Does anyone else get the feeling there is a concerted push (with a helpful hand from the major TT manufacturers) to try to discourage defensive styles?
As this subset does not generate as many $$$ overall to ITTF/manufacturers/retailers as equipment catered to the double inverted attacking style?
My points:
1. The classic defender blade is all wood without any composite material. The same “miracle” composite material that manufacturers justify via marketing spin that allows the doubling, tripling, quadrupling of the price to a similar but all wood composition. I.e. most extreme example: Falcima vs Lin Yun Ju Super ZLC.
2. Defender blades contain more overall material per blade by surface area while costing the consumer less - that’s usually a good deal for consumers.
3. Pips and especially classic anti is known to last a VERY LONG TIME, and plays even better the LONGER it is used.
4. It is normal for pips/anti players to use tech typically developed decades ago and can still be comfortably played to national, regional and sometimes world class level in today’s game - Feint Soft, Long II & III, P1R, CK531A1 for LP. Unlike inverted rubbers, the newest offerings are not the best, only exception I can think of is H3 and even I feel there seems to be a concerted effort to try to break its booster assisted dominance on our game.
5. It is common around any amateur circuit to see people with pips & anti 5 years+ old and still going strong. Compared to ESN that has a marked drop off after 2, 3 weeks?
6. I would like to think defensive styles would get more appreciation in this more heightened era of inclusivity, diversity and sustainability.
As this subset does not generate as many $$$ overall to ITTF/manufacturers/retailers as equipment catered to the double inverted attacking style?
My points:
1. The classic defender blade is all wood without any composite material. The same “miracle” composite material that manufacturers justify via marketing spin that allows the doubling, tripling, quadrupling of the price to a similar but all wood composition. I.e. most extreme example: Falcima vs Lin Yun Ju Super ZLC.
2. Defender blades contain more overall material per blade by surface area while costing the consumer less - that’s usually a good deal for consumers.
3. Pips and especially classic anti is known to last a VERY LONG TIME, and plays even better the LONGER it is used.
4. It is normal for pips/anti players to use tech typically developed decades ago and can still be comfortably played to national, regional and sometimes world class level in today’s game - Feint Soft, Long II & III, P1R, CK531A1 for LP. Unlike inverted rubbers, the newest offerings are not the best, only exception I can think of is H3 and even I feel there seems to be a concerted effort to try to break its booster assisted dominance on our game.
5. It is common around any amateur circuit to see people with pips & anti 5 years+ old and still going strong. Compared to ESN that has a marked drop off after 2, 3 weeks?
6. I would like to think defensive styles would get more appreciation in this more heightened era of inclusivity, diversity and sustainability.
Last edited: