[Footsteps]

Adham you did not even answer the question.

Why minimum friction? What is the official reasoning? I don't ask for your oppinion. To my understanding someone suggested a minimum friction for racket coverings and it was agreed upon. Why? Because it's more sexy?



Also Adham, im sorry and this is not an offence but i slowly grow doubts about your competence.

Antispin or an other name Antitop rubbers have been designed to have as little friction as possible. Long Pimples Out can never, will never and were never as even, polished and therefore frictionless as Antis. the reason is the behaviour of the ball on impact, causing the pimples to move and present several sharp edges and other uneven contact that causes friction.

To even debate that is really, really shocking to me. It shows a profound lack of understanding what the problem is.

Antis are the best replacement for frictionless long pimples right now. They lack the irritating flight effect but provide greater precision, especially when attacking or blocking. A lot of people i know who who play even at quite some Level (Mens/Herren A in germany) adapted to the new rules by switching to antis. Combined with a decend attacking ruber on the other side, an acceptable replacement for their old stuff they tell me.

So you tell me you (the ITTF) did not even consider that. Adham, i'm sorry. what are "you" (the ITTF) gonna do now? Change the rules AGAIN? Don't forget frictionless short pips then this time. Oh and duck. People will tear you appart, methaphorically speaking.

From my perspective its not a matter on what is done. It's how it is done.
And the execution on your part (the ITTF) could not be poorer. An oppinion that i do not have exclusively this time but one that i share with my good old imaginary friend and personal idol Timo Boll, who's voice should carry some weight and even rock your chair if necessary.

Think first, then act.
If you want to enforce a minimum friction Level, why dont you go ahead and check ALL the racket coverings on the market for that criteria? What kind of company are you running over there? How can such a slipup even happen? It's simply embarrassing.


Ps. Its NOT called equipment. Its the MATERIAL that is used to compose the equipment! Acrylate is already used in Blades. It can be incorporated into so called rubbers to. Nanogate technology would allow to produce Rubbers that are as plain as a mirror or ice or whatever you think has a perfectly even surface. So a minimum friction rule is a splendit idea. It has nothing to do with pimples though...