HARDBAT UK CLASSIC TABLE TENNIS
WHAT IS CLASSIC HARDBAT TABLE TENNIS?
Classic hardbat table tennis used to be a world ranked sport drawing in huge crowds to watch past masters of the game fight it out for supremecy on the table. The hardbat or paddle as it is often referred to, consists of a wooden blade covered with a thin spongeless pimpled rubber playing surface. The amount of spin that could be imparted was negligable with reliance on skill, determination and outwitting your opponent in a way similar to the game of chess.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CLASSIC GAME AND THE MODERN SPONGE BAT GAME?
The difference between the classic and modern game is twofold in that (i) the modern game is equipment based (ii) the modern player has developed stroke play to suit the equipment. In the modern game a player can deceive an opponent through the use of spin and gain a quick easy point in the process. This was not the case with the classic game. The players competed in a chess like strategic manner, both parties trying to outwit the other via attack and defence. The rally could not be terminated by a flick of the wrist. The original classic pimpled rubbers required good technique and footwork together with mental agility similar to tennis. Fred Perry, Wimbledon Tennis Champion was also World Champion at Table Tennis. This could not happen in the modern game although enjoyment of both games can still be appreciated.
WHY FORM A HARDBAT UK CLASSIC TABLE TENNIS WEBSITE?
Hardbat UK Classic Table Tennis is a new organisation formed for the sole purpose of developing and encouraging the growth of a once classic game that prevailed upto the early 1950's until it was superceded by the sponge bat. Great classic hardbat players such as Arons, Barna, Bergmann, Leach, Miles, Reisman, The Rowe Twins, Rosenau, Sido and Vana all relied on individual skill to beat their opponents with no reliance on equipment to do the work for them which is the case with the modern sponge bat game. Similar comparisons can be drawn with Tennis and Cricket where technology has threatened the very basis of the fundamental game. Power is the name of the game in Tennis and finesse players such as Laver, Borg & McEnroe would not exist in todays technological environment as their strokes would develop in a different way, just like Table Tennis. It is too late for Table Tennis, the damage had been done in the 1950's and many believe that the classic hardbat game and modern sponge bat game should have developed as two separate sports. This is the reason for this website.
A game such as classic hardbat that could draw crowds of 10,000 to packed venues worldwide should never have been allowed to die.
Past world class players were highly competitive and skilled individuals on par with the greatest Tennis players from the past. There is no disputing that the modern sponge bat game of table tennis has its place and that the worlds' best are highly developed athletes but many lesser opponents seek to achieve victory by deception and spin with poor technique whilst using the most uptodate equipment. The equipment is the driving force in many cases, not the player. This is fine, but, it is a completely different sport from the orginal classical game of table tennis using hardbats.
PARTICIPATION
Classic hardbat encourages participation from all ages and is a beautiful spectator sport with the gladatorial strategies of attack versus defence that are rarely seen in the modern sponge bat game. It is fact that the modern game is drawing in fewer crowds and that television coverage is minimal. The modern game can only be understood by the players themselves and it is difficult for a novice to understand why a rally has ended so abrubtly after a couple of strokes because of the effects of either long pimpled sponge rubber or glued up carbon fibre sponge bat blades.
Beginners can easily acquire the skill to play the classic hardbat game without the fear of the equipment controlling the ball over their own capabilities. With good technique, a young player could develop into a world class player in both genres of the sport. Ironically, the Chinese and Japanese table tennis system does not allow young players to use an advanced modern sponge bat until a competent level of skill has been achieved together with good footwork using simple pimpled spongeless rubber bats i.e., hardbats.
REVIVAL OF THE CLASSICAL GAME OF TABLE TENNIS
A revival is underway in the United States and is slowly taking place throughout Europe and a visit to any of these websites is a must!
The classic hardbat game is fun to play and watch and can be played at a highly competitive and rewarding level.
Join in and watch this sport grow in status.
WEBSITE INFORMATION & LINKS
Website information, relevant articles and links and details of where to play will become available soon.
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