Why do people call it ping pong even though it's TABLE TENNIS?

Question

Even the website says so:

Ping-Pong® is a federally registered trademark first developed by Parker Brothers, Inc. and now owned by Escalade Sports. The registered trademark Ping-Pong® indicates a brand of equipment used to play the sport of table tennis.

Ping-Pong® is the brand and table tennis is the sport. Have you ever wondered why Ping-Pong® is not in the Olympics? The Olympics Committee uses the term correctly – table tennis is the sport played in the Olympics! All the industry associations relating to the sport are table tennis associations, again recognizing that the sport is table tennis.

Answer 1

They call it "ping pong" because that is its name.



According to the USPTO database, Ping-Pong is actually registered as the name of the game, in addition to the various equipment. The trademarks are listed as being owned by SOP Services, in Nevada, not Escalade Sports.



http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=71564016&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch "Ping-Pong" game played with rackets and balls, first used in commerce in 1900.



The balls, rackets and table were not called "ping-pong" until years later.



"Ping Pong" is also a registered trademark in several other unrelated fields.

Answer 2

Because we can. Boris Johnson. Mayor of London, calls it 'whiff whaff' so you may wish to take it up with him.

Answer 3

people call it ping pong because they feel like it...