Ping Pong
Ping pong is a very fun and fast paced game that can be played with at least one but up to four players. The object of the game is to get the little ping pong ball over the net yet prevent your opponent from hitting it back to you. If they are successful in hitting the ball back to your side, then you have to hit it back. The game involves plenty of fast moving back and forth action as well as plenty ball chasing as the little balls seem to have a mind of their own.
Ping pong is a game with very simple rules, and that makes it appealing to people of all ages. Nothing is more frustrating than a game with complicated rules to learn. The game is also inexpensive. You can purchase a set with the net, four paddles, and a couple of balls for less than $20. The more expensive sets feature a table for the game but many people simply transform their kitchen table or patio table into a venue for a game of ping pong.
The game of ping pong originated in England during the 19th Century. At that time it was viewed as a social game to play after dinner rather than classified as a sporting event. It took about 60 years for the game of ping pong to catch on as a world wide recreational game. In 1930 the American Ping Pong Association was established and they set the rules for the game. The length of the table, the size of the balls, and the height of the net were all regulated.
Many more people were captivated by the game after it became a popular sporting event. I have to admit watching some of those competitions on TV are incredible. The ball is moving back and forth at the speed of lightning. In 1988 both men and women ping pong teams were added to the list of competitions for the Olympic Games.
Today, many families enjoy the recreational side of ping pong. It is very common to see a table set up in a family room or on the back porch. It is a game that while the rules are quite simple, mastering the game takes plenty of practice. Yet the game is one that isn’t physically exerting so people of all ages can enjoy the fun and interaction that takes place during a game of ping pong.
