“Ping Pong (er, Table Tennis) Player Jumps Over Table: Incredible Video”

I heard about this incredible Japanese ping pong video (update: I've since heard that they are Korean, but I don't know for sure) months ago, and finally got a chance to see it for myself. I've seen a lot of ping pong, but nothing like these guys. The player at the far end of the table does a cartwheel while returning the ball, and keeps returning his opponent's smashes even though he's at least fifteen feet back from the table. Most incredible, though, is that at the end of the point he hits the ball, then leaps right over the table and returns his own hit!

That's what it looks like, anyway. I played it in slow motion. It appears to me that when he comes over the table, the other player (wisely) hits the deck, and the first player returns his own hit to his now empty side of the table, giving the other player the point. They're obviously laughing and smiling at the end, but man that was some amazing ping poing.

(If you don't have Windows Media Player, there's a "format" popup there on the page for switching between WMP (Windows Media Player) and QT (QuickTime).)

I played ping pong for about three hours after bible class last night, with Andrew. I haven't played in two months, and we used that as an excuse for the 13-4 stomping he gave me (13 games to 4). Truth is, I believe he's simply a better player than I am right now. Never should have taught him that alternative paddle grip!

When we really play our best, we're both smashing it across the table in some very exciting volleys... but then I watch that video. Compared to those guys, we're like a couple of old ladies moving in super-slow-mo.