in the sport. She also dominates number one or two in the ITTF Women's World ranking. She prefers the right-handed and shakehand grip playing style and is considered the best in Chinese women's singles with aggressive playing styles.

Liu Shiwen has a height of 5’3” (1.60 m).

Collection of drawings of Liu Shiwen measured with overall height
While other table tennis players brag about major titles, Chinese Liu Shiwen also brags about being the fastest table tennis player. Though others consider her young and not yet proven herself well enough in the sport: her winning the World Cup five times and the World Championship three times.

Liu Shiwen has a height of 5’3” (1.60 m).

Collection of drawings of Liu Shiwen measured with overall height
Liu Shiwen
Height:
5’3” | 1.60 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Nationality: China

Years Active: 2004—

Birthday
April 12, 1991

Drawings include:
Liu Shiwen standing, swinging, stance

Details & Downloads

Downloads

2D Downloads

3D Downloads

Table Tennis Tables
Plan drawing of a standard regulation Table Tennis | Ping Pong Table with dimensions for width and length

Table tennis tables are regulated playing surfaces designed specifically for the game of table tennis (ping-pong). Table tennis tables measure 9’ | 2.74 m long by 5’ | 1.525 m in wide. The playing surface of a ping-pong table must be set at a height of 2.5’ | 76 cm and is equipped with a center net that is 6” | 15.25 cm high and stretches 6” | 15.25 cm beyond the width of the table.

Tables can be constructed out of a variety of materials ranging from common designs using plywood and/or particle-board to more exotic variants made of concrete, metal, plastic or fiber-glass. The materiality of a table tennis table is a matter of preference, but the bounce of the ball on the surface should be uniform at a height of 9.1” | 23 cm when dropped at a height of 11.8” | 30 cm.

Elevation drawings with dimensions of a Table Tennis | Ping-Pong Table measuring length, height, and net height with players
Table tennis tables are regulated playing surfaces designed specifically for the game of table tennis (ping-pong). Table tennis tables measure 9’ | 2.74 m long by 5’ | 1.525 m in wide. The playing surface of a ping-pong table must be set at a height of 2.5’ | 76 cm.

Elevation drawings with dimensions of a Table Tennis | Ping-Pong Table measuring length, height, and net height with players
Table Tennis Tables
Height:
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Length: 9’ | 2.74 m
Width: 5’ | 1.525 m
Height (Surface): 2.5’ | 76 cm
Height (Net): 6” | 15.25 cm
Net Width Overhang: 6” | 15.25 cm
Height (Bounce): 9.1” | 23 cm from 11.8” | 30 cm
Materials: Plywood, particle-board, concrete, metal, plastic, fiber-glass

Birthday

Drawings include:
Table Tennis | Ping-Pong Table side elevation, side (players), front, front (players), plan

Details & Downloads

Downloads

2D Downloads

3D Downloads

Jan-Ove Waldner
Series of scaled illustrations comparing the height of Jan-Ove Waldner with other related Table Tennis players

Jan-Ove Waldner is probably the most famous European and Swedish athlete in China because of his table tennis prowess. The former table tennis player was nicknamed "the Mozart of table tennis" and "Old Walder," drawn from his competitiveness and longevity. Waldner holds a career grand slam (World Cup, World Champion, and Olympic gold medal) and has been on top of the table tennis charts for over two decades, proving that China is not the only country dominating the table tennis field. His image has been depicted in both Chinese and Swedish postage stamps because of his table tennis successes. He owns over twenty-three gold medals, thirteen silver medals, and five bronze medals.

Jan-Ove Waldner has a height of 5’10” (1.78 m).

Series of elevation drawings of Jan-Ove Waldner in table tennis positions measured with overall height
Jan-Ove Waldner is probably the most famous European and Swedish athlete in China because of his table tennis prowess. The former table tennis player was nicknamed "the Mozart of table tennis" and "Old Walder," drawn from his competitiveness and longevity. Waldner holds a career grand slam.

Jan-Ove Waldner has a height of 5’10” (1.78 m).

Series of elevation drawings of Jan-Ove Waldner in table tennis positions measured with overall height
Jan-Ove Waldner
Height:
5’10” | 1.78 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Nationality: Sweden

Years Active: 1989-2016

Birthday
October 3, 1965

Drawings include:
Jan-Ove Waldner standing, swinging, stance

Details & Downloads

Downloads

2D Downloads

3D Downloads

Related Sports Collections
Sports