Philippine Liha (Sandpaper Racket)

Playing Table Tennis using Sandpaper Racket "Liha Game"

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• liha
• sandpaper
• philtt
• table
• tennis
• pingpong
• richard
• gonzales
• senyong
• aldeguer
• winston
• pete

[wturber]

Adding sponge misses the point. The whole idea is to play a tactical game that is not dominated by offensive power. All too often the modern game is unexciting to watch since rallies end quickly. FWIW, I think I hit the ball as fast with hardbat (haven't tried sandpaper recently) as I do with sponge. The difference is the spin and that difference makes it easier to hit a hard ball with sponge than with hardbat. I assume "liha" or sandpaper play is similar in this respect to hardbat.

[HardbatProductions]

You can really see how aerobic this is compared to sponge table tennis - you have to hit many strong strokes to win the point. Amazing what develops when you remove the loop...both offense and defense emerge as equal ingredients. Beautiful to watch and impressive level of play. My hats off to the Philippene masters of liha - Bravo!

[braquemar]

I've yet to hear a convincing argument in favor of Hardbat or Sandpaper play other than that it is a) an option for those who either can't, due to age or otherwise, play athletically or refuse to learn and, most often said that it is b) more strategic, or that one can't simply "kill the ball any time". I'd like to hear any more reasons or perhaps clarifications of the previous two reasons. At this point, I view people who prefer Hardbat over modern equipment to be living in the past or stubborn.

[cigarbong]

@mentalrectangle What's a "fatal spin"? Even though the game is faster with modern equipment doesn't mean there's no tactics involved.

[kunXV]

LIHA LIHA DIN!!!!

[nickbaddy]

WALA TALAGANG RUBBER YAN O YUNG RUBBER NILAGYAN NG LIHA

[mentalrectangle]

I play a lot of casual games with sandpaper, and I love it. It's quite fast, contrary to what some have sad. You can still put a fatal spin on the ball, but it requires quite a lot more effort, and it's only possible for certain shots.

And that's the point. Every shot shouldn't be a killshot. I think the game is better when you have to play tactically, maybe for quite a while, before you've lined up that killshot.

[elprisionero]

Looks really nice and the rallies are longer than the regular table tennis.  Probably they are breaking a lot of balls. I think that I would try it here in NY, what kind of paper I should use ?

[adam102803]

great game....great video..long live LIHA...

[kiatkiat2]

i dunno the merits of this game but sandpaper play is so antique. i have played this in the past maybe more than 30 years ago. i think, if we would put a modern sponge in this bat, it would be more exciting. we cud do the modern loop. old school game is so slow like malin and wanghao in slow motion :)