In the 38mm ball era, the Chinese relied on delicate techniques, and the Europeans on power. Who will dominate the 40mm ball era?
Both Karlsson and Persson think that the Europeans are more suited for the big ball.
Persson said that in order to quickly adjust to the big ball, the European leagues have switched to that since October. Players such as Waldner already had 2 match experiences using the big ball.
Here are the things that Persson and others have found regarding the big ball. First, it is much easier returning serves, because of the reduction in spin. Second, it is very difficult to loop long when you are far from the table. Third, whoever can loop first has the advantage, because that first loop can still have lots of spin. And fourth, during counter-loop rallies away from the table, the players have to expend a lot of energy. It is a contest of power, and the Europeans, with their superior build and conditioning, will be able to hold their own in the big ball era.
After the World Cup tournament, reporters interviewed Cai Zhenhua ans asked him how the big ball affects the Chinese.
R: What are your impressions of the matches?
C: We congratulate Ma Lin for winning the first big ball world title. Overall, the contests were exciting. The players appear to have calmly accepted the new ball. If they can make further adjustments, they will be able to apply their techniques better. The application of big ball will spurn a series of changes, in the equipment for example. Some players did not play well, but we could not judge their levels from one tournament. The great players will adjust quickly, based on their great understanding of the game.
R: How do you evaluate your three players?
C: Ma Lin showed that he could stand up to pressure in this tournament, and that he is more mature now. One reason he did well was because he had more training with the big ball. Kong and Wang stayed in Sydney after the Olympics and did not come back until October 2. They participated in a lot of celebration activities, so they have trained very little, and therefore are limited in how they applied their skills.
R: What is the Chinese team plan to adjust to the big ball?
C: Every country faces the same problem with the big ball: how to train and develop the players. I feel that the big demands more from a player's physical ability and conditioning. The Chinese players, especially those on the national team, have to increase their physical ability, and we need to make adjustments in our training equipment. From a technical point of view, the fundamentals and techniques developed with the small ball still apply; the key is adjustment.
R: Will the big ball favor the shakehand or the penholder style?
C: We insist on having different styles on our team. We can only know the effects on the styles after extended observations. In this tournament two penholders are in the finals. I felt that Kim got into the final based on his small-ball skills and experience. I think it is unreasonable to expect that the 2nd or 3rd tiered players will be able to compete at the top just because the ball size has been changed. The world-class players will make quick adjustments. Even though no European made it to the finals, I still think that the Europeans will adapt better to the big ball.
R: There was news that Liu Guoliang may retire because of the big ball, is that true?
C: I saw the news, and I don't understand how some reporters can write about things they do not understand. They have to be responsible. Liu played very well in the Olympics; that fact that he was in the semifinals proved that, His opponents were very strong. He played extremely well against Persson. Mu understanding is that Liu will not retire now.
R: Does the big ball make it easier for us to win the World Team title back?
C: Everyone is starting from the same place, and has the same chance. Our next goal is definitely the World Team title, as far as I am concerned.
Kim announced that his wedding date is December 23. When asked about his bride-to-be, he temporarily forgot his finals loss, and broke into a smile. His fiancée is a member of Korea's archery team, and has won an Olympic gold medal. Reporters asked Kim when he will retire, and Kim said that he is still at the peak, both physically and technically, and will play for another 3-5 years.