Tabletennis too fast

[Thorsten]

Is tabletennis too fast ?

There seem to be quite a few people who think that tabletennis has gotten much too fast and that the thickness of the sponges should be limited to .5, 1 or 1.5. Speedglueing should be prohibited all together and some people (especially in the USA) think that the invention of backside rubbers was the point in time when tabletennis turned for the worse.

ITTF is trying to make TT more attractive to watch, but is slowing down the true solution ? Isn't the speed of the game one of the most compelling factors of tabletennis ? (a trademark if you will)

What is your opinion on this topic ?

[Detlef Lange]

No! I don't think so.

Why are people coming to watch table tennis

a fast game, where the players are smashing the balls at the other side of the table.

a game, where defenders bringing ball for ball from 5 meters behind the table. This is fantastic and brings people back to watch our sport.

I myself hope, that the ITTF will limit the thickness of the sponges, so that defenders have better possibilities to return.

[Morpheus]

@Detlef Lange: Yes, my opinion, too!

What about the other people here!?

[Cissai]

Hi!
I love table tennis, because it is so fast. Of course I like to watch a match with a defender, but if I see two players, who are smashing the balls from the one side to the other side, I ´m happy, too. The speed makes this sport so wonderful.

[dennistn]

I don't think the speed is at fault. The problem is that it is so "easy" to produce the speed. Modern sponge bats produce speed too easily. The current trend is to even thicker sponges, which will make the problem even worse. Since the bigger ball has not had the effect of curbing the speed in the sport, maybe it is time to consider then next step.

Two options come to mind, the first is to limit the sponge thickness. A second option is to raise the net height. Either would probally help the defensive players. Personally I would prefer the first option, as the second would require more expensive equipment to be replaced, and should only be considered after careful and complete testing is done.

[philwolters]

I think a thinner sponge is no solution,because many players will play with a very fast blade and play no more spins,but counters and shoots near the table,perhaps with short pips.

Originally posted by Cissai
Hi!
I love table tennis, because it is so fast. Of course I like to watch a match with a defender, but if I see two players, who are smashing the balls from the one side to the other side, I ´m happy, too. The speed makes this sport so wonderful.

Yes!
I like tabletennis, because it´s the fastest game in the world!!

[Pinguin]

I think, speed is one of the main things that make table-tennis interesting. If I imagine two defenders playing against each other - perhaps both of them with spongeless rubbers - this would probably be a very boring game...

One good possibility could really be do forbid speedglueing, I know one player - he does speedglueing - he tries to smash each ball that is a little bit to high... okay - this is effective - but not really a nice match... I think it's much nicer when both use aggressive topspins to make the point...

Another nice playing style - someone who does high defensive balls from far back behind the table (I don't know how this is called in english... ).

The rise of the net height shouldn't be such a problem - 2 or 3 cm are always possible with the nets that are in use at the moment...

[joerg.bolivien]

My opinion is that the defenders have to be more advantaged.speedglueing is not good for the sport .Without speedyglueing or lower sponges it would be more simpler to return the topspin of the other player and table tennis would be more interesting because of the longer (Ballwechsel ???)
And the defenders would have more chances.

[Jörg]

Hi,

I think tabletennis is one of the fastet sports of the world!
But you can look tabletennis very good and if it would give more defenders the tabletennis would be more interesting!

Jörg