Evening star., 1902-02-11
THE PINGPONG FAD
TABLE rznH1d pnEArzs SUDDEN
FURoRE IN SOCIETY.
Game Comes From Ausstralia and Gains
Wide Popularity in This
Country.


"far-fung battle line extending from
Australia to half way across the American
continent, Is rapidly extending westward.
and bids fair to soon encircle the globe.
Chicago has the craze well developed. and
Omaha, Detroit, Kansas City and other
western cities have incipient symptoms.
Pingpong, table tennis, pompom. whif1-
whaff and gossima are some of the names
by which the new game Is known In diff
ferent parts, bat the first two seem to be
the most popular.
There is nothing in a name, however. and
the portly old gentleman who essays
short session at whiffwhaff to relieve the
effects of sixteen-course dinner plays a
similar game to the sprightly athlete who
captures the pingpong championship OF his
club.
For two seasons the game has been popu-
lar in Australia, New Zealand India and
the British Isles. Early last fall 1t was
introduced into this country and Canada,
and inside of two months it had caught the
popular fancy.
g. S. Cox, who managed the tour OF
Harry Vardon in this country, and who has
just returned from visit to London, re-
ports that the tournaments in the English
metropolis attract large crowds. and that
the outfits there cost as high as SIS. These
expensive affairs are used in swelldom, ana
are made with gold and silver side posts
and other costly accessories SO far the
game has not gone Id SUCH extremes on tnlS
side of the water. and outfits can be had
from $3.50 to $1O
Spreading to the Clubs.
A Chicago dealer Is authority for the
statement that at least SO per cent Of the
people whose names appear In the blue
book are possessors of pingpong outfit.
From homes the game is spreading to the
clubs. and visitors on any night to the Win
ter Club, University Club and Chicago Ath-
letic Association can hear the ping and
pong of the celluloid balls as they come in
contact with the racquets of the players.
Following in the wake of the clubs come
the hotels, the Virginia being one Of the
first to secure an outfit for the benefit OF its
guests. Bowling alley keepers who have
the space are cor, contemplating npsn installing
made negotiations for an equipment.
With the game catching on at such a
pace there appears to be every probability
the same condition Of affairs exist here
as in London, where the National Sporting
Club has been obliged to set apart special
rooms for the game. and where the billiard
halls are practically deserted.
Pingpong is a sort OF miniature lawn ten
mis-, which can be played on any fair-sized
dining table, although for special matches
there are specified measurements The ball,
which is constructed of celluloid, is slightly
smaller than a golf ball and feels much
like a blown birds egg. 1t ts about five
inches in circumference. The racquets.
termed, are light '7Attaa affairs covered
with parchment. sheep or,rcalf skin, accord
ing to their prices. l.,
Rules Governing, the Play.
The laws Of the game are as follows:
1. The game Is fer two players. They
shall stand one at each end Of the table.
The player who first delivers the ball shall
| be called the server, and the other the
striker out.
2 The server shall stand behind the ta-
BILE and within the limits of the width Of
! the table.
3. The service shall be strictly under
| hand and from behind the table That is
| to say. at the time Of striking the ball
the racket may not be OYER the table. and
| no part of the racket, except the handle,
may be above the waist.
f. The ball must drop on, the table be-
yond the net and Is then In play. II 1t
drops into the net or or the table, It is
| called fault and counts to the striker
| out
5.-There is no second service, except
when the ball touches the net or posts in
| yord the net, when 1t is called '1et,"
| and another service Is allowed.
| g. If the ball in play strikes any object
| above or around the table before it drops
| on the table (net or posts excepted), 1t
! counts against the striker.
z. The server wins stroke II the striker
| out fails to return the service or the ball
| In play.
T. The striker-out wins a stroke IL the
server serve fault or fails to return
| the ball in play returns the ball so that
| II falls of the table.
g. No volleying is allowed, whether in
| territorial or otherwise. and If any ball
shall be touched before striking the table
| 1t counts against the player touching 1t;
| should, however, a ball pass the limits OF
| the table without dropping on 1t. 1t Is
| dead, and counts against the striker.
10. The method of scoring shall be by
| points, twenty points up constituting
game. the service changing after each five
| points scored. Should the score reach IL
| ALL it shall be called "game-all." and the
| best nine points shall decide the game.
| Special match regulations-Size of table.
| 8 feet by feet feet inches high. table
| to be painted dark green, with 3A inch
| white linen around the edges. Height OF
| net, 81 inches.
| Some players prefer to count as in lawn
| tennis the points being precisely the same.
At present most Of the local games are
singles. but by putting line down the
| center OF the table doubles can be played
| In England the regulation sets are pro-
| vided with side nets. which are several
inches higher than the net itself These
| are used to prevent players from returning
| the ball into their opponents half OF the
| table outside Of the posts.