OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Our club are holding a hardbat evening tomorrow.

obviously no time to alter my technique etc but any hints on what to avoid doing etc
For instance, I presume there's little point attempting serves with lots of spin ?

I play a game based round a strong backhand (using 1.5 mm SPs) with which I block, punch & drive
and an improving forehand (inverted). Basically I don't use much top spin in my game (don't really loop)-so
I'm thinking that I should be quite good at hardbat (??)

_________________
FH: DHS Neo Skyline III
BH: Palio AK 1997 Biotech
Blade: YEO


http://www.murrayfieldtt.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/MurrayfieldTTC

1) Open the face of the racket a lot more than you normally do.

2) Think about stroking upwards. Even when doing a flat kill, finish high. You will be surprised at how the ball seems to fall of the racket and not be lifted. In fact, while this may be an exaggeration, think about always hitting below the centerline of the ball. Better to hit to low and and with too open of a racket face than to try to incrementally open up the racket more than you are used to.

3) Underspin balls are easier to attack with hardbat. So the more experienced hardbat players will be looking for push shots to attack. You should be too.

4) Think control. And for control you must have a stroke. Every shot is stroked. Don't get lazy and think the racket will do the work for you as sandwich rubber often does.

5) Don't worry too much about doing well. Go in with the attitude that you intend to have fun trying something new. It is new to you after all, so don't put pressure on yourself to do great.

_________________
Jay Turberville
http://www.jayandwanda.com
Hardbat: Nittaku Resist & Dr. Evil

cheers,
thanks for that

_________________
FH: DHS Neo Skyline III
BH: Palio AK 1997 Biotech
Blade: YEO


http://www.murrayfieldtt.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/MurrayfieldTTC

the hardbat night was good fun.
unfortunately I was drawn to play the best player in the club, who's also an excellent hardbatter.
I was soon 12-2 down (playing one game to to 21) but started to play a more defensive chopping game
and only just lost.

using this defensive style I won the 'plate' event for those who lost in the 1st or 2nd round.

think everyone enjoyed the evening and we'll probably try it again.

_________________
FH: DHS Neo Skyline III
BH: Palio AK 1997 Biotech
Blade: YEO


http://www.murrayfieldtt.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/MurrayfieldTTC

Great that you enjoyed hardbat cje.
Where are you from ?

_________________
Hardbat France, the first French association to promote hardbat
http://www.hardbat-france.fr/

I play in Edinburgh, Scotland.

_________________
FH: DHS Neo Skyline III
BH: Palio AK 1997 Biotech
Blade: YEO


http://www.murrayfieldtt.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/MurrayfieldTTC

OK. Is hardbat popular in Scotland ?

_________________
Hardbat France, the first French association to promote hardbat
http://www.hardbat-france.fr/

frankly I've no idea.
I've only been playing TT properly since last December (after a 13 year break
since school), so I'm not really yet familiar with the
Scottish TT scene. (though I suspect that as TT is a fairly minor sport in Scotland, there's
not much likelihood of a sizeable hardbat community).

it was the first time our club had held a Hardbat night but they plan to have another.
I think people quite enjoyed the lower pace of the game
(so some of the arguments in favour of hardbat over sponge TT aired in the
BBC documentary Planet Ping Pong struck me as containing some validity):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv_dz-OF4qA

_________________
FH: DHS Neo Skyline III
BH: Palio AK 1997 Biotech
Blade: YEO


http://www.murrayfieldtt.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/MurrayfieldTTC

OK. For your information, English players just created a hardbat association, called HEATT : http://www.tabletennistalk.co.uk/forum/table/heat.doc. We've also created such an association in France last year, called Hardbat France (link in my signature). So if several Scottish players are interested in developing hardbat, maybe it would be good to think of creating such an association in Scotland. With Hardbat France, we plan to organize an international hardbat team match, England, Germany, Belgium and the Isle of Man have agreed in principle, so why not a Scottish team ?
Anyway, it's a bit soon now, but it's worth to think of it.

_________________
Hardbat France, the first French association to promote hardbat
http://www.hardbat-france.fr/

thanks for the info.

will keep that in mind

_________________
FH: DHS Neo Skyline III
BH: Palio AK 1997 Biotech
Blade: YEO


http://www.murrayfieldtt.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/MurrayfieldTTC