Ridiculous History – The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong

Podcast: Ridiculous History
Hosts: Ben Bowlin, Noel Brown, with producer Max Williams and researcher AJ Bahamas Jacobs
Release Date: January 28, 2026
Episode Theme:
A lively, in-depth, and tongue-in-cheek exploration of the outrageous, surprising, and occasionally absurd evolution of ping pong—aka table tennis—tracing its British parlor origins, technological innovations, cultural impact, and rise to international prominence.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben and Noel serve up the wild and winding history of ping pong. From its status as a British upper-class pastime to a globally dominant sport (and diplomatic tool), they unpack the quirks, controversies, and hidden gems of table tennis. The conversation bounces between early games, sporting regulations, the role of technology (and toxic glue), pop culture depictions, and a new fictionalized film about the sport. True to the show’s style, the hosts sprinkle the discussion with jokes, tangents (including pizza and swing music), and personal stories, keeping the tone light and engaging.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ping Pong in the 2020s Zeitgeist (02:00)

The episode launches with the sudden resurgence of ping pong’s popularity, owing in part to the fictional Timothée Chalamet film "Marty Supreme."
- [02:00] Noel: "We are talking about ping pong today. The history of ping pong. And with the release of the Timothy Chalamet film Marty supreme and all that media hoopla surrounding it... It's kind of blown up the sport."
- Marty Supreme is based on a real-life figure—revealed later.

2. Names and Nomenclature: Ping Pong vs. Table Tennis (03:44)

The hosts parse the differences between the terms, noting “table tennis” as the formal, official name, and “ping pong” as the fun, colloquial onomatopoeic version.
- [04:18] Noel: “It is, of course, onomatopoeic… dating back to the Far east in the late 1800s…the ping being the sound of the paddle, the pong the sound of the ball bouncing off the table.”
- [05:14] Ben: “If it’s just us hanging out together, ping pong is clearly the more fun, cooler name.”

3. Origins: From ‘Whiff Whaff’ to Parlor Game (06:24 – 08:57)

Traces modern table tennis to Victorian England’s upper class, first referred to as “whiff whaff.”
Equipment started as DIY: wine cork balls, parchment paddles; influenced by lawn tennis.
- [06:24] Noel: “Whiff hwaf, if you will…played using super rudimentary equipment…wine corks…crude paddles or bats made out of cork and parchment.”
David Foster’s 1890 Parlor Table Games popularized indoor tennis as an alternative to lawn tennis.
- [09:00] Noel: “They had…wooden fence around the perimeter of the table…side nets…just condensing it into a game you can play indoors with less space.”

4. Early Rules & Equipment Evolution (12:58 – 15:48)

David Foster provided straightforward, accessible rules similar to lawn tennis.
First national championships: Hungary, 1897.
Transition from heavy, less predictable rubber balls to the lighter celluloid ball by James Gibb (1901)—key for modern play.

5. Technological Innovations and Tournaments (17:48 – 24:38)

Introduction of the first modern, rubberized bats (E.C. Gould, 1902), giving players “grip” and new playing possibilities.
- [18:53] Noel: “Rubberized material, glued to wooden, circular little mini paddles…”
Name shift from "Ping Pong Association" to "table tennis" in the 1920s, as organizations sought greater legitimacy.
Table tennis spreads across Europe in the ‘20s; ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) formed, and the first World Championships are held.
- [22:05] Ben: "This leads us to… the World Championship. Picture Eurovision, but a century ago—with table tennis…"
Notable early stars: Richard Bergman, Alozy Ehrlich, and Anglica Roseno.

