Hard bats or Not ?

[DaveR]

As the debate always continues with rubbers, blades and various other new and inovative products to "enhance" the sport (i say that very cautiously) there has over the years been a few "hard bat" tournaments, personally i have been involved in none as yet but yes would give it a whirl.

The new rubber types and the obvious speed enhancements such as glue, faster blades etc are always discussed and debated but the upshot is would or could we ever revert back to the "old" days and would it ever work................apart from the financial implications for the major manufacturing companys, i think not but we could step slightly backwards or even sideways to halt the speed element by introducing a stop in any further modifications to rubber or blades, after all the governing bodies have already set dates for the glue banning (http://tabletennistalk.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3) so why not move further if we are to apply restrictions?

[SteveJ]

Same both sides would eliminate some problems, although manufactures would kick up a stink.

[DaveR]

There is a great hard bat game here

flSrTLSmUpE&hl=en

[Gary Y]

we are having a hard bat comp at my local club it is a open comp so players from afar,i have entered in it for the past two years ,i have not won but have really enjoyed myself,i could not move very well for a couple of days as i hurt all over because you have got to work hard to make shots so for your fittness its thumbs up .

[SammyBoy]

The hard bats comps are a damn good way of creating a level playing field for everyone and the enjoyment is as good if not better than in normal. The young can see the bonuses of the modern equipment on the market and how it has changed over the years thus appreciating how the game can be played and not to take anything for granted.
Perhaps we should just revert back to a standard covering on all rackets and be done with all of the red tape and arguments flying around with the boosters and glue.

[Tinykin]

Table tennis has always had a great variety in equipment and there have always been complaints. Even in the hardbat days, there were players complaining about the use of rubbers of any sort on the bat. And there were many types of hardbat rubbers and blades. You could even use sandbats corkbats etc. In fact, Rufford Harrison the long term head of the equipment committee, has said that the rules that enshrined sponge of 4mm etc also made cork and sandbats illegal by mistake. That is, they forgot to include them as being legal.
Playing hardbat is fun. It gives more exercise for the lesser least players like myself. I always have a pair in my bag in case someone wants a game. But as a spectacle, sorry, it does not compare with two professionals going at it with Speedglued rubber and the 38mm ball.

[Annie]

There is a great hard bat game here

flSrTLSmUpE&hl=en

Buist............does this guys game remind you of anyone close by?

[DaveR]

Playing hardbat is fun. It gives more exercise for the lesser least players like myself. I always have a pair in my bag in case someone wants a game. But as a spectacle, sorry, it does not compare with two professionals going at it with Speedglued rubber and the 38mm ball.

Agreed i love the thrashing out playing in a fast and furious speed glued match !

[Nunney]

down in the southend local league, we have a hard bat tournament, a one day event that is well represented by all that play at all levels. it puts players on an even par and some of the results raise an eyebrow where players from lower divisions beat higher division players, where in normal league play they wouldnt stand a chance ( and in my case, hard bat usually wins!)
we also have a small hard bat league that runs through the summer, usually of about 6 teams, i dont play that one myself only because it would not do my own game any good playing hard bat that close to the start of the winter season......but is still good fun