Most of us have at least a nodding familiarity with ping pong. More serious enthusiasts in fact frown when they hear “ping pong,” insisting on “table tennis,” and remonstrating those who see it as a game and not a sport. There are a lot of misconceptions about what we’ll call, for the purposes of this article, table tennis -- after all, table tennis is an Olympic sport, played by world class athletes in pristine arenas. But it can also be played in a garage or a rec room, and it’s just as fun. Table tennis can be played with some level of proficiency almost immediately. Getting good takes only a little more time and effort.

If you’re going to play at home, the first thing you need is space, at the very least roughly equivalent to a one-car garage or a good-sized rec room. Having ample clearance above and around the table is important, too, in order to fully exploit the wide variety of angles and shots at your disposal. Good, even flooring is necessary in order to keep the playing surface level. Decent light, along with protection from the elements will also optimize the playing experience.

Equipment:

There are all kinds of tables, from one hundred dollar basic plywood tables, to homemade tables (like the PORTABLE one I grew up with that worked just fine), to the top of the line 1500 dollar tables made by Stiga, that are works of art in and of themselves. Whether made from old doors or made for the Olympics, the table is 274 cm in length, 152.5 cm in width, and 76 cm in height, and that’s the same everywhere. The table is divided by the net into two courts.

THE TABLE IS DIVIDED IN HALF VERTICALLY BY A WHITE LINE.

The net is 15.25 cm height and extends 15.25 cm beyond each side of the table. Rackets come in a lot of different packages, but it’s pretty standard to have a PADDLE with some rubber on it, in order to have some level of control over the ball, and in order to generate spin, which is essential for a player who expects to get past the intermediate level. A player’s style of play will dictate the kind of racket to use.

Balls were recently changed from 38 to 40mm in circumference, in order to lengthen rallies at international competitions. For the club player, the change is noticEable, but not extreme.