TableTennis

Ping Pong is a fun game, played on a $200 table with $20 paddles. The paddles are flimsy, there is no rubber on them just some slippery pimpled
surface that cannot impart any spin on the ball. You "hit the ball 3 times over the net" to begin a rally that determines who will serve first. You
serve out of your hand, probably over the end line, sometimes only cross court, depending on the rules. You probably play a game up to 21 points
with each person serving 5 times in a row before giving the serve to the next guy. You make up rules as you go. Sometimes you put glasses of
beer on the table. Your dad uses the table to store his greasy tools on it. You spill soda on the table and don't bother to wipe it up. You think you
are really good at ping pong, maybe the best the country has ever seen.

Table Tennis is an Olympic Sport. Table Tennis is much harder than Football, trust me I know. If you start when you are very young and train very
hard 4-6 hours a day, you might become top 10 in your state. Maybe. But probably not. Your chances of being top 10 in the country are slim to
none. Out of every 1000 people who start young and train VERY hard, maybe 50 of them will make it to the 2500 level. What level is that? 2500 is
2 levels below pro. A 2500 level player gets eaten up alive by any mediocre pro. I personally think Table Tennis is a lot like Olympic Gymnastics or
Olympic Figure Skating in terms of difficulty.

Table Tennis is played on 1" thick tables with special coatings, that cost upwards of $1500 each. You would FREAK OUT if anyone put greasy
tools on this table, or spilled soda on it. The paddles cost from $50-$120 each. The rubber must be purchased and attached separately. Table
Tennis rubbers cost between $25-$40 each, so you need 2 for a paddle, and they last depending on how hard you hit from 1 week to about 2
months each. Table tennis balls can travel at maximum speeds of about 75mph, and spin with rotations up to about 8000rpm. A legal serve means
you stand behind the end line, toss the ball straight up at least 6 inches, and make contact above the table and behind the end line. You may
serve to anywhere on the table. At no time can your body or arm "hide" the serve. You toss a coin to determine who serves first. Games are
played to 11, with each person serving only twice before giving the serve to the opponent. A match is best of 7 games, in other words first person
to win 4 games wins the match. In a single day, it is common to have to play 7-9 matches in order to win an event.

Tennis buff? Here's my ratings conversion between USATT ratings and examples from Tennis:
0-400 - you are 3 years old and can't really hold the paddle let alone hit the ball twice. 0 level in Tennis.
400-800 - this is the level of the typical "basement ping pong" player. The one who thinks he's really good. 1.0 in Tennis.
800-1200- beginner level of Table Tennis. Sometimes, rarely, the best "basement players" can play at this level. 1.5 in Tennis.
1200-1500- This is the average level of serious players in the USA. Some people work many years to get to this level. At this level, you've got
some good serves and some good attacks, defense, and movement. Strategy starts to be important, but the focus is still on making the shots. 2.0
in Tennis.
1500-1800- Pretty much the same as the 1500 level, but all shots better, crisper, more precise, more spin, more power. 2.5-3.0 in Tennis.
1800-2100- Player doesn't worry about whether or not his shots will go in. Player thinks more in terms of strategy, looking to score on the 5th or
maybe even the 7th ball. Player can win against many different styles, whether defensive or aggressive. 3.5-4.5 in Tennis, about the level of most
Varsity-level High School players.
2100-2400- Player has great fundamentals, strategy, weapons, and defense. Player is mentally "tournament tough" and is able to prevail in high
stress situations. This is just below the National Team level of USA. Tennis equivalent of 5.0-5.5, about the level of most talented College Team
Players
2500-2650- Like the 2400 level, but even better. Reflexes are not human. More like a cobra. Mental function also abnormal. These people can
process information and make strategic 180 degree reversals in seconds. Able to attack with maximum speed and spin and still have the precision
to hit an area the size of a dish anywhere on the table. This is the level just below pro. There are only about 50 people at this level in the USA.
Tennis equivalent is 6.0-6.5, which is the "minor leagues" of Tennis.
2700+ Pro Level. I'm at a loss for words to describe this level. It's the top 300 people in the world. Tennis equivalent of 7.0

Despite the difficulty, Table Tennis is (at least at the non-pro level) surprisingly fair to all ages, body types, and genders. It
doesn't matter if you are 10 years old or 90. There is no advantage for being tall or short, old or young, male or female. I have
lost to an 11 year old girl. I have beaten 21 year old buff guys who are in their prime. This is a game of skill, not brute strength.
All the speed and agility in the world won't help you if my serves are really tricky. So you see, it is a game of compromises. If
you see a fat guy with a high rating, rest assured there is a reason. Maybe he has awesome serves, or better than normal
strategy, or great hands. My friend Don Hicks is 74 years old and he is 1800 level. A lot of folks like Football. That's o.k., I
played in High School too. But what are you going to do after High School besides "Tail-gate parties?" You need a sport that
you can play your whole life through. This is it.