Table Tennis Gear's "Puzzling Questions," Part 1
Do these have scientific basis, or are they just superstition? On these table tennis gear questions, let us combine authoritative opinions and chat.
1. Does a heavier bat make heavier ball quality?
Butterfly’s gear R&D department thinks “heavy” and “light” ball quality are a person’s sensation, so it cannot be answered scientifically. But under the same swing, with a heavier bat, the energy applied to the ball increases. Tabletennis Kingdom columnist Joota Ito thinks, if referring to smashing (ignoring spin), then the faster the ball, the “heavier” the impact the opponent feels. Generally, a heavier bat can produce faster speed, so ball quality tends to be heavier. But some blades are light and fast, some heavy and slow, so blade weight does not always correlate with “heavy” ball quality. I think: so the blade weight you use depends on whether you can command it. When you can hold it, of course, the same blade, heavier, more likely produces bigger power, affecting ball quality. If you cannot hold it, it is pointless. Because one key is “quick-exchange.” Faster quick-exchange also affects ball quality. Besides, the ball’s spin amount and speed both affect “heavy or light” ball quality. Compared with the bat’s overall weight, whether the spin is strong and pinning enough more affects ball quality.
2. Why do foreign rubbers keep getting pricier?
Economics I do not understand well, so I will not discuss it. The ZYRE-03 launching in the second half of this year will probably keep refreshing the rubber price record. In 1967 Butterfly released the Sriver, in 1969 Yasaka the Mark V — adding synthetic rubber to natural rubber, achieving the so-called “high-elasticity, high-friction rubber.” But the price was always under 3000 yen. In 1997, Butterfly used high-tension technology and released Bryce, raising the price to 5000 yen at once. Then physical shops were puzzled: so expensive? Butterfly internally had objections too, but Butterfly’s boss persisted. Later Bryce sold hot, used by many first-rate players. This proved Butterfly rubber’s value — as the Top 1 then, not fearing no one would buy. Later, built-in-energy-tension German rubbers appeared, so 5000 yen became a German-rubber standard price. In 2008 Butterfly released Tenergy at 6000 yen; in an era beginning to ban speed glue, the Tenergy line swept the globe. In 2019 came Dignics, over 9000 yen. Butterfly said the funds invested to develop new rubber are enormous. Later XIOM’s Omega 7 Tour i for signed players reached 11600 yen, and the blue national Hurricane sold in Japan was 16500 yen. What pulled the trigger was indeed Butterfly’s Bryce — since then prices soared. But indeed, because no foreign rubber surpassed Tenergy and Dignics in performance — otherwise, Butterfly rubber prices could have been restrained.
3. Are the shoes sold in China and Japan different from the European market?
The basic models are the same, but colorways differ. Europeans tend to choose simpler colors; Asians accept flashier ones. So a shoe reaching the European arena may switch to simpler colors for sales. Foot shapes differ too. Like Mizuno, there are ones for slimmer-longer feet and wide-last ones (for wider feet, higher insteps or special foot shapes). Before 2000, many European players liked thick soles, even using thick-soled badminton shoes as table tennis shoes. Because in Europe then, many halls had hard-material floors. But later, after 2000, many European players began trying Mizuno shoes, gradually spreading. Before, table tennis shoes’ lightness and durability were relatively contradictory. But with recent tech progress and constant new-material testing, now Mizuno and Asics both have many models that are both light and durable. But thick-soled shoes are still relatively more durable.