Outdoor table tennis is not a new phenomenon. It has been around since table tennis grew in popularity as an indoor 'society' game in the early 20th century. However, it followed a less formal, perhaps more grassroots path.

Over decades, outdoor table tennis grew into pockets of devoted subcultures in several corners of the world such as China, the Balkan states, Spain, and Germany. Gradually, concrete tables were installed in neighbourhood parks and plazas and their local communities adopted them, integrating them into their daily exercise and weekly social gatherings. Instead of polished timber floors, games were played on well-worn concrete or compacted limestone. If there was grass to start with, the heavy traffic at the playing ends soon put an end to that.

The founders of POPP first discovered outdoor table tennis not in Australia (it didn't exist there in the mid 2010s), but while travelling. Stopping for a summer in Berlin in 2008, the fun, physical and competitive game played in their garages growing up, now appeared in the fresh air of the city's expansive park networks. It was an enlightening discovery to say the least.

Like how local basketball courts and skate parks in the United States and Australia had attracted all-comers for decades, bringing with them their own ball or skateboard, free-to-play outdoor table tennis tables were equally entrenched as a part of Berlin's recreation offering. And similarly it was a Bring Your Own equipment model - racquets and balls came and left with the players.

POPP is turning 16 this year, during this time the growth of outdoor table tennis in Australia and the United States, relatively new players in the outdoor table tennis game, has been an exciting journey to be part of. With more and more parks and plazas installing outdoor table tennis tables (we alone are up to 3,000 tables), community awareness is increasing - and the BYO nature is taking shape.

While not yet entrenched to the level of a local basketball court, we encourage all of our POPP customers to take part in nudging their communities towards BYO. To this end, we recommend:
Community partners drop racquets and balls at tables for spontaneous daily play;
Customers apply stickers or install signs that pro-actively push BYO; and
Local champions lead regular weekly 'social pick up' times, in turn fostering a strong sense of community.
As we have seen first hand over the past decade - a team effort with POPP outdoor table tennis tables reaps fantastic community rewards. Go team!