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Chat Area => Archives => Topic started by: Paul on December 17, 2008, 01:19:10 PM
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I had the following exchange of e-mails with valley-dynamo. It seems they are changing the handles for their tables. It is my understanding that the changes will take affect for this years tournament in Vegas. The new handles will be plastic. Interchangeable handles are to follow the next year.
I became aware of this after visiting vifa.com and noticed the announcement.
In the last post, he asks for my address. He may be sending me some handles to try, but i'm not sure.
The series of e-mails begins at the bottom and works its way to the top of this post.
If you take issue with the direction that Tornado tables are moving in, I suggest you contact Valley-Dynamo and give your input.
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From: Dave.Courington@valley-dynamo.com
Send me your address please.
Thanks
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From: pbroa
Sent: 12/17/2008 12:41 PM
To: Dave.Courington@valley-dynamo.com
Subject: RE: Plastic handles
Dave,
Thank you for your response.
So now the question is, what type of handles are going to be used this year at the HOFC? Will it be non-interchangeable plastic handles? I shoot pin-forwards as my main shot. As you pointed out, shooting pinned balls with plastic handles is futile.
Also, I would not want to purchase plastic handles that are not interchangeable for practice and then purchase interchangeable handles for the next year.
I recommend keeping the wooden handles until a suitable interchangeable handle system if available, with wooden handles as an option.
I understand your dilemma regarding consistent quality. However, I have purchased and installed wooden handles for approximately 8 tables over the past two years and have not noticed a problem with consistency except for the occasional miss-aligned pin hole.
Paul Broach
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To: Paul Broach
Cc: info@vifa.com
Subject: Fw: Plastic handles
Hello Paul ... Dave Courington with Tornado here. Brian at the VIFA
office
forwarded me your e-mail and I thought should respond.
I like you have always liked a wooden handle ... my hands to not sweat
and
I need to spit on them to get a good grip on the wooden handles. So from
that standpoint the rubber handles were better ... however they slipped
when you were shooting if you pinned the ball hard and that really
pissed
me off. So for me spitting on my hands to get a better grip was far
better
than having a handle slip was far better for me. However in recent years
our handle supplier has really let us down. For years we got our handles
from a small wood turning shop in New Hampshire. About 8 years ago they
went out of business and none of the three suppliers we have found has
been
able to produce us a consistent handle. When they sharpen the knifes
they
do not compensate for this and the handles get feeling "fat" or they do
not
get the "slope" right ... we have had way too many problems. Players
always
screamed about this ... the handles were the part of the table they
touched
... when they felt different to what they were used to ... it gave then
a
reason to bitch, or an excuse as to why they lost (this was the one I
used). This was a real problem and with the internet a little problem
becomes a big problem very quickly. So a molded handle, which will
always
be the same size and form, and that could be attached and not slip was
appealing to me. Couple that with the ITSF has proposed that all member
handles be "interchangeable" by 2010, I felt it was in Tornados best
interest to get ahead of the curve and have an interchangeable system in
place so other manufacturers would fit to our design rather us to
theirs.
So when this system is 100% you and I will be able to use our wooden
handles while others could use the handle of their choosing ... all of
this
can be done in less time than it takes to wrap a handle. This is not a
cheaping of our product ... not a cost savings in any way ... it is an
improvement that will appeal to many different players.
Hopefully this will help you to understand were we are trying to go with
the handles ... in the long run you and I can have our wooden buddies
and
let the other players have their favorites as well. Thanks for your
continued support and looking forward to seeing you in Las Vegas in
March.
Thanks
Dave Courington
Vice President
Valley-Dynamo
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From: "Paul Broach" <pbroa@amc-engineers.com>
To: <info@vifa.com>
Please tell me that Tornado tables are not changing to
plastic or rubber handles. Wood handles have always been
the sign of a quality table.
I tried every handle type they had on display at the HOFC
several years ago. The tables played like a sears special.
I do not use a wrap. I am not going to start using a wrap.
There is nothing more irritating than waiting for your
opponent to wrap their handles every time you start a match
or switch sides. Wraps have become a handicap for some
players who cannot play without them. I can walk up to any
table and play without whining about not having the
necessary equipment.
Make this change and Brunswick will lose all the players
that do not use wraps or gloves. Since this is the
direction the sport is moving (or should I say game now that
the tables will play like a toy), it is time for me to find
a new hobby and sell my table.
I will not be at this years HOFC or Worlds to play on toy
tables. I will encourage all others not to attend as well.