Full History of Table Tennis – Timeline, Facts (1880-2023)

Last Updated on April 21, 2024 by Sorin Petroj

What is the brief history of table tennis?

Where and when did it all start, and who invented table tennis?

How has table tennis progressed to this day?

Where you can find private tennis lessons ?

Find out everything below…

When Did Table Tennis Start To Be Played?

Table tennis originated in Victorian England, where the upper class played after dinner. They did not have table tennis nets then, so they used books as racquets and the net in the middle of the table instead.

This happened at the beginning of the 20th century. Before that, an improvised table tennis-like game was attempted in the 1870s by British military officers. The name ping pong was widely used until table tennis finally got a trademark in 1901.

That same year, a British enthusiast discovered celluloid balls on a trip to the United States. As the popularity of this sport grew, E.C. Goode invented the modern racket by gluing pimple rubber to a wooden ping-pong blade.

The first table tennis association was founded in 1921, and the International Table Tennis Federation ITTF only in 1926. USA Table Tennis Association which still exists today was founded in 1933.

So, people played table tennis until the 50s, when the first evolutionary step was to use rackets with sponge rubbers, leading to higher speeds in the game. Later, fast glues were used, and then it started to play quicker and faster, but also for the sport to get real meaning and beauty. As an Olympic sport, table tennis was first introduced at the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988.

Who Invented Table Tennis?

The first man to make a table tennis game to play on the table was David Foster. The ball was 30mm rubber and covered with cloth. Foster also introduced rules that later found Steve Grant (USA).

He is considered the first inventor of table tennis because he filed his first patent. To clarify, he did not invent the game but took the first natural step toward this game’s existence.

The game was created by John Jaques & Son and registered a variant of this sport, “gossima.” This is most similar to table tennis except that they used other equipment. The earliest game of David Foster’s Parlor Table Games occurred in England in 1890.

A significant year in the history of table tennis was 1900 when Englishman James Gibb returned celluloid balls from England to the United States.

Another essential reason this year is the name “ping pong,” which, according to most sources, is also attributed to the already mentioned James Gibb. The idea came to him because of the ball’s sound every time he bounced off a table tennis table.

The following year, table tennis was brought to China via Western settlements and became increasingly popular on the Asian continent.

Origins of Table Tennis

The roots of table tennis can be traced back to the late 19th century in England, where it was played by the upper-class society as an after-dinner game.

It was initially known as “indoor tennis” and was played on a table, using books as a net, and cigar box lids as paddles. The game became popular in England in the early 1900s, and by 1902, the first table tennis tournament was held in London.

The first official set of rules for table tennis was developed in 1901 by the Table Tennis Association, which later became the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in 1926.

The game quickly spread to other countries, and the first world championships were held in London in 1926. The sport continued to grow in popularity, and in 1988, table tennis became an Olympic sport.

Table Tennis History Timeline

The Ping-Pong Association was formed in 1902 by a visiting Japanese university professor. The professor introduced the game to university students in Japan, and the game quickly gained popularity.

In 1922, the association was renamed the Table Tennis Association. Shortly after, a British salesman named Edward Shires introduced the game to the people of Vienna and Budapest. The seeds were sown for a sport that now enjoys popularity worldwide.

The International Table Tennis Federation conducted the first official world championship in London in 1927. England, Sweden, Hungary, India, Denmark, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Wales created the ITTF in Berlin in 1926.

History of Table Tennis Federation

The foundation ITTF is an excellent sign of developing this sport. Table tennis has come a long way since its humble beginnings and is now enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide.

Table tennis regulations were different than today. The game was played to 21 points and two sets of winning. Today, a rubber ball is used for playing instead of a plastic ping pong ball.

The first national championships for table tennis were organized in Hungary in 1897. Following a trip to the United States, James Gibb brought back the first celluloid ball to be used in the game – much lighter than the rubber balls that were used up until that point.

The game itself was known by several different names when it first began, with people describing it onomatopoetically as “whiff whaf,” “gossamer,” and “flim flam.” However, one of the most popular names for the game – Ping-Pong – was filed as a copyright by English manufacturer J. Jaques & Son Ltd in 1901.

Consequently, the sport has come to be known by many different names over the years – but Ping-Pong is certainly one of the most enduring. The sport expanded in Asian countries and the United States. Firstly, the European players dominated in all ping pong tournaments.

Ping Pong Diplomacy

In the early 1970s, table tennis became political when a friendly exchange between Chinese and American players led to an exchange of players and even a visit to China by President Nixon in what became known as Ping Pong Diplomacy. The tensions of the Cold War were between China and the United States.

The game of ping pong was used as a tool for diplomatic relations between the two countries during a time when relations were otherwise strained. The introduction of speed glue in the 1980s changed the game of ping pong, giving players more control and spin. This led to Asian players becoming dominant in the sport. Then, table tennis has become a competitive sport.

The introduction of combination rackets in the late 1980s further increased the speed and spin of the game. In 1992, ping pong became an official Olympic and competitive sport. Also, the ITTF Pro-Tour was introduced in 1996, providing more opportunities for professional ping pong players. In 2000, the ball size was increased from 38mm to 40mm.

The game of ping pong has undergone many changes since its humble beginnings as a parlor game. However, it remains a popular pastime around the World and continues to be used as a tool for diplomacy. The first person to use a rubber sheet on the wooden blade was E. C. Goode.

Today, Chinese players dominate this sport and are the masters of the modern game. They are regarded as national heroes in their country.

How Has The Game Progressed Throughout History?

There are several essential periods in which table tennis abruptly changed the direction and style of play. Here we will show those evolutionary periods. Before that, take a look at what the early history of table tennis looked like.

Adaptation period (1880-1920)

In the beginning, people played it on a dining table with improvised equipment. With the introduction of celluloid balls, the game progressed significantly, which happened in 1900.

The following year, a table tennis association and a particular Ping Pong association in England were created. The game was also presented in China, and in Europe, it has progressed significantly and become more popular. One crucial step was the establishment of the International Federation of ITTF in Berlin in 1926. Then, Ivor Montagu became president.

European Domination & Hard Bat Era (1920-1950)

The difference between the “hardbat” and the later racket is in the racket itself, making a big difference in its dynamics and strategy. Classic “hardbat” rackets are slower and use external “pips” without sponges. It is harder to turn, and it is harder to perform the ball’s rotation. Table tennis players played more on clean balls and strong shots.

Europeans dominated both men’s and women’s competition. Victor Barna from Hungary was a five-time world champion and has recorded 22 gold medals at all world competitions. Angelica Rozeanu-Adelstein from Romania achieved World champion success six times in the women’s competition. Later, Chinese players took complete dominance in women’s table tennis.

Victor Barna (Hungary) – Hungarian and British champion

 More precisely, in 1937, there was a change in the rules. The net dropped to 15 inches (15.24 cm), which encouraged a more aggressive game.

Thus, the players became more focused on attacking instead of keeping the ball on the table and waiting for the opponent’s mistake. Then the time limits for the duration of matches were introduced by the ITTF.

In this period, we can single out important events as a brief history:

• Firstly, in 1926, the International Table Tennis Federation was founded in Berlin.
• Secondly, in the same year, the first world table tennis championship was held in London, England.
• Moreover, 1928 in Stockholm in Sweden and then every year, 1929 in Budapest in Hungary, 1930 in Berlin in Germany, etc.

At the world championships in the 1940s and 1950s, the Japanese women’s team dominated with a total of 8 titles won.

Hungary was a great world power in the men’s competition, with 12 titles won.

Otherwise, the World Cup was held every year until 1957 and then every two years. In individual table tennis world championships, men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles are included for each odd year.

History of Table Tennis in Asian Domination – The Sponge Era (1950-1985)

The beginning of the Asian era is also reflected in the first World Cup held in Bombay, India. This world championship was the 19th in a row and the first in Asian territory.

It so happened that the first non-European winner was Hiroji Satoh from Japan. Japan began to make significant progress when Ichiro Ogimura developed physical training and technological development.

