Table tennis 101: Olympic equipment

What are the dimensions of the table for Olympic table tennis? The playing surface in table tennis is a rectangle 9 feet (2.74 meters) longand 5 feet (1.53m) wide. It is elevated 2 feet, 6 inches (76 centimeters) above the floor. The playing surface includes the top edges of the table but not the sides. The net splits the table into two equal courts and is 6 inches (15.25cm) high. The net extends 6 inches outside the sideline. The white line dividing each side (used for doubles) is 1/8 of an inch wide. What kind of paddle is used in Olympic table tennis? Officially called a "racket" by the International Table Tennis Federation, "paddle" (generally used in the United States) and "bat" (in Britain) are also common terms. Rubber may be applied to one or both sides, depending on the player's grip. The "blade", or wooden portion of the racket, is approximately 17 centimeters (6.7 inches) long and 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) wide. Each side of the racket may use a different surface to emphas...