Tennis is a competitive sport where single players (singles) or pairs of players (doubles) use corded rackets to hit a felt covered rubber ball over a central net onto the opponent’s court. Points are scored by hitting the tennis ball over the net in a way that the opponent is not able to return it.
Tennis matches are scored though a sequence of earning points, winning games, and winning sets. Four points and a two point margin over the opponent are needed to win a game. Points are named differently than the actual point count in the following way: Love (zero points), 15 (one point), 30 (two points), 40 (three points), Game (four points). A set is won by the first side that wins six games with a two game margin. Matches are played in a best-of-three or best-of-five set format.
Tennis Court
Tennis courts are flat rectangular playing surfaces used for the sport of tennis. Measuring 78’ | 23.77 m by 36’ | 11 m for doubles or 27’ | 8.2 m for singles, tennis courts have an overall playing area of 2,808 ft2 | 260.9 m2. To ensure the safety of the players as they chase balls outside the court boundaries, a clearance space of 21’ | 3.66 m should be provided beyond the baselines and 12’ | 6.4 m for the sides. The total area required for the court and the clear space is 7,200 ft2 | 668.9 m2. Tennis courts vary in materials depending on indoor or outdoor uses. Outdoor courts are made of grass, clay, or acrylic topped concrete, and indoor courts are commonly topped with hardwood flooring or carpet.
Details
Length: 78’ | 23.77 m
Width (Full/Doubles): 36’ | 11 m
Width (Singles): 27’ | 8.2 m
Playing Area (Full): 2,808 ft2 | 260.9 m2
Clearance (Back): 21’ | 3.66 m
Clearance (Side): 12’ | 6.4 m
Area (With Clearances): 7,200 ft2 | 668.9 m2
Material (Outdoor): Grass, clay, acrylic topped concrete or asphalt
Material (Indoor): Carpet, hardwood flooring
Tennis | Ping Pong
Table tennis, also popularly called Ping-Pong, is a table sport where players use paddles (rackets) to hit a lightweight polymer ball over a central net. Played on a hard table surface that provides a uniform bounce to the ball, table tennis is a fast paced game that requires players to react quickly to the services and returns made by their opponents.
Points are score when a player does not return the ball across the net after a single bounce has occurred on their side of the table or if they themselves do not land the ball on the opposite surface. Ping-Pong is a worldwide sport that can be played competitively in both two player (singles) and four player (doubles) formats.
Table Tennis Tables
Table tennis tables are regulated playing surfaces designed specifically for the game of table tennis (Ping-Pong). Table tennis tables measure 9’ | 2.74 m long by 5’ | 1.525 m in wide. The playing surface of a Ping-Pong table must be set at a height of 2.5’ | 76 cm and is equipped with a Center net that is 6” | 15.25 cm high and stretches 6” | 15.25 cm beyond the width of the table.
Tables can be constructed out of a variety of materials ranging from common designs using plywood and/or particle-board to more exotic variants made of concrete, metal, plastic or fiber-glass. The materiality of a table tennis table is a matter of preference, but the bounce of the ball on the surface should be uniform at a height of 9.1” | 23 cm when dropped at a height of 11.8” | 30 cm.
Details
Length: 9’ | 2.74 m Width: 5’ | 1.525 m Height (Surface): 2.5’ | 76 cm Height (Net): 6” | 15.25 cm Net Width Overhang: 6” | 15.25 cm Height (Bounce): 9.1” | 23 cm from 11.8” | 30 cm Materials: Plywood, particle-board, concrete, metal, plastic, fibre-glass
Tennis Rackets | Paddles
Table Tennis | Ping Pong Paddles are laminated rubber sponge covered wooden rackets comprised of a blade and a handle. The ping pong blade refers to the upper wooden portion of the racket that is built up with one to seven layers (piles) of wood, cork, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aluminium fiber, and Kevlar customized for various play styles. Players looking for more ‘control’ of the ball should choose a thinner sponge thickness between .06”-.07” | 1.5-1.9 mm, while players looking for a more offensive play style should select a thicker sponge of larger than .08” | 2.0 mm. Table tennis | ping pong paddles have an average blade length of 6.7” | 17 cm, an average blade width of 5.9” | 15 cm, an overall length between 9.45”-10.25” | 240-260 mm, and weigh in the range of 2.47-3.53 oz | 70-100 g (overall).
Details
Blade Length (Average): 6.7” | 17 cm
Blade Width (Average): 5.9” | 15 cm
Sponge Thickness: .06”-.1” | 1.5-2.5 mm
Length (Overall): 9.45”-10.25” | 24-26 cm
Handle Length: 3.75”-3.93” | 9.6-10 cm
Handle Width: 1”-1.3” | 26.5-33 mm
Handle Depth: .85”-.91” | 21.8-23 mm
Weight: 2.47-3.53 oz | 70-100 g
Material: Wooden racket, rubber laminated surface
Tennis Balls
Table Tennis | Ping pong balls are spherical polymer balls fabricated specifically for the sport. Established under international rules at a diameter of 1.57” | 40 mm (circumference of 4.94” | 125.6 mm) and mass of .095 oz| 2.7 g, ping pong balls are coloured as either white or orange depending on the table surface and game style. White balls are official tournament balls and pair well with blue or green tables, while orange balls are used for casual games as they are easier to see in most settings. Table tennis balls are rated with a star system to denote quality—one star being the softest and easiest to break while three stars is the most durable and approved for tournament play. The official table ping pong ball has changed over the years from a composition of celluloid to polymer and from a size of 1.5” | 38 mm to 1.57” | 40 mm.
Details
Diameter: 1.57” | 40 mm
Circumference: 4.94” | 125.6 mm
Mass: .095 oz | 2.7 g
Material: Polymer (previously celluloid)
Colour: White or orange
When was tennis invented?
Modern tennis was invented as ‘lawn tennis’ in 1873 by Major Walter Wingfield. Wingfield was the first to introduce the net and net posts, rackets, and rubber balls, and instructions for laying out the court dimensions. Previously, tennis was played as a handball-like game called ‘Paume’ that was played by royalty.
How is tennis scored?
Tennis matches are made up of either three (women’s) or five (men’s) sets. To win a set, a player must win at least six games each that are scored by four points at intervals starting at 0 (love) and going up to 15, 30, 40, and game point.
How long is a tennis match?
The length of a tennis match varies considerably based on skill level and gender. Women’s matches last until a player wins three sets which can last up to three hours, but averages around two hours. Men’s matches are played to five sets and can last up to five hours with an average match time of three and a half hours.
Who invented ping pong?
Ping Pong (table tennis) was invented as a parlour game trademarked by the English firm of J. Jacques and Son in the 1880s. The game quickly grew in popularity and spread to the United States, Europe, and Asia over the next few decades.
How do you play ping pong?
Ping pong (table tennis) is played by first serving the ball across the net while bouncing it once on the service side of the table. Points are scored when a player fails to return the ball across the net after only one bounce on their side of the table. Service alternates between players after every two points. Ping pong games are commonly played to 21 or 11 points.
How do you score ping pong?
Ping pong (table tennis) games are played to either 21 points in casual games, or 11 points in competitive games. Games must be won by two points.