Thomas C. Veatch, Ph.D.
						314 NE 57th St.
						Seattle, WA 98105
						tv@sprex.com
						(206) 352-1407 tel

						December 29, 2000


Larry Hodges
Editor
USATT Magazine


Dear Larry Hodges,

I am Tom Veatch, a 1600-level player from Seattle; we met at the
Nationals a couple of weeks ago.  You will perhaps recall speaking
with me there about the new "V grip" that I discovered on my October
2000 visit to China.  I asked you if you would consent to publish in
the USATT magazine a description of this new grip and its benefits.

After a few seconds' consideration you made four points to me in that
conversation: (1) the mechanics of this grip would make it damaging to
players' elbows, (2) you are not interested in confusing or damaging
the table-tennis-playing youth of America by introducing them to bad
grips, (3) there are other new (and seemingly bogus) grips out there
(such as the Pistol Grip of Barney Reed, Sr.) where people have been
asking you to publish some news about them, and (4) you refuse to
publish anything about it.

Although I felt despondent after listening to you, I quickly realized
that even rejection is valuable!  If you would confirm your position
and argument to me in written communication, that would be solid
evidence for the future about how non-obvious and revolutionary the V
grip really was at the time it was first introduced.  You will recall
that at the end of our conversation, you agreed to reply to my
written, emailed request, presumeably with the same refusal, if I sent
it to you, so that's what I wish to do here.

First, though, let me ask you to read a bit more about the V grip, by
visiting my page on the internet, http://www.tomveatch.com/tt, which
includes a detailed description of the V-grip itself, including its
mechanics and relative advantages over the penhold and shakehand
grips; also, incidentally, you can find there a description of my trip
to China, along with the text from the advertising brochure of the
school I visited.

Consider also what table tennis players universally find interesting:
first, new and interesting techniques; second, rational discussions
that compare techniques; and third, otherwise unknown, perhaps even
secret -- except for trips like mine -- technical developments being
worked on at leading sports schools in China, the Mecca of our sport.
Articles of general technical interest with these characteristics
should certainly be included where possible, particularly if the
alternative choice is another tedious (except to a few participants)
event report, which so frequently occupy as many as three pages per
event in your magazine.

All these reasons suggest that a significant article on the V grip
would be of widespread interest and well worth making space in the
USATT magazine for it.

So now I hereby formally request that you consider publishing an
article on the V grip, including a URL for more information, and
preferably including pictures.  I will be delighted to write an
article of suitable length, based on the material at
www.tomveatch.com/tt/vgrip.html.  Although I do not have pictures from
China, I propose to produce pictures of the grip itself and of various
strokes using it to include in a published article, according to your
specifications.  Please, then, reconsider the refusal that you
expressed to me verbally in Las Vegas, and let me know your decision.

Your refusal or your acceptance would be much appreciated: either one!
If you refuse, please tell me what you can of your reasons, if only to
refer to what you said in Las Vegas (as represented above).  If you
accept my proposal in principle, I would expect, of course, that the
article will have to go through a few drafts before the text,
pictures, and layout themselves are accepted.  (That is, I understand
that accepting my proposal only means that you'll work with me to
develop an acceptable article, not that you'll accept whatever I send
you -- of course.)  Just please guide me as far as space limitations
and any other editorial requirements; then I'll come up with a draft,
which of course you may wish to edit, perhaps over multiple
iterations.

Again, thank you very much for your time and consideration.  
Your prompt reply is much appreciated.

Yours sincerely,



Tom Veatch