Facts About Utah Table Tennis

By Sonya Riley


In Utah table tennis is also known as wiff waff or ping pong like in numerous other regions around the globe. This game involves 2 or 4 players who strike the playing ball forth and back utilizing table tennis rackets. Balls are usually lightweight and small in size specifically designed for this game. The sport may be played out-door or indoors on a hard-topped table.

The origin of table tennis is England in 1880s. During that time, only members of upper social class played it after dinner. There exists suggestions that this game was originally invented by officers of the British army in India or South Africa. After invention the officers carried it to their mother country where it was played and developed further. During that time, nets were made using books.

This game has seen a lot of development and enhancements since its first discovery. As it gained more popularity, companies started manufacturing equipment for playing the sport. Initial rackets were pieces of parchment placed on a frame. The sound produced by the rackets earned this game the first nick-names, that is, ping pong and wiff waff. The wide popularity of the game led to the founding of an association in Britain that oversaw the standards and practices of this sport.

The equipment utilized in playing comprise a playing platform, racket, and ball. Specifications of the playing ball are specified by international laws. It must be a light-weight ball of precisely 2.7 grams with the diameter measuring 40mm. According to international rules, balls should bounce to an altitude of between 24 to 26 centimeters when released from an altitude of 30.5cm on a standardized block of steel. This means that it must have coefficient of restitution lying between 0.89 and 0.92.

The ball is made from a high bouncing celluloid filled with air or similar plastic materials. The color can be either orange or white depending on factors such as table color and the surroundings. The sphere is marked with stars to indicate its quality. Three stars means that the quality is highest and the item can be used on official competitions.

The playing platform measures 5 feet wide, 30 inches high, and 9 feet long. The gaming surface is uniformly colored and divided into two halves using a net of 6 inches high. The players bear a racket that may be wooden on one or both sides. Commonly used kind of wood for the racket include hinoki, cypress, limba, and balsa. The blade should have an average size of 6.5 inches.

First serve in the game is usually decided by lot, often a coin toss. Besides the first serve, in the rest of the serves, the ball must be allowed to spring back only once on table. If the ball springs back more than once or goes off the table, serving player gets a point.

Utah table tennis is played on a professional level. There are also many training facilities in which learners can get trained by people who have the training and experience in the game. Charges for registering in a training facility are friendly and affordable.




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