> Fark it, I say... and break out the new red / black hardbat. Dr. Evil on a
5-ply 729 Black Whirlwind blade. Knowing that the red side is higher COF, I
originally played that on my backhand... to no avail....
>
> Switched it around (red on the forehand) and handily defeated him 21 - 11.
>
> Anti-Spin? Yeah, I definitely think there may be something to that. My game
against him went from an intense struggle to read and counter spin.... to a much
more effective attacking game that I'm used to playing.

What kind or rubber was on his racket?

Anyway, as to the anti-spin bit, I just don't know. When I use Dr Evil, it
seems to put exactly the spin on the ball that I'd expect. If a sponge player
loops a ball and I block it, it tends to come out dead. But frankly, that's
what happens with Butterfly Orthodox, the Hardbat Classic racket and with
Leyland rubber.

We have a player at the club who was playing with anti-spin on both sides of his
racket. He blocks close to the table and counter attacks with relatively flat
shots. I watched his style of play and suggested that he try hardbat - which he
did. He was immediately at home with hardbat and Dr Evil.

He also played and trained for the Hardbat Classic and had no problem adapting
to the use of that racket which uses a pretty spinny rubber. Every topspin ball
that he blocks back to me comes back dead with no spin using that spinny
Killerspin rubber.

Since I've never used anti-spin rubber, I don't know if Dr Evil behaves like
anti-spin or not. When playing sponge players, I find that the relatively low
spin of any hardbat tends to confuse them. It doesn't matter if I'm using
Leyland, Dr Evil, Butterfly Orthodox, or the Killerspin racket. The spinnier
the rubber, the lower the level of confusion, but they still have trouble
reading the ball - pretty much in proportion to their playing level. The better
and more experienced the player, the greater the confusion. Two years ago when
I played with short pips (802-40)and sponge on my backhand for a bit, I ran into
similar reactions. My conclusion is that lots of players only know how to read
and deal with the behavior of spinny sponge rubber.

> Interesting how not having to dedicate so much energy and concentration into
the reading of spin... can allow for better focus on other parts of the game.

I agree. I think that is one of the things that attracts me to hardbat.

> When the time comes to play him "officially" for the tournament, most
assuredly, I know what weapon to choose.

My bet is that you will get a similar result using any hardbat.

Jay Turberville
www.jayandwanda.com