6. Rules, Regulation, and the Rise of Strategy (24:38 – 31:48)

Early paddles had sandpaper surfaces (less spin), leading to slower, more strategic play.
Progressive adoption of bouncier, sponge and rubber paddles sped up the game—regulatory tweaks ensued.
The introduction of “speed glue” in the 1970s amped up performance but raised health concerns.
- [27:09] Noel: “Some European players realized… adhesives could change the plane’s characteristics… But the most effective were real fumey.”
- [30:03] Ben: Describes the table tennis “kit”—glue, brushes, rolling pins, hair dryers.
- [31:48] Noel: “As of 2008, glues containing volatile compounds are banned. There’s now glue-sniffing contraptions before matches…”

7. Speed, Spectacle, & Accessibility (33:25 – 34:18)

With speed glue, balls could reach 100 mph and 9,000 rpm—difficult for fans and cameras to follow.
- [33:25] Noel: “Balls were pinging and ponging so fast… it was hard for the eyeball to follow… They are thinking about…making this the most engaging to viewers.”

8. Asian Dominance & Ping Pong Diplomacy (34:18 – 36:28)

Ping pong explodes in popularity in Asia post-WWII, with Japanese and Chinese dominance from the 1950s onwards.
Table tennis becomes a tool of "soft diplomacy" (famously dramatized in Forrest Gump).
- [35:26] Ben: “Ping pong almost as a form of soft diplomacy…that sequence in Forrest Gump where he plays the Chinese delegation.”

9. Olympic Inclusion & Global Popularity (38:32 – 40:18)

Table tennis debuts at the 1988 Seoul Olympics; wins by Chinese and Korean players cement Asian supremacy.
ITTF includes over 200 countries and counts 33 million members today.
- [40:18] Ben: “The International Table Tennis Federation includes more than 200 nations…33 million people are part of the ITTF.”

10. Ping Pong in Pop Culture: From Pong to Forrest Gump (40:50 – 44:37)

Forrest Gump brought table tennis into public consciousness as a cool, skillful, and even diplomatic pursuit.
- Notably, Gump switches grip styles after visiting China in the film—a subtle nod to real table tennis technique.
- [43:11] Noel: “The penhold grip…favored by Chinese players, especially in the mid 20th century.”
Tangential mention: original Forrest Gump novel, abandoned sequel due to author’s lack of profit share.

11. Marty Supreme and Real-Life Roots (47:11 – 49:33)

The new film's Marty Supreme character is based on Marty Reisman, a flashy, high-stakes New York player known for his "atomic blast" spike and love of gambling.
- [48:40] Ben: “He was known for an aggressive, flashy playing style…his own signature super move, the atomic blast…115 mph, this guy.”
Anecdote: Reisman accidentally hands his $500 self-bet to the head of the U.S. Table Tennis Association.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Unofficial vs. Official Naming

[05:14] Ben: "If it's just us hanging out together, ping pong is clearly the more fun, cooler name. Right?"

On Technology & Cheating

[19:33] Ben: “Of course, even if it's a nonprofessional sport, there are going to be people who try to sneak in some little edgy moves like Nigel and Bartholomew. Those irascible rascals.”
[33:25] Noel: “Balls were pinging and ponging so fast… I can’t even see the ball.”

On Diplomacy

[35:26] Ben: “Ping pong almost as a method of soft diplomacy, which I know is your wheelhouse, Noel.”

On Pop Culture

[42:20] Ben: “...the balls were moving so fast they were animated in. That was, at the time, a really big deal in special effects.”

On Pure Absurdity

[32:08] Ben: “Remember there was a story about some Olympic guy…using all kinds of, you know, things. We had the idea: anything-goes Olympics…”

On Marty Reisman’s Legacy

[48:40] Ben: “He was known for an aggressive, flashy playing style…his own signature super move, the atomic blast…”

