ELIZE tester.. So far, so dark

I think that's a good point, making the sponge part of the approval process, that would take away all the wishy washy badly written rules we have right now. Let the ITTF take a sponge pull it apart see what it's make up, make sure there's no nasty stuff in there and then test the sponge randomly at tornaments to make sure it's chemical makeup is as it should be. I'd be all for that. It would also mean every man and his dog can truely play with a pro sponge

Originally posted by doraemon I agree with the banning of speed glue for health reason.  However, for all the VOC-free boosters, they cause no harm and yet they are banned also. This yields to my (probably incorrect) conclusion that what ITTF really intended to do was to slow the game down.  If this is really the case, why not ITTF be honest and say the followings: 1.  We ban speed glue for its hazardous effect on health and to slow the game down. 2.  We ban booster to slow the game down. I try do to my parts to be honest by not speed gluing and not boosting.  Can ITTF be honest on the reason why they banned VOC-free boosters? (since no reason to associate boosters with potential health problem). Can I have your opinion on this Mr. President?  Because I really can't find any reasonings for banning booster other than to slow down the game. P.S. If ITTF comes clean by saying that they want to slow down the game (which we already know for sure), it is still OK for me.  I enjoy longer rally.  But if you want us to be honest, you must be honest to us also.

Yes, you are right, it is an incorrect conclusion. The so-called speed glue was banned for health reasons is correct. But if manufacturers could produce non-hazardous GLUE that is faster than VOC-glue, it would be accepted as long as it is VOC-free. The ITTF cannot control the speed of play. This is controlled by the players. The players just hit faster, sooner, etc., and can compensate from the loss of speed due to VOC-free glues by using faster blades.

Tuners and Boosters are not allowed because of rule 2.4 "The Racket". Aything other than what is listed in rule 2.4 is not allowed. I would love for that rule to change and let everyone do what they like including smearing theor rackets with delicious strawberry jam. But no one, absolutely no one, ahs come up with a rule change proposal allowing "additives" to what is already listed in Rule 2.4.

Originally posted by pingpongrob Baloney - If he was trying to be complaint, he would have used VOC free glue, your argument does not hold water. There is no barely failed. your racket either passes or fails. The Enez machine tested over a set time and the result (green or Red) was displayed after the set time. Don't try and make excuse for other. Its Simple - Follow the rules and its even for everyone. Break the rules and you gain an advantage, its called cheating, whether its deliberate or not.

Nope.  It's still baloney.  He was trying to be compliant.  He used processes based on reports of actual tests that used the ENEZ device that gave him a very reasonable expectation that his racket would pass.  Unfortunately, he does not own an ENEZ device and could not verify the quite credible reports from both the makers of the ENEZ, a fellow from Newgy, and the USATT that his process did actually work.

Further, anybody that has ever used rubber cement knows that any speed glue effect is gone quite quickly. So even though his racket did (barely) fail, it is clear that he was not doing anything to get a playing advantage by virtue of using a VOC glue.  Further, his racket quite clearly did not emit enough VOCs to bring harm to any players in the area.  Heck, the umpire checking his racket put it up to his nose and sniffed.

And yes, there is a "barely failed" just as there is a "barely lost" for a match.
 

Originally posted by pingpongrob You should all strive to win honestly - yes Speedgluing was great, but its the past, If we were all honest, there would be no need for an elize or enez device. But as the past has shown, humans will cheat for the glory of winning.

You are aware that gluing a fresh piece of rubber using a VOC free glue can quite easily result in a failed ENEZ test due to the vapors from the glues the manufacturer used - right?  I verified that at the 2008 U.S. Open.
The simple fact is that a racket can fail when a player is not trying to cheat at all.  The further simple fact is that there is no simple way for a player to verify that his racket is compliant short of buying an ENEZ.  And now, it seems that a player needs an ELIZE (not currently available as far as I know) instead.

Originally posted by pingpongrob People keep stating that the detection devises can be fooled or are not accurate enough. they dont detect Booster, Boosters are safe, etc etc.

