We ruthlessly hit them with a racket, kick and crush, not even suspecting how much effort, time and skill it takes to produce one small ball.

Before taking on the shape we know, the balls overcame more than one stage of evolution. They were cork and rubber, of arbitrary diameter from three to five centimeters. It was quite difficult to play with such equipment: the cork bounced off the table surface badly, and rubber balls, on the contrary, jumped unpredictably in different directions.

But in 1856, the scientist Alexander Parkes managed to create a new material, thanks to which table tennis made a significant step forward. True, the inventor did not try at all for sports. He didn't care about sports at all. Parkes wanted to put into production a material - a substitute for expensive ivory. The discovery promised good dividends: elephant tusks are in great short supply, and jewelry made from a quality substitute would appeal to many English fashionistas. However, the hopes of the scientist failed to come true. There was a problem: the material ignited too easily. That is, it was simply flammable. And Parkes was never able to find a use for his discovery.

Time passed, and the invention of Parkes could not find its purpose. Although in 1870 the strange material received an official name. The Celluloid Manufacturing Company has registered it under its trademark. And the world first heard about celluloid. Celluloid is plastic, but plastic is not plain. Like ordinary plastic, it hardens when exposed to heat, but then becomes plastic again. It is this property that makes celluloid unique.

And a few years later, two companies were already fighting for the right to produce celluloid. Although sports again had nothing to do with it. In the late 1880s, celluloid was developed for photographic film. Hannibal Goodwin and Eastman Kodak Company received the coveted patent. However, both firms coveted a monopoly. To eliminate competitors, Hannibal Goodwin sued Eastman Kodak Company for copyright infringement. And she won the case. Thus, through competition, the basis for the production of photographic film was laid, and later this led to the development of motion pictures.

The high point of celluloid has come. In the late 19th - early 20th century, he finally gained popularity. Knife handles, ballpoint pen cases, and even toys were made from this material. But the glory left as unexpectedly as it appeared: celluloid ignited and collapsed too easily, so in the middle of the 20th century it was replaced by safer and more resistant polyethylene.

Capricious and delicate material could take root in only one area. But there he became necessary, irreplaceable and unique. Celluloid came into the sport and stayed there - in the form of a table tennis ball. In 1896, the German firm Schildkröt (Turtle) produced the first celluloid ball. The success was huge. New balls bounced high, obeyed the athlete, flew quickly and accurately. The advantages of the new materials were obvious. By the beginning of the 20th century, ball manufacturing patents were acquired by all major tennis firms. And since 1902, the business was put on the conveyor: manufacturing plants produced up to 2 million balls a week. Despite being highly flammable and short-lived, celluloid has been the only ball material for over 100 years. Why? He alone has necessary characteristics. Celluloid is able to hold its shape for a long time. In this he is helped by special ingredients. For example, camphor. Her scent lingers inner walls ball for several years. Celluloid endures even the most strong blows: does not deform, remains rigid and, at the same time, elastic. Other materials are not capable of this.

However, celluloid is flammable. Therefore, even after a hundred years, the manufacture of table tennis balls is a laborious and expensive process that requires precise work and constant monitoring. Safety measures must be followed.

Asia has a monopoly on production. All balls come from the Far East. Balls approved international federation table tennis, make only five specialized factories. And they are all in Asia: two in China, two in Japan and one in South Korea. Although there are many more factories in China, their products are intended for the amateur level.

The manufacturing process begins with a rectangular celluloid sheet, about 1mm thick. From it, as from dough, small round blanks are cut. These blanks are superimposed on a hemisphere, that is, a half of the ball. After that, the celluloid is heated to 100 degrees (mainly with the help of water vapor) and, softened, is again stretched onto a hemisphere. The process is called "deep drawing". The result is separate halves of the ball.

The halves of one ball vary slightly in size. This is done intentionally: it is more convenient to insert the parts into each other. But first, the halves are weighed. Such accurate calculations are required only in a pharmacy. The difference in weight should not exceed one hundredth of a gram - otherwise the ball will become egg-shaped.

After drawing, the halves of the ball are carefully glued together with an alcohol-containing liquid. It softens the surface of the material. At the place of gluing, a double layer of celluloid is formed - this is a seam. However, there is no imbalance, since when drawing the mass of the ball is evenly distributed over the entire surface.

