OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Catapult effect v Trampoline effect v Slingshot effect

So I have read a lot of posts to understand this including this one (viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12425&start=0)

My summary:
• All three above mean the same thing.
• They refer to the how much the blade flexes back when the ball strikes it and then returns back to the normal position. Such returning gives the ball added spin and power.
• These effects have nothing to do with the rubber.
• Flexible blades have higher catapult effect and hard blades have lower catapult effect.
• For topspin loops catapault effect helps but for short game it makes it difficult as the ball gets added height because of this effect and does not stay as low as one would want.
• For pure flat thick smashes this effect is not good as it reduces the speed of the shot.


Is my summary correct?
Thanks

You neglect to mention "flex" and "dwell time"... And the fact that people think certain rubbers have "catapult" and others do not.

I've long ago come to the opinion that a lot of descriptive terms used with respect to table tennis equipment is poorly defined, different people will use the same terms in different ways, meaning different things. That's just the way it is and there's no point in obsessing about it, given that there is very little (outside the Butterfly Dojo) actual measurement and recorded observation, and all we really have is comparative perception. It's kinda like flat earthers using terms such as "perspective" and "angle of attack" - the way they use the terms is completely different from what the terms mean to a scientist.

Iskandar

When these terms refer to the blade, I'd agree that they're pretty much the same.

When referring to rubbers, I think they're not quite the same, this is how I see it:
1.Slingshot effect, to me, means how much the topsheet stretches and then snaps back on release of the ball. Brushing the ball at the optimum speed and angle will give you maximum spin. The maximum speed that you brush the ball at, does not necessarily mean maximum spin.
2. Catapult and Trampoline tend to refer to how much energy is imparted back onto the ball, which is mainly due to the sponge.

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

CATAPULTA GOOD AND BAD.
Catapultive power is the mechanical capability of rubber material to project table tennis ball upon impact .
The one wishful to instantly estimate amount of the "catapulta" just drop the ball from 76 cm onto standard rubber sheet stuck to steel block underneath and take measurements of the rebounding height.

CONTRA Deuchland mailing catalogues did offer values of Katapulta on every rubber item. (nice colourful printings 1998--2005, the world's best mailing service).

PS// As we are on the subject of rubber mechanical effects, be aware of the "non-linear" catapulta as inherent to most tensored rubbers, which gonna to give you troubles a lot when playing controlled strokes.

/Be happy/