Fig 608. the second racket in the same manner. The head of the racket should be seven inches long and six wide, the handle five and a quarter inches long and a trifle over one inch wide (Fig. 605). Saw the stakes from the handle of an ordinary hearth-broom, or from any strong, slender round stick. Make each stake eight inches long and notch it at the top (Fig. 606). As a support for the stakes use a strip of board three inches wide, not more than one inch thick, and about four feet long. If you have no auger to make two holes in the board for the stakes, burn them through the centre of the ends with the red-hot point of a round poker (Fig. 607). Be careful not to make the holes too large, have them rather small, that the stakes when fitted in may be tight and firm. A strip of almost any kind of cloth six inches wide, hemmed top and bottom and cut long enough to stretch taut entirely across and above the board, when tied from stake to stake, may serve as a net. Mosquito netting or turkey-red cotton cloth make satisfactory strips; use whatever material is most convenient. Fig. 608 shows the net with two narrow tapes sewed at the four corners for tying it to top and bottom of the stakes. Stretch the net across the centre of a table, preferably a dining-room table, bring forth your rackets and ball, and practise playing Ping Pong with some friend, each standing at one end of the table (Fig. 609).
Fig. 609.
Fig. 610.
A retriever is sometimes used for picking up the ball when it falls to the floor, and, though not necessary, will be found very useful, especially for beginners. Get a strong, slender stick about a yard long and fasten a small hoop of metal or wood on one end by binding the turned-up ends
Fig. 611. of the hoop securely to the stick (Fig. 610). Test the fastening and be sure that it is firm and strong, and that the hoop does not wobble. Then sew a little cloth bag on the hoop (Fig. 611) and the next time the ball falls to the floor scoop it up with the retriever.
The Rules