National Forum

The Sliotar Weight

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A few things; the sliotar needs to be consistent, it needs to travel about 10 m less than it does now as I don't like the keeper pucking it out, a half forward grabbing it and straight over the bar-nothing massive just travel a bit less.

dufferman (Down) - Posts: 156 - 14/04/2020 01:05:57    2275920

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i have watched a lot of classic gaa in recent weeks and can tell you without a doubt of being contradicted that the ball has travelled as far as it does now since 1990 at least.
what has improved is the ability of players,standard of hurls.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 14/04/2020 19:48:05    2275981

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It stands to reason if the sliotar is heavier it will travel a shorter distance which would make it easier for the referees to keep up with the play. The chances of scoring a point from 100 metres would be a lot less. The ball would be in open play for a lot longer which in turn would lead to longer passages of play. Which in my view would lead to a lot more enjoyable games for spectators.

Coopers_Helmet (Tipperary) - Posts: 154 - 23/04/2020 15:10:51    2276577

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It stands to reason if the sliotar is heavier it will travel a shorter distance which would make it easier for the referees to keep up with the play. The chances of scoring a point from 100 metres would be a lot less. The ball would be in open play for a lot longer which in turn would lead to longer passages of play. Which in my view would lead to a lot more enjoyable games for spectators.

Coopers_Helmet (Tipperary) - Posts: 154 - 23/04/2020 15:10:58    2276578

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Replying To Coopers_Helmet:  "It stands to reason if the sliotar is heavier it will travel a shorter distance which would make it easier for the referees to keep up with the play. The chances of scoring a point from 100 metres would be a lot less. The ball would be in open play for a lot longer which in turn would lead to longer passages of play. Which in my view would lead to a lot more enjoyable games for spectators."
i think babs has arrived

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 23/04/2020 16:28:25    2276590

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Replying To Coopers_Helmet:  "It stands to reason if the sliotar is heavier it will travel a shorter distance which would make it easier for the referees to keep up with the play. The chances of scoring a point from 100 metres would be a lot less. The ball would be in open play for a lot longer which in turn would lead to longer passages of play. Which in my view would lead to a lot more enjoyable games for spectators."
Which do you think you could kick further? An O'Neills football or the old light derby ball we all had as kids?

There isnt logic to say a heavier ball would travel less - its not as simple as that. Could you throw a golf ball or a table tennis ball further?

There's more to it than weight..

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 23/04/2020 21:25:47    2276605

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Replying To tiobraid:  "Which do you think you could kick further? An O'Neills football or the old light derby ball we all had as kids?

There isnt logic to say a heavier ball would travel less - its not as simple as that. Could you throw a golf ball or a table tennis ball further?

There's more to it than weight.."
A lighter ball as your example up above shows will be far more affected by wind and will only travel further if the shot has the wind directly behind.

Check out what happened in 2010 soccer world cup with the ball it was all over the place. A heavier ball could easily end up being more accurate and lead to more scores from distance

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 23/04/2020 22:48:25    2276612

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so players have got better at striking the ball, lets punish them by making what they have perfected harder!

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 24/04/2020 16:40:11    2276657

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Replying To perfect10:  "so players have got better at striking the ball, lets punish them by making what they have perfected harder!"
It's not that simple.

Give Pat Horgan or Joe Canning a hurl from the 80s and we'll see how many they put over from their own half!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13703 - 24/04/2020 21:31:40    2276685

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Replying To MesAmis:  "It's not that simple.

Give Pat Horgan or Joe Canning a hurl from the 80s and we'll see how many they put over from their own half!"
I'd hazard a guess that they'd do pretty well, its all about practise and technique. Both Hoggy and Canning have that in spades. Frees were rushed so quick in the 80s with some brutal technique at times.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1895 - 25/04/2020 02:08:20    2276703

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Replying To Bon:  "I'd hazard a guess that they'd do pretty well, its all about practise and technique. Both Hoggy and Canning have that in spades. Frees were rushed so quick in the 80s with some brutal technique at times."
I also agree they would do a lot better. However, the Hurley itself has changed a lot too. Even the modern grip on a Hurley makes a difference. Plus the hours upon hours of practice that the modern players are putting in is phenomenal.

