OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Come to think of it, actually - the BIG noticeable difference between the 38mm and 40mm ball was serve and serve return. I have a deceptive pendulum serve where I can fool a lot of players who play a lot better than I do - I'd often cause the ball to drop in the net or go sailing off the table. It was far deadlier back when the ball was 38mm. One night a Chinese national team player visited to give an exhibition, and he played five point matches with a few people (can't remember the name, this was in the late 90s and he played - of all things - Japanese penhold). I actually got him to put the ball in the net on the first serve. The days the same serve isn't nearly as effective. I can occasionally cause the ball to fly off, the much more usual result is a high return when the returnee guesses wrong (which my doubles partner often misses when he tries to kill it.. ). Doesn't work against better players much, any more.

By the same token, I find serve return a LOT easier than it used to be. I find it much easier to loop long backspin loops, and to flick short services back. Never would have dared in the old days.

Iskandar

FWIW, my own experience here.
I too played a lot in university tournaments and had to stop at 25 — now came back less than a year ago, after a 40-year gap.
Before, I played JPH (slow blade) with Butterfly Tackiness C, which was quite new and considered the most spinny rubber on the market.
On return, I tried to use the same combination again and it proved to be way too slow, considering also my diminished physical resources.
So I decided to start completely anew and switched to handshake, first with an OFF- blade and some medium rubbers, then switching every 45-60 days to a faster combination until I felt comfortable, up to a (very fast but light) Waldner Dotec Carbon that I still use, with Tenergy 25FX on the backhand and 05FX on the forehand.
Had to back off the 25FX on the backhand because of shoulder problems, and switched to Spinlord Waran short pips, which are also quite fast but easier on the shoulder.
My point is that — at least for me, at my age — I had to use a much faster blade and rubbers than I'd used "before" to get anything like the spin and speed I recalled from university. And I don't "move too much" either now
Have your dad try a light carbon blade with medium-speed rubbers like Xiom Omega, and see how he feels. I did lots of testing with used rubbers, btw.

I'm 65 who's been playing the last few years after a very long absence. Depending where your Dad plays, a good All+ setup may be just fine (e.g. a recreation center) or it may be inadequate at a TT club and he'll just frustrated. I'd of course give him what he is asking for but he may end up very quickly changing depending upon his opponents. Any if the ALL+ woods are fine but a OFF- composite can provide quite a bit of punch with less effort at the expense of feel and control. As for rubber, I avoid the bouncy ESN rubbers and use Japanese tensor like Calibra or Phenix and am now thinking about switching to Rozena which have more control and less catapult than ESN.

Fast blade is a short-term fix, I think. Once it "all comes back", 65 year olds should be able to hit and loop the ball plenty hard with a ALL+ blade. I've been beaten (badly) by 70+ year olds who had mobility issues. Speed isn't the problem, unless he's trying to keep up with 2100+ rated players (in which case he's going to get beaten badly anyway, unless he used to play at that level... )

Iskandar

With even a def+ blade and a decent tensor one can loop and hit hard when needed but also have control and ability to hit slow spinny shots or chops when needed due to the greater dwell.

This.
An older friend of mine use def blade with lp and hurricane. He can hit with the hurricane harder and faster than I could with a good tensor rubber on an off+ blade.

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instagram: rokphishtt

If he said "Sriver" I would get Sriver.
Now get him to name a blade.