OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I have a little different SPIN on playing in bars.

I played TT in a bar last Friday night, and have since gone back twice for their hot wings:), and it was a good experience if not high drama tt. The people who were playing were not serious tt players, but they were serious about their tt. I was there with the woman who is the president of the local club, my wife and some other friends. It was not an ideal venue for table tennis, but it did beat the socks off my uncle's basement, where we played as children.

Our local club president is a very high energy and gregarious individual. She is one of those people that just invites positive interaction. I am normally cast in the role of the token curmudgeon to act as foil to her vivacity.

We played some excellent recreational tt players. The house rules brought back memories of days gone by.

I believe we provided a good impression on behalf of the local club.

Toward the end of evening we did a mini-exhibition while hitting with each other. It was great hear oohs and ahhs.

Some of the bar players and hangers-on were amazed to find that there was a USATT in their community and that they would be welcomed with open arms to come and play. We answered a goodly number of questions about "real ping-pong," what is it like compared to the basement/garage/ bar variety, why the balls were not all white, why were the balls bigger, why the two colour bats, number of points in a "real" game, etc. After our mini-exhibition, during the only game we played against each other, we became the subject matter experts. There is a distinct possibility that the club will gain from this cross-pollination as I grow rounder due to a regular ingestion of hot wings.

The house-bats that were available, to those who didn't bring their own equipment, were beginner quality inverted (red and black), Halex I think. We donated some three star balls and will likely kick in some intermediate quality bats if things continue apace. The owners/managers and bar staff were very receptive to our friendliness and approach as well as grateful for our custom. Playing does seemingly engender an almost continuous need for food and liquid refreshment.

Hey it's Friday again....Wings Up Dudes...
tOD

Cultural note: Just in case you don't have these where you live: "Hot Wings" or "Buffalo Wings"(so-called from their espoused place of origin, Buffalo, NY) are spiced and flavored chicken wings...The variety types and degrees of "hotness" are marvels of culinary ingenuity. They are consumed by the baskets-full.

Like you, we have one bar with a table. The experience is similar. It is wonderful for a break from "normal" table tennis. Good hot wings and a beer or two. No, we do not get drunk. My usual partner drinks Pepsi only. We always get hit with many questions like you did. We have actually had several that have taken up real table tennis after watching us. Lots of fun. Play one game, go do a 2 step or waltz, hit another game, get another dance. Hard to play serious with country music on but that is not why we enjoy it. Three of the Senior Games players found out about the Games at the bar. Now I give lessons to one of thier grandsons at the college.

I am the designated Coke/Pepsi drinker in our crowd. It is great to hear your story. Have a Wing on me. I would like to think there are others out there with similar experiences.

A new slogan, "Building Table Tennis in America, One Wing-at-a-Time.":)
tOD

I would love to go there and have a game -seems like a classy place-plus I like Susan Sarandon.

This.

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"Despair says, I cannot hit with the speed of my opponent. Happiness says, I do not need to."
Committee Member @ Gold Coast Table Tennis, Queensland, Australia
Audio Table Tennis Interviews

Hot Girl in Mini Lived in NZ for about 6 months about 4 years ago she won our NZ open tiltle. A really good defender she used P1 on her back hand, she called Anna Lee when she was here. She tried to settle in NZ but nothing really opened for her so she is a Prada model and TT player now.

I remeber whne she played she seemd to have all the time the world between shots super nfootwork.

Gregg

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