Actually, I keep saying that the ENEZ is overly sensitive if the goal is to detect VOC emissions that might actually be harmful.

Originally posted by pingpongrob Now the argument some of you will use, is that why are manufacturer allowed to Boost, THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION. My answer to this, and I am no expert, Manufacturers have a much greater chance to make sure that any substance that is used is not harmful to the end user. Imagine the lawsuits. The ITTF at a sniff of something fishy, could easily ban that manufacturer.

That's a horrible argument.  The ITTF has repeatedly accused some manufacturers of putting hazardous substances in boosters.  Further, I've yet to see any ITTF rule that says a manufacturer can do something that would otherwise be illegal if an individual did it.

Originally posted by pingpongrob Its easy - follow the Rules and we are all on even grounds.

Actually, it is not really easy.  The rules are being interpretted to say Zero VOC emmission.  But how can a player control that when the manufacturing process puts VOCs in the rubber and sponge?  How can the player track the changing sensitivities of the testing devices?  Who knows how sensitive the ELIZE device is?  If you don't know, then how can you be sure your racket will pass? The claim is zero tolerance, but the same rackets that passed the ENEZ six months ago may fail the ELIZE test.  The bottom line is that without your own testing device, you really cannot know if you are compliant.  And technically, I'd bet most rackets emit more than zero VOCs.  Hopefully I will be able to get my own testing device made sometime this month, though it probably won't happen until July.

By your logic, almost everybody is cheating, they just aren't using  a device sensitive enough yet to catch everybody.  I'm betting I can build a device that will be able to detect at least some VOC from any racket.  Time will tell.

Originally posted by Adham Yes, you are right, it is an incorrect conclusion. The so-called speed glue was banned for health reasons is correct. But if manufacturers could produce non-hazardous GLUE that is faster than VOC-glue, it would be accepted as long as it is VOC-free.

How can this be correct?  Wouldn't such a glue be in violation of rule 2.4.7 in that it must be modifying the covering in some way?  Or are you agreeing with me that it is OK to modify the sponge so long as the topsheet is not modified?

Originally posted by Adham Tuners and Boosters are not allowed because of rule 2.4 "The Racket". Aything other than what is listed in rule 2.4 is not allowed. I would love for that rule to change and let everyone do what they like including smearing theor rackets with delicious strawberry jam. But no one, absolutely no one, ahs come up with a rule change proposal allowing "additives" to what is already listed in Rule 2.4.

I covered this.  Sponge is not strictly defined in a manner that would make  it illegal to have non-rubber substances in it.  In fact, Tensor rubbers work on that exact principle if you believe the marketing for those rubbers. Further, cellular rubber it is not every separately or inclusively authorized by the ITTF.  Therefore, so long as the cellular rubber meets the general definition of rubber and cellular rubber it is quite legal. You cannot say that booster is necessarily an additive and is not simply part of the sponge formulation. At least , according to the ITTF rules you cannot say that.

Just as adding a thin coat of sealer to a blade is not an illegal modification, adding a booster to sponge is also not illegal - so long as the booster does not directly affect the top sheet and does not render the sponge or racket to a condition where it no longer meets the ITTF definition of cellular rubber.

Originally posted by Adham No rule is "suddenly" enforced. A rule originates either from an expert committee or from a national association. There are deadlines  and timelines to respect. All Propositions (when a rule is proposed) are sent in advance to all national associations for study. Then at the Annual General Meeting the delegates vote on any rule change. In the case of the Laws of Table Tennis a two-third majority is required. So you can imagine that iof a rule is passed it's not done "suddenly" and without thought. I just have one question: where you ever allowed to "add" anything to your racket other than the blade, the sponge, the rubber and the glue to affix the racket covering to the blade?

I have a question.  How regularly was the 4mm sandwich thickness tested prior to the VOC ban?  My bet is that it wasn't enfoced often at all.  But the makers of the ENEZ test report the use of speed glue would routinely cause the sandwich to expand beyond 4mm.  So we can be pretty sure that rubbers thicker than 4mm were being used regularly. 

