diff --git a/PROTOCOL.md b/PROTOCOL.md
index 3af2e020..28f70036 100644
--- a/PROTOCOL.md
+++ b/PROTOCOL.md
@@ -66,9 +66,12 @@ A `Pong` must be sent in response from the receiving party as soon as possible.
 
 The `Ping` message can be sent at any time within the established socket.
 
+The optional `payload` field can be used to transfer additional details about the ping.
+
 ```typescript
 interface PingMessage {
   type: 'ping';
+  payload?: Record<string, unknown>;
 }
 ```
 
@@ -80,9 +83,12 @@ The response to the `Ping` message. Must be sent as soon as the `Ping` message i
 
 The `Pong` message can be sent at any time within the established socket. Furthermore, the `Pong` message may even be sent unsolicited as an unidirectional heartbeat.
 
+The optional `payload` field can be used to transfer additional details about the pong.
+
 ```typescript
 interface PongMessage {
   type: 'pong';
+  payload?: Record<string, unknown>;
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5989da94..aa92451f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -625,6 +625,64 @@ createClient({
 
 </details>
 
+<details id="custom-client-pinger">
+<summary><a href="#custom-client-pinger">🔗</a> Client usage with manual pings and pongs</summary>
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  createClient,
+  Client,
+  ClientOptions,
+  stringifyMessage,
+  PingMessage,
+  PongMessage,
+  MessageType,
+} from 'graphql-ws';
+
+interface PingerClient extends Client {
+  ping(payload?: PingMessage['payload']): void;
+  pong(payload?: PongMessage['payload']): void;
+}
+
+function createPingerClient(options: ClientOptions): PingerClient {
+  let activeSocket: WebSocket;
+
+  const client = createClient({
+    ...options,
+    on: {
+      connected: (socket) => {
+        options.on?.connected?.(socket);
+        activeSocket = socket;
+      },
+    },
+  });
+
+  return {
+    ...client,
+    ping: (payload) => {
+      if (activeSocket.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN)
+        activeSocket.send(
+          stringifyMessage({
+            type: MessageType.Ping,
+            payload,
+          }),
+        );
+    },
+    pong: (payload) => {
+      if (activeSocket.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN)
+        activeSocket.send(
+          stringifyMessage({
+            type: MessageType.Pong,
+            payload,
+          }),
+        );
+    },
+  };
+}
+```
+
+</details>
+
 <details id="browser">
 <summary><a href="#browser">🔗</a> Client usage in browser</summary>
 
diff --git a/docs/interfaces/common.pingmessage.md b/docs/interfaces/common.pingmessage.md
index 23860a81..77ba68b4 100644
--- a/docs/interfaces/common.pingmessage.md
+++ b/docs/interfaces/common.pingmessage.md
@@ -8,10 +8,17 @@
 
 ### Properties
 
+- [payload](common.pingmessage.md#payload)
 - [type](common.pingmessage.md#type)
 
 ## Properties
 
+### payload
+
+• `Optional` `Readonly` **payload**: `Record`<string, unknown\>
+
+___
+
 ### type
 
 • `Readonly` **type**: [Ping](../enums/common.messagetype.md#ping)
diff --git a/docs/interfaces/common.pongmessage.md b/docs/interfaces/common.pongmessage.md
index 92d0d509..1f6ac2a2 100644
--- a/docs/interfaces/common.pongmessage.md
+++ b/docs/interfaces/common.pongmessage.md
@@ -8,10 +8,17 @@
 
 ### Properties
 
+- [payload](common.pongmessage.md#payload)
 - [type](common.pongmessage.md#type)
 
 ## Properties
 
+### payload
+
+• `Optional` `Readonly` **payload**: `Record`<string, unknown\>
+
+___
+
 ### type
 
 • `Readonly` **type**: [Pong](../enums/common.messagetype.md#pong)
diff --git a/docs/modules/client.md b/docs/modules/client.md
index 54f13581..7701c23e 100644
--- a/docs/modules/client.md
+++ b/docs/modules/client.md
@@ -227,20 +227,21 @@ ___
 
 ### EventPingListener
 
-Ƭ **EventPingListener**: (`received`: `boolean`) => `void`
