OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Smartguy, this rule is for ITTF events only. National associations are under no obligations to accept it.

Small changes in ball size can translate to huge differences. If you have not hit with the 44mm ball, I suggest you do. Talk about super slow motion! Of course we are not looking at that much of a change in size. The other "change" is the material. How will that play out? I would guess that the current "prototypes" will be altered for 2 reasons: 1. to get the production and Quality Control right and 2. to assure that the balls do not last as long as the old 38mm.

Smartguy, this rule is for ITTF events only. National associations are under no obligations to accept it. Of course, with a worldwide ban coming due to the dangerous material used in table tennis balls, how could they not accept it?

A world wide ban on celuloid was the original reason given by Adham for a new material for balls. But many including me have not been able to find any refference to a coming worldwide ban on the web.

As the purpose of a forum like this is to share information and discuss it in order to entertain players and help them on as well, to me it seems worthwhile that various and different perspectives on the matter of the new rules on balls are posted here, since it is impossible to have a discussion without having different perspectives, even if some seem to be far-fetched or defy general belief. Unorthodox ideas help us to keep in mind that what we think we know is almost always a partial truth at the most and reality is a lot more complex and hence bewildering than we would be ready to admit. That is why art is suppressed by tyrants (as you will appreciate, Jay, being a photographer). I will, therefore, go on trying to post in as challenging a way as I can, without the intention of being disrespectful to anyone, and I invite everybody to do the same. As all opinions are biased in some way, challenging them seems very necessary to me. Those of you who have read my posts know that I love the sport and that to me the variety of styles is very precious. I strongly objected to the ban on frictionless long pimpled rubbers and feel the same towards any rule which is a real threat to a variety which should be cherished instead of persecuted.
Having said this, I would like to point out that in my opinion it is useless to question Sharara's intentions, or those of other members of the board of the ITTF, unless this questioning is followed by action to counter the ITTF's policy, and oust Sharara and those who think and do like him. I will support any such action, even if I am sadly aware of the fact that new board-members will eventually do the same as Sharara and his sorry lot, because this is how power works – it corrupts and only, or mainly, the corruptible seek it for that very reason. If no action is taken, I will be just as happy helping to figure out how to deal with the, then, inevitable new ball and frustrate any malevolent intent the board may have with it. I guess this will take a creative effort. Unorthodox ideas tend to help creativity on its way, so rather than ridiculing or rebuking posts we do not instantly agree with, we should welcome them and use them in this way, in as far as this is possible.