I started playing ping pong at 8 years old in 1973. My friend who
introduced me to the sport used only hard bat rackets so I thought that
these were the normal rackets used by everyone. After a couple of years of
playing I played one of my father's tennis friends who used a sponge
racket. I had a very difficult time dealing with his strange spins. After
this my question for people was to ask them if they used a normal racket.
Not knowing I considered a hardbat racket as a normal racket. Years later
I realized that sponge rackets were the normal rackets used by tournament
players. At 12 I switched to a sponge racket after reading Tim Boggan's book.
Fast forward to March 1998. I was burnt out on sponge table tennis. For years I trained on building fast, powerful loops and tricky spins. Endless gluing and changing rubber every month got to be a pain. The guy who built the biggest gun was usually the winner. There was beauty in this game but it was hidden to the average person. I wanted something simple and straight up. Hardbat table tennis was the answer.
Suddenly everyone was on a much more level playing field. I was closer to players above me and players below me were also much closer to me. I did not have to worry about getting back Jim Butler's serves or Brian Masters anti spin blocks or Derek May's long pips pick hits or Scott Butler's powerful loops. Everyone basically had about the same shots. No more tricks. Longer rallies ensued with players more concerned with out positioning each other than simply overpowering each other. Now this was FUN.
I really enjoyed the feeling of a ball hitting a hardbat racket. I also enjoyed the sound of hardbat rackets. For the first time in 21 years I was enjoying the game instead of training just to be a better player. I still train to be a better player but when I lose to someone in hardbat I don't feel like I just got overpowered or tricked by severe spins. The player just out played me and it was clear and evident what happened.
Now after winning the 1998 US Nationals Hardbat Singles and Doubles I have a new identity in the sport. I am hooked. Although not everyone can win championships I feel like the joy from a long hardbat rally can be experienced by everyone. It is truly a game for the masses. I hope others will discover the beautiful hardbat game.
(photo by John Oros)