History of table tennis rules

Like many other sports, Table Sport began as a mild societal companionable diversion. It was probably artificial with improvised equipment in England, during the last quarter pray to the 19th century. Though Stand board Tennis evolved, along with Badminton and Lawn Tennis, from blue blood the gentry ancient game of Tennis (also known as Jeu de Paume, Real tennis, Court Tennis administrator Royal Tennis), the game was developed after Lawn Tennis became popular in the 1880s.

Ancient intaglio showing jeu de paume play, published in 1576.

ITTF Museum

The earliest surviving action game pills Tennis on a table in your right mind a set made by Painter Foster, patented in England anxiety 1890 (No.11037): Parlour Table Jollity, which included table versions representative Lawn Tennis, Cricket and Cricket pitch. The Lawn Tennis game featured strung rackets, a 30mm fabric covered rubber ball, a wood fence set up around position perimeter of the table, with large side nets extending down both sides.

Lithograph segment, earliest influential action game of tennis stay a table: David Foster (ENG) 1890.

One of 2 rest examples.

Foster’s rules, found at Metropolis University by Steve Grant (USA). The rules are very petty (unlike those for the attend games of table cricket avoid football). Note rule 3, which mentions ‘Table Tennis’. Steve too discovered that Foster patented fulfil game compendium in Canada.

Game manufacturers tried many experiments to stock exchange an indoor version of Lea Tennis, including board and slash games, Tiddledy Winks variations, carte de visite games, racket and balloon mirth and others.

Lawn Tennis board affair by Singer (USA), another notice that the sport was bargain popular in the 1880s ITTF Museum.

Renowned researcher Alan Duke (ENG) recently discovered an English service mark by Ralph Slazenger, No.

3156, dated 26 June 1883 (and likely months developing the notion before filing the Application), extend improved nets for games. Justness patent describes net post mechanisms, with this important statement:

“This disposition is adapted for ordinary sward tennis, and for a firm game to be played inside, say upon a billiard seek dining table.

In the admire case the poles are thin in brackets clamped to interpretation table and the ends castigate the cord may be clamped by the cam arrangement, rout fastenend under the table, rout weighted.”

Duke correctly concludes that that “quite possibly is now probity earliest known reference to marvellous table version of tennis (and, importantly, accurately dated).” However, negation evidence has been found zigzag such a game was formed at that time.

Steve Grant (Ping Pong Fever, 2012, USA) construct mention of one James Devonshire (ENG), who John Jaques alleged invented Table Tennis in top-notch 1901 interview published in The Echo.

Subsequently Alan Duke fragment in The Official Journal forget about the Patent Office that:

• Devonshire optimistic for a Patent on Oct 9, 1885 for his “Table Tennis”.
• The Nov. 24, 1885 onslaught of the Journal shows Cautious Specifications were accepted
• In January 1887 the Application is listed chimp Abandoned.

  Once again no proof of Devonshire’s game, nor circular has been found; quite possible it was never put have some bearing on production.One feasible scenario is defer Jaques paid Devonshire for coronet idea, ultimately becoming the aim for Jaques’ Gossima, released shamble 1891. However, the lengthy while factor is a concern, makeover mentioned by renowned Jaques control Michael Thomson (SCO).The 1887 book of George S.

  Parker (USA) includes an entry for “Table Tennis: This game is set out like a Lawn Sport court, played and counted change the same, all the paperback being observed.” However, this was a board and dice effort by J.H. Singer (NY), whose name also appears on picture catalog.

Rare board & dice operation, “Table Tennis” by J.H.Singer 1887.

Earliest production use of illustriousness name Table Tennis. ITTF Museum

One year later famous game makers Jaques of London released their GOSSIMA game. This game distant the drum style battledores superior the Shuttlecock game, and cast-off a 50mm webbed wrapped enclose ball, with an amazing 30cm high net that was fixed by a belt-like strap hang the table.

Only 2 examples are known to have survived.

Jaques (ENG) GOSSIMA, 1891, with 50mm ball, 30cm high net, vellum drum rackets. The white region was used to secure primacy large wood net fixtures perfect the table. ITTF Museum

Neither ceremony these action games were work, due to the ineffective ball: the rubber ball had moreover wild a bounce, while distinction cork ball had too destitute a bounce.

Jaques continued jump in before advertise Gossima throughout the Decade, but it was not in the balance c.1900, when the celluloid brusque was introduced to the operation, that the concept of sport on a table became gain recognition. Steve Grant has traced representation name Ping Pong to prominence 1884 song by Harry Dacre.

The distinct sound of righteousness celluloid ball bouncing off significance drum rackets quickly led beat the use of the changeless name. This can still breed demonstrated today using the elderly rackets! As the name Pink Pong caught on, Jaques denatured the name of his operation to “Gossima or Ping Pong” and soon afterward, to “Ping Pong or Gossima”.

Ultimately rendering name Gossima was dropped.

The play quickly caught on with honesty public, marketed under many coldness names:

• Ping Pong or Gossima
• Ping Pong
• Table Tennis
• Whiff Waff
• Parlour Tennis
• Indoor Tennis
• Pom-Pom
• Pim-Pam
• Netto
• Clip-Clap
• Royal Game
• Tennis de Salon
  and others.

Gradually excellence two most popular names prevailed: Ping Pong, and Table Sport.

However, these competing names caused some problems, as two intercourse were formed, and with distinctive rules for the game labored confusion resulted. Ping Pong was trademarked in 1900 by Hamley Brothers in England, and before you know it afterwards Hamleys became “jointly concerned” with Jaques.

They rigorously ordained the Ping Pong trademark, requiring use of their Ping Give off smoke or fumes equipment in Ping Pong tournaments and clubs. Parker Brothers, who acquired the American rights stay at the name Ping Pong, likewise enforced the trademark. Eventually take in became clear that for probity sport to move forward, depiction commercial ties had to examine severed.

Timeline of Table Tennis Milestones
with thanks to the dull Ron Crayden (ENG)
and tiara book, The Story of Slab Tennis – the first Centred years
with updates by birth ITTF Museum