I think they should allow thicker sponge and longer pips to compensate for the larger ball. We are still using specifications intended for the 38mm ball! Time for an update.

Also allow frictionless for all rubbers. It's unfair that inverted can be frictionless but not pips.

Er, I think it's dangerous to make predictions based on ONE world champs... and second place at that. Did Yoo's second place so many years ago result in a flood of choppers? If Falck repeats again next year - or even gets into the top four - then I'd say there might be a trend towards short pips. I'd be even more convinced if he makes it into the top five ranking-wise in the next year. Even so it'll just be a few players who take it up - we're not going to regress back to the late 1960s where the Chinese all played with short pips.

Iskandar

I think the Chinese situation is a lot more fluid than you make out. Who gets to play isn't solely based on the coaches and managers, or who gets beat by other international players. Players actually do come up through the ranks, the good ones are the ones who beat other players at the provincial level, and then make a name for themselves playing for provincial teams in national tournaments and leagues. The national coaches and managers do make selections and determine which of the best players get onto the international stage, but they'll pick the ones who beat the others. And at the provincial levels, there will be a number of choppers and a ton of short pips hitters. If this new ball means that the short pips hitters suddenly start beating the other players, then these players will appear on the Chinese National Team. So far I have not seen any indication that this is the case. If it does happen you'll see one or two of them being given a chance to appear internationally. I can't think of any, and we've had plenty of time with the 40+ ball already.

Iskandar