Bill Gates’ Giant Ping Pong Paddle Meme Template

Bill Gates uses an enormous paddle to hit a tiny table-tennis ball while Warren Buffett watches. Label the paddle with an excessive tool and the ball with the small task it is being used for.

The scale difference makes overkill visible. A powerful machine, elaborate process, or expensive piece of software is brought out for something that barely needs it.

The joke is about a mismatch between the tool and the job. Keep the task small enough that the extra power seems unnecessary.

The photograph was taken in Omaha on May 6, 2012, as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett played against table-tennis player Ariel Hsing. Its published credit identifies Associated Press photographer Nati Harnik. [1]

The image was shared on Reddit in March 2013. Later image macros used the paddle as a stand-in for an overpowered tool, including a calculator brought out for simple arithmetic. Know Your Meme documented the format in March 2019. [2]

Label the blue paddle with the tool or process. Put the small task below the paddle, keeping the yellow ball visible.

Pair things that really could be used together: a huge spreadsheet for two expenses, or a powerful computer for a simple card game. The imbalance should be obvious.

The oversized tool

Across the upper portion of the blue paddle.

The tiny task

Below the paddle, above the bottom edge.

• The paddle represents the oversized solution.
• The ball represents the small task.
• Do not cover the ball with the label.
• Keep the faces and paddle outline visible.