In 1956, the first Asian player to win the World Cup was Tomie Okada-Okawa of Japan. Another important event in this era was the first Paralympics in 1960. Throughout history, table tennis has started to be included.

Regarding rules, a law on racket standardization has been passed. However, besides Asians, we should not forget the Swedes, the best in the 70s and 80s, side by side with China.

Top names still remembered today are Mikael Appelgren, Erik Lindh, Kjell Johansson, Jörgen Persson, Peter Karlsson, and the famous Jan-Ove Waldner.

See the best points from the period of Jan-Ove Waldner (Mozart of table tennis)

One of the memorable events from this period was in 1980 at the European Championships.

John Hilton (born June 25, 1947) achieved a sensational victory in the individual competition. The odds on him were 1000 to 1, and he surprised everyone.

He is the only British player to win a gold medal at the European Table Tennis Championships in individual competitions.

Why is this important for the history of table tennis?

The authorities in table tennis had to change the rules because of Hilton. He confused his opponents because he had different ping-pong rubbers with the same colors on both sides. Opponents could not recognize which was defensive and which was offensive rubber.

Therefore, he surprised all the opponents by using different ball strokes. Then ITTF changed the rules, and after that, all table tennis rackets had to have different colors of rubbers. The ping pong table dimensions are still the same. This made it clear to the opponent which rubber was antispin and which was offensive, and thus players achieved a higher fair play.

John Hilton 1980 in Bern(Switzerland) at the European Championship

In 1981, my country’s first world championship was in Novi Sad, where the Chinese won all seven gold medals. Next year was the first world championship for veterans. During this period, we can say that table tennis has finally become a popular world sport.

1983 was also a significant year for my country when my fellow citizen Zoran Kalinic from Subotica became the World champion in doubles with Dragutin Surbek in Tokyo.

History of Table Tennis – Modern Olympics era (1985-till today)

For the first time in its history, nations presented table tennis at the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988. During this period, ITTF adopted several essential rules of the game.

International Table Tennis Federation increased the size of the ball. The ball’s diameter is now 40 mm. It happened because of the speed of the game. Players worldwide have increased the speed of their shots so much. Due to the popularity of sports and television, the ball’s diameter is increasing to slow down the game and make table tennis more beautiful for the audience.

That happened in 2000, and the following year another rule appeared. The winning set moves from 21 points to 11. A scoring system has changed; since then, three sets have been won, even in big competitions, and four sets of up to 11 points players need to win for the match.

China’s national table tennis team completely dominates in the coming period. In 2005 they won all five gold medals in Shanghai. 2006 in Bremen two gold medals. 2007 in Zagreb again, all five gold medals, as well as 2010 and 2012 in London and 2016. Out of a total of 32 Olympic gold medals starting in 1988, China has won 28!

China Table Tennis National Team

Another important rule that applies today is to replace the celluloid ball with a plastic one. Since 2016, table tennis players have used plastic balls at the World Championships and the Olympics.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Chinese player Kong Linghui demonstrated a new skill in table tennis. Many players wondered how to play table tennis like him.

It was officially the beginning of a new era in the history of table tennis. His topspins from the backhand showed that there are no more forehand reinforcements and backhand keeping a safe ball. The moment came when all the players in the World started working on spins and reinforcements of the ball on both sides.

Another essential skill is the entry of the “banana” backhand flip, which all modern players use. It is the entrance to the opponent’s serve with a backhand flip from the wrist. You can see this skill live on the site, more precisely on the Skills For Advanced Players page.

All in all, various table tennis players have appeared who brought novelties to this beautiful sport throughout history.

What’s next? We will see that new, faster moves are always current, and you can see how much the World’s players are in that in the following video.

 

Summary – Rules Through The History of Table Tennis

There are a few more important rules that I will single out, and that is why they are briefly written here. As a reminder for all today’s players, I hope it will help in further play and enjoyment of this beautiful sport.

Introduction of two-color rackets

Each racket must have one red and one black rubber for the opponent to distinguish the rubber type with which you hit the ball.

