As kids, we all played the traditional ping pong game with our friends. Like most other sports, table tennis had humble beginnings as a “parlor game,” open to anyone with access to a table, paddle, and ball. The game began in the 1880’s. Table tennis is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using a small bat. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the initial serve, the rules are generally as follows: players must allow a ball played toward them to bounce one time on their side of the table, and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side at least once. A point is scored when a player fails to return the ball within the rules. Play is fast and demands quick reactions. Spinning the ball alters its trajectory and limits an opponent’s options, giving the hitter a great advantage. Table tennis is governed by the worldwide organization International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), founded in 1926.

According to the ITTF rules, the size of a ping pong table should be 9 feet long and 5 feet wide and should be at a height of 2.5 feet from the floor. While the thickness of the table is also not specified in the ITTF rules, professional wooden tables usually have a thickness of about an inch. This table tennis wood thickness is believed to provide a consistent bounce and will yield ideal spins for tournament play.

That was then and this is now. Given the high-tech climate and the desire to lure young talent to corporations, we are seeing the integration of gaming activities included in office spaces. Some are even status symbols with the variation of materials. This is no longer about the game but about the sculptural design.

I love the 1st one! The mirror adds optical illusion to the game.  Which is your favorite?