Did you know ping pong is revered the world over as a test of stamina and strength? You can win a gold medal and become internationally famous by beating your competitors and championing your country in to stardom in the sport of table tennis. While it has its commercial value in pubs and bars worldwide, it has become an exercise the likes of swimming, skating, curling, and rugby. Originating in Britain during the 1880s, there is now an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) that governs the rules pertaining to the sport – everything from the size of the ball allowed during play, to addendums arguing changes to “The Constitution”, and player eligibility.

To be able to attain the level of an Olympian, you must practice at home with table tennis equipment fit for a winner. There are many styles of tables, paddles, and even robots to help you play alone. Playing with the family is always a preferable way to spend an evening, though. It can become a competition for who does the dishes or takes out the trash and can even be a neighborhood activity if you want to invite guests. Ping pong gets the heart pumping and legs jumping, but also works the muscles in your core, shoulders, arms, brain. Yes, brain. You have to think very critically and anticipate the move of the other player, almost like chess, but faster.

Maybe you would rather play in your garage and keep the game to a recreational entertainment rather than a lifestyle through obtaining fortune and celebrity status by winning the Olympics. Starting out, you should still purchase the right table tennis table. Using the old dining room table can create uneven bounces or make you work harder than is necessary by running around much more than you should. An actual ping pong table should always come with a standard size net, so you don’t have to use a makeshift dish towel, or try and make your own. One of the best benefits to purchasing an actual table tennis table, is that they usually come in expandable and retractable forms, so at the push of a button you can shut it down and fold it up to make storage compact and easy. Using that old dining room or coffee table doesn’t have the same kind of simplicity or maneuverability.

Whether a novice who wishes to use ping pong as a social sport, or an amateur who wants to play it as a drinking game, or a professional who sees it as their life’s work to remain at the top of their training and plays all day every day to perfect the game and achieve the highest level of sportsmanship, the right equipment is essential to playing for entertainment, or for medals. Research and test out paddles, gloves, and even shoes to avoid accidents or injuries, and make sure you are playing with enough room should you have to dive after a game winning errant ball. Because even though you may not be playing in the Olympics, winners play for keeps.

By: Bailey James