Re: questions on how hardbat group came into being ???

Others can answer to the history much better than I can. And
personally, I'm interested in hearing some of that as well.
But to answer some of your questions:

No, the ITTF does not recognize hardbat in any distinct way.
= oh boy !
We are contemplating to do this for sandpaper and woodracket
make an appeal to have it recognize as a "variant" or take out the "
illegal " status as put by ittf way before.

'ROUGH ROAD 'AHEAD!!!! AFTER HEARING THIS WHAT HAPPENED HARBAT !

----------



The USATT does recognize hardbat and hardbat events and apparently
has
a "Hardbat Committee" that formed the rule subset and is in charge of
evolving and updating hardbat rules.
= stands for -the united states of amreican table tennis.
Right. ?




IMO, this does not separate
hardbat from the rest of table tennis. It actually allows hardbat to
be combined with regular USATT events while also creating distinct
hardbat divisions.
= they can go in any rubber sponge event
and yet has a separate event for hardcore hardbat too – do i
understand this correctly? .?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


If you are playing with a legal hardbat, you can
also use that racquet in any USATT regular event and it does not
haveo follow the regular two color (red / black) rubber rule.
= I see.

So the
approach seems to be to embrace hardbat, but also to allow for
distinct hardbat only events. There is no such thing as a sponge only
event.
= okay, when i say sponge it mean sponge with rubber.


xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BTW, it is perfectly possible to have a hardbat that is legal for
hardbat, USATT, and ITTF events. Simply use an all wood blade with
one sheet (red and black) of the same rubber on both sides that is
both hardbat committee and ITTF approved.
= i see

I plan on turning one of my
old Donic Waldner Allplay into a hardbat by putting a couple sheets
ofDr. Evil on each side. It will be interesting to see how that combo
plays in comparison to the more "classic" hardbat that I got from Tim
Wright.

= okay


You will find a wide variety of opinions about the proper place for
hardbat in table tennis among hardbat users.

= I guess so and reasons why not stick to just sponge with rubber –
the faster and spinier type of play









For instance, I'm new to
hardbat.
= okay …..

I see it as an interesting and enjoyable variant to the
game.

= THATS EXACTLY WHAT I MEANT SIR – VARIANT !!!
ANOTERH ACEPTABLE VARIANT ,THAT ALL OUR HARMLESS REQUEST. – not
meant to replace something

SOMETIMES, I WONDER WHY ARE THER SO FEW "VARIANTs" IN TABLE
TENNIS – WHAAAAAA! –


* lawnTennis got also variant clay court , cement court etc.

*Martial art tourney – karate , tae kwan do , shalin , thai
boxing , wrestling


Arnis – being a recognized variant Filipino
martial art of
Filipinos


And even latest UFC mixed martial art – shown in American T.V. –
for me that is just raw street fighting - that's way illegal!
Before But you see guys – its more of a "come back" thing
so called ` illegal' before but can `come back ` As legal now. '-
more so in the fashion trend , its just a cycle


Its like saying we come back to old classical "frank sinatra "love
song that has more meaning and essence what music really is , when
we no longer enjoy what going on with the "current " type of music
or "noise music " that cometh to our ears.?


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



I find playing hardbat (and I've only played a little bit)
informs me about issues and weaknesses and potential strategies in
my sponge game.
= I see agree sir.

It also provides me a mental break from the highly spin
dominated sponge game.
= abit more relaxing , not tense up , more rallies I suppose ,
longer play , perhaps they don't kill you right away even at service
alone unlike in rubber. ahahah


I see hardbat as one of the many variants along
with sponge, anti-spin, long pips, pips out etc.
= oh thats what you think. Good
I hope they will feel about wood and sandpaper too.



I'm happy to embrace
all of the variants as part of legitimate table tennis.
= good open minded.

Others, however, consider hardbat to be the one and only "true"
gameof table tennis and see sponge equipment as having had a big
negative effect on the game putting too much emphasis on equipment
and
technology.
= thats how I felt now now , also for our wood and sandpper
now after being absence for almost 30 years in competitive table
tennis.

I WAS DEFINITLEY SHOCK to the new era.!!!

Size of balls is bigger, price of rackets are now price like a hi
tech -uzi gun in order to cope up with the size of the balls
needed . I think there is a hidden "conspiracy " behind in all of
this. Wait till it gets to 44 mm. whaaaa!
Scoring is different. – its like being dues all the time and on
your toes always ! Whaaa!

Our sandpaper rackets still plays at 38 mm balls here in the
Philippine by the way.smaller balls not easier to break. – nothing
has change here. so for us , its like the 'old frank sinatra
song 'as compared



There is no unified, one mind among hard bat players,
= I see
other than perhaps that all of them like playing hardbat.
= okay

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yes, the committee was apparently split on bare wood/sandpaper
decision making a close call to not include those options.
= how unfortunate



There
seems to be potential to get that decision reversed though.


= I really hope so. Sir I really hope so
at least at least to be include in hardbat competions –as first
step

and in the near future – just for sandpaper and barewood alone
tourney among themselves . .

in Filipino language the sandpaper type of playing is called "liha"
(sandpaper ) – so we do have liha tournament here. Liha against
liha or liha against kahoy – kahoy means wood

this thing didnt stop here its been continuously played since
1920 `s
despite the so called: ban in the 50 `s by international ,we still
go on.


Tell you one thing though in case decision will be reverse
The Philippines will surely have a team going there to
participate , I me- one for sure will try to lead.

There goes pingpong diplomacy, there goes pingpong tourism ,opening
up 'bridges and doors', down the road.

Or you can even come here for such advebtyre No sweat.! All my
former colleague are now leaders in the local national table tennis
circles.

Scott
Gordon is probably the one who can give the best insight on how
people
wanting that change should procede.

= is mr. scott Gordon a world war II veteran ?
he must revisit historical Philippines ahahahahh
form a group visit Philippines continue diplomacy and friendship and
worldwide contact and tour thru pingpong – why not. ? I see
pingpong now in another prospectiveafter coming back. And im just
trying to inform you guys in what area of pingpong we Filipinos
are good at. Thats all im trying to do.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



He and Tim Wright beat myself and
Wayne Johnson while in Phoenix recently in a doubles match using
sandpaper bats that Tim had made.
= it just a coincidence tim and and I are of the same interest we
are in the knife trade. Of me supplying mother of pearls to the
American knifehandle industry trade.

I was trying to inform him about this.

xxxxxxxxxx

I hope that helps. As I said, I'm new to playing hardbat, but I am
enjoying it. And enjoying the play should be the main thing IMO.

= yap and hope down the road hope we can have more luxury of
choice, be more open minded , can reach out because of the global
internet now just like any other sports as said above and put
more "adventure and colors " to pingpong .

best,
pete
Philippines