Pacific Northwest Handball Message Board Posted By: Mosely Tue Feb 21 11:50:29 2012    edit Eugene Tourney This Weekend Anyone going to be in Eugene this weekend and have a floor our couch I could crash on? I'm looking for some space for my doubles partner and I while we are there for the tournament. Give me a call, or a text, or an email. Nick 303-594-1440 mosely@uw.edu Posted By: DanB Fri Feb 17 15:24:37 2012    edit USHA's message is confusing The USHA has been sending out mixed messages. First the president of the USHA claimed that they were seeking out a new manufacturer because balls were breaking in 2004. In other words, it took them 7 years to decide to switch manufacturers. When they did make the decision to switch, the USHA made the decision without having any balls in the pipeline, and thus created another shortage. A competent CEO would have had balls or a product ready to replace the old product before completely braking ties with the existing manufacturer. Then the USHA compounded the problem by making the 21 less attractive because of a big jump in price. In the most recent magazine, Vern claims that the new ball is designed to be “more user friendly.” The USHA, Vern, and/or the president made the unilateral decision to replace the Red Ace without any input from the membership. Now, only privileged USHA members have access to the ball. If there is a “ball war,” it is a rebellion over the consistent mismanagement from the USHA. Members should not confuse loyalty to the sport with loyalty to poor stewardship. What is the USHA's goal? Ball breakage in 2004 or to create a new game? While the new 21 has improved, the Ektelon is more consistent with the Red Ace. If I am not mistaken, it is made by the same manufacturer that produced the Red Ace. The 21 creates a less sophisticated game, Note how the level of the pro game dropped at the Simple Green. The Ektelon is more consistent with the history of our game. Posted By: Joe Mon Feb 20 09:57:43 2012    edit More info on the current ball situation You've got a lot of points right: Ball breakage has been a big problem in the past. USHA neglected their duties by not having a new source for balls up and running before chopping off their relationship with the old manufacturer. The 21 ball is MUCH more expensive than the old Red Ace or the Ektelon. But I think there was a lot more information involved in USHA's decision to look for another ball. This goes way back to when the Ektelon ball first appeared on the scene. It is my understanding (I could be wrong, but I don't think I am) that the factory that made the Red Ace in Taiwan primarily makes tennis balls for Prince. Benneton, which owns Prince also owns Ektelon. Ektelon went to Benneton and requested that the next time the factory re-tooled to produce handballs for USHA that they extend the run of handballs and mark the extras with the Ektelon logo. This was done. USHA had spent several years working with the factory to adjust the play characteristics of the ball, but all those efforts were given "out the back door" directly to Ektelon without USHA's knowledge or consent. Not only that, but when USHA took over manufacturing the ball from Spalding they were required to purchase a huge inventory of lids for the plastic tubes that the balls are packaged in. The factory gave these lids to Ektelon at no charge. These factors, plus the huge variation that existed between each batch of balls (out-of-round, dead, breaking prematurely, etc.) led to USHA's decision to look for a more responsive and reliable entity to produce handballs. If you look at the problems the WPH is currently facing in trying to get the factory to honor a signed contract you can see that dealings with that factory are problematic. Yes, the "21" ball is much more expensive than the old Red Ace. The "21" is made in Ireland by MacSports, the people who manufactured the Dunlop ball. MacSports has produced the Irish National Ball (called the "Challenger") for several years. The Challenger ball does not have the same play characteristics as the Red Ace or Ektelon balls. The first batch of "21" balls broke way too fast, so much so that USHA changed its' breakage policy to allow the return of any "21" ball that broke whether or not the label was still showing. This problem was fixed with the second batch. Batch #2 balls weighed in at 58.5 grams, 2.5 grams lighter than the target of weight of 61 grams (as prescribed in the USHA rulebook) and within .5 gram of being too light to use. By third batch, the weight was increased to 60.1 grams, less than a gram below the ideal weight. Right now, batch #4 is being released for use at tournaments around the country. The weight appears to be holding consistent at 60.1 grams. Personally, for me, I'm not in love with the "21" ball... yet. But what's it worth to have a manufacturer that listens to the feedback from the players, and makes the changes necessary to fix the problems? I'd pay more for a ball with that kind of future. Quite a bit more. I don't say this to be an apologist for USHA. They have made some mistakes. But I think we're a lot closer to the perfect ball for the "perfect" game right now than we were six months or a year ago. Thanks for listening. Joe Posted By: Matt Steele Mon Feb 13 13:16:58 2012    edit OR State Doubles-21 ball We just had the OR state doubles in Corvallis and the 21 ball held up very well. I've not been pleased with the balls used in two OR tournaments previously but this batch was much better. Did not have a ball break in three doubles matches and they've been round out of the can. Much better performance and i'll buy a case if i can find one. I had been buying Ektelon's online previously. Posted By: Joe Wed Feb 8 15:45:49 2012    edit Which tournaments will use which ball??? With no "obvious" choice in the "ball wars", tournament directors around the NW are coming to different conclusions regarding which ball to use for their events. Both have their pluses and minuses: The "21" ball seems to have solved its' tendency to break prematurely and is a little easier on the hands. But it's performance is still a little squirrely in the back corners. While advertising that they have cases of "21" balls available for sale, the USHA web site advises that a maximum of two cans will be sold to individuals. The Ektelon ball plays like the old Red Ace that we're all familiar with, but it will never out bounce a "21" in a drop test prior to starting the match. Dave Vincent advises that they are selling multi-case orders to individuals. The John Graham Tournament in Burnaby, BC will be using the Red Ace this weekend. The Eugene Weekender Tournament, coming up at the end of February will be using the Ektelon ball for all matches. The Valentine's Day tournament in Kalispell is in the process of making the decision as to which ball will be used. Two cases of "21" balls have arrived at the WAC and are slated to be used for the Washington State Championships in late March. All-in-all the next few months will be a little confusing as players prepare for tournaments. No sense practicing with an Ektelon if you'll be using a "21" on the weekend. Posted By: Joe Tue Jan 31 11:40:03 2012    edit If they'd only bring the old black Spalding back... We are currently in a transition period relative to the ball we use. There are those of us that like the new “21” ball that feels a little softer on the hands. Some prefer the Ektelon because the way the ball bounces is a little more familiar to us. I’m sure there are at least a couple of you old dinosaurs out there that would play with a black ball if you could find one that still had pressure in the can (right, Gordy?!). So, if you had your choice, if you could pick any ball you’ve ever played with from the old black Spalding to the newest version, the “21”, what would you like to play with– and why? There are lots of choices: The Dunlop ball, the VOIT, the 555, the red Ektelon Fireball, the (perish the thought!) “Family” ball, the Ektelon blue ball, the Challenger ball (Irish national ball), or any other ball you loved to pay with. My favorite was the Spalding blue ball that was made in Mexico for a couple years. It was a little hard on the hands, but boy did it bounce and it took a lot of pounding before it broke. Don’t forget the soon to be extinct Red Ace. Some of you may be too young to remember all of these variations. I remember a Voit ball that I used for over a month before I lost it behind the front wall at the old Garrison Creek 3-wallcourts. Man, was I bummed. Just let us know what your ideal ball is and why. Who knows, maybe somebody will be listening… Pacific Northwest Handball Association.     All rights reserved Hosted by DML Consulting