DHS 40+ Ball Pix and Review

Someone on the datangtt forum posted some pictures and measurements of the seamed cellulose diacetate ball by DHS and a comparison with the Nittaku and DHS 40mm celluloid ball. He said he got the new ball on taobao, RMB$48 for 6, roughly US$7.7. For the free-fall test of new and old balls, there is a 1cm difference on the first bounce, and the celluoid ball bounces a total of 4-5 times more than the cellulose diacetate ball. He postulates that playing styles that rely on borrowing pace and spin are doomed. He played with those 6 balls for 3 hours in the night, including 3 matches. He concluded it wasn't as bad as he thought and he has the following thoughts.

1. Not as pleasing to the ears as celluloid ball but it does not sound as gross. Broken sound is still there, but acceptable.
2. Boll ALC turns from a powerful blade into a blade with great control. Solely speaking of the blade strength, fore-/backhand close to table cannot finish opponent off, and worse for away from the table.
3. Longer rally. Easier to put in first attack. Higher accuracy, either short game or open game. To gain point, you either have to commit for a winner or force a breach through placement.
4. Reduction in spin, speed and power, esepecially the last two. Spin is actually decent!
5. Dip on fast loop not as much. The ratio of vertical kick is greater.
6. All-wood blades may as well be used as firewood. Hard 7-ply perhaps. Amateurs whose force and body strength are so-so may be better off with composite blades.
7. A great many of those who lack solid basics and rely on touch, short game and power of the dark side can forget it.















Edited by zeio - 06/18/2014 at 4:04pm

So you are saying that the plastic ball bounces less than the celluloid ball? (when dropped vertically I mean)

TurboZ wrote: So it is bad news for Stiga all wood players like Xu Xin?

Xu Xin will be fine, if the spin of the cellulose diacetate ball is comparable to that of the celluloid ball, as he has always been a spin-oriented player. Remember just after the glue-ban Wang Liqin and Ma Lin contracted the EJ-Virus and tried out a number of composite blades before going back to all-wood blades?

The first time I hit this new seamed version of the poly ball, I felt a small jolt of pain in my dicky playing wrist.
The spin/speed is less but the most significant thing to me was the difference the extra weight made.
Playing with this ball takes more effort in strokeplay and made me tire quicker.
My initial assessment is that the ball's characteristics will make higher ranked players harder to beat.
Cadets and juniors probably won't fly up the adult rankings as fast as they do now as they won't have the strength at 10-12 to spin/hit the ball as spinny/fast as they do now.
Serves? I did not play long enough, but I suspect that techniques will change to favour placement/pace over spin. The ball is slower, so players may go back to serving very deep and let the rally open up rather than going for the 3rd ball kill. But we'll see.
Is it as fun to play with? I made the mistake of comparing the poly ball with a 40mm and a new old stock 38mm. They all are fun but the 38mm was real joy.

Note, for UK players, Table Tennis England will make public by end of June14 their policy re adoption of the poly ball.


Edited by Tinykin - 06/20/2014 at 12:47pm

DHS BALLS have just emerged on Taobao,   fairly affordable pricing.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=39077740479

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8093901345

Boys,
In the case somebody has came in possession of this product, take care to instantly post here your own findings&impression of the DHS product in most scrupulous manner and with less possible delay.
Please.

popperlocker wrote: Longer rallies, slower game, easier for beginners, less unforced errors. I am very hopeful for the future of this sport.  But what about durability? I read the poly nittaku lasts for years and the poly dhs breaks every minute.

igorponger wrote: DHS BALLS have just emerged on Taobao,   fairly affordable pricing. http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=39077740479 http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8093901345 Boys, In the case somebody has came in possession of this product, take care to instantly post here your own findings&impression of the DHS product in most scrupulous manner and with less possible delay. Please.

First link is still pre-order and second link is already "off the shelf" after one sale, strange. I remember seeing the release date is mid July. Hope they can get it right. The bigger size is quite obvious even without the old ball side by side.

Just play with a cheap XSF 1 star seamless ball (6 for $2 from ttnpp) the first time few days ago. It is solidly built and easy to play with because it just keep landing on the table shots after shots of hard hit and loop. It dips quicker so I miss the first few hits. But will get used to the curve in no time. I found it bounce a bit higher and longer than old ball with the drop test. The bigger size is obvious even without an old ball side by side.

Edited by TurboZ - 06/20/2014 at 3:26am

the_theologian wrote: There are a few boxes in stock at tt11

Ordered.

Me too, they allow you to order only 3 packs max (which is ok)

haggisv wrote: In the description it says "Available in the middle of July 2014"?

It said that before some came in stock though. I'll update when I get a shipping notification

Igor,

You're my favorite googlebot

Finally got a chance to try a Palio 3 Star that had been around for some time. Both XuShaoFa and Palio are seamless but XSF does not have the crack sound.

j-bo wrote: Got to play with the DHS ball. Less speed and spin and very noticeable at my low level (1300's) of play. The 1800-2000 level guys didn't care for it either as serves were less spiny and loops were less loopy. All commented on the weight when hitting. Watching others play, I could see the lack of speed and spin as they played. One player, who has a very good side spin loop..was struggling with it.  Is it playable? Sure. Will it change the way the game is played? Sure. Will people be looking for new equipment? Absolutely. Will this make more people want to play at higher level? Doubtful. Will this make manuf. more money? Does this make the game better in some way? Time will tell. Will probably produce longer rallies and for some, that's really a fun part of the game. Will this mean more players? I very much doubt that. The ball was never the reason for lack of participation IMO. So far, our club will stick with celluloid. How long is anyone's guess.

I just got a shipping notice for the balls I ordered from TT11.  Also ordered Joola balls but those will ship in July after I am probably in Nigeria on vacation.