Now, "suddenly" after the advent of the VOC ban, we have a new ITTF Technical Leaflet on racket control that outlines the various ways to check for sandwich thickness and the various devices to use to do the checking.  So, frankly, I do think that we have a case of a sudden change in enforcement of an old rule.

To answer you question above, I believe people were routinely allowed to seal their blades, use edge tape for aesthetic purposes, and to add various grip tapes to their racket handles.  Further, paint sheets and paint are allowed to be added to a non-playing side of the racket.

Originally posted by Tinykin_2 Yes you have explained this before on many occassion, but this is simply a means for banning tuners, not a real reason IMO. Where was this rule (and the enforcement) when speed gluing was widely accepted for at least a decade? The ITTF brought in the speed glue rules for health reason...I think we all accept that... but the ITTF suddenly decided to enforce rule 2.4.7 when manufacturers brought out healthy (arguably) and VOC free alternatives, and even modified rule 2.4.7... I think you can understand why this has not been so widely accepted, and why people question the ITTF's motives... Adham, I hope you take this post seriously and not just dismiss it as post by grumpy ex-speedgluers . Your problem is now a matter of trust. Many posters in the TT forums including your most ardent supporters believe that the ITTF banned boosters to slow the game down. That was the original explanation in the nineties for the SG ban, when you were not yet Chaiman. You need to give a more convincing explanation.

First of all I am not in this Forum to defend my credibility. It is not your place to judge me. My character and my demeanor speak for themselves. But I do take this post very seriously, otherwise why would I take the time to answer every one, which by the way is very time consuming especially if I have to repeat the same thing so many times. However, I am willing to do it.

As I explained, the speed of our sport is neither determined by the rules nor the equipment. The equipment used can be an enhancement to the style adopted by each player. But speed and spin are "mainly" determined by the technique. A good coach could show you how to hit much harder and much faster with proper technique. The same applies to spin. Perhaps at the lower levels there is too much dependence on the equipment, and too much concern about rules, whereas I recommend much more focus on training and technique.

Originally posted by wturber Originally posted by Adham I must have explained at least 20 times on this Forum why Boosters and Tuners (or any additive even if healthy) are banned. All you have to do is read rule 2.4 and rule 2.4.7 of the ITTF "Laws of Table tennis". You will find out that it is clearly written in rule 2.4 the composition of a racket: a blade, a sponge, a rubber and a glue to affix the racket covering to the blade. These are the only 4 elements allowed in a legal racket. Everything else, including boosters, tuners, orange juice, jam, powder, margarine and any other very healthy substance is NOT allowed and illegal according to our current rules. Yes, but you consistently fail to acknowledge that what constitutes sponge is not well defined and that sponge is not independently authorized or approved. Originally posted by Adham Furthermore, rule 2.4.7 states that the equipment cannot be altered from its original state (after leaving the factory). Please re-read 2.4.7.  It does not say anything about factories and it only refers to covering materials "as authorized."  Since top sheets are authorized sans sponge and since particular sponges are not authorized separately, 2.4.7 quite clearly does not apply to sponge. Originally posted by Adham  These two rules will clearly explain why boosters are not allowed. If a national association proposes a change to rule 2.4 or 2.4.7 and more than 75% of the delegates at an Annual General Meeting of the ITTF vote in favour of such a change, then at that time you can add healthy VOC-free substances, until then we kust follow the rules. No, they do not.  Here is rule 2.4.7 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. It only prohibits the alteration of the top sheet.  Glue, sponge and the racket itself are quite open to alteration from their factory condition so long as such alterations do not change those items from being in a compliant state to a non-compliant state.

