OR, TABLE TENNIS AND HOW TO PL AY IT Hor 1 Class GV IOCS Book. K59 CopyiightN?- COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. nnis For ItlUUUl , vcia-iiua. ui Lawn. wucn nut in USe fold up into a small compass. Send for Illustrated Catalogue. E. I. HORSMAN CO., 354 Broadway, New York. EERIE TALES OF "CHINATOWN." Bits of ... . Broken China By WILLIAM E. S. FALES A collection of captivating novelettes deal- ing with life in New York's "Chinatown." The struggles and ambitions of the China- man in America, his loves and jealousies, his hopes and fears, his sorrows, his joys, these are the materials on which Mr. Fales has built his book It is a new field \ and all the more inter- esting on that account. The author has made a life study of his subject ; and no one is better qualified than he to present a picture of this romantic corner of New York w T here lives the exiled Chinaman "Bits of Broken China" is undoubtedly one of the most delightful volumes for lighter reading published this season Bound in cloth. Gold top. Fully Illustrated Price, 75 Cents. STREET AND SMITH, New York and London 5 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/pingpongnewtableOOritc PING PONG THE NEW TABLE GAME AS PLAYED 'IN AMERICA BY M. G. RITCHIE Of the International Games Club AND ARNOLD PARKER Winr er of the Queen's Hall Ping Pong Tournament Edited for American Players by WALTER H. BRONSON NEW YORK AND LONDON STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS THE L;8ftASY «F CONOR Two Gomea Pseetv£t APR, 2! t902 CO*»Yft»«HT ENTRY OOF Copyright, 1902, By STREET & SMITH i*V Ping Pong CONTENTS. I. — Introduction g The History of the Game . . 9 American Clubs 15 II. — The Game 20 Preliminaries 20 Style 26 Serving 27 III. — Methods of Play .... 30 Volleying 30 The Half- Volley .... 33 Head Play 35 Forehand and Backhand Strokes . 36 IV. — General Regulations . . .42 Rules of the Cavendish Club . . 42 Debatable Points . . . .46 Rules for Match Play ... 48 Club Formation 49 Interclub Matches .... 50 CONTENTS. V. — Leading Strokes The Service . The Return The Half- Volley , The Smash VI. — Scoring .... VII. — Ping Pong Tournaments The American System The English System Arranging a Tournament The Draw VIII. — Accessories for the Game The Racquet . The Ball . The Table .... The Net . IX. — Useful Hints . 52 54 58 62 66 71 75 81 82 85 93 97 97 99 100 101 103 FTisra pong. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. The History of the Game, Within recent years the game of "Ping Pong" or "Table Tennis/' as it is va- riously called, has become exceedingly popular in America. This is not to be wondered at, for the endless subtleties of this new indoor amusement make it ab- Ping Pong. 10 sorbingly interesting. It is difficult to say just when the game first came into ex- istence. For its conception and origin we must look to that oldest of all existing ball games, Tennis, and its modern adap- tation, Lawn Tennis. Ping Pong is prac- tically Lawn Tennis in miniature. Tennis was the sport of kings and nobles in the Middle Ages, and was probably first in- troduced in sunny Italy, and afterward taken up by the French, who gave it its name, from the word 'Tenezl' which they used when serving the ball. But it was not till 1890 that any one ever thought of bringing the delightful sport indoors. The story goes that in that year a number of gentlemen met in London, Ping Pong. 11 and formed the first Ping Pong club, un- der the style of "Tennis in the Home." Their materials were a table, a net, a cork ball, and racquets made of cardboard. In about a month, however, the enthu- siasm of the players waned, and in spite of the introduction of wooden bats and rubber balls "Tennis in the Home" sank into obscurity. Probably one reason why it did not catch the popular fancy at that time was because the season was unpro- pitious — it was at the beginning of the summer, and no one wanted to spend his leisure time on any indoor amusement, however fascinating. News of "Tennis in the Home" traveled to New York at that time, and a few adventurous spirits in this Ping Pong. 12 country, ever on the watch for anything new, made an attempt to plant the game on American soil, but their efforts were unavailing. Then, for a period of ten years, nothing was heard of the indoor sport. But in Au- gust, i goo, a little incident resulted in the formation of a Table Tennis club, and from this we date the real origin of Ping Pong. It appears that an English cricket team were on tour in August, 1900, but ex- perienced continuously bad weather, and the members were at a loss to know how to pass their time. One of them introduced some battledores, a celluloid ball, and a net ; the latter was fixed on a table, and the Ping Pong. 13 members of the team found themselves so fascinated with the game and its possibili- ties that the abandonment of the cricket was more than atoned for. On returning to London several gentlemen continued playing, and thus began the Cavendish Club, now one of the best exponents of the game. It had at first a membership of some six or eight, but quickly attained its full complement of members, and was fol- lowed in rapid succession by the Blooms- bury House, Upper Clapton, and later by several American Ping Pong clubs. Inter- club play became an established fact, and with its advent two or three most success- ful tournaments were held in England. In these the marvelous interest taken in the Ping Pong. 14 game was made apparent, and they were followed by a tournament on a much larger scale, viz., the Championships of London, in the galleries of the Royal Aquarium. The large number of players competing, as well as the enormous attendances, gave an indication of the wonderful popularity of the game, and as an indoor pastime there can be no possible doubt that it has ousted all others. The feeling that an association should be formed for the protection and interests of Table Tennis has led to the formation of such an institution, composed of several of the leading players and those most conversant with its needs, and termed the Table Tennis Association. Ow- ing to its easy adaptability to existing cir- Ping Pong. 15 cumstances, Table Tennis has, in general popularity, far exceeded that of Billiards or any other indoor game. A pastime in which skill, control of temper, and mod- erate exercise are so well combined would be difficult indeed to find. Although origi- nally scoffed at and held in contempt by the votaries of baseball, football, lawn tennis, and other athletic sports, the game has already among its enthusiastic ad- herents many well-known sportsmen. American Clubs. The honor of having introduced the game into this country is due to the Har- vard Club, where it was explained by Mr. Holcombe Ward, now one of the cleverest Ping Pong. 16 players of Ping Pong in America. In- stantly the sport became immensely pop- ular, and soon three tables were installed at the Harvard Club, followed by a brisk demand nightly for places. Pool and bil- liards were declared "off," and the tables were utilized for Ping Pong, a net being stretched down the center. Players soon became as expert upon the transformed billiard tables as upon the regulation Ping Pong tables. Quite