The ball is then placed in a hollow metal ball and plunge into a hot water bath. The walls of the ball are pressed against the walls of the hollow ball. Through this process, the seams are aligned. balls High Quality balls go through this procedure twice - for greater confidence in their ideal shape.

The last stage of processing takes place in a large rotating drum. From the outside, it looks like washing, only instead of laundry, balls and small light pebbles rotate in the drum. "Washing" lasts several hours - until the mass of the ball reaches the desired mark. The pebbles rub against the balls and grind them. This forms a white powder on the surface of the balls. New balls leave traces on the lining - dust from celluloid and stones. Gradually, the balls are “beaten up”, and the linings stop getting dirty.

The next stage of control is weighing. Each ball is weighed separately and checked by a special machine for stiffness. For balls, this is a difficult test. The metal pin presses on different places, and if the ball misses too much in one of them, the poor fellow is sent to marriage. He's too soft. To control the roundness (evenness) of the balls, they are rolled on an inclined plane. The details and essence of this procedure are kept secret by the manufacturers.

At the end, each ball requires "aging" - according to information from manufacturing companies, this takes several months.

Three-star balls are not made separately. They are selected from the general population. The best copies are decorated with three stars. And worse balls get training status.

The ITTF strictly monitors the quality of the balls. No ball will receive a license without proper verification.

According to table tennis rules, the ball must be:

A) spherical, with a diameter of 40 mm;

B) weighing 2.7 grams;

C) dull white or dull orange.

In fact, there are still some concessions. The diameter of the ball can range from 39.5 to 40.5 millimeters, and the weight can vary from 2.67 to 2.77 grams. In this range, the difference in rebound and flight speed is imperceptible. In order to receive ITTF approval, balls must also comply with several other regulations. For example: when a ball is released from a height of 305 millimeters onto a standard steel block, it should bounce between 240 and 260 millimeters. True, this requirement is not the most stringent. It is performed by almost all tested balls. It is much more difficult to meet the "weight" and "height" norms.

But now everything is behind and the balls with the ITTF badge are sailing. The sea route is the only safe route for this cargo. The risk of fire is too great. A little time will pass and it will end quiet life. They will be beaten with a racket, thrown into the air, kicked. They will train and play competitions. But what can you do - table tennis players cannot do without a celluloid ball.

The balloon can be widely used in everyday life. Is it hard to believe? Then we look at the recipes collected in the new review and remember. Surely, some of them will be useful in every home. It is worth sharing the secrets received with friends.

1. Ice scenery

Balloons filled with slightly tinted water will help decorate the yard in winter. When the water is completely frozen, take the balls into the yard and carefully remove the rubber shell.

2. Bright vases

Using balloons of different colors, you can decorate ordinary glass glasses, turning them into bright vases for small bunches of flowers.

3. Door handle

A tennis ball can be a great alternative to a broken doorknob.

4. Form for drying

To prevent your natural wool hat from losing its shape after washing, dry it on an inflated balloon.

5. Towel holders

Tennis balls can make fun and very handy towel holders. To do this, you just need to make a small longitudinal incision in the middle of the ball and attach it to the wall in the kitchen or bath.

6. Housekeeper

Just one cut and a pair of toy eyes will turn a tennis ball into an original key holder, which will become an original and practical part of the hallway.

7. Cooling drinks

Fill balloons with a little water, put in the freezer and use to chill drinks at the beach or during an outdoor party.

8. Decor cans

Decorate ordinary glass jars with colorful balls and use them to store various things and products.

9. Unusual invitation

Inflate the balloons, beautifully write invitations to the celebration on them, release the air, attach the balloons to postcards and distribute to friends who can read the text of the invitation only by inflating the balloon. Such unusual invitations will amaze friends and will be remembered for a long time.

10. Washing

To prevent the filler of a down jacket or blanket from clumping when washing, put a few tennis balls in the washing machine.

11. Marker suspension

A tennis ball hanging from the ceiling in the garage will help you avoid possible parking troubles.

12. Protectors

old tennis balls ki can be put on furniture legs to protect the floor from scratches and damage and reduce noise.

