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 the game is England in the 1880s. Then, it was played only by members of upper class after a dinner. There are suggestions that the game was originally developed by officers of British army in either India or South Africa. After the officers invented it, they carried it back to their country. During that time, the net was made using books.

This game has experienced a lot of improvements and changes since first invention. As it kept becoming popular, companies began producing equipment for it. The original rackets were parchments stretched over frames. The sound given off by the rackets led to the very first nick-names given to the game, wiff waff and ping pong. Broad recognition of the sport resulted into the establishment of associations in Britain to oversee practices and standards in the sport.

The equipment used in playing include a ball, playing platform, and racket. The specifications of the ball are outlined by international rules. It should be a lightweight ball of exactly 2.7 grams with a diameter of 40mm. According to the international rules, the sphere must bounce to a height of between 24 to 26 cm when released from a height of 30.5cm on a standardized steel block. This implies that it should have a coefficient of restitution standing between 0.89 to 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 platform has measurements of 9 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 30 inches high. The gaming surfaces are evenly colored and partitioned into 2 equal halves using a net with a height of 6 inches. Players bear rackets, which might be wooden on one side or at times both. Commonly utilized wood types in making the rackets include cypress, hinoki, limba, and balsa. The blades must have an average measurement of 6.5 inches.

The first serve of any game is normally decided by lot, usually a coin toss. Apart from the first serve, in all the other serves, the ball should be allowed to bounce only once on the playing platform. If the ball bounces more than once or falls off the table, the serving player earns 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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