a number of the old-time tennis players — not even excepting some of the champions — have forsaken their first love and have transferred their affections to the charming indoor sister of lawn tennis, Ping Pong. Ping Pong. 17 The Ping Pong club organized in New- York by Dr. Charles Lee has been so suc- cessful that a tournament for women's singles, men's singles and mixed doubles followed as a matter of course. But the popularity of the game has not been confined to the East. Mrs. Potter Palmer told her friends in Chicago about it, and demonstrated its attractive qualities to the smart set in the Windy City. In a short time Ping Pong became of greater vogue than any attraction Chicago had ever known. Several tournaments, each having exceedingly large entry lists, have already been played there, and Ping Pong " favors" are the latest creations for the cotillion. Ping Pong. 18 That the game is to have permanent place among the amusements of our people is not doubted by those who have watched and analyzed the rise and fall of fads in the way of indoor and outdoor amusements. It has every possible requisite for the proper exercise of body and mind, and young women in particular, who are not equal to the roughing and physical strain entailed by golf, tennis and kindred strenuous sports, will be heartily and healthfully benefited by Ping Pong. The fascination Ping Pong has for its players is shown by the activity which is daily growing in many clubs in New York. The Yale Club has many enthusiasts who play nightly, and many other clubs are or- Ping Pong. 19 ganizing tournaments. At many of the clubs the club champions are practicing daily and nightly, and members vie with each other to play "dummy" with those who will fight for success and victory at the tournaments. Ping Pong. 20 CHAPTER II. THE GAME. Preliminaries. All that is necessary for the fascinating game of Ping Pong is a good-sized table, a fair amount of room at both ends and sides, a pair of bats, or racquets, a cellu- loid ball, and a net to stretch across the table at a height of three-quarters of an inch to each foot of table length, sus- Ping Pong. 21 pended on a couple of posts so clamped to the table that the net will project some three or four inches on each side. There are two players, one at each end of the table. Tersely stated, the object of the game is for one player to so strike the ball over the net to the other player that the latter is unable to return it. We have here a game which is in the reach of almost every one to play, and in which ladies, gentlemen, and children are almost on an equality. It is easily learnt, and reasonable proficiency, provided the player has a correct eye, is soon attained. No special apartment is required, and the implements are all inexpensive. It has one very great advantage in that players Ping Pong. 22 may play in their homes without upset- ting existing arrangements; and, as mod- erate exercise only is necessitated, it forms a most healthful amusement for after dinner. It is quite unnecessary to be a champion to enjoy playing, as the game has a fascination peculiarly its own, but for those who wish to attain higher pro- ficiency it is better to join one of the numerous Ping Pong clubs, and prac- tice regularly four or five times a week, as there is no doubt that one of the most important items for suc- cess is constant and unremitting prac- tice. The opportunity of playing against different styles of play is most ad- vantageous to the young player, and the Ping Pong. 25 system adopted by several clubs, viz., that of having a list of players chosen to rep- resent them in matches, the right of chal- lenging such players for place in the team once or twice m the season being open to the other members of the club, is an ex- cellent one. A quick eye, flexibility of wrist, good judgment, and control of one's feelings are essentials to good play. There is one great thing to be guarded against, and that is the tendency, having arrived at a certain proficiency, to remain in that stage and not endeavor to improve. The aim should always be "higher, still high- er/' and the beginner is recommended to continually try and practice new strokes, to play in whatever matches he can, and Ping Pong. 26 not to be in any way cast down if he comes out frequently a loser. The fact of trying new strokes and attaining an all-round proficiency will eventually bear fruit, and it is surprising with what suddenness a player will find himself nearing the top of the tree. Style. It is difficult to recommend any special style for the beginner to adopt, as most players have their own natural methods. To adopt one safe stroke and to cultivate a free style are very desirable, and, as al- ready explained, to play this game for two or three seasons, regardless of whether gains or losses are scored, good fruit is bound to result. There is little doubt that Ping Pong. 27 the lawn tennis player generally exhibits rather superior style in the game of Ping Pong, as compared with those who have only played the latter. The lawn tennis player generally has a much freer style, with longer and harder drives, and is not so inclined to play the "stone-wall" game which is a characteristic of so many. It is this latter feature that is at present a serious handicap to the game, and it is not unlikely that "volleying" will have to be introduced in some shape or form to miti- gate this. Serving. Another point is the fact that serving generally carries with it some advantage, varying, of course, with the proficiency of Ping Pong. 28 the player in this branch of the game. To militate against this advantage, it has been suggested that a line should be drawn down the center of the court, and that the server should have to serve into the space on either side of this line alternately, thus vefy much lessening the area open for his service. As, however, the space is already sufficiently restricted, and often renders play even now a matter of considerable self-restraint, such a regulation has not been carried out in serious matches up to the present. The very important rule of serving below the waist is often honored more in the breach than in the observance, consequently the beginner should endeavor to work up a service which is strictly un- Ping Pong. 29 derhand. There are, of course, a very large variety of strokes used in playing Table Tennis, but these need a chapter for themselves. Suffice it to say that in all de- partments of the game the desirable thing is to cultivate a crisp, clean, hard-hitting stroke, and if a good cut or screw can at the same time be imparted to the ball, it is in most cases a desirable addition. Ping Pong. 30 CHAPTER III. METHODS OF P L, A Y . Volleying. In the sister game of Lawn Tennis we have forehand, backhand, underhand, and overhand, as well as overhead, strokes. Four of these strokes are exclusively used in Ping Pong, the overhead strokes being available for lawn tennis only, as, under the present circumstances, volleying is not Ping Pong. 31 permitted in Ping Pong. There is little doubt that lawn tennis owes a consider- able amount of its popularity to overhead play, as the latter is generally more bril- liant, and at the same time, perhaps, re- quires