In fact you can do what you want to the sponge, this is never checked as long as it meets the total thickness allowance with the rubber), but if it emits VOCs then the racket is illegal. Also if you treat the sponge with let's say a Booster, the real effect is for the booster to be absorbed by the sponge and then by the rubber, which has an effect of expanding the rubber. This is illegal according to rule 2.4.7.
Regarding authorization of rubbers, the ITTF authorizes the samples provided by the factories and permits them (authorizes) the use of the ITTF logo on the rubber. Any alterations after that are illegal. So if the factory uses some materials to enhance the performance of the sponge and the rubber, then airs the racket covering carefully and ensures that all VOCs have gone, then it is legal.
I hope I answered your questions.

Originally posted by Hans Regenkurt How about the percentage of failed rackets at the worlds (enez, elize, thickness) in the main draw and in the whole tournament?

Elize was just used for educational purposes and the results are confidential. However, using the current method with Enez, I believe that about 3 or 4 players were disqualified (failed the after the match test). I do not have the statistics of how many failed the pre-match voluntary tests.

Originally posted by Adham In fact you can do what you want to the sponge, this is never checked as long as it meets the total thickness allowance with the rubber), but if it emits VOCs then the racket is illegal.

Of course if anything racket emits VOCs, the racket is illegal.  So we agree here that in principle, a non-VOC booster applied to the sponge might be legal.  Good.

Originally posted by Adham Also if you treat the sponge with let's say a Booster, the real effect is for the booster to be absorbed by the sponge and then by the rubber, which has an effect of expanding the rubber. This is illegal according to rule 2.4.7.

Well, that is not necessarily the case.  You can't know the action of all boosters or all methods of application.  If the booster is not absorbed by the rubber topsheet and if the sponge is not used to expand or stretch the topsheet, then the booster would be quite legal.  So any test for boosters would have to show that either the booster is present in the topsheet or that the topsheet had been stretched or expanded in some way. 

Originally posted by Adham Regarding authorization of rubbers, the ITTF authorizes the samples provided by the factories and permits them (authorizes) the use of the ITTF logo on the rubber. Any alterations after that are illegal. So if the factory uses some materials to enhance the performance of the sponge and the rubber, then airs the racket covering carefully and ensures that all VOCs have gone, then it is legal.

Yes, so long as these enhancements are the same ones that are done to the rubber topsheet prior to authorization.  Of course, the sponge is never part of the authorization process.  So any enhancements to or substances added to the sponge would have to be done in a manner that the substances do not migrate to or otherwise alter the topsheet.  This is the same as if a player independently modifies sponge.  So there is no special factory boosting "waiver" as many people assert.  The topsheet must be used as authorized.

Originally posted by Adham I hope I answered your questions.

Yes.  And the effort is appreciated.  I do think your blanket statement that boosters are illegal is not truly correct.  They are potentially legal. Assuming that they are VOC free, it all depends on whether or not their action is limited to affecting the sponge or if they also affect the top sheet.

Originally posted by Adham I must have explained at least 20 times on this Forum why Boosters and Tuners (or any additive even if healthy) are banned. All you have to do is read rule 2.4 and rule 2.4.7 of the ITTF "Laws of Table tennis". You will find out that it is clearly written in rule 2.4 the composition of a racket: a blade, a sponge, a rubber and a glue to affix the racket covering to the blade. These are the only 4 elements allowed in a legal racket. Everything else, including boosters, tuners, orange juice, jam, powder, margarine and any other very healthy substance is NOT allowed and illegal according to our current rules. Furthermore, rule 2.4.7 states that the equipment cannot be altered from its original state (after leaving the factory). These two rules will clearly explain why boosters are not allowed. If a national association proposes a change to rule 2.4 or 2.4.7 and more than 75% of the delegates at an Annual General Meeting of the ITTF vote in favour of such a change, then at that time you can add healthy VOC-free substances, until then we kust follow the rules.

Rule 2.4 has been in existence for a long time, and speed glue was a perfectly excepted part of the game. So when we as players ask you "why are glues/boosters banned?" and you reply with "we must follow the rules",  that really holds little water. In fact, it's total avoidance of the question. Why is such a seemingly important rule only enforced now? How good as a rule if it was blatantly ignored for years? It makes the ITTF look very amateurish.

