When did the Rules Change

[pingpongrob]

I was looking at a video on youtube of Tibor Klampar playing Liang Ge Liang, and wonderdered when did the ITTF change the rules about tossing the ball up on Service.

Liang Ge Liang Vs. Tibor Klampar; Pt. 2

[big ears]

Late 70's, before that there was no specific height that the ball needed to be thrown up, it just had to be decending before it was struck, but as you can see, it was often struck at any point, often on the way up.

[pingpongrob]

Do you think that Klampar and players of that era could make it into the top 100 these days.

[big ears]

Not as they were, but the current top 100 would not make it either if they were transported back in time and had to develop alongside these guys. TT changes over time like any sport, and you can only do what you can do in your era, this only applies to the top though, below that, class can survive for decades.

[blue_smartie68]

Classic clips there Rob! 
 
I think it's a good thing we have left those 1970's short shorts behind! lol 
Also, did you notice how little advertsing there was?! Plain barriers, shirts etc!!
I went and found the part 3 vid on youtube to see who won! 
 
Cheers,
Chris

[Kostaki]

Apparently the rule hasn't changed. There are still players at Sunbury that use these types of serves.
 

[speedplay]

Not as they were, but the current top 100 would not make it either if they were transported back in time and had to develop alongside these guys. TT changes over time like any sport, and you can only do what you can do in your era, this only applies to the top though, below that, class can survive for decades.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Waldner beat Klampar in the European championship? If so, he should be considered as belonging to that era, and if I'm not mistaken, he is still with in the top 100, isn't he?

But, I get your point, if they played the game the same way today as they play in these clips, they would not impress anyone. The same is true for almost any sport, look at Pele when Brazil won the World Cup, he was celebrated as this amazing player, but if he went out on the field today's with the same skill he used back then, he would be ridiculed. Even defenders of today's game have better technique then he had and players like Ronaldinho, Ronalde and Messi can probably perform more impressive tricks with an orange then he ever could with a football. With that said, if Pele was born today, he might still become a great player in 20 years time.

[Tenergy]

Whenever i play old people i find that they serve like that. Young people chuck it up 20 metres!