I just finished playing in my first poly ball tournament.  There were a few differences that I would like to comment on…
 
 
Shorter Serves
My opponent’s serves were going much shorter and lower with the poly ball than previously with the celluloid ball.  This made it much more challenging to loop the half-long serves, because they were shorter than before and it made it much more challenging to flip the short serves, because they were lower than before.  This advantage/disadvantage works both way.  Don’t be alarmed with this change; I’m just stated the difference so that can be aware of it.
 
 
Shorter Receives
My opponent’s receives were going much shorter and lower with the poly ball than previously with the celluloid ball.  This made it much more challenging to loop the half-long pushes, because they were shorter than before and it made it much more challenging to flip the short pushes, because they were lower than before.  This advantage/disadvantage works both way.  Don’t be alarmed with this change; I’m just stated the difference so that can be aware of it.  If your opponent is annoying you with a short push on every serve… then consider serving half-long on purpose or consider serving short topspin or sidespin instead of short backspin.
 
 
More Curve
My opponent’s serves were much curvier in the air than previously.  When the ball contacted my side of the table, it jumped to the side much sharper with the poly ball than with the celluloid.  This advantage/disadvantage works both way.  Don’t be alarmed with this change; I’m just stated the difference so that can be aware of it.
 
 
Wobbly on Smashes
My opponent’s smashes were quite wobbly and inconsistent.  When the ball left his racket when smashing flat, it wasn’t very controlled.  This advantage/disadvantage works both way.  Don’t be alarmed with this change; I’m just stated the difference so that can be aware of it.  So how can you avoid missing smashes with the poly ball?  #1 Get your feet in better position.  Instead of just swatting at the ball, work hard to get your body there.  #2 Add spin to your smash – giving you more control.  #3 Focus on hitting an exact location.  By having an exact spot and aiming for it, you will be more precise and more focused when smashing.
 
 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
Now that the NA Teams has just finished with 800 participants using the poly ball, the US nationals is right around the corner with 700 participants using the poly ball, and the prestigious Pan Am Team Trials is approaching and will be using the poly ball, I would encourage other tournament directors to follow suit by using the poly ball at every tournament.  Many small, local clubs are using celluloid.  However, the actual traveling tournament players as well as the elite players have already made the switch.  I strongly encourage tournament directors to exclusively use the poly ball in 2015.  The world has already switched.  There is no reason to go back at this point.