So, short answer is that ping pong and table tennis are the same sport. The rules, the table, the ball and the paddle are identical. “Table tennis” is the official name used by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and national governing bodies, while “ping pong” is the popular name, and it started life as a trademarked brand.
Ping Pong vs. Table Tennis at a Glance
| Ping pong | Table tennis | |
|---|---|---|
| Is it the same sport? | Yes, identical rules and equipment | |
| Origin of the name | A brand name trademarked around 1901, after the sound of the ball | The generic name adopted by official associations |
| Who uses it | Casual players, especially in the U.S. | Governing bodies, clubs, the Olympics and competitive players |
| Typical setting | Basements, garages, offices, bars | Clubs, leagues, tournaments |
| Typical equipment | Pre-made paddles, sometimes with hard or sandpaper surfaces | Sponge rubbers, often custom paddles, ITTF-approved balls |
| Rules | Often mixed with house rules | Official ITTF rules |
Where Did the Name Ping Pong Come From?
In 1880s England, ping pong was invented as an after-dinner pastime, and it went by plenty of names: table tennis, whiff-whaff, gossima and others. The name that stuck came from the familiar sound of the ball bouncing off the paddle and the table.
Around 1901, the English sporting goods company J. Jaques & Son registered “Ping-Pong” as a trademark, and Parker Brothers later held the rights in the United States. Because the name belonged to the company, the clubs and associations that organized the sport adopted the generic name table tennis instead to avoid any problems. When the international federation was founded in 1926, it became the International Table Tennis Federation.
That’s why the official name and the everyday name are different, and why the sport is still officially “table tennis” at the Olympics today. For the full story, see our history of table tennis.
How People Use the Two Names Today
In the United States
Most Americans call the game ping pong, whether they’re playing in a basement or watching the Olympics. Competitive players and clubs tend to say table tennis, and some see ping pong as the name for a more casual game.
In the United Kingdom and Elsewhere
In Britain and most of the English-speaking world, table tennis is the more common name for the sport, with ping pong used informally. Other languages have their own versions:
- Chinese: 乒乓球 (pīngpāng qiú), literally “ping pong ball” so the sport’s biggest nation uses the ping pong name.
- French: tennis de table officially, but ping-pong in everyday speech.
- German: Tischtennis, a direct translation of “table tennis”.
- Japanese: takkyū, meaning “table ball”.
Is There Any Real Difference?
Officially, no. There’s only one set of rules, published by the ITTF, and it’s called table tennis. But in practice, the names often describe two different experiences of the same game:
Ping Pong: The Casual Game
- Played for fun at home, at work or in a bar
- Often uses inexpensive pre-made paddles with little spin
- House rules are common, such as games to 21, mandatory diagonal serves or “winner stays on”
- Rallies tend to be slower, with less spin and less footwork
Table Tennis: The Competitive Sport
- Played in clubs, leagues and tournaments
- Uses paddles with grippy sponge rubbers that create heavy spin
- Follows the official rules, with games to 11 and strict serving rules
- Fast, physical rallies with lots of footwork
Some events have also used the ping pong name to mean a specific format played with sandpaper paddles, which produce very little spin. But that’s an exception. In everyday use, the two names mean the same thing.
If you’re playing with friends, it doesn’t matter what you call it. If you’re joining a club or entering a tournament, expect the official table tennis rules.
Ping Pong vs. Tennis vs. Pickleball
Table tennis is sometimes confused with its racket-sport cousins. Here’s how they compare:
| Table tennis | Tennis | Pickleball | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playing area | A 9 × 5 ft table | A 78 × 36 ft court (doubles) | A 44 × 20 ft court |
| Equipment | Small rubber-covered paddle, 40 mm plastic ball | Strung racket, felt ball | Solid paddle, plastic ball with holes |
| Scoring | Games to 11, win by 2 | Points, games and sets (15, 30, 40) | Games to 11, win by 2; usually only the serving side scores |
| Olympic sport? | Yes, since 1988 | Yes | No |
See our guide to ping pong table dimensions for all the official measurements.
Ping Pong vs. Table Tennis FAQ
Is table tennis the same as ping pong?
Yes. Table tennis is the official name of the sport, and ping pong is its popular name. The rules and equipment are the same.
Why is it called ping pong?
The name comes from the sound the ball makes bouncing off the paddle and table. “Ping-Pong” was registered as a trademark around 1901.
Why is it called table tennis officially?
Because “Ping-Pong” was a company’s trademark, the associations that organized the sport adopted the generic name “table tennis.”
Is ping pong an Olympic sport?
Yes, under its official name. Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since the 1988 Seoul Games.
Do professionals say ping pong or table tennis?
Most competitive players and official bodies say table tennis, though many players use both names casually.
