Definitely more spin and variations, which made it really interesting. More feeling as well. But speed? Their topspins and smashes were super fast due to the small ball, but on average the game was much slower than today. With backhand they rarely played topspin at all.

I'd say there was more speed variation. Slow and spinny and then sometimes super fast. Today almost every ball is played as fast as possible

@@speedytabletennis6985 I think regarding speed that today the initial speed may be slightly higher but due to the bigger balls the loss of pace happens as soon as the ball passed the table. Both Werner and Jean-Philippe are speed oriented with the backhand so this match didn't show too many BH topspin duels but other players used this variation definitly more. Anyway a very entertaining match. Werner on the rise but not at the very best of his abilities (mentally he was only a few year later - Paris - top) and J-P not that hungry like when he was World Champ. Both players were me idols when I was teen. :)

@@dickn.ormous1064 However, World Cup - Gold, World Championship - Gold, Olympia - Silver, this is what he did with only forehand ;)

I think, the play style today has entirely changed due to many changes in game's rules: 38 mm ball > 40 mm ball, 40 mm celluloid ball to 40 mm plastic ball, speed glue ban. Today players try to stand near the table and make counter spins in the 1. and 2. zones, which not always have that amount of spin than in the 90s. What counts nowadays are powerful straight strokes with higher frequency. What counted back in the 90s were stroke with more spin, sometimes side spin and longer hesitations.

Один из лучших! 😎 💪🏻

He wanted kill him

Bad sportsmanship from Gatien

@@cosmeticcarrepair What are you talking about. I didn't see any bad sportsmanship from Gatien.

​@@skipondowntheroad5833 I see it as well. He shouted and celebrated though he gained a clear advantage with his net ball before which allowed him to gain an easy point. No gesture of apology towards Schlager. For me this not a fair and sportsman like behavior. I can understand Schlager and would have probably reacted the same way.

Ganz genau. Deshalb auch fast nur noch Asiaten an der Spitze, weil die kulturell mehr bereit sind sich zu quälen. LOL