WSF SQUASH NEWS

NEW WSF & DUNLOP SQUASH BALL INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN STYLE

WSF Press Release, 7.27.99     

The international launch of a completely new range of squash balls, the culmination of a £1 million investment by Dunlop in a worldwide campaign to increase squash participation, was described as "without doubt the most significant development in our sport in recent years" by World Squash Federation President Susie Simcock.

The launch, staged jointly by Dunlop and the WSF, was held at London's prestigious Lambs Club and hosted by Susie Simcock and Dunlop's International Squash Marketing Manager Paul Walters. Among the guests were squash legend and record ten-times British Open champion Jahangir Khan, and fellow WSF Vice-President Mike Corby; WSF Chief Executive Ted Wallbutton; Women's World Junior champion Tania Bailey; 1998 British champion and world No6 Simon Parke; and European Junior Champion Adrian Grant.

Numerous British and international journalists, including experienced players and beginners, were able to try out the new balls on the Lambs courts, helped by Simon Parke and Tania Bailey, with top coaches Judy Williams and Mike Weston. Dunlop, with over 90% share of the worldwide squash ball market, unveiled its new ball range following an exhaustive worldwide research and development programme run in partnership with the WSF and the sport's other international governing bodies, the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

The new four-ball range, which abandons the existing and widely misunderstood usage of coloured 'dot' balls, includes two balls that are bigger and more playable than the current single standard size ball - with the aim to bring more fun to the game. The range is based upon a unique design concept which is exclusive to Dunlop, focused on extending ball "hang-time" - the time taken for the ball to complete its bounce. This has been applied across all four ball types.

This Research & Development breakthrough means that players of lower skill levels have longer to hit the ball, making hand and eye co-ordination easier, allowing correct technique to be developed and rallies to be extended - vital ingredients to improving player enjoyment.The four balls in the new range are:

• 1. The Revelation Pro XX, traditional-sized black ball for professional, advanced and team players. This remains the official ball of the WSF, PSA and WISPA, endorsements which ensure that Dunlop is the only ball used in all international professional competitions. The Revelation Pro XX is identified by a double yellow dot.
• 2. The Revelation Competition XT, the existing traditional-sized ball for club players. This has a similar performance to the Revelation Pro XX, but an increased 10% 'hang-time'. The Revelation Competition XT is black, and identified by a single yellow dot.
• 3. The new Max Progress ball is 6% larger than the traditional-sized ball, and has instant bounce, thus eliminating the need for warm-up. The black Max Progress has a 20% longer 'hang time' than the Revelation Pro XX, thereby making it ideal for 'improvers' and recreational players.
• 4. The Max ball is 12% larger, and has a 40% greater 'hang time' than the Revelation Pro XX. Exhaustive testing has proved this ball to be the perfect 'starter' ball, aimed at the all-important beginner. The blue Max ball also has instant bounce, which again eliminates the need for warm-up.