+Ƭ **EventPingListener**: (`received`: `boolean`, `payload`: [PingMessage](../interfaces/common.pingmessage.md)[``"payload"``]) => `void`
 
 The first argument communicates whether the ping was received from the server.
 If `false`, the ping was sent by the client.
 
 #### Type declaration
 
-▸ (`received`): `void`
+▸ (`received`, `payload`): `void`
 
 ##### Parameters
 
 | Name | Type |
 | :------ | :------ |
 | `received` | `boolean` |
+| `payload` | [PingMessage](../interfaces/common.pingmessage.md)[``"payload"``] |
 
 ##### Returns
 
@@ -256,20 +257,21 @@ ___
 
 ### EventPongListener
 
-Ƭ **EventPongListener**: (`received`: `boolean`) => `void`
+Ƭ **EventPongListener**: (`received`: `boolean`, `payload`: [PongMessage](../interfaces/common.pongmessage.md)[``"payload"``]) => `void`
 
 The first argument communicates whether the pong was received from the server.
 If `false`, the pong was sent by the client.
 
 #### Type declaration
 
-▸ (`received`): `void`
+▸ (`received`, `payload`): `void`
 
 ##### Parameters
 
 | Name | Type |
 | :------ | :------ |
 | `received` | `boolean` |
+| `payload` | [PongMessage](../interfaces/common.pongmessage.md)[``"payload"``] |
 
 ##### Returns
 
diff --git a/docs/modules/common.md b/docs/modules/common.md
index 3071fe87..5ba73aff 100644
--- a/docs/modules/common.md
+++ b/docs/modules/common.md
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ ___
 
 ### isMessage
 
-▸ **isMessage**(`val`): val is ConnectionInitMessage \| ConnectionAckMessage \| PingMessage \| PongMessage \| SubscribeMessage \| NextMessage \| ErrorMessage \| CompleteMessage
+▸ **isMessage**(`val`): val is PingMessage \| PongMessage \| ConnectionInitMessage \| ConnectionAckMessage \| SubscribeMessage \| NextMessage \| ErrorMessage \| CompleteMessage
 
 Checks if the provided value is a message.
 
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ Checks if the provided value is a message.
 
 #### Returns
 
-val is ConnectionInitMessage \| ConnectionAckMessage \| PingMessage \| PongMessage \| SubscribeMessage \| NextMessage \| ErrorMessage \| CompleteMessage
+val is PingMessage \| PongMessage \| ConnectionInitMessage \| ConnectionAckMessage \| SubscribeMessage \| NextMessage \| ErrorMessage \| CompleteMessage
 
 ___
 
diff --git a/src/client.ts b/src/client.ts
index ba69d634..b2721a8f 100644
--- a/src/client.ts
+++ b/src/client.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import {
   Disposable,
   Message,
   MessageType,
+  PingMessage,
+  PongMessage,
   parseMessage,
   stringifyMessage,
   SubscribePayload,
@@ -77,7 +79,10 @@ export type EventConnectingListener = () => void;
  *
  * @category Client
  */
-export type EventPingListener = (received: boolean) => void;
+export type EventPingListener = (
+  received: boolean,
+  payload: PingMessage['payload'],
+) => void;
 
 /**
  * The first argument communicates whether the pong was received from the server.
@@ -85,7 +90,10 @@ export type EventPingListener = (received: boolean) => void;
  *
  * @category Client
  */
-export type EventPongListener = (received: boolean) => void;
+export type EventPongListener = (
+  received: boolean,
+  payload: PongMessage['payload'],
+) => void;
 
 /**
  * Called for all **valid** messages received by the client. Mainly useful for
@@ -490,7 +498,7 @@ export function createClient(options: ClientOptions): Client {
               queuedPing = setTimeout(() => {
                 if (socket.readyState === WebSocketImpl.OPEN) {
                   socket.send(stringifyMessage({ type: MessageType.Ping }));
-                  emitter.emit('ping', false);
+                  emitter.emit('ping', false, undefined);
                 }
               }, keepAlive);
             }
@@ -537,11 +545,11 @@ export function createClient(options: ClientOptions): Client {
               const message = parseMessage(data, reviver);
               emitter.emit('message', message);
