OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I have not been able to locate a Hock 3-ply blade for a hardbat setup,so I have been searching for something that is currently available that plays most like the Hock. For those of you who have played hardbat with a 3-ply Hock, what do you think is most similar? I have been using an LKT Toxic 3 with Dr Evil, but what else is out there?

Honestly not familiar with Hock 3-ply blades whatsoever. Is Hock a reference to the species of wood used in the blade, is that a style or design of bat, or is it merely a brand name?

Do you know the plywood makeup / recipe for the blade? If you can track this information down (ie: the thickness and species of each layer in the core) then I might be able to recommend an alternative.

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Wakkibat: Custom Made TT Blades
Proudly made in Australia from local and imported timbers
http://www.wakkibat.com

Why get something like a Hock, when authentic Hock blades are still available? I bought two new ones last year.

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My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

Hock bats were made by Bernie Hock in the classic hardbat age of table tennis. I bought several from him in the 70's, after he had been making them for many years. Once in a while, one comes up for sale on ebay, but usually at a crazy price. Marty Reisman sold some of the Hock stock after Bernie Hock died, but I don't know what happened to what was left after Marty died.

Like I said, “original stock, original HOCK” bats and blades are still available.
Contact Don Varian ([email protected]). Prices as of last year were $50 each plus $10 shipping via USPS priority mail. They were originally $4.

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The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
Table Tennis Video Links: itTV | laola1.tv | ttbl | fftt | Challenger Series | mnnb-tv

My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

Thanks! I had heard that Don was no longer selling them. I will get in touch with him.

I just learned that Don Varian is no longer making Hock bats due to health reasons.
I will keep looking for a modern substitute. Maybe someday I will run across a Hock bat for sale.
Thanks for the help!

Any idea what timbers are used in these bats?

From the look of them they're quite straight forward. Assuming you can identify the timber they used, any decent bladesmith or hobbyist woodworker should be able to put one together for you very easily.

_________________
Wakkibat: Custom Made TT Blades
Proudly made in Australia from local and imported timbers
http://www.wakkibat.com

Valortabletennis has a variety of birch/poplar blades designed for hardbat play. Can't speak to the similarity to hock blades though as I have not tried a hock