rather more quickness of eye and arm than strokes off the ground. This is partly because in volleying the ball is struck by the player's racquet before it has time to touch the ground, consequently it (the ball) gen- erally has more force behind it than one which bounces first on the court and is then struck by the player's racquet. It is obvious that in the latter case the ball must, by its impact with the ground, lose a certain amount of vigor. The compara- Ping Pong. 32 lively small area of table on each side of the net does not permit of volleying being adopted in Ping Pong to anything like the extent it is in Lawn Tennis. At the same time, an excellent game can be played by relegating the player to the end of the table only, and not allowing any other vol- leys than those made from that position. By this means, on a full-sized table, nine feet by five feet, the volleyer can only comfortably volley when the ball is near the end of the table, and this makes it a matter of considerable difficulty and skill. It is often an easy matter to smash a ball when one is right over the net at lawn tennis, but it becomes quite a different mat- ter w T hen one is standing near the base Ping Pong. 33 line, and the same thing applies to Ping Pong. An excellent plan, then, for those who are playing the game for amusement, is to draw a line on each side of the net and parallel with it half-way between the end of the table and the net, and to allow volleying only over this line. It is notice- able that when commencing to play either Lawn Tennis or Ping Pong, beginners generally fall into their own natural method of hitting the ball, and it is much better, unless it is in some flagrantly bad style, to allow them to follow it up and improve themselves in it. The Half-Volley. In Lawn Tennis the ball cannot drop below the level of the field of play, but in Ping Pong. 34 Ping Pong, when a ball has bounded on the table and perhaps dropped over its edge, it makes an underhand return a very difficult stroke. It is consequently the aim of many Ping Pong players to hit the ball as soon after it has touched the table as possible. A ball that is hit in this way, viz., immediately after the bound or al- most simultaneously with it, is a half-vol- ley, and one sees this stroke a very great deal more used in Ping Pong than in Lawn Tennis. In fact, in the latter game it may safely be said to be used more in liberating the player out of a difficulty than at any other time. There are, of course, one or two exceptions among players, for some have brought the half -volley stroke to ab- Ping Pong. 35 solute perfection, and in playing Lawn Tennis, use hardly any other — but their game is quite exceptional. In Ping Pong one finds it quite the other way. It is al- most an exception to find a player who does not more half-volley than anything else. Head Play. While there is probably not in Ping Pong the same capacity for head work that there is in Lawn Tennis, owing to the field of operation being so very much smaller, there is plenty of opportunity for exercising it. It is, however, useless for the player to endeavor to, as it is termed, play with his head, until he has made him- self thoroughly familiar with all the Ping Pong. 36 strokes. In Lawn Tennis head work plays a very important part, as, owing to the area to be covered, there is physical ex- haustion to be taken into consideration. This does not apply to anything like the extent in Ping Pong. It is consequently to be recommended that a severe style of hitting be practiced at first in preference to placing. Forehand and Backhand Strokes. A few words in regard to forehand and backhand strokes may possibly not be out of place here. There is a natural direc- tion for each of these strokes, that of the forehand stroke being from right to left, and of the backhand stroke from left to Ping Pong. 39 right. The foregoing diagrams will ex- plain the natural direction of these strokes. It is as well in commencing the game to start driving the ball from A to B with the forehand, and from C to D with the back- hand. When a fair amount of proficiency has been arrived at in playing these two strokes, the beginner should practice driv- ing the ball from A to E and C to F. These four strokes are undoubtedly the all-important ones in Ping Pong. The be- fore-mentioned strokes are what are called "drives." Besides these there is the "lob," which is a ball returned high in the air, and consequently with a high bounce. In Lawn Tennis when a man has ex- hausted himself considerably in driving Ping Pong. 40 the ball and then rushes up to the net to finish off a rally, his opponent will per- haps lob the ball over his head right into the back of the court The other man is ex- hausted, cannot get back in time, and his opponent consequently scores a point. In Ping Pong, however, the "lob" is a most ineffectual stroke, as the question of ex- haustion hardly enters into the play, and the high bound of the ball will give the op- posing player an opportunity to smash it down over the net. Beginners should, therefore, cultivate keeping the ball as near as possible to the top of the net, at the same time keeping a good length. The latter term means returning the ball so that it strikes as near the extremity of the Ping Pong. 41 table as possible. All short returns give the player a chance for the overhand smash, and as this is generally a certain point for the player using the smash, it is essential never to give him an opening for it. Ping Pong. 42 CHAPTER IV. GENERAL REGULATIONS. Rules of the Cavendish Club. Directly Ping Pong became a club game it was necessary to draw up rules that should be universally used in match and other play. The Cavendish Club by de- grees, as they became more familiar with the game, formulated the rules which they found necessary. These were adopted by Ping Pong. 43 the clubs following suit, and the regula- tions formulated by the Cavendish Club are those which have, up to the present, been observed in all the important tourna- ments. It is probable they will be revised when an American Ping Pong association comes into being. At the same time there is not, apparently, much room for addi- tion. The rules in regard to the game are as follows : — Ride A. — The two players take up po- sitions one at each end of the table. B. The player who first strikes the ball is termed the server. C. The service must be delivered from behind the end of the table, and so that at the time of striking the ball the server's Ping Pong. 44 racquet must be within the space that would be inclosed by the sides of the table if produced. D. In serving, no part of the racquet except the handle may be above the waist. E. The object of the server is to strike the ball so that it falls on the opposite side of the net. F. Should the server in striking the ball over the net in serving touch the net with the ball, this counts as a let, which means "no ball/' and the server has to serve again. G. Should the server strike the ball into the net or over the net, but so that it does not touch the table, this is a fault and counts as one point to his opponent. Ping Pong. 45 H. In returning the service the ball must be allowed to bounce once. Directly