Zitat:
Zitat von Neptune
Mr. Sharara,
sorry, but I wonder why you didn't answer my post. Instead of this you are applauding a user (TSC) who looks down at frictionless long pimples players and call them "low level amateurs" and also call other people here "Material-Nazis", which is more than disgraceful. That shows no good light on you and people might think, that you are also a big proponent or even one of the initiators of the ban, because you also hate frictionless long pimple players.
Best regards
Neptune
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Hi Neptune, I felt that the answer from another member was sufficient, and my answer to him/her elaborated further. But I will answer you directly, although it will sound repetitive. Here goes:
Perhaps the ITTF made a big mistake as you say, but only time will tell. Have we frustrated too many users of low-friction rubbers? Or have we "un-frustrated" many players that did not like low-friction rubber? In any case, in a year or tow we will know what the TT landscape is like. But there is no "ban" on "long pimples frictionless" rubber. What was established is a minimum friction level for which the ITTF is ready to give the authorization to the manufacturer to use the ITTF logo on the equipment. This decision is not made by me. It is made by the appropriate meeting within the ITTF and was passed with a big majority. It would seem that the national associations members of the ITTF favoured the establishment of a minimum standard. This is the role of an international federation to set the rules and to establish standards. Some would prefer anarchy and anything goes, Ok, I respect their views. Others prefer extreme regulations and strict set criteria, also OK, I respect theior views. But I find the ITTF to be somewhere in the middle. We have some rules, we have some new rules, but in fact if you look at the variety of equipment allowed in TT compared to tennis, BAdminto and Squash, there is abolutely no comparison. The other 3 racket sports are much more regulated and limited. We have pimples in, pimples out, with sponge, without sponge, long pips, short pips, thick pips, thin pips, hard rubber, soft rubber, hard sponge, soft sponge, 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 2,2mm, 2.5mm, red, black, hard pimples, bending pimples, high friction, low friction, etc., etc., Do you blame the ITTF for trying to set some standards and for not allowing post-************** treatment?
Again, I repeat, there is no ban, there is a "standard". Just like the thickness. 4mm is the rule. Why not 10mm, or 15mm, or no limit? Because we need to standardize equipment within an acceptable range and avoid chaos.
If players did not resort to treating their rubbers to gain advantage, if players used the legal equipment only, we would not have this problem. Unfortunately the ITTF reacted too late in my opinion, after manufacturers were already producing ready made rubbers that had the post-treatment effect. So when the low friction standard was set, their rubbers did not receive authorization. It's unfortunate for these manufacturers and it's unfortunate for the generation of players that relied on this equipment.Just like it was unfortunate for some generations before when sand-paper bats were made illegal, or when the thick sponge became illegal, or when the finger spin was no longer allowed (Americans were the best in the world then: Miles, Pagliaro, Schiff, Klein, Shahian, Neuberger, etc.). That generation went down fast without the finger spin, but the sport was better for it (finger spin service was unpredictable to return).
You say" many players will stop playing table tennis, I disagree. You say the sport will end, I strongly disagree. We will have lows, we will have highs, we will have some players stopping, but the real lovers of TT will keep on playing and more important, I hope that many new players take-up the game and find it easy to learn and get hooked to the sound of the ball, to the ability of imparting spin, to learn how to counter spin skillfully, and to feel the joy of a great smash, or a great defensive shot far from the table, and to sweat while getting excellent exercise. The sport will die? No way!
Adham