Should the USATT switch their ball choice

Assume all the balls listed above are 3*


Should the USATT switch their ball choice from Nittaku Premium 40+ to another brand for the US Open and US Nationals ?

Reasons

DHS 40+ is used on World Pro Tour and a lot cheaper

Nittaku Premium Cost is $2.50 each, their training balls cost more than the DHS 3* 40+

Why should USA players have pay high prices for balls in a minor sport
which does not make it user friendly for new participants to grow the sport.

Ask your non playing friends,relatives, co-workers if it makes sense to them.

EDIT ADDED

What countries outside of Japan are the NP40+ mostly used ?



Edited by LUCKYLOOP - 09/29/2017 at 8:10am

pgpg wrote: Sure, as soon as alternative US Open/Nationals sponsor is identified and current contract with Nittaku runs out. As far as it being obstacle to newcomers in TT - no one forces new players to use NP 40+ when they pick up paddle for the first time.

Not until they start playing in Sanctioned tournaments using the Nittaku Premium 40+ or being trained by coaches who use them.

Edited by LUCKYLOOP - 09/29/2017 at 6:53am

pgpg wrote: LUCKYLOOP wrote: pgpg wrote: Sure, as soon as alternative US Open/Nationals sponsor is identified and current contract with Nittaku runs out. As far as it being obstacle to newcomers in TT - no one forces new players to use NP 40+ when they pick up paddle for the first time.  Not until they start playing in Sanctioned tournaments using the Nittaku Premium 40+ or being trained by coaches who use them. Not sure about tournaments and coaches in Pongville, but where I live, I do not have to pay for tournament balls or bring a bag of balls from specific brand to coaching session (and I'm yet to see a coach using NP 40+ for lessons - that's what training balls are for).  There are plenty obstacles facing TT beginners, but the fact that US Open uses NP40+ is probably way down on that list. You are entitled to your opinion, of course.

You have valid points on beginners. There are clubs in my area which require all players to use house NP 40+ balls unless both players agree on a different ball.

mts388 wrote: If the house supplies the NP 40's, why would anyone care.  We use 4 or 5 different balls at our club and nobody seems to care.

Edited by skip3119 - 09/29/2017 at 12:23pm

Before we get too excited about this, let's wait and make sure that the quality that we were seeing with early batches of D40+ balls will be maintained, which we are not yet sure about.  However, if so, one might consider changing, depending on some other factors, which I certainly don't know.

USATT should save money if they can, and while NP40+ is a great ball that most people like, it is the most expensive ball on the market.

On the other hand, if Nittaku and USATT has a sponsorship agreement and USATT gets the balls for free or at a reduced price, then don't change.

If we don't know the answers to these questions we can't make a rational decision.

LUCKYLOOP wrote: mts388 wrote: If the house supplies the NP 40's, why would anyone care.  We use 4 or 5 different balls at our club and nobody seems to care. Because the house balls are well used past new, so you can't even use your own new NP 40+ unless the other player agrees. Some won't agree to use another brand.

Exactly where is Pongville located, some dictatorship led country where choice of balls is not allowed? I’m calling Shenanigans on players who would refuse to use a new NP ball vs a well worn one. What would the club players do if they were provided new balls, all refuse to play? Lol

Our club supplies the balls.  One or two want to use their own NP 40's, but most use whatever I buy (mostly nexy, kingnick and yinhee).  I've never seen a DHS ball at the club.  Most of our players fall under the 1200 level and probably wouldn't know the difference anyway.  We have 6 or 7 1700+ level players and they don't really care either.

I think if you're looking for differences you will find them.  When we miss the table we just assume it's our fault.  It never occurs to us that it's the ball, the rubber or the blade that caused us to miss. 

The Nittaku is probably the best quality ball on the market, when you get to a major competition you want a ball that is reliable and that you know will allow you to perform. 

The issue here is really only with the price of buying Nittaku balls for practice rather than USATT ensuring the best quality conditions for their main events of the year, so in that sense I don't believe there should be a change.

Actually they don't decide except in the US Open, Nationals, Team trials etc. which are events that they actually organize (as opposed to just sanctioning).  Otherwise in sanctioned USATT events the organizers can choose any ball  as long as it is on the ITTF approved list.  They have to say what ball will be used on the entry form.

LUCKYLOOP wrote: Does anyone know the balls used for the top 8 pro leagues in the world ? Is the Nittaku Premium 40+ used for any of them ?

In the German Bundesliga the clubs get to decide which balls and table they want to use. You can see here what the different teams are using and some do use the Nittaku ball:
Materialliste

Matt Pimple wrote: LUCKYLOOP wrote: Does anyone know the balls used for the top 8 pro leagues in the world ? Is the Nittaku Premium 40+ used for any of them ? In the German Bundesliga the clubs get to decide which balls and table they want to use. You can see here what the different teams are using and some do use the Nittaku ball: Materialliste

So 3 of 10 clubs use Nittaku sd 40+ I assume that is the Sha ball made in China

Edited by LUCKYLOOP - 09/29/2017 at 7:31pm

Matt Pimple wrote: LUCKYLOOP wrote: So 3 of 10 clubs use Nittaku sd 40+ I assume that is the Sha ball made in China Seems to be this one: Nittaku SD 40+ Edit: just looked it up and that is not he SHA ball

The side of the ball box says made in China.

SD 40+ made in China

Matt Pimple wrote: LUCKYLOOP wrote: Matt Pimple wrote: LUCKYLOOP wrote: So 3 of 10 clubs use Nittaku sd 40+ I assume that is the Sha ball made in China Seems to be this one: Nittaku SD 40+ Edit: just looked it up and that is not he SHA ball The side of the ball box says made in China. SD 40+ made in China Yes I saw that it is made in China but it seems to be a new ball and they also offer the SHA which is different.

The cost of the SD 40+ is $1.27 each half of NP 40+ made in Japan and cheaper than the $2 Sha ball.

Matt Pimple wrote: LUCKYLOOP wrote: The cost of the SD 40+ is $1.27 each half of NP 40+ made in Japan and cheaper than the $2 Sha ball. Why don't you order some and tell us how they play! They seem to be good enough for the Bundesliga.

Then they should be another better economical choice for the USA tournaments and the players who have to use them for training. Why even test them if they have Bundesliga credibility ?

Edited by LUCKYLOOP - 09/29/2017 at 9:03pm

Not a lot of people have experience with the Joola flash. Also a good ball, better than XSF.