Ball Quality and Doubles combnations

Ji-Soo Woo Asked 13 years ago

Hi Alois

a couple of questions today.

1) what ball do they use in international tournaments???  It can't be just a 3 star ball.

We use 3 star balls in our local competition and they break all the time.  I've never seen that happen in world championships, for example, and the top players hit the ball a LITTLE harder than we do at the club.  Is it like a special limited release 10 star ball???

2) when you watch doubles, they usually have similar styles.  For example, both choppers or both regular inverted players.  One might have assumed that it would be good mixing it up, for example one attacker and one chopper.  Not only would this be giving different looks to the opponent, but the doubles team would probably have more room because one is playing closer to the table and one further back.  So what's the reason that you very rarely ever see such a doubles combination?

Thanks

Ji-Soo

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Ji-Soo,

They use regular 3 star balls.  Which type of balls do you use in your competition.  I am in England at the moment at the British Open Para tournament and they are using Butterfly 3 star balls. 

Perhaps it is the conditions that you play in.  What is the wall behind the table like at your venue.  If it is a hard concrete on brick wall that will soon damage the ball.

You can have some good doubles combinations with one attacker and one defender but the reason it can be difficult I think could be this.

If you are an attacker and play with a defender you are receiving a different type of ball to the one you are used to.  In this situation you will have to block or counter topspin a lot of balls because the defender will give your opponents opportunities to attack.  The reverse is also true.  If you are a defender you will now be receiving a different type of ball to the one you are used to.  A good blocker and a good defender may work well together.  In Australia Paul Pinkewich and Bob Tuckett used to combine well.