Timestamps Breakdown

| Timestamp | Segment | Content | |---|---|---| | 02:00 | Current Zeitgeist | Rise of table tennis popularity via "Marty Supreme" film | | 03:44 | Nomenclature | Ping pong vs. table tennis—on-brand wordplay & history | | 06:24 | British Origins | ‘Whiff whaff’ era, DIY equipment, upper-class roots | | 09:00 | Foster’s Parlor Game | Patent, rules, vintage adverts, early game setup | | 12:58 | Rules Evolution | Simplicity, first competitions, early innovations | | 15:48 | Celluloid Ball | Introduction by James Gibb, progress in play speed | | 17:48 | Modern Paddles | E.C. Gould’s rubber bats; shift in play style | | 20:13 | Organizational Shift | Ping Pong Assoc. fades, “table tennis” rebrand | | 22:05 | World Championships | ITTF founded, international spread, Eurovision analogy | | 24:38 | Equipment Evolution | Sandpaper paddles, strategy vs. speed, tournament changes | | 27:09 | Speed Glue Scandal | Chemicals, embrace-then-ban, performance edge | | 31:48 | Ban on Glue | ITTF regulations for health and fair play | | 33:25 | High-Speed Play | Balls hit >100mph, issues for spectators| | 34:18 | Asian Ascendance | Japanese & Chinese dominance, soft diplomacy | | 36:28 | Chinese Service | Evolution of technique, international competition | | 38:32 | Olympic Era | 1988 inclusion, global scope expands | | 40:18 | ITTF Stats | 200+ nations, 33M members; parallels to other sports popularity | | 42:20 | Forrest Gump | Realistic play, grip techniques, animation tricks | | 47:11 | Marty Supreme/ Reisman | Real-life inspiration, wild tales, forbidden bets |

Tone & Style Highlights

Friendly, playful, improvisational; hosts joking and riffing on tangents about food, music, and personal anecdotes
Knowledgeable but never dry: lots of quips, “Isn’t that wild!” moments, and sidetracks into adjacent topics
Pop culture references—Forrest Gump, Eurovision, swing revival—color the discussion throughout

Conclusion

Ridiculous History’s "The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong" is a whirlwind, detail-studded yet irreverent journey through everything that makes ping pong both influential and absurd—from "whiff whaff" in smoky Victorian parlors to Olympic arenas, from British nobility to Chinese diplomacy, from rubber bat technology to silver screen renditions. The hosts’ passion for quirky corners of history and their love of playful banter ensure a rich, entertaining experience for listeners, whether they’re ping pong aficionados or total rookies.

Recommended Next Episode Topics (As Suggested by Hosts):

History of Supreme Pizza
Eurovision

Memorable Quote to Close:

“Ping pong almost as a method of soft diplomacy, which I know is your wheelhouse, Ben.”
— Noel ([35:26])

Ridiculous History – The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ping Pong in the 2020s Zeitgeist (02:00)

The episode launches with the sudden resurgence of ping pong’s popularity, owing in part to the fictional Timothée Chalamet film "Marty Supreme."
- [02:00] Noel: "We are talking about ping pong today. The history of ping pong. And with the release of the Timothy Chalamet film Marty supreme and all that media hoopla surrounding it... It's kind of blown up the sport."
- Marty Supreme is based on a real-life figure—revealed later.

2. Names and Nomenclature: Ping Pong vs. Table Tennis (03:44)

The hosts parse the differences between the terms, noting “table tennis” as the formal, official name, and “ping pong” as the fun, colloquial onomatopoeic version.
- [04:18] Noel: “It is, of course, onomatopoeic… dating back to the Far east in the late 1800s…the ping being the sound of the paddle, the pong the sound of the ball bouncing off the table.”
- [05:14] Ben: “If it’s just us hanging out together, ping pong is clearly the more fun, cooler name.”

3. Origins: From ‘Whiff Whaff’ to Parlor Game (06:24 – 08:57)

Traces modern table tennis to Victorian England’s upper class, first referred to as “whiff whaff.”
Equipment started as DIY: wine cork balls, parchment paddles; influenced by lawn tennis.
- [06:24] Noel: “Whiff hwaf, if you will…played using super rudimentary equipment…wine corks…crude paddles or bats made out of cork and parchment.”
David Foster’s 1890 Parlor Table Games popularized indoor tennis as an alternative to lawn tennis.
- [09:00] Noel: “They had…wooden fence around the perimeter of the table…side nets…just condensing it into a game you can play indoors with less space.”

