During the late 19th century, efforts were made to design an indoor game based on the popular game of lawn tennis. A game called ping-pong evolved and was the start of the sport we now call table tennis. When you compare tennis and table tennis, or ping-pong, it is easy to see that the two are very different. The most notable differences include the playing surface type and size, equipment design, how matches are played and the scoring system.
Playing Surface
The most obvious difference between the two sports is the playing surface. Tennis can be played on hard, clay, grass and carpet surfaces. The official tennis court for singles play is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide. For doubles, the width increases to 36 feet. A net divides the court in half and measures 36 inches at its middle. For singles and doubles, table tennis is played on a table 9 feet long and 5 feet wide and sits 2 feet 6 inches above the floor. A 6-inch-high net divides the playing surface in half.
Equipment
The racket used in tennis cannot exceed 29 inches in length, according to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rules. The width of the frame is limited to 12.5 inches. The hitting surface, consisting of strings, is limited to 15.5 inches in length and 11.5 inches in width. The racket used in table tennis, sometimes referred to as a blade or paddle, is made mostly of wood. The rules state that it can be any size, shape or weight, but must be flat and rigid. The hitting surface consists of a pimpled rubber material.
Ball
Several types of tennis balls are approved for official match play. Tennis balls have a yellow or white felt cover and are classified as fast, medium, slow or high altitude. The ITF requires the balls to weigh between 1.975 and 2.095 oz. Depending on the type of ball, the diameter is between 2.57 and 2.87 inches. In table tennis, the ball typically is a white or orange matte color and made of a celluloid material. Measuring 40 mm in diameter and weighing 2.7 g, it is much smaller than a tennis ball.
Match Play
A tennis match typically is the best of three sets, though best of five sometimes is played. To win a set, a player or team must win six games with a margin of two games. Tiebreakers are used when the score is tied at six games. A table tennis match is the best of any odd number of games. For example, a match can be best of three, five or seven games. The first player or team to reach 11 points with a 2-point margin wins a game.
Scoring
With the scoring system in tennis, a score of zero is referred to as "love." The points are 15, 30, 40 and then "game." If a game is tied at 40, the score is known as "deuce." The next point won is "advantage," and if the same player or team wins the next point, the player or team wins the game. Otherwise, the score goes back to "deuce." Play continues until a player or team wins two consecutive points. In table tennis, 1 point is earned after every rally. If the score is tied at 10, play continues until one player or team has a 2-point lead.
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