Tuners still legal?

Is there any offical regulation prohibiting the use of boosters/tuners etc? Or is it just we'll keep on reading ITTF guys' nonsense opinions without being offical? BTW I just noticed ITTF homepage have a Andro Roxon video ad.

After some airing they are not detectable anyway.

they're banned, I won't even try them, I don't want to complicate myself... Just glue the rubbers to the blade and play, the best you can!

There's no need to make a single rule or regulation regarding tuners or boosters.

If the modify the characteristic of the topsheet as it was approved, then they are illegal.

Although having said this, I spoke with a member of the ITTF equipment committee the other day, and asked him this question.

Q. If a booster was used, and it was undetected by the ENEZ machine, and the rubbers were under the 4mm rule, would you consider this illegal.

A. No


So go figure. They have rules, but as many Members have said in the past, the have no way of enforcing them.

speaquinox wrote: It's good for my one left bottle of CTE .

For your RITC 802-40 I suppose.

No, short pips are mostly quite fast without glue/booster etc. I have a spare Magna black which I can use on my KLHS. I may tune it with CTE. Also, classic rubbers are getting cheaper day by day. Maybe I can buy some. 

Hefner wrote: Stavros wrote: After some airing they are not detectable anyway. I have to agree with that! how will they detect like speed optimizer when it�s voc free and designed for the glue ban??? Just use tuners og booster 3-4 days before tournaments

JimT wrote: [QUOTE=NoFootwork][QUOTE=Hefner] [QUOTE=Stavros] Rule 2.4.7. talks about ban on changes in chemical and other properties of the topsheet.

Rule 2.4.7: "The covering material should be used as it has been authorised by the ITTF without any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc."

I don't see anything about a topsheet/sponge distinction. Did I miss something in the rule?

Mr Gustavson conclude otherwises in the article. But what would he know.

Give it up, people, you won't win this battle. The Gustafson letter is explicit enough: boosters/tuners are now banned.
Better spend your energy on practicing.

As for the Dusseldorf-Fulda match, everyone except Ovtcharov was playing unglued. Boll was reportedly using Tenergy (at least on his forehand).

JimT wrote: fatcomet wrote: Mr Gustavson conclude otherwises in the article. But what would he know. That is just his opinion and cannot be considered an official ITTF rule until EC or ITTF assembly vote on that - if you read his letter carefully you will see that his logic, how should I put that delicately,... doesn't pass ENEZ-test...

Friends,
You will not overcome the ITTF in this contest, you can`t continue with boosters long enouth. Why?

1. All of the world`s leading tt-suppliers will stop producing any stuff of this kind/
2. ALL boosters \ tuners proved to be quiet detectable when heated up to 40* C.
An updated version of ENEZ is equiped with a microwaving generator to heat the racket to be tested.
Recently have had a written conversation regarding this subject with Mr. Tifenbacher (Germany), the originator of the ENEZ device.

Thanks
Igor.

I was under the impression that if you use a tuner or booster on the sponge, it will expand it in the same way as speed glue and that in turn will alter the properties of the topsheet by putting it under more tension.

Therefore; a tuner/booster on the sponge, does indirectly change the characteristics of the topsheet and would be considered illegal for that reason under rule 2.4.7.

Peter C wrote: I was under the impression that if you use a tuner or booster on the sponge, it will expand it in the same way as speed glue and that in turn will alter the properties of the topsheet by putting it under more tension. Therefore; a tuner/booster on the sponge, does indirectly change the characteristics of the topsheet and would be considered illegal for that reason under rule 2.4.7.

Well, how is that any different from

a) using speed-glue which is for some reason not banned by ITTF in the infamous letter?

b) wiping your rubber with a soapy water or a cleaner foam after having played with it?

c) cutting the original square and then attaching it to the blade using a roller (therefore stretching the rubber etc.)

If you begin to interpret 2.4.7 like that, there is no stopping there and the consequences become ridiculous...

Jim T

I'm just trying to play devil's advocate and put forward a reason to explain what I perceive as the logic of the ITTF decision.

In my book it would make more sense if rule 2.4.7 read as follows

"The covering material of sponge and ITTF authorised topsheet, should be used straight out of the packet without any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc."

That change in the wording would then make it obvious that the sponge and topsheet shouldn't be altered in any way.

If I'm not mistaken the purpose of rule 2.4.7 was originally intended to stop frictionless pips players buying a legal rubber and coating the topsheet to make it play frictionless. i.e. a rule to stop deliberate cheating by unscrupulous frictionless long pips players.

They then also had the problem of boosters and tuners introduced to try and circumvent the speed glue ban and therefore issued letters to try and close that loophole and ban boosters and tuners as well.

I've not heard if the VOC free speed glues are still allowed or banned, but I suspect they are banned, as I've noticed dealers selling them off cheaper.

I'd be very surprised if wiping your rubber with soapy cleaner or cleaning foam are covered by this rule, as they are simply a way to keep the topsheet clean and working properly.

I doubt the ITTF considers stretching the rubber with a roller, as a problem either. I could be wrong on that one and it might be considered as being covered by rule 2.4.7

To rule out any problem for the forthcoming season, I've put two bats together last week, using Donic VOC free glue.