4. Early Rules & Equipment Evolution (12:58 – 15:48)

David Foster provided straightforward, accessible rules similar to lawn tennis.
First national championships: Hungary, 1897.
Transition from heavy, less predictable rubber balls to the lighter celluloid ball by James Gibb (1901)—key for modern play.

5. Technological Innovations and Tournaments (17:48 – 24:38)

Introduction of the first modern, rubberized bats (E.C. Gould, 1902), giving players “grip” and new playing possibilities.
- [18:53] Noel: “Rubberized material, glued to wooden, circular little mini paddles…”
Name shift from "Ping Pong Association" to "table tennis" in the 1920s, as organizations sought greater legitimacy.
Table tennis spreads across Europe in the ‘20s; ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) formed, and the first World Championships are held.
- [22:05] Ben: "This leads us to… the World Championship. Picture Eurovision, but a century ago—with table tennis…"
Notable early stars: Richard Bergman, Alozy Ehrlich, and Anglica Roseno.

6. Rules, Regulation, and the Rise of Strategy (24:38 – 31:48)

Early paddles had sandpaper surfaces (less spin), leading to slower, more strategic play.
Progressive adoption of bouncier, sponge and rubber paddles sped up the game—regulatory tweaks ensued.
The introduction of “speed glue” in the 1970s amped up performance but raised health concerns.
- [27:09] Noel: “Some European players realized… adhesives could change the plane’s characteristics… But the most effective were real fumey.”
- [30:03] Ben: Describes the table tennis “kit”—glue, brushes, rolling pins, hair dryers.
- [31:48] Noel: “As of 2008, glues containing volatile compounds are banned. There’s now glue-sniffing contraptions before matches…”

7. Speed, Spectacle, & Accessibility (33:25 – 34:18)

With speed glue, balls could reach 100 mph and 9,000 rpm—difficult for fans and cameras to follow.
- [33:25] Noel: “Balls were pinging and ponging so fast… it was hard for the eyeball to follow… They are thinking about…making this the most engaging to viewers.”

8. Asian Dominance & Ping Pong Diplomacy (34:18 – 36:28)

Ping pong explodes in popularity in Asia post-WWII, with Japanese and Chinese dominance from the 1950s onwards.
Table tennis becomes a tool of "soft diplomacy" (famously dramatized in Forrest Gump).
- [35:26] Ben: “Ping pong almost as a form of soft diplomacy…that sequence in Forrest Gump where he plays the Chinese delegation.”

9. Olympic Inclusion & Global Popularity (38:32 – 40:18)

Table tennis debuts at the 1988 Seoul Olympics; wins by Chinese and Korean players cement Asian supremacy.
ITTF includes over 200 countries and counts 33 million members today.
- [40:18] Ben: “The International Table Tennis Federation includes more than 200 nations…33 million people are part of the ITTF.”

10. Ping Pong in Pop Culture: From Pong to Forrest Gump (40:50 – 44:37)

Forrest Gump brought table tennis into public consciousness as a cool, skillful, and even diplomatic pursuit.
- Notably, Gump switches grip styles after visiting China in the film—a subtle nod to real table tennis technique.
- [43:11] Noel: “The penhold grip…favored by Chinese players, especially in the mid 20th century.”
Tangential mention: original Forrest Gump novel, abandoned sequel due to author’s lack of profit share.

11. Marty Supreme and Real-Life Roots (47:11 – 49:33)

The new film's Marty Supreme character is based on Marty Reisman, a flashy, high-stakes New York player known for his "atomic blast" spike and love of gambling.
- [48:40] Ben: “He was known for an aggressive, flashy playing style…his own signature super move, the atomic blast…115 mph, this guy.”
Anecdote: Reisman accidentally hands his $500 self-bet to the head of the U.S. Table Tennis Association.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Unofficial vs. Official Naming

[05:14] Ben: "If it's just us hanging out together, ping pong is clearly the more fun, cooler name. Right?"

