70 m.p.h.
In a fastest smash competition, New Zealander Lark Brandt once turned in the winning effort, clocked at 112.5 kilometers per hour (or roughly 70 m.p.h.). Whether any player will come close to this in London is hard to say. But little gas-filled balls will be flying at amazing speeds, especially given the small size of the tables, which are only nine feet long. During a fierce rally, a player may move back 15 to 20 from the table鈥檚 edge to return high-speed shots.
The sport鈥檚 governing body, looking to make it easier for TV viewers to follow the action, actually introduced a slightly larger ball, which is now the official standard, at the 2003 world championships. By enlarging the diameter from 38 millimeters to 40 millimeters (and increasing its weight, commensurately), the ball鈥檚 greater air resistance slowed down the game somewhat. Now there鈥檚 consideration for slowing it further by going to a 44-millimeter ball.
