Paddle Duel is a two-paddle table tennis game played against the computer on a dark, glowing court. You hold the left paddle, the computer holds the right one, and the first side to score 10 points wins. Every return makes the ball faster, so rallies that start slow can turn frantic. A curved old-TV screen effect, flashing team colors and bursts of sparks give each hit some punch. It is part of Frank Force’s open-source LittleJS Arcade.
How to Play Paddle Duel
Press Play, then serve with Space, a click or a tap. The ball bounces off the top and bottom walls but not the sides. If it gets past a paddle and leaves the court, the other side scores a point. The next serve heads toward whoever just lost the point.
Where the ball meets your paddle sets its new angle. A hit in the middle sends it back nearly flat, while a hit near either end sends it off at a steep slant. Each return also adds speed until the rally hits a top limit. If your paddle is moving when it makes contact, the ball picks up spin and bends in flight.
The computer moves a little slower than you can, and it picks its aim once per volley with a small random error. It only reads your curve some of the time. When either score reaches 10, the winner is shown, and one more press starts a new match.
Paddle Duel Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move your paddle (left side) | Up and down arrows, or W and S | Move the pointer up or down | Drag a finger up or down |
| Serve the ball | Space | Click | Tap the screen |
| Reset the score to 0-0 | R | — | — |
| Pause, restart or quit | Escape | Click the menu icon in the top corner | Tap the menu icon in the top corner |
Tips and Strategies
- Aim with the paddle ends. Steep angles from edge hits make the ball bounce off a wall, which is harder for the computer to track.
- Swing into the ball. Moving your paddle as it connects adds spin, and a curve can trick the computer into guessing wrong.
- Make it run. Your paddle moves faster than the computer’s, so wide shots to the far side of the court are worth more than safe returns.
- Drift back to the middle. After each hit, return toward the center so you can reach either wall in time.
- Stay calm at top speed. When the court turns red, keep moves short and let the ball come to you rather than chasing it.
Features
- Spin and angle control: edge hits and moving swings both shape where the ball goes.
- Rising rally speed: each return adds pace, with visual warnings near the top speed.
- Retro screen effect: a curved CRT look with scanlines that you can switch off in Options.
- Live demo: the title screen runs a computer-versus-computer match behind the menu.
Tested and updated:
