Badminton and table tennis, colloquially known as ping pong, are 2 of the world’s most famous and popular racket sports. But they are very different in nature. Let’s take a look at each one and see how.
What is badminton?
Badminton is a fast-paced racket sport played by two or four players. It originated in India and was brought to England in the mid-19th century. The game is played with a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, which is hit back and forth over a high net using lightweight rackets.
The objective of the game is to hit the shuttlecock over the net and onto the opponent’s side of the court in such a way that they are unable to return it. Points are scored when the shuttlecock lands on the opponent’s side of the court or if the opponent hits the shuttlecock out of bounds.
Badminton requires quick reflexes, agility, and good hand-eye coordination. It can be played competitively or as a leisure activity, both indoors and outdoors. The sport is particularly popular in Asia and is one of the few sports in which women’s competitions are given as much importance as men’s competitions.
What is table tennis?
Table Tennis, also known as Ping Pong, is a sport that is played between two or four players. It is played on a hard table divided by a net. The sport also originated in England during the 1880s. It is believed to have been developed by upper-class Victorians who would play a similar version of the game using everyday objects such as books and cigar box lids as paddles and a champagne cork as the ball. The game quickly gained popularity and spread to other countries in Europe, eventually becoming a competitive sport in the early 1900s. The International ping pong Federation was established in 1926 and the first World Championships were held in London in 1926. Today, table tennis is a popular sport around the world and is an Olympic event.
In ping pong, players use paddles to hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth over the net. The objective of the game is to hit the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to return it. Table Tennis is a fast-paced and exciting game that requires skill, agility, and strategy. It is also a great way to stay active and have fun with friends and family.
Badminton vs table tennis: differences and similarities
Both badminton and ping pong are technically racket sports that have been enjoyed by people of all ages for many years. They are similar in a few ways. They both can be played in singles or doubles, and have a net where a projectile or ball is volleyed back and forth.
Other than these simple facts, they are very different in nature. Several key differences make them very different here are a few:
1. Table Tennis is played across a table with a smooth surface with a low net, whereas Badminton is played on a larger court, with a soft surface with a higher net. Table tennis players don’t have to cover nearly as much ground as badminton players.
2. Table Tennis balls are much smaller and lighter than Badminton shuttlecocks. Ping pong balls are little and plastic, and are easily dented. But they bounce off paddles with velocity. A shuttlecock on the other hand takes much more power to drive over a net.
3. Ping pong players use a paddle, whereas Badminton players use a racket. Badminton rackets are much longer and have a woven surface much like tennis. Table tennis paddles are short and flat.
4. Table Tennis is typically a singles game, whereas Badminton is often played as doubles. Ping pong can be played as doubles, but its not often the case. The game is much more enjoyable in singles.
5. Table Tennis serves must be hit diagonally across the table, whereas Badminton serves can be hit in any direction.
6. Table Tennis scoring is different from Badminton scoring. In badminton, each successful volley results in a point, and the first player or team to reach 21 points (with a 2-point lead) wins a game, with matches typically being best-of-three games. In ping pong, the first player to reach 11 points wins a game (win by 2 also) with matches typically being best-of-five or best-of-seven games.
7. Table Tennis serves are usually faster than Badminton serves. In fact, the game is played at a much faster pace. Look up ping pong highlights on youtube, and you will see the lightning-quick speed of these players and their volleys. Badminton is played more at the pace of volleyball or tennis.
Was table tennis based on a badminton or regular tennis?
Historians believe that table tennis origanated from the game of regular tennis and not badminton. Although badminton is older historically than tennis. Badminton was originally brought to the west by British military officers stationed in India in the late 1800s. Interestingly enough, these same military officers stationed in India began playing a version of tennis on a table with books or magazines as paddles and a champagne cork as the ball. This game was then brought back to England and became known as table tennis. However, the game shares similarities with badminton, such as the use of a net and a similar scoring system. Therefore, it is likely that the game of table tennis was based on both regular tennis and badminton.
Is table tennis more popular than badminton?
Although in America, more people play ping pong, the more popular sport on the global level is badminton. Badminton is surprisingly popular across the globe. It is considered the second most popular sport globally. But that’s not to say ping pong is not popular on a global level. It is considered a top 10 global sport by many.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while both badminton and table tennis (ping pong) are popular racket sports, they have significant differences in terms of gameplay, equipment, scoring, and popularity. Badminton is played on a larger court with a shuttlecock, requires more power and agility, and is more popular globally, particularly in Asia. On the other hand, table tennis is played on a smaller table with a plastic ball, has faster gameplay, and is more popular in the United States.