An Jaehyun back to W968

[papajoe]

Looks like AJH back to W968 after using Xiom Tmxi Pro for a short period of time.

 

[Silver Server]

In the Xiom thread it’s been said he’s sponsored by Gewo now, but using W968.

 

[disaster3]

Looks like AJH back to W968 after using Xiom Tmxi Pro for a short period of time.

View attachment 32946

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/dhs-sponsored-players-list.35714/post-490369

 

[DG89]

 

[mightymouse]

In the Xiom thread it’s been said he’s sponsored by Gewo now, but using W968.

Should players ethically use the sponsor's equipment? I know in TT, many players use anything they like, while being sponsored by other brand. But if I own the brand, I felt cheated.

In basket ball, let's say NBA, Michael Jordan really uses Nike. Even during Olympic, because the sponsor was from other brand, the Dream Team covered the logo with US flag.

Why can't the brand enforce this in TT?

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Should players ethically use the sponsor's equipment? I know in TT, many players use anything they like, while being sponsored by other brand. But if I own the brand, I felt cheated.

In basket ball, let's say NBA, Michael Jordan really uses Nike. Even during Olympic, because the sponsor was from other brand, the Dream Team covered the logo with US flag.

Why can't the brand enforce this in TT?

When a company like GEWO sponsors a player like AJH, aka a dedicated Hurricane user and 968 user, they are usually accepting that the entire racket setup won't be ESN. Same with Victas and Jang Woojin. Also, they generally will give some leeway until a custom or namesake blade has been prepared for that player, which obviously hasn't happened yet for GEWO and AJH.

 

[haggisv]

Should players ethically use the sponsor's equipment? I know in TT, many players use anything they like, while being sponsored by other brand. But if I own the brand, I felt cheated.

Why can't the brand enforce this in TT?

It's not really an ethical issue, it's a business transaction where you sign a contract and agree to the terms. Brands can set their own terms and condition, there is no 'standard' sponsorship deal.

I agree with you though, that if you agree to use their equipment and then use something else, you're not really abiding by the term in the contract. Since we don't know what the terms of this sponsorship deal is, we can't really judge.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

It's not really an ethical issue, it's a business transaction where you sign a contract and agree to the terms. Brands can set their own terms and condition, there is no 'standard' sponsorship deal.

I agree with you though, that if you agree to use their equipment and then use something else, you're not really abiding by the term in the contract. Since we don't know what the terms of this sponsorship deal is, we can't really judge.

Correct
It is all based on contract details and all this can be negotiated.

It isn’t uncommon for players to have leeway to use other branded goods. Its been going on for decades

 

[ThePongCommenter]

It's not really an ethical issue, it's a business transaction where you sign a contract and agree to the terms. Brands can set their own terms and condition, there is no 'standard' sponsorship deal.

I agree with you though, that if you agree to use their equipment and then use something else, you're not really abiding by the term in the contract. Since we don't know what the terms of this sponsorship deal is, we can't really judge.

Yes. If one wants to see it as an ethical issue they should consider how difficult it is to be a pro player if you are not one of the most famous/top players in the world. A lot of these players need to accept the best sponsorship deal they can get for financial and branding reasons, while not compromising their performance with inferior equipment, thus they take the ESN deal and still use DHS/Butterfly. It's a tough situation to be in.

 

[haggisv]

Yes. If one wants to see it as an ethical issue they should consider how difficult it is to be a pro player if you are not one of the most famous/top players in the world. A lot of these players need to accept the best sponsorship deal they can get for financial and branding reasons, while not compromising their performance with inferior equipment, thus they take the ESN deal and still use DHS/Butterfly. It's a tough situation to be in.

Yes I fully agree, a really good point!

 

[nablaz]

I really struggle to understand why any brand would spend money on a deal like this...
What I perceive, as a customer, is a pro and brand ambassador telling me that his brand's equipment is not good enough for him, so why would I spend my money on that brand instead of what said pro is actually using?
In practice, GEWO paying to advertise DHS products... It just seems counterintuitive and counterproductive!

 

[Colin Ksh]

Well this is the moral of the story. When he was using tmxi pro before and all of a sudden he switch to w968 I suspect so I contacted xiom via email and was told that during that particular competition, his racket(tmxi pro) didn't pass the test so he wasn’t able to use it that’s why he switch to w968. Afterwards at another tournament he uses tmxi pro again. Then the next different tournament he’s using w968 again so this time I texted xiom official ig and they responded that due to player’s failure to comply with their contract, his contract was terminated. Meaning he no longer is a xiom player. But honestly it took me by surprise that he’s with gewo now. Makes me curious if we will be seeing gewo AJH blade.

 

[Silver Server]

Makes me curious if we will be seeing gewo AJH blade.

Seems like he really likes W968, and it’s hard for any other brand to replicate it. He should just get sponsored by DHS lol.

 

[Colin Ksh]

Seems like he really likes W968, and it’s hard for any other brand to replicate it. He should just get sponsored by DHS lol.

I don’t think gewo would be able to make a blade like w968 as well. Could be similar but will never be the same. I wonder even if he will use that if gewo comes up with a blade name after him xd

 

[Zwill]

Maybe Gewo will subcontract DHS to make a Ma Long 5 with AJH Gewo branded handle. That would kind of solve some of the controversy.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

I really struggle to understand why any brand would spend money on a deal like this...
What I perceive, as a customer, is a pro and brand ambassador telling me that his brand's equipment is not good enough for him, so why would I spend my money on that brand instead of what said pro is actually using?
In practice, GEWO paying to advertise DHS products... It just seems counterintuitive and counterproductive!

Most people out there are not like the forum equipment junkies who zoom in on photos to see the color of the sponge and whether a millimeter wide carbon play is visible on the side of his blade to determine what equipment he is really using.

But yes in the cases where they are too obviously not using their sponsor's equipment it generally leads to warnings and ultimately contract termination if there are repeated violations.

 

[nablaz]

Most people out there are not like the forum equipment junkies who zoom in on photos to see the color of the sponge and whether a millimeter wide carbon play is visible on the side of his blade to determine what equipment he is really using.

But yes in the cases where they are too obviously not using their sponsor's equipment it generally leads to warnings and ultimately contract termination if there are repeated violations.

For sure! The FZD thingy with Stiga was at least handled in a more subtle fashion... this look much more obvious to me.
I must admit, though, that I actually have no clue about the terms in the contract between player and brand. I just think that, unless GEWO releases an AJH blade and/or rubbers soon (that is/are actually used by An), this move is a waste of money on the sponsor's part...

 

[AMonteiro]

If Xiom with a more robust R & D didn't make a blade that An kept using.. imagine Gewo.

I belive he can use any ESN on BH but I see no chance for him switch Hurricane or W968.

Gewo should do like Donic with Original N1 series made by DHS.

 

[Colin Ksh]

If Xiom with a more robust R & D didn't make a blade that An kept using.. imagine Gewo.

I belive he can use any ESN on BH but I see no chance for him switch Hurricane or W968.

Gewo should do like Donic with Original N1 series made by DHS.

He was performing well with tmxi blade for quite some time. I believed he won his first ever wtt tournament with tmxi blade. If im not wrong it was the final against Simon gauzy. Maybe he got pissed feeling like xiom is forcing him to use and decided to make a complete move back to w968 without any explanation lol

 

[God-scrubplayer]

Looks like AJH back to W968 after using Xiom Tmxi Pro for a short period of time.

View attachment 32946

he was always using w968. Even the tmxi pro is just a handle. That blade is trash