Hardbat
Encyclopedia
Hardbat table tennis
is the classical table tennis playing style that existed prior to the advent of sponge rubber in the 1950-60s. The main difference between hardbat and modern table tennis lies in the racket used, which greatly affects the dynamics and strategy of the game. Hardbat rackets use short outward "pips" with no sponge, resulting in decreased speeds and reduced spin compared to rackets using sponge rubber. This results in slower shots, and a more strategic game rather than the fast paced, heavy topspin attacking style that dominates regular table tennis.
There has recently been a resurgence of hardbat play, with national championships contested yearly in the United States
.
The American Marty Reisman
became the oldest person ever to win an open national competition in a racquet sport when he won the 1997 United States National Hardbat championship at age 67.
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
is the classical table tennis playing style that existed prior to the advent of sponge rubber in the 1950-60s. The main difference between hardbat and modern table tennis lies in the racket used, which greatly affects the dynamics and strategy of the game. Hardbat rackets use short outward "pips" with no sponge, resulting in decreased speeds and reduced spin compared to rackets using sponge rubber. This results in slower shots, and a more strategic game rather than the fast paced, heavy topspin attacking style that dominates regular table tennis.
There has recently been a resurgence of hardbat play, with national championships contested yearly in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The American Marty Reisman
Marty Reisman
Marty Reisman is an American champion table tennis player and author. He was the 1958 and 1960 U.S. Men’s Singles Champion and the 1997 U.S...
became the oldest person ever to win an open national competition in a racquet sport when he won the 1997 United States National Hardbat championship at age 67.