Action: ITTF tells us Speed Glue is going to be banned due to health reasons.

Reaction: Manufactures develop low-VOC "VOC free" boosters.

Action: Months pass and the ITTF says nothing. The online community starts hearing rumors of booster ban. Mind you there was barely ANY official statements from the ITTF on this. We here on this forum and other forums had to rely on sketchy letters from various ITTF officials and associates as well as manufacturers. We were left in the dark until the very last minute. I truely hope you understand why so many people are upset by this. And then to boot, the reasoning you so often give for the ban of boosters is "they were never legal, it is against the rules". Regardless of what you consider "sudden", there was never enforcement of rule 2.4, but now that rule 2.4 has become pertinent in the current situation, it will be observed and enforced. If it weren't happening right in front of our eyes I would be skeptical to believe that an international organization of the ITTF's caliber would be so inept at enforcing it's own rules, or poor at communicating it's rules and vision of the sport.

Adham, on multiple occasions you have said that the ITTF is only concerned about ITTF events and proffesional level players, and that national and local associations are free to do as they like. But the rules the ITTF has made, and that you continue to support have a huge effect on us, the little guy, and by saying that you are really slapping us in the face. For the most part, people on this forum are the average player who will never get near an ITTF event, but because we respect the ITTF as the governing body of our sport, we wish to comply with the rules that are set forth. There has been SO MUCH confusion about the speedglue ban, subsequent booster ban, and rule 2.47 that it would be nice if we could get a better answer than "these are the rules and we must follow them".  The ITTF has a duty to the table tennis community whether they like it or not, which involves promoting the sport, it's players, and the game itself, and it has failed badly imo in recent months. I understand that you personally are not responsible for all or even some parts of the problem, but you do continue to justify things that I and others strongly dissagree with, and you do it in a way that is quite infuriating at times.

Originally posted by onurzaim I do not believe honesty of some players here. Unless Enez has gotten out of factory with wrong calibration you will never ever going to have positive on your tests if you are not really breaking a rule.

I guess it depends on what you define as breaking a rule.  If you define that as not having a racket that emits any VOCs, then just about everyone is breaking that rule.  The only question is by how much. The ITTF has clearly stated that they intend to test for lower levels of VOC.  That your racket passes the ENEZ test doesn't mean it complies with the ITTF rules.

There are multiple documented counts that show that a rubber fresh out of a package can easily cause an ENEZ failure.  I've had such a test done myself at the 2008 U.S. Open.  The test was done by a USATT umpire at my request.  Two rackets were tested.  One was just assembled using TearMender and new rubber.  The other had been assembled using VOC glue but had been assembled at least a month earlier.  The VOC glue racket passed, the VOC free glue racket - with brand new rubber - failed. It clearly failed because the rubber was still emitting VOC that were there from the factory.

BTW, a broken TT ball will cause the ENEZ test to fail.  So next time someone breaks a table tennis ball, RUN!!!!!!!  But seriously, this fact points out that the ENEZ is simply more sensitive than necessary to ensure that rackets are sufficiently clean and safe and that players aren't gaining an advantage from using VOCs.  The quest for more sensitive tests so as to detect the presence of boosters is misguided IMO.  As is the zero tolerance threshold.