after the ball leaves the server's racquet it is in play. The ball is struck backward and forward until one of the players either hits it into the net, out of the court, or misses it altogether, any one of these mistakes counting as one point to his adversary. I. No volleying is allowed, and all such strokes, whether involuntary or otherwise, count against the volleyer. J. Should the ball strike the ceiling or any object outside the table other than the net or posts, or the opposing player's rac- quet, when in play, before striking the table, the point shall count against such player making the stroke. Ping Pong. 46 K. Should the server's opponent not re- turn the service this counts as one point to the server. L. The service changes after every five points scored, and a change of ends is usual after every ten points scored. Scor- ing is generally twenty points up, or Lawn Tennis scoring may be adopted, namely, fifteen, thirty, forty, deuce and advantage, or game. Debatable Points. One of the most important items in the above is in respect to service. This must be strictly below the waist, but this rule is somewhat unsatisfactory, as it makes no allowance for the height of the player, and it is obvious that a verv tall man has a Ping Pong. 47 great advantage over a short one. Up to the present no satisfactory means has been arrived at of making the chances of the two players equal. Another debatable question is as to whether a ball which is quite apparently falling outside the limits of the table is in play or not and may be touched by the player before it drops to the ground. In Lawn Tennis it is an ada- mant rule that the ball is in play until it has dropped to the ground, and must not be touched by the player, even though he may be standing some yards out of court. Many Ping Pong players, however, think that when a ball is obviously going to drop out of court it should be considered out of play, and may be touched by the opposing Ping Pong. 48 player without having a point scored against him. Rules for Match Play. The table must be 9 feet by 5 feet, pref- erably of a dark green color with a f-inch white line round the edge. The net must be 6f inches high, and in order that there may be no obstructions, the net should ex- tend some three or four inches beyond the sides of the table. The general system of play observed in matches is the American system, every player playing each mem- ber of the opposing side. Scoring 20 points up, and if 19 points all are reached, then the best of 5 points to be played. Team five players on each side. The bat, Ping Pong. 49 or racquet, must not have a playing sur- face exceeding 6 inches by 7 inches. Club Formation. Wherever enthusiastic Ping Pong play- ers are gathered together it is pretty cer- tain a club will soon be the result, and in- deed this is a most desirable thing, as it does so much to encourage the sport. The first thing to be done is to find suitable premises, and arrange to have whatever tables are required. It is advisable to form a committee, and to appoint an Hon. Secretary as well as an Hon. Treasurer — in both cases, but in the former more particularly, preferably those with a fair amount of spare time at Ping Pong. 50 their command. The amount of the an- nual subscription to members must be ar- ranged, and rules for the guidance of members in all matters of detail must be drawn up, such as the hours when the club is to be opened for practice, the extent of time members should be permitted to in- dividually monopolize the tables, as well as various other details. If desirous of in- creasing the membership a circular may be sent round to the leading residents of the locality. Inter club Matches. In interclub matches the teams usually consist of five players a side, each of the five players playing the whole of the op- Ping Pong. 51 posite set in turn. Twenty-five games are thus played, so that a definite result is al- ways arrived at. The games usually consist of twenty points up, though this can be increased to twenty-five or thirty if desired, as there is no definite ruling at present on the point. In the event of the score being called nine- teen all, the best of five points are usually played to decide the game. Experience has shown that a match be- tween teams of five players, as above, usually occupies about two and a half to three hours, giving each player a good evening's play, with the necessary intervals between the games. Ping Pong. 52 CHAPTER V. LEADING STROKES. To the casual observer there would not appear to be anything like the scope in this game that there is in Lawn Tennis for va- riety of strokes, owing to the much smaller area, of the court, the prohibition of volleying, the lightness of the ball, and other limitations. While, however, these are obstacles in the direction indicated, Ping Pong. 53 there are a considerable number of special strokes which differ alike in method and in result. Speaking generally, the game is played so very much on the same lines as Lawn Tennis that the majority of strokes used are common to both games. There is, however, one feature of Ping Pong in which it differs materially from its sister game, viz., the lightning speed at which it is played, and this must obviously result in considerable modification in the style of Lawn Tennis strokes when these are introduced into Ping Pong. We offer, therefore, the following remarks on some of the principal strokes of the game, with the proviso that, owing to the fact that Ping Pong is at present only in its initial Ping Pong. 54 stages, the strokes of which we treat are in a transitional state, and liable to con- siderable modification. The Service. At the present time there is very con- siderable divergence of opinion among players of the game as regards both the specific object and the method of the serv- ice. The former may be divided into two classes; first, the service the object of which is to score the point, and, second, that which only aims at putting the ball into play. The first of these is steadily gaining in popularity, and is likely to do so as the game develops. Great speed is almost a sine qua non, and the judicious Ping Pong. 57 placing of the service is also of the first importance. The present regulations in vogue, which insist upon the service being delivered from below the waist, are not considered by many leading players desir- able to perpetuate, and it is more than probable that some alteration will shortly be introduced. A very hard low service is especially telling against a weaker oppo- nent, who may be receiving a long start, as it puts him in difficulties at once, and generally results in a high, slow return, which can be readily smashed. As no "fault" is allowed, it naturally follows that for a hard service to be really valuable it must be sedulously practiced until pre- cision is arrived at. Many players at- Ping Pong. 58 tempt, with varying results, a useful "screw," but the value of this is to a large extent discounted by the lightness of the ball and the comparative smoothness of the surface of the racquet. As regards that service which has for its object simply the starting of the rally, nothing much need be said, as it is, of course, very easy to