For example, if a player has an anti-spin rubber on one side that slows down the game and gives an entirely different effect to the ball when hitting, you can see that. While the rubbers on both sides were the same color, you couldn’t recognize the difference. That was an unfair advantage for all the players since then.

The number of winning sets

This has changed during the history of table tennis. The first being in 2001 when the number of sets to win and the number of points to one set changed.

Many years ago, table tennis players played to 21 points and five consecutive serves from one player. At the tie break (20:20), each player had one serve until someone won by two points. Then it was necessary to win two sets to win (best 2 of 3 games).

The ITTF changed the rules in 2001 and introduced a set of up to 11 points, with each player having two serves in a row with the tie break now being at 10:10. Players must play as best 3 of 5 (with 3 sets won) and best 4 of 7 (with 4 sets won for more significant competitions).

Serve rules have also changed.

In 2003, ITTF adopted rules to remove the non-racquet-holding hand to unblock the opponent from seeing the entire wrist movement.

Before that, players could “hide” the serve by covering the racquet-holding hand during the ball’s contact. The ball must also be thrown straight up a minimum of 16cm with an open hand. Another player couldn’t read the rotation when the ball was on the opponent’s half.

 

With these rules, a lot has generally changed in most players’ games. And somehow, players achieved greater fair play because the players who had excellent serves and managed to hide the service had a considerable advantage even though they were equal to their opponents.

Historical Background of Table Tennis (1950-2020)

1950s: The popularity of table tennis increased significantly in the 1950s, thanks in part to the development of new equipment such as sponge rubber paddles and celluloid balls. These innovations made the game faster and more exciting to watch.

1960s: In the 1960s, players began using a new technique known as “looping.” This technique involves hitting the ball with a closed racket, causing the ball to spin and curve in the air, making it more difficult for opponents to return. This technique revolutionized the game and made it even more exciting to watch.

1970s: In the 1970s, the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) introduced a new rule that required players to serve the ball from an open palm, rather than hiding the ball behind their paddle. This rule was designed to make the game fairer and reduce the advantage that some players had in serving.

1980s: In the 1980s, the ITTF introduced a new ball that was larger and had a slower speed. This change was made to increase the length of rallies and make the game more spectator-friendly. Players also began using new techniques, such as the backhand loop, which involved hitting the ball with a closed racket on the backhand side, causing the ball to spin and curve.

1990s: In the 1990s, table tennis continued to evolve, with players using faster and more spin-oriented shots. The ITTF also introduced a new scoring system, in which matches were played to 11 points instead of 21.

2000s: In the 2000s, table tennis saw the rise of players from countries such as China, who dominated the sport with their quick reflexes and precise footwork. The ITTF also introduced new regulations for equipment, such as the thickness and size of paddles, to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage.

The 2010s: In the 2010s, table tennis continued to evolve, with players using even faster and more spin-oriented shots. The game also became more popular than ever, with tournaments and leagues being held all over the world. In addition, new technology was developed, such as digital scoreboards and video replay systems, to enhance the spectator experience.

2020s: In the current decade, table tennis continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, with players using ever more advanced techniques and equipment. The COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact on the sport, with many tournaments being canceled or postponed. However, the popularity of table tennis remains undiminished, with millions of people worldwide continuing to play and enjoy this exciting and challenging sport.

History of Table Tennis – Conclusion

Table tennis has a long and rich history that initially began with a game played using a champagne cork as a ball, cigar boxes as bats, and books for the net.

The game was known by several titles when it first began, but it eventually became known as table tennis. The game was initially seen as a mere distraction for the wealthy classes, but it finally gained popularity and became an official sport.

Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988, held in Seoul, South Korea. Today, modern table tennis is quite different from the game originally played all those years ago.

A new generation of players is focusing on speed and fast rackets. New tactics are also being used for faster attacks close to the table. European dominance remains in history until today.

Despite all of these changes, table tennis remains a popular sport that people of all ages around the World enjoy.

Modern Table Tennis Playing Style

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