TABLE TENNIS, a game played by striking a pale, hollow celluloid ball (44-44ins. circumference, 37-39 grs. weight, or 37 4Igrs. in United States) over a net (6ins. high, 6f t. long) fixed across a dark, non-reflecting table top (9 by 5ft., 3oins. high) with a racket of any material, size, shape, or weight. The ball should rebound from the table to a height of 8-9ins. when dropped from a height of 12 inches. Modern rackets are of wood, the blades be ing faced on both sides with pebbled rubber to control the ball and impart spin in chop and drive strokes. Like lawn tennis, table tennis apparently descended from real or royal (indoor) tennis about 1880 and was known also under various fanciful trade names, such as "Gossima," "Whiff-Whaff," "Klik-Klak," "Ping-Pong," etc., until its name was officially adopted by the International Table Tennis Federation (founded 1926) and United States Table Tennis Association (1933). Server hits the
ball from behind his end of the table so it bounces over the net, first on his side of the table, then on his opponent's side; ball is then struck to and fro directly over the net (volleying being il legal) until a point is scored by failure to make a good return. The winner is he who first scores 21 points. Service alternates after every 5 points ; but at the score 20-all it alternates after each point and winner must score two points more than his op ponent. In doubles, partners alternate in hitting the ball. Among U.S.T.T.A. close laws, one prevents strictly defensive matches to encourage hard hitting and deep defence 20-25ft. from the table, for which a playing area 25 by 6oft. is required. (See Table Tennis Topics, U.S.T.T.A. monthly; Laws of Table Tennis.) (C. Z.)