13. Lid

The balloon will allow you to easily and hermetically close any container.

14. Crafts

The inflated balloon can be used as a mold to create beautiful vases, lamps and desserts.

15. Opener

Festive decor.

Balloons can be turned into giant candy canes and used as fancy holiday decorations.

Video bonus:

In continuation of the topic, which everyone will appreciate.

First step: preparing the solution. As a rule, a tennis ball is made from natural rubber. Raw rubber enters the plant in 70-250 lb bales. To make it softer, it must be carefully ground. And in order to obtain the various required properties of the future ball (strength, color, hardness), various powders are added to the rubber. The rubber compound is then placed in a solvent tank and a sticky dough is obtained after a few hours. To obtain a mass of the desired consistency, it is necessary to mix the dough with a large amount of solvent.

Second stage: composition. In general, balls with internal pressure are usually made from natural rubber containing a high loading of fine filler for low gas permeability. The composition (by weight) is as follows: natural rubber - 100 black - reinforcing filler - 30 clay - 32 zinc oxide - 9 sulfur - 3.5 diphenylguanidine (DPG) - 2 cyclohexylbenthiazylsulfenamide (HBS) - 1

Third stage: extrusion. At this stage, long strips are cut from the rubber mass, from which small granules are squeezed out using an extruder (shaping device) (this is similar to squeezing toothpaste from a tube). Then the granules are cooled.

Fourth stage: form. The pellets are loaded into a hydraulic press which converts them into hemispheres (halves of a ball), usually within 2 and a half minutes at 150º. Next, the hemispheres are removed from the molding sheets using figured knives.

Fifth stage: polishing. The edges of the hemisphere are rough, so in order to ensure their even bonding, it is necessary to grind them with a grinding wheel. After grinding, a vulcanizing rubber solution is applied to the edges of the polished hemisphere.

Sixth stage: hardening and inflation. There are two methods for inflating or pressurizing a tennis ball. The first method is the use of chemicals. chemicals for inflation are usually sodium nitrite and ammonium chloride, which produce nitrogen during the molding process. The method of inflating with compressed air is much more complicated. The two halves of the sphere are brought together, and air gets inside. Closing of the hemispheres occurs in stages as follows: a) The press is closed until the edges of the hemispheres touch each other; b) In this position, the inner area of ​​the cell with hemispheres is isolated from the atmosphere by a rubber sealing ring; c) Compressed air is introduced at the required pressure into the cell area with hemispheres; d) Pressure cells with hemispheres are assembled together, thus trapping compressed air between the hemispheres; e) Then the balls are heated until the rubber solution is vulcanized and cooled. Balls are usually under pressure up to about 12 psi. inch. Due to the fact that rubber compounds are easily permeable to gas, the pressure in them is gradually lost, and after a few months the balls will be unplayable. Therefore, they are sold in special cans that maintain the pressure of the balls.

Seventh stage: coating with a solution. To smooth the rough surface of the ball, it is polished and coated with a special rubber solution.

Eighth stage: covering with tennis cloth. Two types of felt are used to make tennis balls. These are "Melton Cloth", a cloth having a high wool content, and "Needle Cloth", a more synthetic cloth. The cloth comes in 100-meter rolls. On one side it is coated with a vulcanizing solution. With a special machine, blanks are cut out in shape, resembling dumbbells in a section. Using an automated wrapping machine, a rubber ball, initially treated with glue, is wrapped with two cloth blanks, which are tightly fixed on its surface. Next, the balls are once again subjected to the vulcanization process.

Ninth stage: molding. The ball is placed in a molding press and heated, the rubber core of the ball and the ends of the felt harden, and a smooth seam is formed. The molded ball is cooled and removed from the press. This molding leaves the fabric very smooth and compressed, with a crease where the mold closed.

Tenth stage: steaming. At this stage, the tennis balls are immersed in an atmosphere filled with vapor, while the felt swells, becomes more raised and soft, after this operation, the wrinkle across the ball disappears.

Eleventh stage: finishing. At this stage, the balls are checked and evaluated according to the international standards of tennis organizations (ITF, USTA), and the brand name is also applied. Pack them in sealed jars that maintain pressure during storage. The balls are now ready to be shipped.

