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By Denise Deason

9th October 2007 11:05:45 AM

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Gotcha … Margaret Pinder finds the ball in a game of swish at Geelong.

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OKAY, sports fans. Who has heard of swish?

It’s a game similar to table tennis played by visually impaired people - and it’s growing in popularity.

The organisers, led by Brent Franklin, want to set up a playing group in Melbourne’s western suburbs including Wyndham, Melton, Essendon and Footscray.

Groups are already operating in Kooyong, Geelong, Bendigo and Brisbane, and it is going to be promoted Australia-wide by next year.

Mr Franklin, 36, who has been blind since birth, loves playing swish and has won three Australian championships with his skill with the bat and ball.

The game is played with a ball that has a bell in it, so players can hear it coming, and the name comes from the sound the bat makes as it is dragged quickly across the table by the players.

“It actually makes a swishing sort of noise,” he said.

“Swish … was invented by Ray Hanna in the 1950s for soldiers who had lost their sight in World War II and wanted to keep playing a sport.

“It’s very empowering to play swish, and a great entertainment.”

If you’d like to play swish, or can help with organising a players’ group or venue, Mr Franklin can be contacted on 0412 704 749.

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