The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SLAUGHTER PONG

THE GAME IS A COMBINATION OF SLAUGHTER-BALL, HAND-BALL
AND PING-PONG. IT AROSE WHEN SOME FELLOWS FOUND
THEMSELVES WITH A PING-PONG PADDLE AND BALL, A HAND-
BALL GLOVE AND NO GAME ROOM. USING A HALL WITH ALL
DOORS SHUT, THE TWO PLAYERS GOT ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF
THE HALL AND PROCEEDED TO TRY TO HAVE THE PING-PONG
BALL HIT THE BACK WALL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE
HALL. THE BALL MAY REBOUND OFF THE FLOOR, WALLS
OR CEILING. THE PLAYER GAINS A POINT EACH TIME THE
PING-PONG BALL TOUCHES THE OPPOSITE REAR WALL. THE BALL
IS DEAD IF IT ROLLS ON THE FLOOR AND MUST THEN BE SERVED
BY THE PERSON WHOSE SIDE IT HAS ROLLED ON. THE SERVE
IS LIKE THAT OF A HANDBALL SERVE. THE GAME GOES UNTIL
A NUMBER OF POINTS (SPECIFIED BEFORE THE GAME--USUALLY
25 OR 50) HAS BEEN SCORED BY ONE OF THE PLAYERS. THE
PLAYER WHO BREAKS THE PING-PONG BALL (NORMALLY 4 TO 6
ARE LOST IN A GAME) LOSES A POINT.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS ATTENDING A SEMINARY WHICH HAS HANDBALL
COURTS AND PING-PONG TABLE. HE SAYS SEVERAL OTHER
SECONDHAND GAMES HAVE ARISEN THROUGH LACK OF EQUIP-
MENT BUT CANNOT THINK OF ANY SPECIFICALLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT