There is 5 different balls
Made in China new DHS
Made in China DF
Made in China XSF
Made in Germany Butterfly G40+
Made in Japan Nittaku Premium
They are play different.
There wasn't any proper build up to Asian Champ
The trials was defiantly not a build up to Asian Champ
Interesting to see how WTTC goes
There are 7 different 3* ITTF approved balls at least. I am a bit of a ball expert, having bought and tested every ball and played with various types of equipment for every ball, I just don't talk about it.
1. Made in China old DHS - this is the cellulose acetate ball that was used in WTTC 2015, Olympics 2016 and all ITTF tour and world events until February this year. Joola, Nittaku, Butterfly and many European companies copied this ball with different QA levels.
2. Made in China new DHS - this is the new D40+ ball (ABS plastic) that will be used going forward in ITTF events. Many companies will copy this ball.
3. Made in China old DF - cellulose acetate, used in DFish sponsored comp, including NCTTAs in the USA. Kinson and some companies copied this ball.
4. MAde in China new DF ball - this is the new V40+ (ABS plastic) that I think will set DFish where it usually is relative to DHS.
5. Made in China seamless balls, XSF - this is the seamless ball that most commonly associated with XSF. Popular with many amateurs but not used in any international pro tournaments.
6. Made in Germany Butterfly G40+ - The German attempt at a plastic ball, very fast and smooth. Dents without breaking and smoothness makes it harder to control with extended use. Used at a few Butterfly events.
7. Made in JApan Nittaku Premium - the first ABS 3 star ball and the technology that seems to have won out with its adoption by DHS and DFish. Used in many top European events and Japanese events and the ball preferred by most pros who are not Chinese.
I have used every ball. Balls 2, 4 and 7 play differently, but still play similarly. If you practice with all 2 or 4, you will do okay with ball 7 (the reverse might not be true).
The Chinese team used Nittaku for the Marvelous 12 event. They can complain all they want to about the lack of training but they have experience with the ball. I can accept that their trials was not a build up to peak at an event. Their closed training will be a build up to peak at WTTC.
But in the end, they knew the ball, they have the ball, they have competed internally with the ball, and they have known ABS balls spin less for months. No more eggs.