Table Ball in Ancient Greece as recounted by Homer in The Odyssey
The History of Table Ball
Table Ball is a direct descendent of an ancient game played in China. "Balls found in the ancient graves of horse riders in northwestern China reveal evidence of a 3,000-year-old sport. These fist-sized balls, made of leather and filled with hair and other soft material" are remarkably similar to the official Table Ball used today. Table Ball has developed through millennia. Each culture and people through time have added to the game and though they may play the game differently across time and location, the core remains the same.
Table Ball is truly an international sport. It has global DNA and a particular joie de vivre.
Similar games have been played across continents, from Asia, Europe, to Ancient Meso-America.
The modern game of Table Ball embraces its proud history. From the selection of the official ball to the development of assigned point values and table surfaces. Each detail has been selected to advance the sport whilst maintaining authenticity and paying homage to the generations of past Table Ballers. While it is true not all ancient players used the modern surfaces and dimensions as Ballers use today, the spirit, joy, and spontaneity of the game remain.
An ancient Table Ball Pyramid located Southwestern Mexico.
Mayan Ulama, an ancient ancestor of Table Ball, was played with two teams of two players attempting to pass a ball through a solid stone hoop and then land on a targeted area.
Table Ball is a constantly evolving sport. Where will it go next?