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Ball Situation
https://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=29262		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  gus_goose [ 24 Jan 2016, 15:03 ]
Post subject:  Ball Situation
Could someone explain to me the ball situation? I play in a league where they use the expensive Nittaku 40+ plastic balls. I'm looking for a cheaper version of these.

Could someone tell me of a brand or website where I can find the 40+ plastic balls? I know DHS and Double Fish have 40+ balls but sometimes when I search for them I get confused. I feel like I'm getting the terminology wrong.

Are the other less expensive more common balls (not 'plastic' ones) called poly balls or celluloid balls?
Author:  haggisv [ 24 Jan 2016, 16:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
Although there are lots of different names for the plastic balls, they all mean the same.

There are two types of plastic balls; seamless and seamed.

IMO the seamless bounce better (higher) have a harder & more solid feel, and are more durable. The seamed are slower, bounce lower but tend to carry spin better. Seamed tends to be less durable, although there has been definite improvement over the last year.

Seamed:
Among the seamed, DHS makes their own, as well as makes balls for other major brands. Double fish is smaller but is in a similar boat. DHS is probably the cheapest among them, and because DHS is huge and sponsors many events, this is used for many events.

Nittaku and Butterfly also have yet another option, although both being significantly more expensive. Nittaku has a Premium ball (not to be confused with the Nittaku SHA ball which is made by Double Fish), which is made in Japan and has a good reputation. Butterfly have one made in Germany, and reviews are mixed.

Seamless:
XuShaofa (aka XSF) makes most (all?) of the seamless balls, and also makes them for many brands like Kingnik, Yin-he, Nexy, etc, and most people feel there is not much (if any) difference between them. These are well regarded and tend to be well priced. Since they are much smaller brands, they don't sponsor many major events and thus no many major associations use them.

So if you want cheaper balls and good value, I'd suggest:

Seamed: DHS, Joola, Donic, Andro, etc - whichever is the cheapest
Seamless: Kingnik, Yin-he, XuShaofa, Nexy - whichever is the cheapest
Author:  gus_goose [ 25 Jan 2016, 00:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
Okay. So I found some XuShaofa Premium 1-Star Seamless Training Balls that are 40+ and ITTF approved, however, the box says it is made of "poly" material. Does poly equal plastic? I just don't know any details about these kinds of materials so easily confused.
Author:  haggisv [ 25 Jan 2016, 07:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
gus_goose wrote:
Okay. So I found some XuShaofa Premium 1-Star Seamless Training Balls that are 40+ and ITTF approved, however, the box says it is made of "poly" material. Does poly equal plastic? I just don't know any details about these kinds of materials so easily confused.

Yes poly means plastic.
1-star balls are not approved by the ITTF, so that's just marketing or a lie. :lol:
Author:  gus_goose [ 25 Jan 2016, 09:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
or both :lol:

I'm know I'm a late comer to this sport but all these relatively recent changes seem like one big scam. Those Nittaku balls are ridiculously priced and 75 USD for a sheet of rubber, really?!

But looks like a missed the full-on complaining boat by a few years. Seems like everyone has pretty much accepted the ball and glue changes by now.
Author:  haggisv [ 25 Jan 2016, 10:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
The complaints about the balls have been plentiful, but there is little point to continue, since the ITTF have made their decision, their justification being highly questionable, but unfortunately they're not really accountable to anyone, so they can pretty much do what they want. ;(

yes rubber sheet prices are another thing... :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:
Author:  rokphish2 [ 25 Jan 2016, 10:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
Good news is, the cheaper rubbers ($35-40) works well for many/most people anyway, well, the ones who don't need the latest and greatest that is.
Author:  gus_goose [ 25 Jan 2016, 16:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
Slowly back away from the Butterfly products.....that's my new mantra
Author:  aeoliah [ 26 Jan 2016, 00:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
I pay USD.6,- for Nittaku Premium 40+
Author:  haggisv [ 26 Jan 2016, 08:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
aeoliah wrote:
I pay USD.6,- for Nittaku Premium 40+

For a pack of 3?
Author:  rokphish2 [ 26 Jan 2016, 10:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
Yes pack of 3
Author:  RebornTTEvnglist [ 26 Jan 2016, 15:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
rokphish2 wrote:
Yes pack of 3


Chinese or Japanese version?
Author:  rokphish2 [ 26 Jan 2016, 16:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
RebornTTEvnglist wrote:
rokphish2 wrote:
Yes pack of 3


Chinese or Japanese version?


made in japan.
i assume aeoliah got some kind of discount because it's more expensive here where i am.
i haven't personally see it in person, just the description by seller.

am about to try dhs and yinhe's.
3 of those nittaku = 6 of dhs/yinhe
bought butterfly (similar price to nittaku), but gave it to my uncle and so far it's been no stock until next month, so couldn't compare with butterfly.

saw posting for xushaofa but the seller didn't reply me so no go there either.
price he gave is slightly cheaper than nittaku/butterfly.
Author:  RebornTTEvnglist [ 26 Jan 2016, 17:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
Wow! My club hasn't even been able to source the Japanese version at any price. We pay about $3.80 EACH for the crappier chinese version that sometime breaks faster than it takes to get one out of a box :P
Author:  Def-attack [ 26 Jan 2016, 17:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Situation
Here in Sweden most clubs uses Stiga plastic with seam. It works ok, the new version is much more durable than the first ones. Balls behave like they should more or less (no sudden moves to another direction like before) and they carry spin rather good. I have heard that the same goes for many other new versions of seamed plastic balls. Thos has led to that almost no one here uses seamless anymore.
Nittaku Premium feels more like a seamless ball, it carries very little spin and is heavy (like a canon ball). I don't like it but I guess all-out-offensive players would like it... just hit as hard as you can all the time never caring about spin :)
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