Dear friends and partners! We sell only approved balls International Association Tennis (ITF).

Hello, friends. Do you know what there is a ball on an elastic band for boxing? But how is it useful for a boxer? How to make it yourself? And where is the best place to buy it?

Training apparatus

A ball with an elastic band is a boxing simulator. In this area, the product "Fight Ball" is very popular.

What develops a ball on an elastic band for boxing? Here, the tasks of developing such qualities as:

1. Reaction.
2. Coordination.
3. Attack accuracy.
4. Feeling of distance.

In the USSR, many boxers trained with this projectile.

How to work with a ball on an elastic band? Here the designated simulator is used. First you need to adjust the gum in it. The ball should be at stomach height. This position is especially relevant for beginners. And the smaller the length of the elastic band, the more difficult the workout.

1. The ball is pushed away from itself by hand. He needs to be hit hard with his fist. It flies down or away from the hitter. The key task is to hit the middle of the ball so that it flies in a straight line. Then it comes back to the face. In these moments, you need to have time to hit him again. According to this principle, continuous assaults follow. The ball must not reach the face.

Beginners should avoid powerful blows and focus them only down. The duration of work at a similar pace is 10-20 minutes, and every day. Until the performance is honed to perfection.

1. The ball with an elastic band for boxing is put on the head again. The work is more intense, the force of blows increases. They go only in front of you, should always be in line with the eyes.

It is so good to perfect direct and side attacks. In work, you can use both hands alternately. Each fighter improves personal combinations. Intensity - the same as in paragraph 1.

1. Similar actions as in paragraph 2 + defense. After each attack, you need to place your hands at the chin. This is how the habit of proper defense is developed. The elbows protect the body. The intensity is the same.
2. Analogy with item 3 + movement. You need to move around the room. The work takes place in the shuttle. You have to keep hitting the ball. He should not fall, and the fighter manages to return his hands. The intensity is the same.
3. Analogy with item 4. You just need to focus on the ball, but on a suitable object, for example:

• look at fellow workouts,
• watch fights or a movie on the screen

So peripheral vision and concentration develop well. And also:

• rapid reaction to moving targets,
• cumulative coordination in space,
• shoulder coordination,
• endurance,
• operational orientation and perception of data,
• accuracy of attacks on targets in motion,
• sense of distance

Self-creation of a projectile

How to make a ball on an elastic band for boxing? This work is not difficult. There are several versions of such homemade products:

First version. For her you will need: a baseball cap, an elastic band from linen, a tennis ball. Actions:

A. The ball is pierced through with an awl or a thin knife.

B. The end of the gum is tied in 3-4 knots. This way the rubber won't pop back out.

B. The elastic band is threaded through the hole created.

D. Its other ending is tied to a baseball cap. The length of the elastic should be such that the ball is positioned on the line of the abdomen.

It turns out a tennis ball on an elastic band for boxing.

However, this version has the following shortcomings:

• the ball bounces too easily from the fist, the exercises pass without power,
• you can not hone side attacks.

To make a different version of the ball on an elastic band for boxing with your own hands, you must perform the following algorithm of actions:

1. A wool sock is used. It is optimal for this task. It is filled with uncooked rice. This is how a miniature pear is formed. Its diameter: 7-8 cm.
2. Lace is used. Its length is 7-8 cm. It is threaded into a massive button and tied into a ring.
3. The resulting combination of button and ring is placed in the sock, more precisely in its neck. In this case, the ring sticks out. The elements are firmly tied with a powerful thread, such as nylon. Excess sock is eliminated with scissors.
4. An elastic band is used. It develops in 2-3 layers (its thickness matters here). It needs to be stitched along the whole length, every 10-11 cm. This is how a kind of tourniquet is formed.
5. The result of item 4. joins a miniature pear.

About professional model

What is the name of the ball on an elastic band for boxing, or rather the professional version? The answer is Fight Ball Boxing.

This is an amazing performance trainer. It is optimal for beginners and experienced boxers. There are no shortcomings inherent in home-made counterparts.

Its manufacturing technology is as follows:

For stitching its shell used genuine leather. The fillers of his pears are carefully selected special granules. They give the product shape and mass. For "mounting" on the head, a cap with customizable parameters is used.

