Table tennis is a fun and exciting game that is actually the second most played sport in the world! It is somewhat like tennis but is obviously played on a table. Players use rackets to bounce a small ball back and forth to each other. The ball is similar in size to a golf ball but is hollow and can bounce quite high. Table tennis is also known as Ping Pong in some areas of the world and is quite popular to play in both young and older persons. Each player uses a racket that has a short handle. They are circular in shape and normally made of wood. A table tennis racket set will usually contain a pair of rackets as well as a few balls; better sets will also contain extras like spare rubbers.
Table tennis is played on a rectangular table that is normally dark green in color with white sideline stripes. The top of the table is divided into two playing areas by a low net that is held in place by posts. The net is usually about six inches high.
The object of the game is to bat the ball back and forth across the net to the other player without being stopped by the net or having the ball fall short of going over the net to the other players side. One player starts the game by serving the ball. The receiver then hits the ball back. Points are scored on the opposite player if the server's pass fails or of the receiver fails to hit the ball or return it across the net. Points are scored one at a time and the first player to reach eleven points is normally deemed the winner. If the game ends in a tie with each player having ten points a piece the match continues until one player has the lead by two points.