Table tennis anyone? North Alabama Table Tennis Club has seen an increase in popularity

By Bob Labbe | Photos by Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus

Table Tennis is more or less a “grown up version of Ping Pong.” Both versions of the sport are fun, athletic and difficult to master, but since 1983 with the formation of what is known as the North Alabama Table Tennis Club (NATTC), Table Tennis has taken on a new life with approximately 70 players of all ages and all levels of play at two locations in Huntsville and one in Decatur.

So, let’s start with the difference in the two versions of the sport: Ping Pong is actually a trademark owned by Escalade of the equipment surrounding the athletic event and not really a sport. Table Tennis is the official name of the sport played worldwide and has been part of Olympic competition since 1988. What most people have played at home or at local recreation centers is widely known as Ping Pong while the more serious players, like those with the NATTC, know the real name of the sport and take their competition seriously where some of the local players have been on the world stage for many years.

Chip Patton, regarded as the mainstay player in Huntsville since arriving in North Alabama 30 years ago, has assisted in running the NATTC for the last 20 years and has been a tournament director for top events around the country and was a statistician and official scorekeeper in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. No matter where he travels for his job with Hexagon (formerly Intergraph) he always finds a place to play the sport he began in high school.

“I search for the local clubs and play every chance I get and it’s fun to play different people across the country,” said Patton, 62.

Michael Wetzel of Decatur, was a journalist for over 40 years and currently works as communications director for the Morgan County Commission. He began to play competitively in college in 1977 and played his first sanctioned tournament a year later. It was there he quickly learned the difference between Ping Pong and Table Tennis. Wetzel said, “I had no idea the athleticism and strategy along with ball spin and power it took to be a player on the national stage.” He has worked an array of positions within the sport both in Alabama and across the globe. He has played in every Alabama Closed Tournament since 1980, which is easily a state record, and has played at Table Tennis clubs in Germany, Switzerland and Venezuela. He became a USATT certified umpire 40 years ago and became one of about 35 active international umpires in the U.S. in 2008.

“Table Tennis is a nearly injury free sport that can be played a lifetime and in recent years I use competitive Table Tennis as my main source of exercise and fellowship,” said Wetzel, who, at age 67, added, “There is that special bond that is formed when you meet and compete against other players, though my game is not what it was 20-30 years ago. But it is a good feeling after competing for a couple hours knowing I was able to get by some players in their 20’s. At the same time, I have lost to 10-year old girls and boys who have fulltime coaches and are on their way to bigger and better things.”

The NATTC is made up of mostly men 40-plus with the oldest in their 70’s. The club also features teens and women. In recent years, there have been new members from across the globe with Huntsville being a mega player in the world business trade. Those attending have come from countries such as China, India, Jamaica, and others from countries of Africa.

Patton added, “There seems to be a lot of intellectual people playing Table Tennis as there are numerous professionals and medical doctors who play and love the sport and the social aspect of the comradery. Even retired Alabama Representative to Congress Mo Brooks has been a longtime player with the club and Patton feels “He was possibly the best Table Tennis player in Congress as he’s what we call a high-level player.”

The rating system in the sport is similar to the one used in chess. The range is basically zero-2,700. The average good player is rated at 1,500 while players with the caliber of Patton are around the 2,000 level of the system. The sport is highly competitive, but the NATTC invites even the real novices to come out and play as there is no charge to participate, the gatherings are organized and you can play against others your own level of expertise. Just bring a paddle and gym shoes.

Patton, a six-time Masters (age 40-plus) Alabama State Champion and two-time open doubles state champ, added, “For a novice player, they need to learn to control the spin of the ball. They can easily learn from the elite players in the club or even watch YouTube videos. I encourage those just starting to learn the rules of the game and practice as it takes a lot of time to become good at the sport, but it is so much fun in doing so. Like me, who started playing Table Tennis while in high school where we would play on a table in the senior lounge of my high school, I have found out Table Tennis is a way to exercise for your entire life. The sport is quick moving and requires quick eye-hand coordination, which helps keep your mind active.”

Unfortunately, Table Tennis is a misunderstood and disrespected sport. Wetzel called the sport “The Rodney Dangerfield of Olympic sports. Everyone thinks they are the world’s greatest Ping Pong player and lover, but those who have played Ping Pong and maybe haven’t lost a match on the table in a long time can visit a local Table Tennis club and find out quickly they might only be the greatest in one of those two exercises.”

The passion for the sport can be long lasting and personal. Wetzel one had a cat he named “JJ” who he named after Jiang Jiliang, the 1985-1987 world champion Table Tennis player. His personalized car tag reads “TBL10S,” which stands for Table Tennis. He added, “I never regretted taking up the sport and remaining active in the sport for the past 47 years. I found out very quickly I didn’t have the athleticism to be an elite Table Tennis player, but I was able to find other avenues through being an official or director of tournaments to remain relevant in the sport.”

The NATTC is the most active of the four official Table Tennis clubs in Alabama. Other clubs are located in Birmingham, Anniston and Mobile. There are some formal organizations at colleges such as Alabama, Auburn and Auburn-Montgomery.

Equipment needed to play Table Tennis is actually very simple. A good quality paddle can cost about $100 with high level paddles well over $300. Patton uses a paddle that cost him $150. He said the sheet of rubber on the paddle wears out generally in about six months. The balls used are professionally made. Those you see playing “Ping Pong” usually are much cheaper, can break easily and many times are not completely round causing a player to not be able to put the proper spin on the ball.

Patton also explained what he considers the differences in the two names for the sport. He indicated Ping Pong is angles and being the quickest. Table Tennis requires athleticism and being able to control the spin and speed of the ball. Both ventures on the table can be fun for a lifetime in the sport.

The NATTC meets Thursdays at the Brahan Spring Recreation Center and on Fridays at Fern Bell Recreation Center in Huntsville beginning at 5:30 p.m. In Decatur, play is held Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. You can visit the club’s website for additional details: www.nattc.com.