So my overall conclusion is that the sliotat has not changed near as much as technique and the Hurley. And as another poster previously said you cannot punish players for that by making the ball heavier. A heavier sliotar means it will hurt players to catch long balls.

Seeking_silver (Limerick) - Posts: 411 - 25/04/2020 22:59:19    2276749

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I think the long range point is a fantastic piece of skill and although it might not look great as a spectacle to see a keeper arrow a puck out to a loose half forward and then see him put it straight over the bar the skill and training that goes in to execute that must be applauded.

For me the one thing I'd change is make long range frees, say from inside your own half and especially 65's, indirect, as in you can't score directly from them. Too many times very minor fouls are called out the field or some great defending leads to a 65 and due to the ability of free takers now leads automatically to a point from the resulting free or 65.

I think the long distance indirect free would improve the movement of inside forwards lead to more exciting ball winning contests. Just a thought...

Skullduggery (Dublin) - Posts: 5 - 26/04/2020 10:01:56    2276754

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Replying To Skullduggery:  "I think the long range point is a fantastic piece of skill and although it might not look great as a spectacle to see a keeper arrow a puck out to a loose half forward and then see him put it straight over the bar the skill and training that goes in to execute that must be applauded.

For me the one thing I'd change is make long range frees, say from inside your own half and especially 65's, indirect, as in you can't score directly from them. Too many times very minor fouls are called out the field or some great defending leads to a 65 and due to the ability of free takers now leads automatically to a point from the resulting free or 65.

I think the long distance indirect free would improve the movement of inside forwards lead to more exciting ball winning contests. Just a thought..."
I'd go for that but maybe from outside the 65. It would'nt take away from a free takers skill either as its a difficult to execute a pass or find a loose colleague from a free

UtahBlaine (Galway) - Posts: 145 - 26/04/2020 12:23:35    2276765

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When you think of all the great free takers until recent times very few took the "65's", never seen Eddie Keher hit them, imagine his scoring record if he did. The centre back Ger Henderson hit them for Kilkenny, McMahon for Clare, Curran for Cork and Keady from Galway. The forwards didn't have the range.

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 716 - 26/04/2020 13:28:38    2276769

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Replying To Seeking_silver:  "I also agree they would do a lot better. However, the Hurley itself has changed a lot too. Even the modern grip on a Hurley makes a difference. Plus the hours upon hours of practice that the modern players are putting in is phenomenal.

So my overall conclusion is that the sliotat has not changed near as much as technique and the Hurley. And as another poster previously said you cannot punish players for that by making the ball heavier. A heavier sliotar means it will hurt players to catch long balls."
Less catching could be another benefit of a heavier ball. There might be more overhead striking. I think anything that knocks about 10 to 15yards off the distance a ball travels would be good for the game. The modern tactic of a long measured puckout..a good well timed run and catch and a then a score or a miss. The game needs more ball in the middle of the pitch.

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 26/04/2020 14:49:29    2276774

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Replying To bloodyban:  "Less catching could be another benefit of a heavier ball. There might be more overhead striking. I think anything that knocks about 10 to 15yards off the distance a ball travels would be good for the game. The modern tactic of a long measured puckout..a good well timed run and catch and a then a score or a miss. The game needs more ball in the middle of the pitch."
No one will be doing more overhead strikes as it's too risky and could lead to a red. I prefer it in the hand as ground hurling and wild pulls is just awful swing and hope stuff

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 26/04/2020 15:19:02    2276777

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There's a time and place for the ground stroke now mostly in and around the goal, would love to see more of this from inside forwards, but anywhere else on the pitch it tends to be just a little little flick away get space to rise the ball now.

The overhead catch is fantastic but it seems most contested high balls are a battle of the hands, multiple people just sticking up the paw to catch. I would still like to see the odd hurl go up there swinging (legally) if nothing else to keep the man going up with the hand honest, have to protect the hand at all times!

Skullduggery (Dublin) - Posts: 5 - 26/04/2020 16:31:48    2276784

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