deliver, and can only be varied by some amount of placing. The Return. This may also be divided, generally speaking, into two classes, the forehand and the backhand, respectively. Both of these have very ardent advocates, though the latter is unquestionably the more pop- M% : J UGO Ping Pong. 61 ular up to the present. Whether owing to the lightness of the ball or to a certain check which the use of the backhand stroke necessitates, there is no doubt that the ball is more easily kept within the limits of the playing area, and can be placed with greater judgment by this stroke than when hitting on the forehand. At the same time, many players of considerable note still mainly rely upon the forehand Lawn Tennis stroke when it is possible for them to apply this. There can be no doubt, how- ever, that the highest standard of all- round play can only be attained by the sedulous cultivation of both these returns. The two main points in the return are unquestionably hard hitting and good Ping Pong. 62 placing, neither holding to the other any priority of importance. While the former is obviously more attractive and brilliant than the latter, if unduly relied upon it is certain to be discounted by clever placing, and in many a brilliant rally the hard hitter will be placed in difficulties by an opponent who plays a much slower game, but repeatedly places the ball at most un- expected parts of the table. The Half-Volley. As Ping Pong is at present played, there is certainly no stroke which is more uni- versally used and believed in by players than the half-volley, and this forms one of the most striking differences between the two games which are in many respects so Ping Pong. 65 similar, namely, Lawn Tennis and Table Tennis. To half-volley, judge where the ball is likely to fall, then swing the rac- quet so that it will meet it when it bounces from the table. Many players rely upon the half-volley almost exclusively, and be- tween two players who use this stroke a very fast and pretty game is produced. While this stroke is quite essential at times, is not difficult to learn, and is one which should be developed by all players, it is a mistake to rely upon it too exclusively. A clever half-volleyer is often almost non- plused by a high, slow return, and it is therefore very necessary to cultivate other strokes to use in conjunction with the half- volley. Ping Pong. . r 66 The Smash. Of all Ping Pong strokes, the palm for brilliancy, effectiveness, and fascination must be given to this stroke. At the same time it must be stated that there is no stroke in the game which is more difficult to bring off with anything like certainty. It requires most careful judgment, electric quickness, and great accuracy in order to be of value as a winning stroke. In at- tempting it, the great danger is of confus- ing a return which may be safely smashed or one which, while equally tempting, is either just too low or too near the net to be properly treated in a cavalier manner. The practiced smasher is, how- ever, a deadly opponent, and is able to Ping Pong. 69 exert a most demoralizing effect upon a weaker adversary. Obviously, a tall player is able to cultivate this stroke more easily than those of shorter stature, owing to the much greater reach. Most players in the front rank are devoting attention to im- proving their smash, as, if successfully brought off, it is unquestionably a win- ning stroke. It is obvious that a "lobbing" game against a smash is fatal, the only safe method to be adopted being the hard low style of play. In all-round Table Tennis there are, of course, many varieties of minor strokes, but, as these are really modifications of the four main strokes before referred to, they are not entitled to more than a passing Ping Pong. 70 mention here. The player will soon find that they present themselves in the course of his games against other players of dif- ferent styles from his own, and will culti- vate them according as he finds them more or less useful. All styles of play and every method of both defense and attack are, especially at present, when the game is in its elementary stage, well worth thinking over and consistently practicing with a view to their development. Ping Pong. 71 CHAPTER VI. SCORING. Tournaments and inter-club matches are always conducted on the American sys- tem, whether played in this country or in England. In a tournament each player plays against each other player, and his position is decided by the average results of his various matches, these being reck- oned either by games or points, according Ping Pong. 72 to arrangement. We append a table show- ing the simplest and best method of handi- cap tournament scoring, which, although here only shown for five players, applies equally to any number. < P3 O Q H Handi- o 4 q 2 Total. cap. A 17 20 13 16 B 20 16 20 18 C 19 20 19 20 CO D 20 18 20 19 E 20 20 12 20 w r- Total 79 75 68 72 73 In the above table the method adopted is Ping Pong. 73 to score all the points made by a player in the vertical column under his name, and all the points scored against the same player in the horizontal column opposite his name. Thus A scores 79 points and has 66 points scored against him. The ad- vantage of this system is that it shows at a glance the results in points of any one game of the tournament. Thus, if it is desired to see how E fared in his match with B, we find E's score in his vertical column opposite B, and B's score in his column opposite E. If the tournament shown above were reckoned on games, A is the winner, and, as it happens, he also wins on points. If the latter system were Ping Pong. 74 adopted, the result of the above tourna- ment would be : — 1. A scores 79, scored against him 66 = -f- 1 3 2 . B) . " 75 " " " 74 = + 1 3.E* " 73 " " " 72 = + 1 4. D " 72 " " *' 77 = — 5 5. C " 68 " " " 78 = — 10 If scoring by points be adopted, both the points scored by and against each player must be taken into account. Ping Pong. 75 CHAPTER VII. PING PONG TOURNAMENTS. One of the most interesting and im- portant of club incidents is the tourna- ment. As soon as the club has reached reasonable dimensions it is incumbent on the Hon. Secretary, assisted by the com- mittee of management, to organize a club tournament, open to members only. Such Ping Pong. 76 an introduction is always most useful. Not only does it infuse renewed interest in the game, inducing more assiduous practice beforehand, but it also gives an idea of the respective merits of various members as players for comparison. Probably a con- siderable amount of the work entailed by the organization will fall on the Hon. Sec- retary, but, as his is a labor of love, such a trifle ( ! ) may be overlooked. The club tournament should generally consist of, say, four events, viz., Gentlemen's Club Championship and Handicap, and Ladies' Club Championship and Handicap. A small fee of, say, 50 cents each event, may Ping Pong. 7? be charged, and the entrance fee should be returned as prizes, plus any amount that may have been subscribed by subscription or by patrons for the same purpose. If a large entry is obtained, first, second, third, and fourth prizes may be given in each event ; if small, one prize or two. It is de- sirable to get one