Why Are Table Tennis Bats Called Paddles?

Table tennis is also known as ping pong. It is a sport where two or four players hit the ball across the table back and forth with bats made for this purpose. These bats are also known as paddles or racquets. These paddles are made of wood and are covered by rubber on both the sides. Nowadays the game is played with tennis blades which are nothing but bats without the rubber covering.

It is known as a paddle because it resembles the tools that are used to propel a small boat or a canoe. It is similarly shaped and is also known a paddle. Since then the tennis bat is also known as a paddle. A table tennis bat is called paddle because it is a wooden bat with a flat surface that is used to hit the ball towards the opponent.