40mm vs. 38mm Ball

Table Tennis Equipment

Last updated 8 years ago

Ryan Nguyen

Ryan Nguyen Asked 12 years ago

Alois and Jeff! Question for you guys!

What are your preferences between the 40mm ball rule vs the old 38mm? Any pros and cons about playing with them (spin, speed, rallies, etc.)?

I asked this on a YouTube video, but I'm interested to hear the differences. :] And which ball did you like to play with more?

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Ryan,

I don't think there is much of a difference at all.  I only played competitively with the 38mm ball.  The bigger ball probably travels a little slower but I don;t think it has made a noticeable difference to the game.

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Thoughts on this question

Jason Smith

Jason Smith Posted 12 years ago

I still play with a 38mm ball for fun sometimes, the main difference you notice switching between them is how much further the 38mm ball carries it's speed, it's probably the doing the same speed 4 meters off the table as the 40mm is 2.5 meters off the table. There's also more spin of course but the difference in how fast each ball slows down is the big difference in that the 38mm ball pretty much does not slow down much at all over the length of a normal sized court and that makes long range retrieval very difficult compared to the 40mm. If you hit with the 38 for half an hour then go back to the 40mm it's all a bit slow and gumby feeling for a while until you get used to it
Marcin Lonak

Marcin Lonak Posted 8 years ago

I had yesterday two matches with the old ball. It was a quality 3star never used Joola. The feeling was amazing. I did like it a lot. I would say, what Jason says is all true. Plus I had less difficulties with placement. Although the curves made because of the spin of the ball are not that spectacular technically the spin is stronger/faster. The game looked really elegant. And although the ball is visibly smaller, I had really less difficulties to follow the ball all the time.

Marcin Lonak

Marcin Lonak Posted 8 years ago

Sorry, a thought mistake. Actually, the spin on the bigger ball is stronger. That's makes sense that the curves are heavier. Also the effect of the spin of the bigger balls is stronger.

i was just influenced by Jason's post.

explanation is easy. By using the same brushing speed with the racket, we generate same speed of spin. Though the bigger ball with the same rate of spinning has a stronger spin cause the distance a spot on the ball has to travel is greater.

Marcin Lonak

Marcin Lonak Posted 8 years ago

Finally, it's too early in the morning.

i think the spin is the same. The rate of the spin of the smaller ball is higher but the effect should be the same because of the same distance the ball would make with the spinning. I think slightly in favor to the bigger ball. This has a little more mass, so the spin should feel for the receiver stronger.

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