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Table tennis - Strood

In the early 19th century, British army officers in India and South Africa played a form of indoor tennis using cigar box lids as paddles, rounded corks from wiPhoto of 2 table tennis rackets and ballne bottles as balls, and a table with a row of books serving as a net.

In the 1890s, alternate versions of the game emerged, including flim-flam, pim-pam, pom-pom and whiff-whaff. Games manufacturer John Jaques & Son introduced the game to the world in 1891 under the name gossima.

After a trip to the United States in 1900, Englishman James Gibb returned with some lightweight hollow celluloid balls.

In 1901, John Jaques & Son renamed and trademarked the game ping-pong, after the sound the ball made on the racquet and table. They sold the trademarked name to Parker Brothers in the US.

When there was a revival of the game in the 1920s, table tennis became the preferred name to avoid trademark disputes. The game is governed by the International Table Tennis Federation (www.ittf.com/), founded in 1926.

Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988.

Download the rules of table tennis rules.

Strood Leisure Centre's table tennis tables are located in the main hall.

Table tennis prices

Age Member Non-member Member Non-member
  Peak Peak Off-peak Off-peak
Adult £7.60 £12.90 £5.75 £11.00
Junior - - £2.70 £6.40
60+ - - £2.70 £6.40

Paddles can be hired for £2 each.

Peak times: Monday - Friday, 6-10pm

For more information contact us by telephone: Reception: 01634 333933 / Booking: 01634 333945 or by email: leisure@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Strood Sports Centre, Watling Street, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 3JQ

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