Table tennis is almost certainly the original title of the game and not ping pong as it is commonly regarded. Other names for the game are Gossima, Whiff-Whaff and Ping Pong, all of which have been either patented or trademarked.

One of the earliest Champions of the game, Arnold Parker, wrote a book in 1902 entitled "Ping-Pong, the Game and How to Play It". In it he recalls that the first date he heard in connection with the game dated back to 1881. It was rumoured that someone started to play with cigar-box lids for bats and champagne corks for balls which were presumably rounded! A row of books were used as a net. Whether this first took place on dining tables after dinner in England or by British troops in India and South Africa is a matter of conjecture. The game, however, really began in earnest in 1891 when John Jacques, the sports equipment manufacturer was persuaded to register the title "Gossima" on 16^th July of that year for a version of the game.

Cork or India rubber balls were used until the introduction of celluloid (xylonite) balls from the U.S.A. around 1900. Early bats or paddles now called rackets were made of velum stretched over a casing like a small drum with a handle attached. These were soon replaced by wooden rackets. The ping sound made by the ball bouncing on the table and the pong sound when striking the velum rackets gave rise to the popular name for the game of ping pong.

The game seems to have finally become established, circa 1900 but declined rapidly in 1904 and only surviving in three main areas of England before making a revival in England and Europe in the 1920's.

For those of you wishing to find out more the internet has several sites pertaining to the history of the game of table tennis including the official English Table Tennis Association site. I list a few to start you on your way.