Table Tennis Triples

About the Book

Most existing table tennis teams never play each other as a team. "Triples" for the first time allows three-person teams to play "serious" table tennis. The book explains its rationale, equipment and its manufacture, its rules, and its integration into existing table tennis events. It strives to enhance the already popular image of table tennis by adding a "true team sport" to its repertoire, thereby increasing its player, spectator and media appeal.

Part 1 establishes the theoretical basis of Triples and provides detailed information on the design and manufacture of its hardware. In analysing its geometrical and physical aspects, it shows that playing conditions in Triples are equivalent to or better than in the conventional game - e.g. a greater action space and shot variety. Hence various novel table and net designs are described, including a reversible rectangular-to-round "retrofit" table tennis table system.

Part 2 contains everything one needs to know to play the game, presenting a detailed account of the Triples rules and their reasoning. These include some concepts new to table tennis, such as "Tie Break", "Shoot-Out", and "Draw" game outcomes. Details on scoring, umpiring, match progress displays and possible team strategies are presented, including point-by-point score sheets and team events involving singles, doubles and Triples matches.

Part 3 provides a glimpse into the future. It describes how Triples equipment can be used to create interesting new practice and recreational games, including 4-player "Quadruples", and how electronic sensors and computerised displays will soon lead to the "intelligent table tennis table".

With its 60 figures, 12 tables, 45 references and 3 "new terms" registers the book is lucid and user-friendly. Collectively it invites table tennis players, coaches, organisers and administrators alike to try out the new game - and in this has the support of the International Table Tennis Federation.

About the Author

Günter Arndt officially retired as Foundation Professor of Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Wollongong in 2003. He now works in his "Recreation Engineering" business specialising in Table Tennis innovations, whilst continuing to supervise various "Biomechatronics" and other research projects as Honorary Professor at that university.

He was first fascinated by the little celluloid ball in war-torn Germany in the 1940s, and has played table tennis ever since his family migrated to Australia in 1952, where he first served a 5-year toolmaking apprenticeship (and winning the Victorian T&F Craftsmanship Award in 1957), in a factory which happened to have 4 table tennis tables in their lunch hall. - That soon had him play in pennant competitions. Table tennis was his main sport throughout his student days at Swinburne and Melbourne universities, then his PhD studies and as an academic at Monash University, and hence as Associate Professor at Auckland University post-1976. As far as time allowed he played, organised and coached table tennis at all these universities. Whilst in New Zealand he patented and published the "Round Table Tennis" idea (winning the UDC Inventors' Award in 1981), and also met with interested organisations in Germany, none of which however seriously pursued the RTT idea.

His appointment at Wollongong University from 1989 to 2003, which included the Directorship of the Key Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Automation (CAMIA), rounded off his academic engineering career. During this he had three terms as Alexander-von-Humboldt Fellow in Germany, and held positions in various national and international committees and editorial boards. In it he also published or co-authored 150 refereed papers and other major works, and more than twice as many reports, articles and translations, specialising mainly in ultra-high-speed machining, robotics and manufacturing education and management. This was accompanied by numerous presentations at conferences and meetings around the world - also on RTT. He acted as Manufacturing Engineering and Management Consultant to well-known companies in New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Sweden and the USA - all whilst playing table tennis in his "spare time": from 1997 to 2003 that also led to 10 "Veteran" trophies. Then he finally had time to start this book...

His other interests include choral conducting, having conducted various German choirs over time and received the 40-year DSB (German Choral Federation) service medal in 2002 - and, most importantly, his family (with 9 grandchildren spread across the globe). And there are others, such as boomerang throwing and skiing... (also see "Who's Who in Australia"). But table tennis, and now the reaction of the table tennis world to "Triples", permeates all these.