               if (message.type === 'ping' || message.type === 'pong') {
-                emitter.emit(message.type, true); // received
+                emitter.emit(message.type, true, message.payload); // received
                 if (message.type === 'ping') {
                   // respond with pong on ping
                   socket.send(stringifyMessage({ type: MessageType.Pong }));
-                  emitter.emit('pong', false);
+                  emitter.emit('pong', false, undefined);
                 } else enqueuePing(); // enqueue next ping on pong (noop if disabled)
                 return; // ping and pongs can be received whenever
               }
diff --git a/src/common.ts b/src/common.ts
index a7b8786d..d03d4247 100644
--- a/src/common.ts
+++ b/src/common.ts
@@ -88,11 +88,13 @@ export interface ConnectionAckMessage {
 /** @category Common */
 export interface PingMessage {
   readonly type: MessageType.Ping;
+  readonly payload?: Record<string, unknown>;
 }
 
 /** @category Common */
 export interface PongMessage {
   readonly type: MessageType.Pong;
+  readonly payload?: Record<string, unknown>;
 }
 
 /** @category Common */
@@ -171,16 +173,14 @@ export function isMessage(val: unknown): val is Message {
           isObject(val.payload)
         );
       case MessageType.ConnectionAck:
-        // the connection ack message can have optional payload object too
+      case MessageType.Ping:
+      case MessageType.Pong:
+        // the connection ack, ping and pong messages can have optional payload object too
         return (
           !hasOwnProperty(val, 'payload') ||
           val.payload === undefined ||
           isObject(val.payload)
         );
-      case MessageType.Ping:
-      case MessageType.Pong:
-        // ping and pong types are simply valid
-        return true;
       case MessageType.Subscribe:
         return (
           hasOwnStringProperty(val, 'id') &&
diff --git a/src/tests/client.ts b/src/tests/client.ts
index 3d174d71..52d2c9de 100644
--- a/src/tests/client.ts
+++ b/src/tests/client.ts
@@ -1596,11 +1596,15 @@ describe('events', () => {
 
     expect(pingFn).toBeCalledTimes(2);
     expect(pingFn.mock.calls[0][0]).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(pingFn.mock.calls[0][1]).toBeUndefined();
     expect(pingFn.mock.calls[1][0]).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(pingFn.mock.calls[1][1]).toBeUndefined();
 
     expect(pongFn).toBeCalledTimes(2);
     expect(pongFn.mock.calls[0][0]).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(pongFn.mock.calls[0][1]).toBeUndefined();
     expect(pongFn.mock.calls[1][0]).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(pongFn.mock.calls[1][1]).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   it('should emit ping and pong events when receiving server pings', async () => {
@@ -1623,7 +1627,9 @@ describe('events', () => {
     client.on('pong', pongFn);
 
     await server.waitForClient((client) => {
-      client.send(stringifyMessage({ type: MessageType.Ping }));
+      client.send(
+        stringifyMessage({ type: MessageType.Ping, payload: { some: 'data' } }),
+      );
     });
 
     await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
@@ -1632,10 +1638,14 @@ describe('events', () => {
 
     expect(pingFn).toBeCalledTimes(2);
     expect(pingFn.mock.calls[0][0]).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(pingFn.mock.calls[0][1]).toEqual({ some: 'data' });
     expect(pingFn.mock.calls[1][0]).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(pingFn.mock.calls[1][1]).toEqual({ some: 'data' });
 
     expect(pongFn).toBeCalledTimes(2);
     expect(pongFn.mock.calls[0][0]).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(pongFn.mock.calls[0][1]).toBeUndefined();
     expect(pongFn.mock.calls[1][0]).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(pongFn.mock.calls[1][1]).toBeUndefined();
   });
 });