of the patrons of the club, or, failing this, to raise the money by subscription, to provide a couple of chal- lenge cups, one for ladies and one for gentlemen, to be used either as perpetual challenge trophies, or which may be won outright by winning three times in suc- cession or four times in all, or some similar Ping Pong. 78 arrangement. The first procedure in or- ganizing a tournament is, of course, to get entries for the various events, also the en- try fees. It has then to be decided as to whether the tournament should be run on our own system, which means that every man plays everybody else in his event, and the ladies likewise ; or on the English system, popularly known as the "knock out." In the American system, if a large entry is obtained, the players should divide into sections of so many each ; each player plays every other player in his section, the winner of the greatest number of games being the winner of his section. In the Ping Pong. 79 case of a tie by two competitors, the win- ner should be decided by the net results in points in each case, after adding the points made and subtracting the points against. Should a tie still result, the players must play off again. The same system can be carried out with regard to the winners of the sections in respect to the final. In re- gard to the English system known as the "knock out," the players are drawn to play against each other, the competitors prac- tically being reduced by half each round, and as the rounds have to be arranged so that the whole number of players is ulti- mately reduced to one winner, it fre- Ping Pong. 80 quently happens that a certain num- ber of them have to be made byes. This is all arranged by chance when the draw takes place, and it is always advis- able to have members of the committee present when the draw is in progress. The draw in both the American and Eng- lish systems is done by putting the names of all the competitors on pieces of paper, putting them into a hat and well shaking them up, and deputing a member of the committee to draw them out one by one. The two different methods of tournaments can be better explained by the following diagrams : — ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP QRSTUVWXare competitors. Ping Pong. 81 The American System. On the American system, divide the com- petitors into sections, the number in each section to be previously arranged in the following, or any, order, according to the drawing : — (I) (2) (3) (4) A G M S B H N T C I O U D J P V E K Q W F L R X There will thus be four sectional win- ners, i, 2, 3 and 4, and the finals can then be decided in either of two ways — viz., by 1, 2, 3 and 4 playing each other, the win- Ping Pong. 82 ner of most games taking the champion- ship, the second taking second prize and so on; or on the "knock-out" system, in which case draw whether i is to play 2, 3, or 4 — we will suppose that 1 has to play 3, 2 will consequently have to play 4, and the finals will be decided in the following manner : — plays [ 3 > Winner 3 Winner 2 plays I 4 ' 2 2 takes championship, 3 takes second prize. The English Sy stem. On the English system, di -aw all the com- Ping Pong. 83 petitors, and bracket them in the order in which they are drawn. For example : — Competi- tors. A B C D E F G H I i L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Winners ist Round. 2nd Round. bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye A D Hi H l\ J P i\ T 5} w i x \ V X 4 th Round. Semi- final. D T 1 X T Winner In the above there are twenty-four play- Ping Pong. 84 ers. As these cannot, by being reduced half each round, be reduced to only two winners in the final, a certain number, as marked, have to be made byes, which means they go through the first round without playing. The byes have also to be decided by drawing. As already stated, the tournament is bound to have a beneficial efifect on club play in almost every respect, and should the club be at all in financial straits a tournament may be utilized as a means of increasing the exchequer by charging a small sum for friends and others to view the finals. The above systems can, of course, be varied according to the require- ments. It is, however, very advisable that Ping Pong. 85 all arrangements down to the merest de- tails should be discussed and arranged prior to the tournament, as this prevents any chance of misunderstanding arising while it is in progress. The number of points to be played in the preliminary rounds, the number of points to be played in the finals, the dates by which respec- tive rounds or sections have to be played off, the date by which the finals must be finished must, of course, all be settled be- forehand. Arranging a Tournament. As to arranging a tournament, the fol- lowing hints may be useful : — The first thing to do is to get a good Ping Pong. 86 secretary. He must be a good man of business, able to make himself liked and respected, and should know all the points of the game. A strong committee is the next diffi- culty. It is as well to let the secretary ap- prove all the people selected for the com mittee before they are elected. In choos- ing your committee the following points must be considered : — (i) Capability of taking a portion of the secretary's duties from him, and help- ing in the management on the tournament days. (2) Ability to secure entries or sell tickets of admission. (3) Whether any name on the commit- Ping Pong. 87 tee would be a help or the reverse. It is decidedly unwise to have any one who is distinctly disliked in the neighborhood, even by only a small section of the in- habitants, while the name of the popular person is worth a great deal. Patrons, guarantees, and referee must also be selected with care. It is most important that the referee should thoroughly understand his duties, and can give his decisions with firmness. The committee will first have to decide on the hall at w r hich the meeting is to be held. Choose a place where there are good lighting arrangements. If play is to be by daylight, there should be windows on each side of the hall, and if by artificial Ping Pong. 88 light the gas or electric light should be so placed that each table can be lighted from immediately above its center. The hall should have plenty of accommodation for spectators, and the cloak and refreshment rooms should be large enough for the pur- pose. The date of the tournament has next to be fixed. The date should be about three weeks after the first circulars are out. The secretary, before the committee meeting, will have obtained the various dates on which the halls suitable are free, so that the committee can decide on the day or days without fear of the hall being en- gaged. The date on which the entries close must also be fixed. The date for Ping Pong. 89 commencing the tournament being decided, the times of play have to be considered, and the number of days the tournament will take. The latter will depend on the number of entries expected compared to the number of tables available. It is as well to have the ladies' events in the after- noon, and the men's in the evening. This reduces the number of days necessary to get through the programme. The different events to be held next