Table tennis school project: summary
Table tennis is a racket sport played on a 9 ft (2.74 m) table divided by a net, in singles or doubles. It began in England in the late 19th century, has had a world federation (the ITTF) since 1926 and has been an Olympic sport since 1988. Games go to 11 points, win by 2, and the ball must bounce once on each side.
In this article
Working on a table tennis school project or essay? This summary pulls together the key facts in short sections, with the correct numbers, plus an outline to organize your work. Use it as a starting point and write it in your own words: teachers can tell when text is copied.
Project outline
- Cover page: title, name, class, school and date.
- Introduction: what table tennis is, in one paragraph.
- History: where it started and the key milestones.
- Basic rules: the serve, scoring and games.
- Equipment: table, net, paddle and ball, with measurements.
- Fundamentals: grip, serve and strokes.
- Famous players: a few great athletes and why they matter.
- Conclusion and sources: what you learned and where the information came from.
Below is the content for each part.
What is table tennis?
Table tennis, also called ping pong, is a racket sport played on a table divided by a net. It can be played in singles (one against one) or doubles (two against two). The goal is to make the ball bounce on your opponent's side in a way they cannot return.
It is a non-contact sport that demands quick reflexes, coordination and concentration. More in what is table tennis.
A short history
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Late 1800s | The game appears in England as a parlor game played on dining tables |
| 1901 | Celluloid balls and the first rubber-covered paddles appear |
| 1926 | The ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) is founded, and the first World Championships take place in London |
| 1960 | Table tennis is part of the first Paralympic Games, in Rome |
| 1971 | US and Chinese players exchange visits, the episode known as ping-pong diplomacy |
| 1988 | The sport makes its Olympic debut in Seoul |
| 2000 | The ball grows from 38 mm to 40 mm |
| 2001 | Games change from 21 points to 11 |
| 2014 | Celluloid balls are replaced by plastic balls |
The name "ping-pong" imitates the sound of the ball and became a trademark, which is why the official name became table tennis. The full story is in history of table tennis, and the 1971 episode in ping-pong diplomacy.
Basic rules
- Serve: the ball rests on an open palm, is tossed at least 16 cm (6 in) high and must bounce once on the server's side and once on the receiver's side.
- Changing serve: each player serves 2 points in a row. At 10-10, the serve alternates every point.
- During a rally: the ball must bounce once on your side before you return it.
- Scoring: a game is won by the first player to reach 11 points with a 2-point lead. At 10-10, play continues until someone leads by 2.
- Match: best of 3, 5 or 7 games.
- Let: if a serve touches the net and lands in, it is replayed.
Full rules in table tennis rules summary.
Equipment and measurements
| Item | Official size |
|---|---|
| Table | 2.74 m long, 1.525 m wide, 76 cm high (9 ft x 5 ft, 2.5 ft high) |
| Net | 15.25 cm high (6 in) and 1.83 m long (6 ft) |
| Ball | 40 mm in diameter and 2.7 g, white or orange |
| Paddle | Any size; wooden blade with rubber, one side black and the other a bright color |
See table tennis table dimensions and table tennis racket rules.
Fundamentals
- Grip: shakehand (like a handshake) or penhold.
- Ready position: feet apart, knees bent, paddle in front.
- Serve: starts every point, usually with spin.
- Strokes: forehand and backhand, such as the push, block, loop and smash.
- Footwork: short steps to get to the ball.
- Spin: topspin, backspin and sidespin.
Full explanation in table tennis fundamentals.
Famous players
- Deng Yaping (China) won Olympic singles gold in 1992 and 1996 and is one of the greatest women players ever.
- Jan-Ove Waldner (Sweden) won Olympic singles gold in 1992 and is often called the "Mozart of table tennis".
- Ma Long (China) won Olympic singles gold in 2016 and 2020 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
More names in greatest table tennis players.
10 lines on table tennis
If your assignment asks for a short essay, here is a model to adapt:
- Table tennis is a racket sport played on a table divided by a net.
- It is also called ping pong, after the sound the ball makes.
- It started in England in the late 19th century as an indoor game.
- The International Table Tennis Federation was founded in 1926.
- Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988.
- It can be played in singles or doubles.
- A game is won by the first player to reach 11 points with a 2-point lead.
- Players use paddles covered with rubber to put spin on a light plastic ball.
- The sport improves reflexes, coordination and concentration.
- People of all ages can play it, at home, at school or in clubs.
Sources you can cite
- International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), official website: ittf.com.
- USA Table Tennis, official website: usatt.org.
- The pages from this blog you used, with the address and the date you accessed them.
Frequently asked questions
What is table tennis in short?
A racket sport played on a 9 ft (2.74 m) table divided by a net, in singles or doubles. It began in England in the late 19th century, has been Olympic since 1988, and games go to 11 points.
Where and when did table tennis start?
In England, in the late 19th century, as a parlor game played on dining tables.
What are the basic rules of table tennis?
On the serve the ball bounces once on each side, each player serves twice in a row, the ball must bounce once before being returned, and games go to 11 points, win by 2.
What are the official table tennis table dimensions?
2.74 m long, 1.525 m wide and 76 cm high (9 x 5 ft, 2.5 ft high), with a 15.25 cm (6 in) net.