Baizewick guide
A short history of table tennis
Table tennis started in Victorian England as a parlour game played on dining tables. It became an international sport in the 1920s and joined the Olympics in 1988.
A Victorian parlour game
In the late 19th century, people in England played a miniature version of tennis indoors on the dining table. Early sets used all sorts of improvised equipment, from books as a net to rounded corks as balls.
Celluloid balls and “ping-pong”
Around 1900, light celluloid balls began to be used, and the game took off. The name “ping-pong” imitates the sound of the ball. The equipment maker J. Jaques & Son registered “Ping-Pong” as a trade name, which is one reason the sport is formally called table tennis.
An international sport
The International Table Tennis Federation was founded in 1926, and the first World Championships were held in London the same year. Table tennis became an Olympic sport at the 1988 Seoul Games.
Changes to the ball
In 2000 the standard ball size changed from 38 mm to 40 mm, which slows the game slightly and makes rallies easier to follow. Later, plastic balls replaced celluloid ones in international play.
Key dates
- Late 1800sTable tennis is played as an after-dinner game in England.
- About 1900Celluloid balls are introduced and “ping-pong” becomes popular.
- 1926The International Table Tennis Federation is founded; first World Championships in London.
- 1988Table tennis appears at the Olympic Games for the first time, in Seoul.
- 2000The 40 mm ball replaces the 38 mm ball.
What it means for a home table
Today’s full-size table, net height and 40 mm ball all come from these international rules. See our table tennis space guide for how much room you need.