The rubber band for fastening the ball is distinguished by a scrupulous selection of such qualities: elasticity, elasticity and strength. The position of its attachment is the crown. Thanks to this, the honing of lateral and direct, as well as elbow attacks, is effectively carried out.

Working with this simulator, the athlete invests as much as possible in all strokes. A efficiency training process increases solidly.

Specialists tested and upgraded this projectile based on the preferences of professional fighters from different martial arts.

Outwardly, this is a simple boxing ball with an elastic band, which is easy to buy on the Internet, for example, on the Fight Ball Boxing / Shop resource or other specialized point of sale. You can choose the right model, although this product is universal.

For example, the average price of a ball with an elastic band for boxing with a parameter of 50 cm is 530 rubles.

Other advantages of the projectile:

1. Simple yet very durable construction.
2. It includes a special ball, characterized by the necessary firmness and elasticity. Its cover is a special synthetic fabric. She is very soft. This prevents hand injuries.
3. There is a strong fabric strip. Its material is a special hygienic fabric that absorbs sweat. It's easy to clean. She keeps her appearance for a long time.
4. external attraction.
5. Modest mass. The product fits easily into a sports bag.
6. It can be used effectively in various places: room, gym, park, etc.
7. Despite its simplicity, the projectile can exhaust the practitioner as much as possible. It makes you intensively work out the most complex attacks and combinations.
8. Thanks to these exercises, the fighter acquires the most important characteristics and skills: excellent reaction, high endurance, scrupulous precise strikes, perfect coordination of movements.

Thus, the Fight Ball Boxing simulator is notable for its external simplicity and high efficiency. The fighter demonstrates solid results by working with him even for half an hour every day.

Conclusion

Such an extremely useful and practical simulator can be done by yourself. But top scores give only professional models.

Examine the old tennis balls. If they are dirty, wash them. It will be enough to wash the dirty parts of the ball with soapy water or use a washing machine. If they are torn, they can still be used, so don't throw them away just yet.

Find a use for your old tennis balls in your home. You can fix a lot of things with balls, just figure out how! Below are a few examples:

• Attach balls to the legs of a chair or stool to protect the floor from scratches and reduce noise from the chair being moved. You can also take a lot of old tennis balls to a school or community group for the same purpose (schools often do this). Or donate them to a nursing home, because tennis balls are a good brake for walkers. This is a great option for torn balls.
• Cut the ball in half and use the half to open the jars. Just place the inner rubberized part of the ball on the lid, fix the jar and turn the lid; grip on the surface will help loosen the lid of the jar.
• Put them on the end of sharp objects (such as a knife or scissors) to avoid injury. This method can be used in workshops where there are many cars with sharp surfaces that are easy to hit when passing by.
• To keep the round doorknob from hitting the inside wall, cut a large slit in the tennis ball and slide it over the handle. This method will help you keep curious babies in the room until they learn to grab and turn the handle.
• Use them to get rid of scuffs on the floor. Many cleaners attach them to the end of a stick - this makes it easier to remove scuffs.

1. Use old tennis balls for washing. Tennis balls can help you with your laundry; just make sure they are clean:

   • Throw a couple of balls in the washing machine and they will separate tangled clothes (tennis balls keep sheets or other long fabrics from sticking together, so they dry faster and more thoroughly). You can put laundry tennis balls in a small bag so you can easily get them when you need them.
   • Put the tennis balls in the washing machine, when you are about to wash the bathroom curtain, add 120 ml. vinegar, wash in hot water. The vinegar will kill the mold and the tennis balls will scrape it off.
   • Place tennis balls in your toilet bowl to reduce the amount of water you flush when you flush.

2. Use tennis balls in the garage or for the car. Tennis balls will help you when operating the vehicle:

   • Hang balls on strings in the garage - this will help you determine where your car is when you back out.
   • Make a cut in the ball and attach it to the trailer hitch.
   • Attach the ball to the kickstand of your bike and it won't sink through mud or grass.
   • When you teach children the rules traffic or cycling, use tennis ball halves as miniature traffic cones.
   • Place tennis balls under car wipers that are not in use for a long time. Thus, the wiper blades will last you much longer.
   • To quickly find your car in a crowded parking lot, use one proven method: put a tennis ball on the antenna.
   • Tennis balls can be used as a bumper for boats, especially recommended for inexperienced paddlers. Just cut the ball in half and attach it to the side of the boat.

