I normally play right on the coast so even in winter the humidity is on the higher side.  With my Big Dipper rubber I can lift a Nittaku or Yinhe ball off the table but not hold it upside down.  With the old celluloid balls I could lift and hold at least for a few seconds.

So this weekend I went to another club about 100 miles inland. The combination of a recent cold front and this inland location meant I was playing in some really dry air and cool temps.  I noticed the ball was acting differently as I rolled it on my paddle between points.  I tried the lift test (on a fairly new Nittaku).  Not only did it lift and hold, but it would not fall off even when I moved the racket a little.  I think it held for 30+ sec. and probably would have held longer if I had held it really still.  It held up longer than the old celluloid did at my home club.

Has anyone else experienced a significant increase in tackiness when the air is colder and/or drier?  Could there be some effect from the flooring (inland club had this odd thin traction material) that might put a static charge on the ball and make the rubber seem tackier?  Any other suggestions on what might have been going on?

I was there Sat and Sun and the extra tack was there both days.  My play was below par the first day, but seemed more normal on Sun.  Maybe the extra tack affected me early, but I got used to it.  Of course my play is erratic enough that I can not exclusively place blame on the tackiness change.

Mark

 

mjamja wrote:

Sorry,

Hit wrong button and initially got blank post. 

Edited it and now have what I meant to post in the original message.

Mark

Chairman Meow wrote: I have definitely felt a difference. Humid weather makes my H3 slip, temperature changes affect it as well. The flooring would affect the bounce of the ball on the table, but I doubt it would change the rubber's qualities (at least not noticeably).

The flooring effect I was thinking of was putting a static charge on the ball as it rolled across it.  Like rubbing you feet on carpet and then touching a door knob causes a spark.

Mark

I did not notice the extra tackiness in Las Vegas at the Dec US Open.  I am pretty sure the air was really dry there and it was cold.  Maybe the convention center HVAC system had humidity control so the playing area was not as dry as the outside air.  Then again maybe I just never noticed it and that might explain some of my erratic play there.

Mark