My limited experience suggests that a player who likes to win on consistency would benefit from moving off the table somewhat.  When I stay right at the table I really do not notice that the ball is that much slower.  This is especially true if both players are playing close to the table.  When I back off the table a couple of steps I really do perceive the poly ball as being slower than the celluloid.  Additionally, I feel like the loops do not dip as much.  For me, that makes it much easier to play off the table since I am more used to the flatter trajectory you get when playing closer to the table.  I am more of a retriever than an attacker when off the table so I am not bothered too much by the slower speed of my shots.

There have been some comments that blocking should be much easier with the poly ball.  Playing very close to the table in the women's style I have not noticed that blocking is that much easier.  Of course I do not get to face players over a 2000 rating so maybe the spin reduction that is supposed to help the blocking is not as significant 

I have never been very effective as a 3rd ball attacker, but I can see how this style might be hurt the most by the new poly ball.

Anyone else want to chime in on styles and the poly ball?

Mark - Style over substance at all times

I think if the ball requires a style change, we should be able to see at the pro level.

I don't follow the pros that much.  For those of you who do:

1. Have you noticed a tendency for more or less rallies to be predominately close or far from the table.

2. Have any players with less traditional styles shown unexpected performance improvement.

3. Have you noticed any particular tactics being used more or less frequently.

Mark

(I am a recreational player experimenting with LP.  My opponents are usually rated between 1600 and 1800, usatt.)

To my advantage?  Or to my disadvantage?

==========================

What is the effect on LP blocker, like Pushblocker (Mader)?

To his advantage or to his disadvantage?

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Update:

(Suppose, a player attacks with a strong top spin toward a LP blocker.)

Because the plastic ball is larger, it loses more of its top spin when flying toward the LP blocker.

LP blocker thus has less spin to work with.

When LP blocker blocks the ball back, and the ball will again lose more spin (because it is larger) going back to the attacker.

It seems to me it is to the disadvantage of the LP blocker, in theory.

(The problem is that I am not good in theory.)

Shiono, Seo, Gionis, ....

Also, a lot of them have disappeared somewhere. they are probably looking for some tactic or rubbers change or....to adapt to this ball but it will be more difficult for them I guess because the opponent has more time to hit the ball and he is not in trouble with the spin since the spin is strongly reduced.

==========================

What is the effect on LP blocker, like Pushblocker (Mader)?

To his advantage or to his disadvantage?

--------------------------------------

Update:

(Suppose, a player attacks with a strong top spin toward a LP blocker.)

Because the plastic ball is larger, it loses more of its top spin when flying toward the LP blocker.

LP blocker thus has less spin to work with.

When LP blocker blocks the ball back, and the ball will again lose more spin (because it is larger) going back to the attacker.

It seems to me it is to the disadvantage of the LP blocker, in theory.

(The problem is that I am not good in theory.)

Speed glue was banned in 2008 and that affected things as well.  I don't think it was just the ball change.

skip3119,

For long pips blocking, the key is to keep the ball short.  The low bounce and lack of spin makes it hard to attack over the table and even many advanced players haven't fixed their strokes to account for this yet (I shook my head watching LXX throughout the World Cup).  If the ball goes long, all bets are off.

It could be due to the slower ball.  You have a little bit more time, so perhaps your producing better strokes.

I think in general the decrease in spin hurts the LP players.  

I'm not sure how it would impact a LP chopper or modern defender though.  Sure the decrease in spin hurts, but the slower ball helps.  I would assume with less spin, the difference between a chop and a dead ball are less which reduces the margin of error for the looper so it might be more difficult to fool the opponent into making a mistake, but it might be easier to outlast them.

In my first match for the night I only discovered that we were using the DHS 40+ plastic ball in the 2nd game of the match.  It's actually the first time I've even hit with a plastic ball.  Well, it didn't seem obvious to me at all that it was very different than the celluloid ball.  In retrospect it did seem that maybe the ball had a little less spin, which I think was good for me since the guy I was playing has some good spinny serves that I often have trouble handling.  Well, in this match I beat him more easily than I ever have in the past.

The rest of the night all of my other matches were with the old celluloid ball, and it didn't seem that different.  I had no trouble adjusting (actually I played pretty darn good tonight!).

This is the real world.  No one every switches their rubber or blades.  That would be crazy.   So the ball change is a big deal for us real players who have always played with the same blade and rubber.  :)

Mark - Tongue firmly in cheek

I was starting to boil over until I noticed the tongue firmly in cheek. "Real player?' ;-).

Suck it up! The poly ball is here. My biggest point is this . . . the differences between rubbers, blades, TABLES, lighting, flooring, and OPPONENTS is OFTEN (not always) greater than the difference between the celluloid ball and the poly ball. A "real player" in the "real world" can make the adjustment. It has never been survival of the fittest in life or in table tennis. It's always been survival of the most adaptable. Top players make adjustments needed along the way. Adjusting to the poly ball is simply another adjustment. Most players I've played with or talked to say it takes them an hour or so to get used to the poly ball. After that, they are fine. They may still prefer the celluloid ball, but the move forward and play well. I'm sure you can do the same. Stop ur belly aching. No tongue in cheek . . . . just smirking. hehehehe. Besides, i think it's really cool to see a ball with no seams. I always hated that seam.

short pips penhold player or smooth?

Why do you think so?