re- quire consideration. Handicapping in the present state of the game is almost impossible, so that all the events should be scratch ones. Two events should always be held — one for ladies and another for gentlemen. Ping Pong. 90 Another point to be considered is whether the tournament should be held under Table Tennis, or Ping Pong, rules, or if ordinary Lawn Tennis score should be adopted and special rules made. The next question to be considered is whether the tournament should be on the American or English system. This will depend on the number of days it is pro- posed to devote to the tournament. A "knock-out" tournament— as the English system is termed — of three games of twenty points, is a better test of a player's ability, but a larger entry will be received if the American system be adopted. It will be found as a general rule that Ping Pong. 91 fifteen games of twenty points can be played on each table every hour. The above points should be embodied in a circular, and sent to all Ping Pong, or Table Tennis, clubs within a reasonable distance, as well as to any one the com- mittee thinks likely to enter, obtain entries or sell tickets. The secretary should, as far as possible, divide his duties among his committee, keeping, of course, supreme control. For instance, committee-man No. I should have charge of the refreshments, and should be in the first round, and the winner plays responsible for all arrange- ments connected with them. No. 2 should have the preparation of Ping Pong. 92 the hall for the tournament. He must see that sufficient tables are provided, that the lighting of each is good, that the nets and posts are properly fixed. He should make arrangements for keeping a clear space round each table, so that players are not hampered by the spectators, and each table should be clearly numbered. Also he must take care that there is an abundant sup- ply of balls of good quality. Seats should be placed round each table (about two or three rows are sufficient), so that people can watch the game comfortably. No. 3 should have charge of the um- pires and scoring. He must make ar- rangements for the results of each game being clearly posted up, and must gen- Ping Pong. 93 erally see that the umpires are efficient, and that time is not wasted in playing off the matches. No. 4 should have charge of competi- tors. He must see that they are wearing their numbers as printed on the pro- grammes, that they know where to play, and he must take care that they are ac- quainted with any special rules the com- mittee have made, such as length of game, etc. The Draw. Directly all the entries have been re- ceived, the draw should be made. All the names should be written on slips of paper, and, when well mixed together, drawn Ping Pong. 94 one by one. The names as they are drawn should be entered in lists. If the tournament is to last for more than two days, each competitor should be advised as soon as possible after the draw of the day he is to play. Arrangements should be made for admitting competitors into the hall early, so that they can get some practice before playing. It would be as well if some committee-man were ap- pointed to see that only competitors play ing the same evening were practicing, otherwise they often experience some dif- ficulty in getting a table to play on. The referee's duties are to decide all doubtful questions of law, and any disputes that may arise during play. Ping Pong. 95 The duties of the umpire are the fol- lowing : — To see that the game is played strictly in accordance with the rules. Great care and judgment must be used over the fol- lowing points : — Every service not underhand, not below the waist or not behind the end of the table must be called a fault immediately. The score must be called distinctly after every point. In giving a "let" when the player is ob- structed by spectators. If doubtful whether the ball touched table or not, the umpire should call a let. The result must be handed in to the Ping Pong. 96 referee, and care taken that the correct re- sult is given. The umpire must not be influenced by anything the spectators say. Some um- pires give their decisions according to the opinions of the onlookers rather than their own judgment, and this is a fatal mistake. Ping Pong. 97 CHAPTER VIII. ACCESSORIES FOR THE GAME. As has been previously indicated, Ping Pong accessories, while very simple, differ ^very considerably in design, and are con stantly being added to as new improve- ments are introduced. The Racquet. As this was evolved from an ordinary battledore, it was originally made with a wooden frame, on which was stretched Ping Pong. 98 parchment or vellum. The long handle gradually disappeared, and the quality of the racquet was steadily improved, until a very highly-finished article was arrived at. There was, however, always a great draw- back to this type of racquet — which, by the way, is still largely used — inasmuch as its condition varies so materially with cli- matic changes. It is apt to become very slack when subjected to cold or damp, and requires constant warming to keep up the tension. It is also very liable to warp. As an improvement in these two connec- tions, racquets made of wood and com- position were last year introduced, and these are rapidly gaining in public favor. They possess greater driving power, and Ping Pong. 99 have the very substantial advantage of be- ing always in the same condition. The playing surface of the racquet is at pres- ent fixed at a maximum of 7 inches long by 6 inches wide, the weight being left en- tirely optional, and varying very consider- ably, according to the tastes of the dif- erent players. Some enterprising firms have introduced racquets made of other materials, such as aluminum, cork, steel, glass, etc., but these can only be regarded as curious experi- ments which are not likely to result in any lasting success. The Ball. As has already been stated, this is of celluloid, very light and strong. It is LofC. Ping Pong. 100 about i£ inches in diameter, and is on the whole so satisfactory that it appears most unlikely that any radical change will be in- troduced into the game in this particular connection. There can be no doubt that the present popularity of the game rests primarily on the invention of the celluloid ball, as by its use the game is practicable in the drawing-room and the club-room alike. Celluloid balls covered with a kind of cloth, such as is used in lawn tennis balls, have been tried, but have not met with very much favor. The Table. While the game can be most enjoyably played on any ordinary table of, say, 6 Ping Pong. 101 feet or upward in length, the present regu- lation match table is 2 feet 6 inches in height, with a playing surface of 9 feet long by 5 feet wide. It is generally made of white wood, of considerable width, which obviates the necessity of many joints. It is usually painted a dull, dark green, and has a half-inch white line round the edges, the latter serving as a useful guide to the player in placing. The Net. This is either of thin gauze or netting, stretched right across the table, and pro- jecting some three or four inches on either side, supported on projecting clamps. As previously stated, its