I was joking of course, but when ITTF did that, then later frictionless pips banb, which national associations rubber stamped sight unseen... now THAT really pissed off large numbers off very old Geezer crowd.
Why was that bad? ITTF or Natl associations shouldn't worry about that crowd, they do not represent the modern game or could compete at the elite level... right?
Wrong. ITTF did TT a REAL BAD turn doing that. The elderly LP crowd (who back then could be competitive to a certain level in amateur TT) was much more numerous than they considered and financially propped up many associations. A goodly number of that crowd got the azz and left the sport... most nations already needed every active player they could mobilize... this was real bad for amateur TT.
Anyone remember the endless threads of people complaining about losing to the SKILLESS 1900-2000 level old dude who for the most part, just stuck out his bat and let the ball come back... and won just one more point than the athletic, fast-heavy topspinning young whupper-snapper? Anyone remember those days?
Was over a decade or so ago.
Anyone remember the long line of promising lightning quick junior kids who made it to the semis or finals of such an event, only to see their best, well trained perfect looking strokes and fast topspins easily returned and kid would not be able to attack 3x in a row without missing?
Anyone remember those threads where the parents were crying 100 rivers complaining of bloody unfair? Why should someone who cannot take 2 steps and has nothing resembling what Pro TT coaches call FOOTWORK be able to to easily defeat a kid with great footwork and years of warrior training???!!!
NO FAIR !!!!
Everyone, THAT is why I feel this was the biggest change. I was joking about S-Jan, but the effects the frictionless ban had on amateur TT were real serious and impactful.
- MANY players left the sport
- Many players went on endless EJ search and destroy purchasing missions to find the perfect replacement for Super-Block
- HOARDS of topspin attacking players who SHOULD have been motivated to figure out how to remember their own spin and play tactics got weakened
- Hundreds of parents shifted their shameless complaining from the No-Skill/No-Footwork crowd to the other parents who were SANDBAGGING THE HECK out of the ratings system all for the glory of winning the U1100 at the nationals
- Equipment makers had a decades long FIELD DAY as new and new EJs popped up like crab-grass with an underground rabbit reproductive system
- The forums got 10x more boring (There was actually the BEST TT FORUM EVER created from privately laughing at these antics on the other forums)