Remember that scene in Forrest Gump when he picks up a table tennis bat and in a matter of minutes is playing like a world champion? Well, now there's hope for us all.

At its general meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) decided to increase the size of the ball to make it more visible to spectators, while at the same time slowing down play and making the game easier to learn.

ITTF officials agreed that the federation should increase the diameter of the regulation ball to 40 mm (1.57 ins) from 38 mm on October 1st, which means the old ball will still be used at the Sydney Olympic Games.

The ITTF officials attending the world championships in Malaysia this week assured spectators and television viewers that the new ball is easier to follow. It will also be more difficult to put spin on the larger ball, which will slow the game and make it easier for beginners to learn the sport.