The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-08
New Game of Table Tennis Becom-
ing Popular Here.
PLAYED ON A DINING TABLE
1t Requires Much Skill and Agility
Quite the Thing s'DOvn
East

Dear old Lunnon,' and gay "Paree"
having taken the fascinating game of ping
pong, or table tennis, into the bosOms OF
their best families, to the great neglect Of
all other forms of indoor sport, Mime
apolis has at length followed suit. The
wave OF popularity which has borne the
game across the American continent has
reached Minneapolis only within the last
few weeks and society has taken it up al
ready. AS yet not more than six sets
nave been sold here, but the only reason
why the game has not had more general
Introduction is the fact that the demand
greatly exceeds the supply throughout the
country.
A local sporting goods store has sent in
an order for large consignment of ping
pong sets and prospective players will
have their wants satisfied before long. In
the meantime, enthusiasts who have seen
the game played in eastern drawing rooms
have sent Individual orders to eastern
dealers rather than wait for local re-
tailers.
The few already provided with ping
pong sets are now talking of organizing
league and holding an indoor tourna-
ment. Comparatively speaking, the sport
is said to require fully as much skill
and agility as the outdoor sport after
which 1t is patterned, and it requires
a quick eye and skilful stroke to become
proficient.
The game is played very much like lawn
tennis, except that 1t is adapted for use
on a dining table, and is played with a
specially prepared elastic celluloid ball,
instead Of the usual India rubber sphere.
I" requires some little practice before the
power with which to strike the ball is
properly gagged, but ten minutes or so
is sufficient, as a rule, to enable play
ers to keep the ball within the space of
the tabletop.
A dining table from seven to nine feet
long by half the width, without cloth,
is best adapted to the game. When the
room is lighted from above the table by
chandelier. the table should be moved
little to one side Of the room. The
height of the net can be varied from
seven inches to five inches. The lower
it is the more difficult the strokes can
be made to- return. Battledore rackets
are used instead of the usual tennis
racket.
The game is for two players, standing
at each end of the table. The player
who first delivers the ball is called the
server and the other the striker-out At
the end Of the first game, as in ordinary
tennis, the player who first delivers the
ball becomes the server. The service
must be underhand and delivered from
behind the table. The ball served must
drop anywhere on the table beyond the
net, ana is then IN play. Ii 1t drops into
the net or off the table, it counts to the
striker-out There is no second service
as in lawn tennis. In serving it is 'let'
if the ball touches the net in passing over
and the ball is served again. No vol
leying is allowed, but as long as the ball
touches the table top 1t is in play, and
can be taken at half volley. In other re-
spects the points of the game closely re-
semble outdoor tennis. Of"
Among the Minneapolis families who
have. purchased ping-pong sets are those
If Mrs. A. Caswell, 1871 Kenwood park
way, and F. L. Greenleaf, 312 Seventh
street S. A ~good set can be purchased
for $3.50 and first class set for SIS. Fancy
sets cost as high as $40.