Why did they change the size of ping pong balls?

Why did they change the size of ping pong balls?

The size was increased to make it more appealing to spectators. The larger ball is slower and spins less, which in theory should mean longer rallies, but I’m not sure this has ever been proven.

When did table tennis ball size change?

After the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the ITTF instituted several rule changes that were aimed at making table tennis more viable as a televised spectator sport. First, the older 38 mm (1.50 in) balls were officially replaced by 40 mm (1.57 in) balls in October 2000.

What is the purpose of changing the ping pong ball size from 38mm to 40mm?

Table tennis has not been without landmark changes over the past 15 years. The scoring system was altered in 2001 from first to 21 with five serves each to first to 11 with two serves each, and a year earlier the diameter of the ball was increased from 38mm to 40mm to improve television viewing.

When did ping pong rules change?

A game in table tennis is played until one of the players scores 11 points or if there is a 2 point difference after the score was tied (10:10). A game used to be played until 21, but that rule was changed by the ITTF in 2001.

What were ping pong balls made of before plastic?

The official material used in table tennis balls was changed from celluloid to plastic, a material free of celluloid, in 2014.

What kind of ping pong balls do pros use?

The Nittaku Premium 40+ balls have been a firm favourite of the table tennis community since the introduction of plastic balls in 2014. They’re made in Japan, are ITTF approved, very durable and have a great reputation for their roundness and consistent bounce.

Is the term ping pong offensive?

The Mandarin word probably comes from the English.” Bradford Tuckfield, Austin TX: “Your reader Nic Hautamaki writes that “ping-pong” is not an offensive term because it “is derived from ‘ping pang qiu'” in Chinese.

Are there different sizes of ping pong balls?

The official table ping pong ball has changed over the years from a composition of celluloid to polymer and from a size of 1.5” (38 mm) to 1.57” (40 mm).

What does 40+ ping pong ball mean?

The reason the balls are labelled with 40+ is that when the ITTF made the plastic balls legal for competition, they also allowed the balls to have a bigger size tolerance. So a celluloid ball tends to be around 39.6mm whereas the new plastic balls measure around 40.2mm, making the plastic balls about 0.5mm bigger.

Is table tennis first 11 or 21?

A standard table tennis game goes up to 11 points. Originally athletes played up until a score of 21 but this was recently changed to 11 in order to speed up each game that is played. In a standard game of table tennis, or ping pong, the game is played until one person reaches a score of 11.

What is inside a ping pong ball?

The ball is filled with air and has a matte finish. The material of a regular ball isn’t specified, but balls typically are made from celluloid or another plastic. The celluloid is a composition of nitrocellulose and camphor that is produced in a sheet and soaked in a hot alcohol solution until it is soft.