New Plastic Ball Good or Bad?

I was told this was just a trial and nothing was confirmed.   From what I've heard I don't like it either. Less spin and less durable.  Sounds like more money!

This is not a trial. Thus action needs to be taken now.

Please see the ball review link posted above... it is very telling on the preview ball.

Less spin? is the ITTF the reduce the coolest thing of this sport?

Imparting, reading and dealing with SPIN is an art for those who play and love our game called Table Tennis.  I PERSONALLY STRONGLY PROTESTING AGAINST ANYTHING WITH LESS SPIN.  If ITTF changes to poly balls, the characteristics of the new balls must be very very similar to the current celluloid balls.  

But, who is going to listen to us.

I also would not like to see the amount of spin in the game lessened through the introduction of a new ball. The surface of one new poly ball prototype was reported to be much smoother than the current celluloid ball, so that may be the reason that there's less spin, i.e. the rubber isn't able to grip the ball as well. I wonder if a very minute pattern or texture, similar to the celluloid ball, could be printed on the surface of the poly ball. This might help the spin issue and also help the flight of the ball, similar to the indentations on a golf ball.

I was a little mystified by why celluloid is being phased out (ITTF's current plan is that the new poly ball will be in use from 1st of July 2014). The reason is because celluloid is an extremely dangerous material to manufacture. It's highly flammable and, like asbestos, has super-fine particles which, if inhaled, can cause lung disease. A full explanation is given in the link below from Adham Sharara, ITTF President:

http://www.tabletennisdaily.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?1883-Worldwide-ban-of-celluloid-quot-Proof-quot

William Henzell tries out new plastic balls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzo-PmL8IjA

Compared - New Prototype Ball vs 40mm vs 38mm Table Tennis Balls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv_XlZvpm0g

I think old is gold....just stick to the celloid balls.
I love burning them after they crash

If the ITTF wants to invent a new game, do not call it Table Tennis. Or better yet. Why don't they change their own name to PBTF (Plastic Boring Tennis Federation)? If they think less spin will make the game more appealing for TV, all they will get is killing our love for the sport. My sympathy for them was already pretty low.

All the talk about Poly balls, exactly what sort of plastic is it and is it a monomer (made from oil) or biopolymer (made from renewable materials). It would seem sensible that the material should be renewable, otherwise we will be back where we started when the oil runs out.

Polystyrene

Polyester

Polyethylene

Polyvinyl chloride 

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Polyvinylidine Chloride

Polyethylene terephthalate

Plenty to choose from, anyone know which one the proposed balls will be made from.

Also it has been mentioned the new balls are smooth, which will effect contact, spin and flight through the air. Surely the technology exists where the surface contours of the celluloid ball can be replicated by the manufacturers so it more closely mimics the current ball. After all it is smooth because the mold used inthe process of manufacturing the ball is smooth. 

Hey Martin hows things, not long till the vets tour starts up.

I propose during the transitional period (hopefully the new ball doesn't make it that far) where both balls are available for play we simply vote with our money and only play tournaments that use the current ball. That should force TTV and Table tennis Australia to put a word to t he ITTF that their meddling with such serious rule changes without consultation from players is not acceptable. In fact I'll go so far as to say the game would be better off if we insist on rolling back to a 38 or 39 mm  ball while we are here to repair the whole offensive and defensive imbalance we currently have, that's only going to get worse with a bigger slower ball.

Sad :(...I wish the proposed rule is not enforced. The fun in TT is spin, reflexes and skill. I hope TT does not turn in to more of a power oriented game rather than skill based.

Most of people know that plastic ball will be introduce at ITTF events as July 2014. test player check the ball, every one fells it so good. I choose some chapter from ITTF test report for everybady above.

Details: Player's subjective results from tryouts

The plastic ball seems to be more slowly. Also at full power it doesn't give the dynamic of a celluloid ball.

The rebound of the ball changed. The plastic ball has got a higher rebound from the table. This is comfortable for the player after the adaption on the behaviour during tryout.

The sound of the ball changed. Sounds like a defect ball at the beginning but players are able to adapt during one test session.

The feeling of the ball during the tryout is hard and constant. Control and feeling during the rally are very good.

Test players expect to get longer rallies. Because of the good feeling and control together with higher rebound it will be easier to avoid mistakes and due to the expected slower speed the time to react will increase.

With the plastic ball the spin production decreases. Especially after service and at topspin against push the plastic ball seems to have less spin. Due to the higher rebound from the table it is easier to receive.

Good behaviour at spin rallies due to the hardness of the ball.

The new plastic ball is good and it is easy to adapt to the sound and the higher rebound.

Maybe the defensive players will have an advantage from the overall behaviour.

Additional measurements for rebound on table

The insurance premium on shipping (if any) cannot be all that large.  In the U.S. I can purchase two star balls for as little as $.25 US (bag of 72). Clearly any premium paid to ship a celluloid ball is well below 25 cents per ball.  After all, the retailer must turn a profit and the manufacturer has to make money.  And there are the real costs (sans premium) of shipping as well.  So how much could it be?  Maybe five cents per ball? Given that high quality three star balls typically cost between 80 cents and $2 each (depends on quantity purchased), any shipping insurance premium cannot be a significant portion of cost for high quality three star balls.

Hi everyone! 
I have a best idea to protest against this ball.
ITTF official page is present on facebook.
if all of us unitely protest against it their than ittf will see it directly that it is not like by the players. and steps may be taken. :)
who's with me?

here's a link to that.

www.facebook.com/ITTFWorld

This change will make robots obsolete items? Is there some robots that will support this change in the ball?

dear alois,

is it true that they made this ball to beat china in table tennis?