height should be Ping Pong. 102 three-quarters of an inch to each foot length of the table. For the ordinary match table, which is colored a dark green, a white net is found most suitable, while if the table be made of material of a darker color, a green net with a white top is gen- erally used. Ping Pong. 103 CHAPTER IX. USEFUL HINTS. Do not commence the game by serving too fast. Wait until you have got set, and gradually increase the pace of the service until your normal delivery is reached. Vary the service as much as possible. Do not continually serve from the same place and in the same manner. The fol- lowing are methods by which you can get variety of service: Ping Pong. 104 ( i ) By placing. Place the services so far as is possible at your opponent's weak point. If you observe that he is a fore- hand player chiefly, place them well down to his back-hand. Do not worry if the service is only a slow one, as the difficulty he will have in returning a ball from his weak side will in all probability give you the chance of scoring with your next stroke. (2) Serve sometimes from the right- hand side of the table, at other times from the left, and occasionally from the middle. In this way your opponent will never get used to the angle at which the ball leaves the table. (3) Vary the pace as much as you pos- Ping Pong. 105 sibly can without altering the action used in serving. (4) A twist or backcut service is also extremely useful, particularly after a very hard service, when your opponent has been led to stand well behind the table. Develop one or two services, and make certain of being able to place them. When serving, take particular notice of the point to which most of the returns come. You will thus frequently be ready to deliver a fine stroke from anticipating your opponent's intentions. At the moment of striking the ball, whenever possible, give an upward twist to the wrist. This adds pace, makes the ball go nearer the top of the net and come Ping Pong. 106 quicker from the table; also if the ball strikes the top of the net this twist will, in many cases, cause it to roll over. Do not slog too hard at every ball ; the primary object is to get the ball back over the net with sufficient pace and length to force a weak return. Do not start a game by hitting too hard, but start slowly and gradually work up to your full drive. When your opponent gives you a ball which it is possible to negotiate, never hesitate from careful motives, but try to win the point. In placing the ball, always send it to the spot most inconvenient to your opponent. The most inconvenient spot, as a rule, is that part of the court he least expects the Ping Pong. 107 ball to be returned to. Thus a ball straight at him down the table is very often a more telling stroke than one on any of the side lines. Also it is frequently more effective to place the ball to that part of the table his racket has just left, rather than to the side it is being moved toward. Do not "lob" against an opponent who can drive hard from the back line. He will, in all probability, spoil every one of your returns. Always anticipate, if you possibly can, where your opponent is going to return the ball. Do not move toward the spot you expect the return to come to until he has actually hit the ball, otherwise he may Ping Pong. 108 at the last moment change its direction, completely beating you. Notice all your faults, and, if possible, get some onlooker who understands the game to point out any fault he may have noticed. Practice all your weak points as much as possible. Leave off some of your pet strokes during practice, and try and take every ball in the particular manner that happens to be most difficult to you. Do not, when practicing, think that any manner of stroke or any kind of play will have no influence over your game. Al- ways play your best and your hardest. However you have been handicapped, try your best to win. Your constant motto must be "Improvement/' If you do not Ping Pong. 109 improve, you will gradually become a weaker player. It is impossible to remain at a dead level ; one must either improve or go back. Do not be content with thinking of the game only when you are playing it. In spare moments try and think out some new strokes or methods of play, and then, when next practicing, turn your theories to prac- tical use. Play as large a variety of opponents as you possibly can. You will then learn to attack many kinds of defense and to de- fend many kinds of attack. The experi- ence gained will be of great use when playing in tournaments, and you are less Ping Pong. 110 likely to be upset by some entirely new method of playing or placing. Deceive your opponents as much as pos- sible as to the direction of your strokes. Practice looking one way and hitting the other. Practice moving your body so as to deceive your opponent as to the direc- tion you intend placing the ball. With practice it will be found possible to move the body in almost any direction and any way, and at the same time to place the ball to any part of the court. Do not play too much or too long at once. After playing for an hour or two the eye and wrist will get tired, and the play will become wanting in variety and sting. Ping Pong. Ill Try practicing by yourself. The follow- ing are three good methods for improving one's control of the ball : ( i ) Stand about a yard or a yard and a half from an ordinary wall and hit the ball up against it, keeping it up as long as possible. The more expert you get in this, the closer can you stand to the wall. This will make the wrist flexible, and is excellent practice in hitting the ball truly, because a slight screw put on the ball will make it impossible to keep up the rally. (2) A similar exercise to the above can be done by using the table, instead of the wall. It will be found possible, with practice, to keep the ball bouncing on the Ping Pong. 112 table when holding the racket within three inches of the top. (3) If the room is not too lofty, prac- tice hitting the ball upward so as just to touch the ceiling. Keep this up as long as possible. This is a most difficult exercise, as the ball, as a rule, hits the ceiling too hard, making it impossible to send it up again. Do not play when tired, either physically and mentally, as it is impossible to play one's proper game unless fresh, and to do otherwise tends to weaken one's play. Make sure of easy strokes. Because it seems impossible to miss a certain return, many players slash wildly at the ball, and frequently miss making a good return. Ping Pong. 118 Many games are lost through carelessness in hitting easy balls. The easier a ball is to take, the more care must be used in making the stroke. If the stroke be lost, not only does your opponent gain one point, he also gains courage and nerve, es- pecially if the game be a level one. Variety is the great secret of success. Change your game so as to suit every op- ponent. Never play the same game against two different players, and if your opponent seems to be mastering you, try another method of tackling him. Always attack whenever possible. It is far less tiring to attack than to be con- tinually on the defensive. 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