In the past few years, there have been few changes in the rules of the game. The ITTF changed the number of points the game can be played. Then came the ban of speed glue came in 2007. Now ITTF is considering the ball to be made of plastic instead of celluloid.
The celluloid balls have been using from the time table tennis have started. The celluloid is looking for a replacement according to many researchers. There are many reasons to it. There is manual labor involved in making celluloid balls. They are inflammable too. A ping pong ball can’t put much danger if it burns. But the danger of explosion in factories have raised the concerns of labor unions.
The shipping carriers did not allow the speed glue to be shipped via air. The celluloid made ping pong balls fall in that category. It is flammable to be strictly speaking.
There are few advantages you will see when a plastic ball is being used. The durability of the ball will increase. The seam between the upper and lower portions of the ball will disappear.
I can’t say anything about the impact of this ball on the game. The materials being used and other factors can make the game faster or slower. However the spin may reduce, the rotations on the ball in air may reduce. This is a good news for hitters. The long pips players may suffer. The variations of spin that can be imparted on the ball can reduce.
How a celluloid ball is made:
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I did not know ping pong balls were inflammable.
The NEW Plastic Ball they Crack after a few hits while playing, they are not round, no spin, it bounces high, doesn’t bouce well, and they will cost more, they have to riase net, we have to buy new nets,balls, robots, also the company have to make new products, it’s will cost us more & destory the sport of Table Tennis!!the New ball sucks, they tried in the 50’s but they when back to cellioud balls.
what is the name of this plastic.
I really liked the table tennis but there is just too many changes since I started playing table tennis it started you can not have the same color on both side of your paddle then later on say you can only have black and red colored rubber then the pips can not be too long, thickness of the sponges, speed glue, service rules just too many changes and so on and on. honestly I am getting annoyed by those changes I should have just stick to my lawn tennis game.
And also celluloid is flammable and you know what plastic is also flammable too plastic by products is from gasoline so it’s also flammable.
So don’t understand why the changes
its abad idea both are flammable so whats the advantage? less spin that what this game is all about plastic balls should be rejected by all players why not form a new table tennis itta and keep the game the way it is.