3. Enhance your garden and yard with old tennis balls. There are so many uses for tennis balls outside of the home (insect repellent, for example):

   • Cut the ball into halves and fill them with beer to make a trap for slugs in the garden.
   • Protect yourself from mosquitoes and flies on the street. Simply coat tennis balls with petroleum jelly and hang them from a tree or bush.
   • If the legs of garden chairs get stuck in the gaps between the boards, put tennis balls on them.
   • Throw two or three balls to soak up the body oil. Change them every couple of weeks (used balls can be reused, just choose a different method from the ones in the article).
   • Cut the ball and put it on a padlock - this will protect it from adverse weather conditions. It will not rust or freeze.
   • If you live in a fire hazard area, keep tennis balls in a bucket of water. If your home is in danger of a fire, place wet balls in a drainpipe and use a garden hose to fill the drainage trays with water. The water will wet any foreign objects in the tray and your house won't catch fire as easily.
   • Cut the ball in half and use it as a seedling container.

4. Find new ways to train with tennis balls. You can't play with them anymore. tennis court, but you can still use them for other physical exercises:

   • Juggle tennis balls.
   • Hang the ball on a rope and practice baseball, cricket or any other sport that requires hitting the ball with a bat or stick.
   • Squeeze a tennis ball in your hand to exercise your grip strength.
   • Use them as hand weights - just cut the ball and fill it with sand or small change. it great option for light weightlifting.
   • When swimming breaststroke and butterfly, hold the tennis ball with your chin; this will teach you how to properly hold your chin.

5. Make crafts or useful gifts out of tennis balls. Tennis balls make wonderful toys, crafts and decorations:

   • Decorate tennis balls for your art project. Draw the eyes, nose, mouth and glue on the hair to make a cute doll head; glue the continents to make a globe. And don't be afraid to glue a few balls together to create an intricate design.
     • Stick a cigarette in the mouth of the doll's head (a fake cigarette will work too). It will be fun if you give her dreadlocks. But these crafts, of course, are not for children!
   • Use tennis balls to store change. Decorate the ball and it will become an elegant gift.
   • Turn it into a whiteboard eraser by cutting the ball in half and threading the string through the middle. Attach the rope to the board and use outer surface ball wipe the board.
   • Make puppets out of old tennis balls. The ball can be the head or the body of the doll - it all depends on what you are going to do.
   • Hide things in old tennis balls. Make a cut in the tennis ball, then squeeze the ball down the sides of the cut so you open it up. Put money or other things inside and loosen your grip to "close" the ball. Hide it in a place that won't arouse suspicion.
   • Make a mobile solar system with tennis balls. You will probably need miniature tennis balls (available at the pet store) to keep the scale.

6. Keep your pets entertained and safe with old tennis balls. There are countless ways to use tennis balls when you are dealing with animals. Just make sure the torn ball doesn't get stuck in your pet's teeth, skin, fur, or other body parts. If possible, use ball halves or a whole ball instead. Here are some ideas to get you started:

7. Relax with a tennis ball. When you are very tired or suffer from snoring, a tennis ball will come to your rescue:

   • Put the ball on the floor, sit comfortably and roll it on the floor, massaging any part of the body (heel, back of the leg, and so on).
   • Stand on one foot and roll the tennis ball with the other. So you will train your balance, and at the same time massage your heel.
   • Sew a back pocket to the snorer's pajamas and place a tennis ball in it. Thus, the snorer will not sleep on his back, and most people snore only in this case.
   • Relieve Tension Headache - Put two balls in your sock and tie a knot at the end. Find a hard surface, like a book, and place your ball sock on it. Rest your head on the tennis balls in your sock so that the balls touch the back of your neck. Lie still for about 5-10 minutes. When you get up, the headache will decrease or go away altogether.
   • Make slits in the balls and fill them with sweets. Place the balls on the table or put them in a large bag.
   • Use balls in party games; they can be used in any ball game, especially since they are much safer for those around you than heavy balls.