Weight limits on rackets?

[ZFT]

What do you think about limiting the maximum weight of rackets?

It will give some much needed hope to defenders if the new formula was 180g or less.

 

[Jslick89]

I dont know much about defense. why would lighter rackets give hope to defenders? my set up is 205g so of course i am opposed to this idea

I would guess your set up is more than 180g too...

 

[lodro]

no limits, there is no reason for it.

 

[mocker88]

Why not minimum 180g?

 

[ZFT]

Well we can’t stop illegal boosting and with these new 2.7mm supermax sponges incoming, rackets will only get heavier and faster tilting it more toward double inverted loopers.

 

[ZFT]

I dont know much about defense. why would lighter rackets give hope to defenders? my set up is 205g so of course i am opposed to this idea

I would guess your set up is more than 180g too...

Yes my attacking rackets sit between 185-195g 😂

My main setup at the moment is ~193g.
Super Vis 89g - D09c/G09c 2.1, G1 2.0

Defenders usually use a much lighter SP/LP on one side, meaning although their racket surface area is larger their rackets would easily be below a hypothetical 180g limit.

Now I think about it, Mima Ito and Falck type SP attackers could see improved results over time.

You’d get more diversity in some players opting to use a much softer and lighter backhand rubber and we might see another Ryu Seung Min amazing footwork where they don’t even have a backside rubber, just a crazily heavily boosted FH side.

It wouldn’t be hard to enforce, just a standard kitchen scale would do the trick, then maybe table manufacturers would build this feature near the net area along with say let sensor, TTR cameras or other smart electronics capabilities.

Would be interested to know how heavy RPB users rackets are @greenbeanmachine

 

[lodro]

Would be interested to know how heavy RPB users rackets are @greenbeanmachine

hehehe, once you add 12 layers of booster and glue things get real weighty 😫

 

[kapahoo]

Why benefit defenders?

 

[ZFT]

hehehe, once you add 12 layers of booster and glue things get real weighty 😫

Me: “12 layers is too much… why don’t you just go a softer hardness or use a faster blade and save on booster?”

@lodro : “let’s start match, I’m not small pssy”

Me: now typing with one good eye.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

Would be interested to know how heavy RPB users rackets are @greenbeanmachine

Rosewood NCT V 98g
FH Xuperman 41deg 56g (cut with gap)
BH Skyline 2 40deg 63g
Total 217g

Great for stability when rallying far from the table, but it doesn't help with being quick at the table. Looking for options to cut down the weight without compromising on the rubbers, actually. Been trying my Dynasty Carbon lately, which is only around 88g.

My short pips setup is much lighter, though. Ma Lin EO + 802-40 + Skyline 2 weighs 187g. RPB attacks are great when taking them off the bounce and close to the table, but they aren't nearly as powerful and spinny when playing at mid/far distance. The weight really helps with power when you're far back, and that's where I like to be.

 

[ZFT]

Why benefit defenders?

The closest I’ve seen an attacker empty the tank vs a defender in a best of 5 was at this years WC Rd of 128 - Faraji vs Yang. It was unreal.

What made it exciting was Faraji, still only 16 couldn’t just blast through Yang, not yet. But give it a few years and he will.

If we apply power to weight constraints to grown adults we might actually see more balanced match ups like this.

Combat sports, F1, horse racing, powerlifting all impose weight limits to keep playing field fair, why not table tennis?

 

[vanjr]

My sweet spot is 159-164 grams-I use thin sponge LP or LP OX on one side. No booster on my max inverted.
But I frankly oppose a weight maximum or limit. I like variety. Also scared someone is gonna take my pips away!

 

[ZFT]

My sweet spot is 159-164 grams-I use thin sponge LP or LP OX on one side. No booster on my max inverted.
But I frankly oppose a weight maximum or limit. I like variety. Also scared someone is gonna take my pips away!

I can’t figure out how you were able to jump to the conclusion a weight limit would result in your pips being taken away….?

A weight limit would actually encourage more diversity in playing styles.

Taking your 160g sweetspot as an extreme example:

Your double inverted buddy uses the current meta composite + H3 boosted/Hybrid + Dig, this arrives at 200g give or take. If forced to build within a 160g limit there is no way they can maintain the same power output.

You, being used to your 160g sweetspot setup now face slower shots with less spin. That means more time, more choices, more opportunity to use control, variation and tactics rather than just survival mode.

A weight limit brings the game back to style matchups. It forces more thoughtful equipment choices and make double inverted powerloopers less dominant by default.

Help:
Modern Defenders
Classic Defenders
Disruptive Blockers w/Ox LP or anti
SP Hitters
Allrounders using softer rubbers
Traditional Pen
Twiddle Penholders

Nerf:
Double Inverted Power Attackers
Ch.Pen RPB
Lobbers?
Double Inverted Choppers?

 

[vanjr]

I can’t figure out how you were able to jump to the conclusion a weight limit would result in your pips being taken away….?

A weight limit would actually encourage more diversity in playing styles.

Taking your 160g sweetspot as an extreme example:

Your double inverted buddy uses the current meta composite + H3 boosted/Hybrid + Dig, this arrives at 200g give or take. If forced to build within a 160g limit there is no way they can maintain the same power output.

You, being used to your 160g sweetspot setup now face slower shots with less spin. That means more time, more choices, more opportunity to use control, variation and tactics rather than just survival mode.

A weight limit brings the game back to style matchups. It forces more thoughtful equipment choices and make double inverted powerloopers less dominant by default.

Help:
Modern Defenders
Classic Defenders
Disruptive Blockers w/Ox LP or anti
SP Hitters
Allrounders using softer rubbers
Traditional Pen
Twiddle Penholders

Nerf:
Double Inverted Power Attackers
Ch.Pen RPB
Lobbers?
Double Inverted Choppers?

I don't think this rule per se would hurt my pips, but I do think it would open the door to more rule changes, like elimination of "junk rubbers". I do agree it may slow the game down and allow longer rallies.

 

[ZFT]

Wouldn’t this actually encourage innovation within “junk” rubbers to make them more effective under the new conditions?

At the end of the day, “junk” rubbers are still inherently weaker against SP hitters, allrounders, twiddlers and other material users who can launch stronger attacks from a wing.

An intermediate double inverted attacker with say ~15-20 match experience against junk players would be confident of their chances against a similar level junk user even with a 180g racket. It would make an interesting stylistic matchup though.

A rule change that slows the game and extends rallies might even highlight certain skills more, not less.

 

[igorponger]

What about pen holders? BTW you may prefer playing with a single side of racket, having other side uncovered and of some specific colour.

 

[kapahoo]

To me, this is exactly the wrong path. I'd rather have competitions without long pips.

 

[ZFT]

To me, this is exactly the wrong path. I'd rather have competitions without long pips.

Within this framework there could be sub-category allowing entries for rackets >190g 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Der_Echte]

Make everyone play with a bat inverted FH and LP BH.

That would be a lot of fun.

Not gunna happen though.

 

[tzifos]

Minimum weight rule will not work if there isn't also a minimum surface area for the racket. Some will prefer a "rocket-boosted" 140x135mm racket @180grams than a 155x150 racket with "slower/unboosted" rubbers @180grams.