Introduction to Table Tennis

Table tennis is a sport that looks easy to learn, but it can be challenging to play. The action flows at phenomenal speed, with every point played highlighting the fine line between breathtaking defence and attack. 

Table tennis, still often referred to as ‘ping pong,’ is played either as singles or doubles matches on opposite sides of a table that is 5ft wide (152.5cm) by 9ft long (274cm) and separated by a small net that is 6 inches (15.25 cm) tall. 

Played with wooden paddles (also called racquets or bats), table tennis evolved from 19th-century England. Now popular across Asia in particular, the lightning-fast sport is a wonderfully accessible game for players at a recreational level through to those who participate at the elite level of the Olympic Games. 

History of Table Tennis

The sport was originally a parlour game played in Victorian England. The game was picked up by manufacturers and the name ‘ping pong’ was trademarked by one of them, meaning that everyone else had to stick to calling it table tennis. This is why the two names are interchangeable.

Equipment evolved over time, including textured rubber being added to the surface of the racquets and the use of celluloid balls. By 1901, ping pong tournaments were being organised, and the first unofficial table tennis World Championship took place in 1902.

The Table Tennis Association was formed in 1921 and five years later, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was set up. As rules became standardised worldwide, it became easier to organise international tournaments, with the first official World Championships in 1926. 

The sport continued to grow in China and among different militaries before table tennis was accepted into the 1988 Olympic Games for the first time. That was a benchmark moment for the sport, as it put it in front of its biggest-ever audience, helping it achieve an entirely new level of popularity and interest.

Basic Rules of Table Tennis

In 1927, the ITTF published its first set of rules, which have been updated many times throughout the decades since to keep the sport relevant and entertaining. After the 2000 Olympics, the ITTF even made the balls slightly bigger in an attempt to slow down play so that watchers could follow the action a little better. 

A point in table tennis starts with a serve. On a serve, the ball must hit both the server’s and the opponent’s side of the table. Each player serves twice in a row, regardless of the outcome of a point. In a singles match, the serve can land anywhere on the table, but in doubles, it has to land in the box on a diagonal from the service side. In doubles, players on the same team alternate taking shots during play. 

The receiver has to wait until after the ball has hit the table before playing a return shot. If the ball is hit before it bounces, a foul is called. If a player can’t return a shot, hits it out of bounds, fires it into the net, or lets the ball bounce twice on their side, they lose the point. 

In 2000, the ITTF changed the points scoring system to 11 points required to win a game, down from 21, and a two-point margin must achieve that. Singles matches are typically played as the best of seven games, and doubles are played as the best of five but can vary depending on the competition.

Popularity of Table Tennis in Different Countries

While table tennis is played worldwide, some regions are more popular than others. Asia has a strong love of table tennis, as evidenced by being China’s national sport. Chinese athletes have largely dominated table tennis since it was introduced in the 1988 Olympics. 

Japan and South Korea also have strong table tennis followings, fuelled by competitive leagues and national championships. In Europe, Germany, Hungary, France and Sweden are among some of the countries well-known for having strong table tennis associations.

Table tennis is played recreationally everywhere, from schools and local communities to professional leagues and international tournaments. These international tournaments, like the Olympics and the World Table Tennis Championships, continue to shine a spotlight on the sport. 

Popular Bets in Table Tennis

There is plenty of choice when it comes to table tennis betting options. A straight win single bet on the outcome of a match or a tournament remains the most popular of all bets. A popular alternative market for table tennis betting is the handicap line, which determines how much a player will win or lose a match by. 

An example is a player at a -2.5 handicap, meaning they would need to win by at least three clear games. It is a popular option for backing favourites. On the flip side, a +2.5 underdog means they couldn’t lose by more than two points. 

The purpose of handicap table tennis bets is to even the playing field virtually, providing better odds compared to the match outright. Bettors can determine the handicap line, such as -1.5 games or +0.5 games.

Here are further examples of some of the most popular table tennis bets that can be found:

• Total Points – An over/under bet on how many points will be scored in a game.
• Total Games – A forecast of how many sets will be played in a table tennis match, like Over 5.5.
• To Win First Game – The decision of which player will claim the opening game, regardless of the match result.
• Points Race – Option to back a player to be the first to reach a designated tally in like a Race to 5 or Race to 10 points. 

Table tennis matches are engrossing with such high levels of skill on display. It’s the incredible reaction times of the players, along with the razor-sharp skills to control a ball coming at pace to them, that makes table tennis so good to watch. It’s also a great sport for following with live in-play betting, where decisions on the outcome of the current game or total games in the match, can be made based on the current state of play.