On Technology & Cheating

[19:33] Ben: “Of course, even if it's a nonprofessional sport, there are going to be people who try to sneak in some little edgy moves like Nigel and Bartholomew. Those irascible rascals.”
[33:25] Noel: “Balls were pinging and ponging so fast… I can’t even see the ball.”

On Diplomacy

[35:26] Ben: “Ping pong almost as a method of soft diplomacy, which I know is your wheelhouse, Noel.”

On Pop Culture

[42:20] Ben: “...the balls were moving so fast they were animated in. That was, at the time, a really big deal in special effects.”

On Pure Absurdity

[32:08] Ben: “Remember there was a story about some Olympic guy…using all kinds of, you know, things. We had the idea: anything-goes Olympics…”

On Marty Reisman’s Legacy

[48:40] Ben: “He was known for an aggressive, flashy playing style…his own signature super move, the atomic blast…”

Timestamps Breakdown

Tone & Style Highlights

Friendly, playful, improvisational; hosts joking and riffing on tangents about food, music, and personal anecdotes
Knowledgeable but never dry: lots of quips, “Isn’t that wild!” moments, and sidetracks into adjacent topics
Pop culture references—Forrest Gump, Eurovision, swing revival—color the discussion throughout

Conclusion

Recommended Next Episode Topics (As Suggested by Hosts):

History of Supreme Pizza
Eurovision

Memorable Quote to Close:

“Ping pong almost as a method of soft diplomacy, which I know is your wheelhouse, Ben.”
— Noel ([35:26])

The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong

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Summary

Ridiculous History – The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ping Pong in the 2020s Zeitgeist (02:00)

2. Names and Nomenclature: Ping Pong vs. Table Tennis (03:44)

3. Origins: From ‘Whiff Whaff’ to Parlor Game (06:24 – 08:57)

4. Early Rules & Equipment Evolution (12:58 – 15:48)

5. Technological Innovations and Tournaments (17:48 – 24:38)

6. Rules, Regulation, and the Rise of Strategy (24:38 – 31:48)

7. Speed, Spectacle, & Accessibility (33:25 – 34:18)

8. Asian Dominance & Ping Pong Diplomacy (34:18 – 36:28)

9. Olympic Inclusion & Global Popularity (38:32 – 40:18)

10. Ping Pong in Pop Culture: From Pong to Forrest Gump (40:50 – 44:37)

11. Marty Supreme and Real-Life Roots (47:11 – 49:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Unofficial vs. Official Naming

On Technology & Cheating

On Diplomacy

On Pop Culture

On Pure Absurdity

On Marty Reisman’s Legacy

Timestamps Breakdown

Tone & Style Highlights

Conclusion

Summary

Ridiculous History – The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ping Pong in the 2020s Zeitgeist (02:00)

2. Names and Nomenclature: Ping Pong vs. Table Tennis (03:44)

3. Origins: From ‘Whiff Whaff’ to Parlor Game (06:24 – 08:57)

4. Early Rules & Equipment Evolution (12:58 – 15:48)

5. Technological Innovations and Tournaments (17:48 – 24:38)

6. Rules, Regulation, and the Rise of Strategy (24:38 – 31:48)

7. Speed, Spectacle, & Accessibility (33:25 – 34:18)

8. Asian Dominance & Ping Pong Diplomacy (34:18 – 36:28)

9. Olympic Inclusion & Global Popularity (38:32 – 40:18)

10. Ping Pong in Pop Culture: From Pong to Forrest Gump (40:50 – 44:37)

11. Marty Supreme and Real-Life Roots (47:11 – 49:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Unofficial vs. Official Naming

On Technology & Cheating

On Diplomacy

On Pop Culture

On Pure Absurdity

On Marty Reisman’s Legacy

Timestamps Breakdown

Tone & Style Highlights

Conclusion