Hardbat First, Sponge Later

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   The following idea is inspired by the fact that I started playing in France and we had hardbat paddles only. I was 12 and 3 years in a row, in a garage, I was playing in the weekends with the kids of the family that welcomed me as that boarding school was closed on non school days and my parents were making money abroad  (I saw them 3 times year, 3 weeks at xmas, 3 weeks at Easter, 2 months in the summer).
The rallies were long and controlled it was all about placement, especially to take advantage of the killing angles due to close walls or cars. I think a lot of what I do better than other things from within my game, whatever the level, is fueled by those years of hardbat. Placement, going across, going along the line or to the elbow is relatively more important to do in hardbat since there is no spin factor.

Would it be smart to teach young people to play hardbat first for a few years before moving them to using sponge and inverted? could a hardbat game be a more solid foundation and great material to build a strong framework for the spin game?

In terms of strategy and tactics, the hardbat game seems to me more subtle because the ecosystem is far simpler. The idea is that it would train smarter players who, when switching to sponge and spin, would have an advantage.