  Magnetic excitations have been investigated in the spin dimer material
VODPO_4 \cdot 1/2 D_2O using inelastic neutron scattering. A dispersionless
magnetic mode was observed at an energy of 7.81(4) meV. The wavevector
dependence of the scattering intensityfrom this mode is consistent with the
excitation of isolated V^{4+} spin dimers with a V-V separation of 4.43(7) \AA.
This result is unexpected since the V-V pair previously thought to constitute
themagnetic dimer has a separation of 3.09 \AA. We identify an alternative V-V
pair as the likely magnetic dimer, which involves superexchange pathways
through a covalently bonded PO_4 group. This surprising result casts doubt on
the interpretation of (VO)_2P_2O_7 as a spin ladder.
