The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-03-07
THE PINGP0NG CRAZE.
Sudden Furore In Society Gre
ated by Table Tennis.
FAD SPREADING TO TIE CLUBS

trniin 6nins Niuc Popularity In
the United stntes-Outdts Can he
bought For From $3.50 Up TO $40.
Rules Governing play.
No indoor game of recent ,aa.s has
created such a sudden furore as ping.
pong, says the Chicago Tribune. Its
FAR flung battle line extending from
Australia to half way across the Amer
ican continent, is rapidly extending
westward and bids fair to soon encir.
Gle the globe. Chicago has the craze
well developed, aud Omaha, Detroit,
Kansas City and other western. cities
have incipicnt symptoms.
Pingpong, table tennis. pompom,
whinwhan and gossima are some of
the names by which the new game is
known IN different parts, but the first
two srriu to bc the most popular.
Ter two seasons the game has been
pOttlar Ia Australia. New Zealand, In.
din anl the British isles Early last
tail it was introduced into the United
States aud Canada. and inside Of two
months ii had caught the popular fan.
Cy.
G. :. CoS whp managed the tour of
Harry NDrlOu in thc United States and
who recently returned from a visit to
London, rcpOrts that the tournaments
in The English metropolis attract large
crowds ANA that the outfits there cost
as high as SO. These expensive affairs
are used in swolldom ana are made
with gold and silver sidcposts 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 so.
a Chicago dealer is authority for the
statement that at least 30 per cent of
the people whose names appear i'm the
blue book are posscssors of pingpong
outfit. From homes the game is spread
ing to the clubs. aud 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 \. G.
Anson has already made negotiations
for an equipment.
With the game catching on at such
pace there appears to be every proba-
bility 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
arc practically deserted
PingpOng Is a scrt Of miniature lawn
tennis, which can be played on any
fair sized dining table. although for
special matches there are specified
SneaSurcments. The ball, which is CON
tstructed of cclluoid, is slightly smaller
than golf bah and feels much like n
lblown birds egg. 1t is about five inch.
les in circumference. The rackets, bats
or battledores, as they are variously
NIermed, are light rattan affairs covered
Iwith parchment, sheep or calf skin. ac.
Icording TO their prices.
The laws Of the game are as follows:
I. The game is for two players. They
shall stand one at each end OF the table
The player who first delivers the ball shall
Ihe called the server and the other the
striker out.
2, The server shall stand behind the Ia
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
10 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. II II
drops into the net or off the table, II is
called fault and counts to the striker
out
s. 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 a "let."
tnd another service Is allowed.
10. IL the ball I'm play strikes any object
above or around the table before Il drops
On the table met or posts excepted. 1t
counts against the striker.
Z, The server wins a stroke II the striker
,ut fails to return the service or the ball
n play.
s. The striker out wins a stroke II the
erver serves "fault" or fails to return
he ball in play or returns the ball so that
I falls Off the table,
9. No volleying Is allowed whether in
entional or otherwise, and II any bah
hall be touched before striking the table
counts against the player touching it.
hould however. ball pass the limits of
he table without dropping on 1t 1t IS dead
nd counts against the striker
TO- The method OF scoring shall be by
slnts. twenty points up constituting a
anne, the service changing after each five
oints scored. Should the score reach
welve all It shall be called game all"
nd the best nine points SHAH decide the
anne,
Special match regulations; Size of
lble. 0 feet by feet, feet 6
lches high, table to be painted dark
'een. with 3l4 inch white linen around
'e edges. Height Of net GA inches.
Some players prefer to count as in
wn tennis, the points being precisely
same. At present most of the Chi
go games are singles, but by putting
limo loWn tha nantor nf thn tabIa