OOAK Table Tennis Forum :: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches

ITTF World Tour & T2 Sign Collaboration Agreement

01/11/18

During the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Astana, Kazakhstan; the ITTF World Tour and T2 signed a collaboration agreement.

The agreement will see the ITTF World Tour and T2 Asia & Pacific Table Tennis League working together to grow both properties for the betterment of global table tennis.

Mr Frank JI, who is the Founder & Chairman of T2 as well as the Chairman of Seamaster, the title sponsor of the ITTF World Tour stated:

“My goal is to create an environment where our table tennis players are adored and loved by millions across the world and not just by table tennis fans. An environment that would attract more media attention, more TV broadcasters, more fans and more money into the sport. I want table tennis to be one of the biggest sports in the world, and have our players become rich and famous! This is why I created the T2 league and sponsored the ITTF World Tour.”

“I see many synergies between the two properties, which is why this collaboration makes sense, so ITTF and T2 can work more closely together and achieve my goal of table tennis being a flourishing commercial sport,” concluded Mr JI, who is also the Special Advisor to the ITTF President for Commercial Business.

The collaboration will involve the ITTF World Tour, incorporating certain elements from T2, such as using multiple balls during matches, increased player promotion, player contracts and broadcast innovations.

The biggest aspect of the collaboration is that T2 will become the ITTF competition laboratory, whereby the ITTF can test new innovations such as ball tracking spin and speed, as well as the challenge system where players can challenge an umpire’s decision. This could work for edge ball and even fault serves. T2 is a perfect environment for testing to see if concepts are fit for official ITTF competitions.

ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated during the signing ceremony: “We are very happy to have people like Frank Ji in our sport, we need more passion, more ideas and more energy. With Mr Frank JI on board, we have been able to innovate and develop the 2017 ITTF World Tour, which resulted in record prize money, record TV viewership and record TV interest.”

“2018 is an important year for the ITTF, so we are looking forward to the collaboration, which will assist the ITTF to take the ITTF World Tour to new heights.”

The first event of the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour will be the Hungarian Open commencing on 18 January 2018.

Author:	mynamenotbob [ 12 Jan 2018, 05:05 ]
Post subject:	ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
Saves ball pick-up time I guess. Does this mean we can use this practice in our official play as well? Quote: ITTF World Tour & T2 Sign Collaboration Agreement 01/11/18 During the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Astana, Kazakhstan; the ITTF World Tour and T2 signed a collaboration agreement. The agreement will see the ITTF World Tour and T2 Asia & Pacific Table Tennis League working together to grow both properties for the betterment of global table tennis. Mr Frank JI, who is the Founder & Chairman of T2 as well as the Chairman of Seamaster, the title sponsor of the ITTF World Tour stated: “My goal is to create an environment where our table tennis players are adored and loved by millions across the world and not just by table tennis fans. An environment that would attract more media attention, more TV broadcasters, more fans and more money into the sport. I want table tennis to be one of the biggest sports in the world, and have our players become rich and famous! This is why I created the T2 league and sponsored the ITTF World Tour.” “I see many synergies between the two properties, which is why this collaboration makes sense, so ITTF and T2 can work more closely together and achieve my goal of table tennis being a flourishing commercial sport,” concluded Mr JI, who is also the Special Advisor to the ITTF President for Commercial Business. The collaboration will involve the ITTF World Tour, incorporating certain elements from T2, such as using multiple balls during matches, increased player promotion, player contracts and broadcast innovations. The biggest aspect of the collaboration is that T2 will become the ITTF competition laboratory, whereby the ITTF can test new innovations such as ball tracking spin and speed, as well as the challenge system where players can challenge an umpire’s decision. This could work for edge ball and even fault serves. T2 is a perfect environment for testing to see if concepts are fit for official ITTF competitions. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated during the signing ceremony: “We are very happy to have people like Frank Ji in our sport, we need more passion, more ideas and more energy. With Mr Frank JI on board, we have been able to innovate and develop the 2017 ITTF World Tour, which resulted in record prize money, record TV viewership and record TV interest.” “2018 is an important year for the ITTF, so we are looking forward to the collaboration, which will assist the ITTF to take the ITTF World Tour to new heights.” The first event of the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour will be the Hungarian Open commencing on 18 January 2018.

Author:	Def-attack [ 12 Jan 2018, 07:37 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
I think they are using it more and more in different countries local leagues. Perhaps even in Sweden . It should be ok in lower class leagues as well, can’t see why not? If you have the balls for it

Author:	iskandar taib [ 12 Jan 2018, 12:47 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
I suppose it increases the expense of buying balls... Can't see it happening in the big US tournaments except in the Open Finals.. just too many matches going on at one time, most of which are player-umpired (i.e. NO officials present). Not that this is terribly new - I recall seeing it done in at least of Eastern European tournament on YouTube - Poland or Slovakia or somewhere. Iskandar

Author:	igorponger [ 12 Jan 2018, 20:45 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
DUSTY BALLS? All the balls, as they come out from a factory, all covered with plastic dust. This white fine dust will reduce the rubber friction and wreck your play, anyway. ITTF does not care to clean up the balls. Some players did spoke against the multi ball to be introduced.

Author:	Robot Blocker [ 12 Jan 2018, 20:49 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
igorponger wrote: DUSTY BALLS? All the balls, as they come out from a factory, all covered with plastic dust. This white fine dust will reduce the rubber friction and wreck your play, anyway. ITTF does not care to clean up the balls. Some players did spoke against the multi ball to be introduced. Spit, wipe, clean off, voila, a dust free ball!

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Author:	iskandar taib [ 17 Jan 2018, 10:56 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
I suppose, at least, we won't need multiple ball young persons, like they do in tennis... There was a match at the WTTC two years ago when the ball got stuck under the fancy table, inside the lighted leg structure and one of the players had to crawl underneath to get it back... Iskandar

Author:	Silver [ 17 Jan 2018, 12:17 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
They should have 1 ball, but change it after the first 7 points, then every 9 points after that

Author:	iskandar taib [ 17 Jan 2018, 14:35 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
Should make it every 6 points - each towel break... (Or 12 points - every second towel break..) Iskandar

Author:	LOOPOVER [ 17 Jan 2018, 16:31 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
I doubt that will be popular in the USA with the Nittaku Premium made in Japan the ball of choice at $2-3 each

Author:	iskandar taib [ 18 Jan 2018, 02:39 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
I suppose changing the ball after every so many points would have made more sense with the old DHS 40+... Iskandar

Author:	Gtsnake [ 11 Mar 2018, 09:39 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
It's about time! I've always wondered why they don't have multiple balls at matches. Is it because TT is too cheap? They can't afford a few more balls? I realize it's a cheap sport to play but in a professional tournament??? Hopefully it will speed up the pace of the game. I have some friends that were new to TT and the first thing they commented when watching a match is "they're always running around chasing balls and not playing"

Author:	Silver [ 11 Mar 2018, 09:45 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
Because a) the old balls werent that durable b) players think they can tell the diff between balls

Author:	iskandar taib [ 13 Mar 2018, 00:58 ]
Post subject:	Re: ITTF to use multiple balls in world tour matches
There was a match at the WTTC in KL - can't remember who was playing (Germany vs. Japan women) but the ball got caught in the legs of the exhibition table, where the lights were. One of the players had to crawl underneath to get it. They actually had to look around for it for maybe 20 seconds before they realized what happened to it. Iskandar

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