More than 90% of people think that ping pong and table tennis are the same game, and really it is tough to identify the difference between them. In normal eyes, it seems that there is no difference in their equipment, playing style, the number of players, and finally, in the game. However, today I will expose the real difference among the game and show you real facts pointing eyes. So, stay tuned!
Contents
What is Ping Pong?
Ping pong is the earlier name of the table tennis game during the twentieth century. Gradually, the differences between the games came out and turned into a separate game. Today, many professionals seem that the ping pong game is less competitive and termed it as the household form of the table tennis game.
What is Table Tennis?
Table tennis is a well-known game in the sporting world and has been played using a table, hard paddles, and plastic or celluloid balls. Usually, common people refer to the game as identical to ping pong games outside the level of competitiveness. They are wrongly assuming the fact; table tennis is an Olympic sport where ping pong is a household game. However, in the recent past, the rules and regulations between the games are diverging enough.
Differences between Table Tennis and Ping Pong
Is there a difference, or is it branding?
Actually, have any difference between the ping pong and table tennis? There is enough debate about the topic, such as whether the game is the same or separate. Today, many organizations and professionals don’t believe these games are separate due to their extensive similarity. But championship and Olympic players accept that the games have slightly different attributes. Although the duos have an extensive similarity, these are separate games.
What is the origin name of the game? It is historically proven the original name of the game is table tennis that kicked off at least as early as 1887. In fact, ping pong is a nickname of table tennis; later, it was trademarked by several companies. Now, what will be the official name of the game? Then table tennis was chosen as the official because there were some legal issues regarding ping pong. Truly, there is no difference between the games except branding. Indeed, ping pong and table tennis are closely related games but different sports.
Here are the main difference between Ping Pong and Table Tennis:
Equipment used for Ping Pong and Table Tennis
Paddle: there are different designs of paddles with a variety of blades for the table tennis game to ensure spinning the ball. Once you notice the spinning does not come out smoothly, and then you should replace the paddle regularly. On the other hand, a standard paddle deals with the ping pong paddle that is typically long-lasting than the table tennis paddle.
Ball: Many players use the similar ball for the ping pong and table tennis. In officially, ping pong balls are slightly larger than the table tennis. The diameter of these balls is 3.7mm and 3.4mm respectively.
Spin vs. Hit for Ping Pong and Table Tennis
Table Tennis: Spinning is a major issue in the table tennis game. Many players distinguish the two games by the ‘spin’ instead of hitting the ball. A professional insisted enough on producing spin in a variety of ways to make it harder to predict by the opponent. He also uses footwork largely to help them reach the opponent’s half and spin properly.
Ping Pong: On the contrary, the game is not widely known for spinning the ball. It is a ball hitting game and used a sandpaper paddle to execute perfect hit, not spin. Indeed, the ping pong players don’t concentrate enough on footwork as table tennis players do.
Service for Ping Pong and Table Tennis
Table Tennis: A player needs to serve the ball at least six inches away and above from the palm in the table tennis game and try to hit the ball from behind the line.
Ping Pong: On the other hand, there is no hard-and-fast rule in the aspect of serving. A few follow table tennis rules for serving and others drop the ball and hit. Some players are let the ball bounce once prior to serving.
Scoring Ping Pong and Table Tennis
Table Tennis: In this game, points usually end at 11, and players are allowed two serves before turning to servers.
Ping Pong: Normally, the ping pong is game of either 11 points or 21 point format that makes it a longer game than table tennis. In the game players often go with 21 points, where given 5 serves each that counterpart.
Competition Level and Formality
Table Tennis: Indeed, it is a highly competitive game and has great appeal to the professionals than ping pong. Table tennis is an Olympic sport with some championship league across the world. The game can be played by anyone. Most of the critics termed the table tennis as a competitive while ping pong as a hobby sport.
Ping Pong: It is not an Olympic game but has national and global championships for the professional players. Some people called the game a household sport despite having a huge similarity between ping pong and table tennis. Indeed, the ping pong game had a less formal history compared to table tennis. Finally, the ping pong deals with less strict rules that turned the game into a household sport.
Final Verdict
Actually, the ping pong and table tennis are originally the same game, but the first one trademarked around the 1920s by some companies. Still, many people believe the duos are the same sport, but it is true only serious players can understand the fact or distinctions of the rules between the games. We can learn that depend on using paddles, ball, footwork, these are different games.
Moreover, the rules of these games are dissimilar and also scoring system. Finally, the table tennis game is a competitive game in the national and international level; on the other hand, the ping pong is considered as a household game. However, the duos have the great appeal to the players and common people.
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