OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hi guys
this is a simple and maybe silly sounding question but I am trying to find out if it is possible to get good quality balls in colors other than white and yellow/orange. These would be used when training with a robot, the theory being (I read somewhere ) that you can create a more realistic or spontaneous situation by making your stroke selected dependent on the ball color that shots out, stopping you anticipating the robot. This would be more like a game situation. An example exercise would be where you alternate between a deep heavy push, short push, flick/flip, loop or counterhit against underspin balls to forehand or backhand, each stroke selected at random by the color of the ball. This forces you to move to the ready position and then use appropriate footwork and body movements and not get lazy. Nowhere near as good as multi ball but better than nothing.

I had also considered marking the balls with color or markings but I imagine that what ever I use may rub off onto the rubbers , something I want to avoid.

any ideas or feedback will be appreciated.

cheers
Mars

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Blade Stiga Hybrid Wood FH Butterfly Dignics 05 BH Butterfly Tenergy 05 FX

sounds like a good idea to me, i have never heard of any multi coloured balls that are cheap? I think Rebel might have some but everything there is not cheap so a robot full would break the pocket.
Perhaps a 50/50 of white and orange might work

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the re-evolution of war
Bty Gergely Palio Macro Era 42.5 Max DHS H2 Max

Thanks metal monkey,

the robot only really holds about 200-250 balls (I have a full net but it only collects balls not full recycling) so if you had 4 or 5 different colored or marked balls I only need maybe 50 of any 1 color or marking. I will check our rebel and the balls they have are least the quality of training balls.

cheers

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Blade Stiga Hybrid Wood FH Butterfly Dignics 05 BH Butterfly Tenergy 05 FX

I've never seen decent quality balls in colours other than orange and white.. I guess there' not much of a market for them, since they can't be used in competition...

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
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I wish there were specially marked balls that would allow you to follow the rotation better when practicing serving.

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My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

Just take a black marker and put dots on the balls.

The more dots you see on the ball when you serve, the less spin is on the ball. Lesser dots is more spin.

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BTY Boll Forte / Moon max / Talon OX
BTY Primorac / Tenergy 05 max / Akkadi L2 0.6

Or you can use a black or red marker to mark three complete circles (not too thin) around the perimeters of the balls, all perpendicular to each other, you can see the amount of spin very easy.

I have actually spent time to mark about 50 of the balls and use these to serve. When the marker is dry, it won't affect the rubber but messy to the hand when wet.

Just be patient.

Or you can draw spirals on there to hypnotise your opponent

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

When I just started, my first coach had a few balls (quality ones) that were tri-colored (red white and blue) to demonstrate spin. Don't know where he got them though, and I think they were expensive for TT balls, because he only had like 3...

I would second the Three Circles approach. Use a good marker though, and let it dry completely. You don't want smudges on the rubber, nor do you want to see your efforts washed away by sweaty hands.

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Permanent markers are the best. They don't mess with or without water (sweat).

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Blade-Yasaka Ma LIn Extra Offensive
FH- Palio Blitz
BH-Yasaka Rakza 7 Soft

ROFL

Oh I laughed at that... for some reason... just sidespin and then they'll be hypnotised !

Also, Orange balls are becoming less and less popular...does anyone know why? I mean, I don't know so I'm asking...

All the ITTF Pro Tours and the Olympics used white balls...my club does, and all the state comps do as well but my dad still like orange xD

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' Winners never quit and quitters never win. ' Jorgen Persson

729 BOMB Penhold
FH Tenergy 05
BH Palio CK531A

I is penholder .
Chopping with SH is fun

I think popularity comes and goes... I've always preffered the orange ones, but I can happily play with either...

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Alot of the places I play, the college and at tournements, the walls are white. The orange balls are much eaiser to see.

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Shakehand, left handed.
Blade, Yinhe, W-1
Forhand, H-3 National
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