Paddle Ball
Hit the ball past your opponent. First to 11 points wins.
How to play Paddle Ball
Paddle Ball is a classic arcade duel in the style of table tennis. Each player has a paddle on one side of the field. A ball bounces between you. Hit it back, and try to make it pass your opponent's paddle.
Goal
Score 11 points before your opponent does. You get a point each time the ball goes past the other player's paddle and off their edge of the field.
Game modes
- Vs computer: you play the cyan paddle on the left. Choose Easy, Medium or Hard. The easy computer is slow and often misjudges the ball. The hard one reads every bounce and aims for sharp angles.
- 2 players: two people share one keyboard or one phone or tablet. The left player is cyan, the right player is pink.
Controls
- Vs computer: move your paddle with W and S, the arrow keys or the mouse. On a touch screen, drag anywhere on the field or hold the arrow buttons.
- 2 players: the left player uses W and S, the right player uses the up and down arrows. On a touch screen, each player drags a finger on their own half of the field.
- Press Space or P to pause. The game also pauses when you switch tabs.
Angles and speed
Where the ball hits your paddle decides where it goes. A hit near the middle sends it almost straight. A hit near the top or bottom edge sends it away at a steep angle. Moving the paddle as you hit adds a little spin. The ball gets faster with every hit, so long rallies get exciting.
End of the game
After each point the ball is served from the centre towards the player who lost the point. The first player to reach 11 points wins the match. Against the computer, your number of wins on each level is saved in this browser. Want more bouncing? Try Brick Breaker.
Strategy tips
- Hit with the edges. A shot off the end of your paddle flies at a steep angle and is much harder to return than a flat one.
- Return to the middle. After you hit the ball, move back towards the centre so you can reach both corners.
- Watch the wall bounces. Look at where the ball will be after it bounces off the top or bottom, not where it is now.
- Change the pace. Mix flat and sharp shots. A sudden steep angle after a few straight ones often wins the point.
- Stay calm in fast rallies. Small paddle moves are enough. Big jerky moves often make you overshoot.
Paddle Ball FAQ
Is this the same as Pong?
It is a table tennis arcade game in the same style as the classic Pong, with its own look, computer opponent and touch controls.
How do two players play on one phone?
Hold the phone sideways if you like. The left half of the field controls the cyan paddle and the right half controls the pink paddle, so each player drags a finger on their side.
How hard is the computer?
Easy reacts slowly and often misses. Medium predicts the ball but still makes mistakes. Hard reads every bounce, moves fast and aims for sharp angles.
Is my progress saved?
The score of a match in progress is saved after every point, and your wins against the computer on each level are kept in this browser.
