What is the most important area to jump from 1900 to 2100?

[NextLevel]

the sister qualifies, no?

Yes but again these are singular prodigies. If this was being driven primarily by the ball, there would be many such players. Even with the old ball on the women's side we had Guo Yue. But you made my main point better than I did. Imagine if Harimoto was Chinese, he would be another generational player but you wouldn't have had him on tour until he was 17 and well rounded. But we don't have a lot of juniors in top 20 because of the ball change. Trying to separate the effects of better technique and equipment from the ball change is hard. If Fan has been allowed to play on tour as a 13 year old, he might very well have done something very similar to Harimoto.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

If Fan has been allowed to play on tour as a 13 year old, he might very well have done something very similar to Harimoto.

I agree
Ma Long age 16 too

Harimoto was either too good, or Japanese mens was too weak.
and i'm sure the Japanese mens was strong enough, same as Miwa knocking the doors on the JNT women's side.

 

[piligrim]

I agree
Ma Long age 16 too

Harimoto was either too good, or Japanese mens was too weak.
and i'm sure the Japanese mens was strong enough, same as Miwa knocking the doors on the JNT women's side.

Mizutani and Koki Niwa too weak?

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Mizutani and Koki Niwa too weak?

Yes. By the time Harimoto was entering, Mizutani and Niwa were figured out by the Chinese and posed almost no threat.

 

[piligrim]

Yes. By the time Harimoto was entering, Mizutani and Niwa were figured out by the Chinese and posed almost no threat.

They where too weak for chinese or for Harimoto? I though Toni mean they too weak for Harimoto

 

[Dr Evil]

I actually feel HT is way too good of a player to just put it as the ball to be the cause.
It may have aided - when others were playing worse

Agree. I'm not suggesting the new ball was the only reason for his early success. Harimoto was clearly exceptional. But I think it's also clear that the new ball made others play worse for a while, and this supercharged his early results.

His sister is another prodigy - in fact, one that is even more stronger than HT imo.
it is just that the CNT women's depth is so much stronger than the mens that you don't see how good Miwa is, in terms of results.

Also agree. The women's game is significantly different. Top CNT women aside, it's easier for a young girl (especially if she's on the bigger side like Miwa) to approach grown women in power earlier in her career.

 

[Dr Evil]

If Fan has been allowed to play on tour as a 13 year old, he might very well have done something very similar to Harimoto.

I'd agree if they were 13 at the same time during the new ball transition. But Fan is 6 years older and they were still using the old ball when he was 13. Pro players weren't struggling with the transition to new equipment at that time, so he would have had a more difficult challenge. But probably easier than for a 13 year old prodigy today, when power is more at a premium thanks to the plastic ball.

 

[NextLevel]

I'd agree if they were 13 at the same time during the new ball transition. But Fan is 6 years older and they were still using the old ball when he was 13. Pro players weren't struggling with the transition to new equipment at that time, so he would have had a more difficult challenge. But probably easier than for a 13 year old prodigy today, when power is more at a premium thanks to the plastic ball.

Understood. I think you underestimate the legend of Fan at 13 because he wasn't on tour but he was already on the provincial teams. But this is not a scientific argument, it's one where opinions can differ on the impact of things. Harimoto was beating players with specific styles and struggling against others, its not like he was the total package. And a lot of his success came from high level backhand play and his abiliry to hold the table. I think the role of the ball is overstated. But I agree that the ball.may have made his style more viable. But even with the old ball, he was already a top junior. The ball change didn't affect that. Thats my main point.