Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-03-08
THE PINGp0NG CRAZE.
Sudden Furore In Society Gre
ated by Table Tennis.
FAD SPREADING TO THE CLUBS.

New Game which Came From AUS
traliR Gains Wide Popularity In
the United states-Outfits Can BE
Bought For From $3.50 Up to $40.
Rules Governins Play.
| No indoor game of recent years has
created such Sudden furore as ping.
pong, says the Chicago Tribune Its
star flung battle line" extending from
Australia to half way across the Amer
lean continent, is rapidly sextending
westward and bids fair to soon encir-
Gle the globe. Chicago has the craze
well developed, and Omaha, Detroit,
| Kansas City and other western cities
have fncipient symptoms.
Pingpong, table tennis, pompom
whifWhaff and gossima are some of
the names by which the new game is
known In different parts, but the first
two seem to be the most popular.
For two seasons the game has been
popular in Australia, New Zealand, In
dia and the British isles. Early last
fall it was introduced into the United
States and Canada, and inside Of two
months it had caugAt the popular fan
cy.
G. s. Cox, who managed the tour of
Harry Vardon in the United States and
who recently returned from a visit to
London, reports that the tournaments
in the English metropolis attract large
crowds and that the outfits there cost
as high as $75. These expensive affairs
are used in swelldom and are made
with gold and silver sideposts and 9TH
er costly accessories. So far the game
has not gone to such extremes on this
side Of the water, and outfits can be
had from $3.50 to $40.
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 a pingpong
outfit. From homes the game is spread
ing to the clubs, and visitors on any
night to the Winter club, University
club and Chicago Athletic association
can hear the ping and pong Of the Gel
luloid balls as they come in contact
with the rackets of the players. Fol-
lowing 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 contemplating
installing the game, and Captain A. @.
Arson has already made negotiations
for an equipment.
With the game catching on at such
pace there appears to be every proba-
binfy Of the leading clubs playing
matches, and the same condition of af-
fairs exists 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.
g Pingpong is sort of miniature lawn
tennis, which can be played on any
fair sized dining table, although for
special matches there are specified
measurements. The ball, which is con-
structed Of celluloid, is slightly smaller
than golf ball and feels much like
blown birds egg. It Is about five inch
es in circumference. The rackets, bats
or battledores, as they are variouslE
termed, are light rattan affairs covered
with parchment, sheep or calf skin, ac-
cording to their prices.
The laws Of the game are as follows:
]. The game Is for 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. $50
2. The server shall stand behind the ta-
Bile and within the limits Of the width Of |
tho table.
8. 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 over the table, and |
no part of the racket, except the handle,
may be above the waist.
4. The ball must drop on the table be-
yond the net and is then in play. If 1t |
drops into the net or off the table, it is T
called a fault" and counts to the striker
out.
5. There is no second service except
when the ball touches the net or posts in
passing over and drops on the table be-
yond the net when it is called ''let,''
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 exeepteO, 1t
counts against the striker.
Z. The server wins stroke if the striker
out fails to return the service or the ball |
In play.
8. The striker out wins a stroke If the
server serves fault" or fails to return
the ball in play or returns the ball so that
It falls off the table.
8. No volleying is allowed, whether in
territorial or otherwise, and if any ball
shall be touched before striking the table
It counts against the player touching it.
Should, however, ball pass the limits Of
the table without dropping on it 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
Joints scored. Should the score reach
Twelve all it shall be called ggame all,
md the best nine points shall decide the
game
Special match regulations: Size Of
able, 8 feet by 5 feet, 2 feet 6
inches, high, table to be painted dark
green, with 81 inch white linen around
he edges. Height of net, 6a inches.
Some players prefer to count as in
avn tennis, the points being precisely
he same. At present most of the Chi
ago games are singles, but by putting