Interesting Table Tennis Facts!

• Table tennis was banned in the Soviet Union from 1930 to 1950. The sport was believed to be harmful to the eyes.
• Table tennis became a medal Olympic sport in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
• Early table tennis paddles were normally made of cork, cardboard, or wood, and covered with cloth, leather or sandpaper.
• Table tennis is the most popular racquet sport in the world and ranked second overall in terms of participation. Over 10 million players compete in sanctioned tournaments each year.
• A modern table tennis match at the elite level lasts on the average about 30 minutes. Top players often smash the ball at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
• How many balls can two players hit back and forth in 60 seconds? The current record is 173 set by Jackie Bellinger and Lisa Lomas in 1993.
• A modern table is 9 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 2.5 feet high. The net is 6 inches high.
• Harry Richman a song writer in 1936 had an interesting theory. When he flew over the Atlantic in a plane he believed filling it up with table tennis balls gave him more chance of staying afloat if the plane was to crash at sea.
• Table Tennis balls are not hollow like one would think. They are pressurized with gas.
• World class players can put up to 9000rpm of spin on a table tennis ball.
• The world's top table tennis players can smash the ball at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
• In 1926 the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) was formed.
• In 1952 foam rubber rackets were introduced by Japan.
• The racket, bat, or blade may be of any size, shape or weight.
• Beginning in 2000, games are played to 11 points (instead of 21 points).
• On Oct, 1, 2000, the size of the table tennis ball changed from 38mm to 40mm and weighs 2.7 grams and made of celluliod material.
• There are about 350 sanctioned tournaments per year.
• China, Sweden and South Korea are currently the world powers in table tennis.