UHRL Rating List - history
by Scott Gordon
5/28/98 - revised 1/20/2000
The UHRL rating formula is given here.
Motivation
The Underground Hardbat Rating List (UHRL) was borne
out of a series of discussions which began during the 1997 U.S. Nationals.
Several interested parties including Marty Reisman, Berndt Mann, Freddie
Borges, Steve Berger, Pete May, myself and others expressed dismay that
the hardbat game would never rebound as long as such events were not
sanctioned. The idea of implementing a second rating list solely for
hardbat play was considered. I posed the idea on the internet, receiving
much interest in the form of email messages and offers of results.
Following up with telephone conversations with Reisman, May, and Mann,
I decided to simply implement a rating list and offer it to the U.S.
table tennis community. To my delight, Sean O'Neill offered to include
the list on his mining Co. web page
(now the About.Com
ranking list).
Where are the ratings listed?
It is listed on the Classic Hardbat
site - http://www.hardbat.com
The About.com web site also lists
it - http://tabletennis.about.com/
The list is also distributed to various individuals and clubs, and is
available from Scott Gordon at the address below, and via email
(sgordon@hardbat.com).
Why a USATT-style list?
A few people proposed using a system other than the current ~0-~3000 scale
in use by the USATT. After some thought, I decided to stick to the existing
system. My justifications included:
- A rank-only value (proposed by some of the top-ranked players)
causes a typically-ranked player to have a rating which plummets as
the sport grows. Players are thus rewarded if the player base shrinks,
rather than being rewarded for skill improvement.
- The current system is well understood and offers the possibility for
comparison. That is, one could discern if a player is "stronger" in
the hardbat arena. The numbers can be "normalized" with USATT ratings.
- Players can calculate their own ratings, which they seem to enjoy doing.
- The numbers are transferable if the USATT someday acquires it.
- I was confident that I could deliver such a rating list. It is easy to
encode in a computer program.
What events are accepted?
Only hardbat events in which all racquets are *short pips* and *no sponge*.
The two-color rule is not enforced.
Which events have been rated?
All events shown on the Tournament results page
have been rated.
What about other hardbat players?
There are still a few known USATT-rated hardbat players not included on
the list. However, the UHRL ratings are
for hardbat-only play. Play with hardbat *against* sponge is not
included in this list. Games vs. sponge are already rated by the USATT.
USATT ratings for full-time hardbat players are listed
here.
Strong hardbat players that are missing from the UHRL are listed
here.
The UHRL rating formula is given here.
Why didn't we just start everyone at 1500?
This was considered. However, it was decided that the first rating list
should contain a reasonably accurate and recognizable spread or it would
not be taken seriously. Starting everyone at 1500 would result in a very
slow stabilizing period... one which might not survive player apathy.
Why didn't we just start everyone at their USATT rating?
I tried this and it was disastrous. The problem is that when someone has
a very high rating (say, 2500) but is not a good hardbat player, then the
players who *defeat* him/her obtain artificially high (VERY high) ratings.
Will players become confused since both ratings use the same scale?
The ratings only measure relative performance within their particular
idiom. The US Chess Federation maintains four rating lists for various
playing modes (speed, fast, normal, and postal). I believe that people
will not generally find the lists confusing, and instead will appreciate
that the scales use a common, already familiar numbering system.
Is the highest rated player the champion?
No. The National Champion is determined by the result in the
U.S. Nationals, not by the UHRL ratings. Ratings simply show
recent performance.
How do I submit results?
Either email them to me, Scott Gordon: sgordon@hardbat.com
or send them to my address: 93 45th st. Sacramento, CA 95819.
Or give me a call (916) 457-8482.
Please indicate birthdates (month/year is sufficient), and gender.
These are used in the top-10 lists for juniors, seniors, and women.
Classic Hard Bat Table Tennis