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1. TABLE TENNIS

is called "ping-pong" in the 1800's
was known by different names: "ping-pong or gossima, table tennis, whiff waff, parlour tennis, indoor tennis, pom-pom, pim-pam, royal game"
also known as "ping-pong"
is a sport in which two or four players (dual) hit a lightwight ball back and forth across table using a small paddle
players must allow a ball played toward them to bounce one time on their side of the table, and must return it so that it bounces of the opposite siide at least once
is governed by the worldwide organization ITTF founded in 1926, this currently incldues 220 member associates.
is specificed ITTF handbook
has been an Olympic sport since 1988
since 1998, there are two categories

played with a light, 2.7 gram, 40 mm diameter ball
must bounce up 24-26 cm when dropped from a high of 30.5 cm on to a standard steel block thereby having a coefficient of restitution of 0.89 to 0.92

should be 2.74 m (9ft long), 1.525 m (5ft) wide, and 96 cm (30 inch) high with a Masonite (a type of hardboard) or similarly manufactured timber, layered with a smooth, low friction coating

made up of two distinct parts:
- a wooden lade, which incorporates the handle
- the table tennis rubbers affixed to each side of the blad using special table tennis glue
- most rackets are actually all very similar in size

so named because one grips the racket similarly to the way one hold a writing instrument
the style of play among penhold players can vary greatly from player to player
The most popular style usually referred to as the Chinese penhold style, involves curling the middle, ring and fourth finger on the back of the blade

is called the "Orthodox" or "western grip"
HOW: grasp the racket as if to shake hands with it, Allow the forefinger to slide onto the base of the blade with the thumb on the other side, Grip quite close to the blade, but not too tightly, The forehand side of the racket for forehand shots and other side of the backhand shot

just like pushing or chopping, a backspin serve is execute with an open racket, slicing the bottom of the ball

like driving, topspin serves can be done hitting with a flat racket, or like looping, where the player grazers the top of the ball with a closed racket for more spin.