Imagine a game where you use a long, thin table and two racquets to hit a small, white ball back and forth. The purpose of this game is to keep the ball in play without hitting it out of bounds or into the net so your opponent can hit it back to you. Sound fun? It is — and this game is called ping-pong, which is a shortened name that you might know better as table tennis. In this article, we will explore the two sports and see which one might be the better choice for us. The answer may be surprising!
Differences
Ping-pong and badminton are two very similar sports. They both use a racquet to hit a ball over a net, and the objective is to get your opponent’s ball out of bounds. However, there are some key differences between the two that make each game unique. Ping-pong, also known as table tennis, originated in England in the late 1800s and was originally called ping pong. It is played on a table with hard rubber paddles and plastic balls. Badminton evolved from the British game of battledore and shuttlecock, which involves hitting a feathered shuttlecock back and forth over an open space using a battledore (a wooden paddle with a handle). Badminton was introduced to England by British military officers who had encountered it while serving abroad. They added their own twist to this game—instead of playing it indoors on a table, they played outdoors on grass or dirt fields with long wooden racquets called rackets instead of paddles.
Equipment
Ping-pong uses paddles and balls that are lighter than those used in badminton. The rackets used in ping-pong are made of lightweight plastic or wood, while those used in badminton are made of heavier metals like aluminum or titanium. Ping-pong balls are smaller than badminton balls—they weigh approximately 1 ounce (28 g), whereas badminton balls weigh about 3 ounces (85 g). Both games require players to hit a ball back and forth over an elevated net on a court divided into two halves by a center line.
Location
However, there are some key differences between the two games. Ping-pong is played on a smaller court (9 feet wide by 5 feet long), while badminton is played on a much larger court (18 feet wide by 9 feet long).
Governing bodies
Both games also have their own governing bodies: The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) regulates table tennis while The Badminton World Federation (BWF) oversees all aspects of badminton.
Point scoring system
In ping pong, players get one point for each time they hit their opponent’s side first; whereas in badminton, players score points based on how many times they hit their opponent’s side first during each round (usually three times).
Is ping-pong better than badminton?
Ping-pong is very fast-paced compared to badminton—games typically last only 30 minutes compared to an hour or more for badminton matches—but both require quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination along with good footwork skills to avoid getting hit by the ball! Although we cannot say whether one is definitely better, it is certain that people will choose according to their personal preferences. Some people prefer a faster paced game, and some people prefer their games to go more slowly. And of course, what’s stopping us from playing both?
