Already true with Kingnik.

Iskandar

A little different, as Kingnik offer a seamed and seamless. These ones from Yinhe are both seamless. Since XFS was the only one that made the seamless, perhaps they're offering two ranges now... which means we can expect the same thing from every other brand they supply.

Of course it might just be marketing, where they've come up with new material, so they're calling a a premium balls so they can charge more.

I'm not sure if Yin-he still offers the earlier balls as well... I'll ask...

This is an interesting article from the ITTF website:
http://www.ittf.com/_front_Page/ittf_fu ... ition_ID=&

This implies the main seamless ball maker is Guangzhou Hefu Sport Equipment Company, not XSF.

It's very tricky to work out which company own the business and which ones just supply others...

No, I meant Kingnik already offers two grades of their seamless 3 star balls. The only visible difference is a sticker on the box (and an increase in price ).

Actually, all their three star balls are seamless, they do have that seamed ABS one star training ball.



Not in the least surprised... XSF would just be another brand, in that case, it's just that they were the first brand selling these balls. More interesting would be the status of Minkow (i.e. Kingnik). We know they WERE making the old celluloid balls - it beggars belief that they'd just shutter the whole plant and leave it idle to sell balls someone else makes. Maybe they've set up their own seamless ball machines under license, maybe they really are getting their balls from Guangzhou Hefu. Note that they're in a different city (Shanghai, ~1000 km distance) altogether, so they aren't "another name" for Guangzhou Hefu.

Iskandar

At one point XSF was selling identical balls with different labels and packaging. Not sure what that was about or if they are still doing it. There was no discernible difference in how they played.

This of course means nothing with respect to whatever Yinhe is doing. Only way we will know if they are actually different with these s40+ balls is to try them.

Shanghai Minkow, who make seamless balls, Kingnik being the house label, is located in Shanghai. Here is their website, which indicates that they clearly have manufacturing capabilities for seamless and seamed balls and where they specifically state that they are the OEM for many other brands: http://www.minkow.com.cn/

As for Yinhe, they are releasing the new and improved version, which is red in color, special for international market (at least for now, they said). I forgot all the tidbits they're claiming the improvements are, I'll post them later. I'm still waiting in line to get some of the new balls. Too bad they haven't gotten them in stock when I was in China.

Edit: here the blurbs for Yinhe new S40+ (S=Super)



Belongs to the fourth generation of the latest technology seamless ball , have a "blue star ball " ( third generation ) features , its durability is improved by about 10% , roundness , strength, resistance to a substantial reduction of more improve.

Samsung red ball of heat resistance increased about 15 degrees , and then after high temperature equatorial regions, especially when shipping containers for a long time in the sun , no longer deformed by pressing concave and other issues. Temperature increase , and correspondingly improved durability , durability is for you to save money , you having fun yet ?

In overseas markets, only the Galaxy brand signed a contract agent class customers to get the red Samsung, unsigned Agent ordinary customers can only get blue Samsung. In the domestic market , local agents can also get red Samsung, but because of production constraints , only in a limited manner on sale in the short term .

It doesn't actually say they MAKE seamless balls, though they do indeed sell them. They used to make celluloid balls, all those factory photos are the same ones they had on the web site from way before they were selling the Kingnik seamless balls. Doesn't mean they AREN'T making them, of course. I have asked them that question, and I've also asked them when they're coming out with an orange version, but they haven't didn't answer the questions (though they did reply to the email - we were setting up a ball order).

As you mention, it also boggles the mind if they're NOT making seamless balls but selling them wholesale like that, because Guangzhou is a long way away.

Iskandar