Originally posted by Ausquared Originally posted by Adham I must have explained at least 20 times on this Forum why Boosters and Tuners (or any additive even if healthy) are banned. All you have to do is read rule 2.4 and rule 2.4.7 of the ITTF "Laws of Table tennis". You will find out that it is clearly written in rule 2.4 the composition of a racket: a blade, a sponge, a rubber and a glue to affix the racket covering to the blade. These are the only 4 elements allowed in a legal racket. Everything else, including boosters, tuners, orange juice, jam, powder, margarine and any other very healthy substance is NOT allowed and illegal according to our current rules. Furthermore, rule 2.4.7 states that the equipment cannot be altered from its original state (after leaving the factory). These two rules will clearly explain why boosters are not allowed. If a national association proposes a change to rule 2.4 or 2.4.7 and more than 75% of the delegates at an Annual General Meeting of the ITTF vote in favour of such a change, then at that time you can add healthy VOC-free substances, until then we kust follow the rules. Rule 2.4 has been in existence for a long time, and speed glue was a perfectly excepted part of the game. So when we as players ask you "why are glues/boosters banned?" and you reply with "we must follow the rules",  that really holds little water. In fact, it's total avoidance of the question. Why is such a seemingly important rule only enforced now? How good as a rule if it was blatantly ignored for years? It makes the ITTF look very amateurish. Action: ITTF tells us Speed Glue is going to be banned due to health reasons. Reaction: Manufactures develop low-VOC "VOC free" boosters. Action: Months pass and the ITTF says nothing. The online community starts hearing rumors of booster ban. Mind you there was barely ANY official statements from the ITTF on this. We here on this forum and other forums had to rely on sketchy letters from various ITTF officials and associates as well as manufacturers. We were left in the dark until the very last minute. I truely hope you understand why so many people are upset by this. And then to boot, the reasoning you so often give for the ban of boosters is "they were never legal, it is against the rules". Regardless of what you consider "sudden", there was never enforcement of rule 2.4, but now that rule 2.4 has become pertinent in the current situation, it will be observed and enforced. If it weren't happening right in front of our eyes I would be skeptical to believe that an international organization of the ITTF's caliber would be so inept at enforcing it's own rules, or poor at communicating it's rules and vision of the sport. Adham, on multiple occasions you have said that the ITTF is only concerned about ITTF events and proffesional level players, and that national and local associations are free to do as they like. But the rules the ITTF has made, and that you continue to support have a huge effect on us, the little guy, and by saying that you are really slapping us in the face. For the most part, people on this forum are the average player who will never get near an ITTF event, but because we respect the ITTF as the governing body of our sport, we wish to comply with the rules that are set forth. There has been SO MUCH confusion about the speedglue ban, subsequent booster ban, and rule 2.47 that it would be nice if we could get a better answer than "these are the rules and we must follow them".  The ITTF has a duty to the table tennis community whether they like it or not, which involves promoting the sport, it's players, and the game itself, and it has failed badly imo in recent months. I understand that you personally are not responsible for all or even some parts of the problem, but you do continue to justify things that I and others strongly dissagree with, and you do it in a way that is quite infuriating at times.

I really don't know how else to make you understand, or is it that you prefer not to understand? I will make one more attempt addressing your points as best I can. here goes:
1. Lets call the banned glues VOC-glues instead of speed-glues. The intent of the glue in rule 2.4 is to affix the racket covering to the blade. It was never intended as a performance enhancing element. By accident a Hungarian player (Klampar) discovered bicycle glue (very toxic) and used it and had a special effect. he kept this fact secret for about 8 months, then was discovered and the rest is history. The smell alone of the glue was an indication that the product was extremely volatile. Re-gluing came much later. This is because it was not in the habit of the players to re-glue then, but those using the bicycle glue noticed that when they replaced their used rubber the "fresh glue" effect was very powerful. So again, accidentally when using an old sheet but re-glued, the fresh glue effect was there again. Hence the re-gluing that became part of the TT culture. No problem so far. No problem with speed or spin or re-gluing, everyone accepted. Until it was brought to the attention of the ITTF the contents of such products (glues). Many studies were made and over a period of 2 years (1990-93 circa) the ITTF examined the effects of such products. It was finally decided to ban the VOC-glues completely, then the ITTF retracted and only banned the most toxic components of the VOC-glues, 4 components to be exact. Racket control testing then started in 1993 and one player was even disqualified at the World Championships in Tianjin in 1995 (Kim Taek Soo).
2. In 2004 the ban of ALL VOCs was passed by the ITTF, which was finally implemented in 2008. During the 4-year period the ITTF did a lot of research and tested the effects of VOCs and received a lot of studies from various places regarding the effects of the repeated exposure to VOCs and how to detect them.
3. The products that first came on the market and sold as Boosters and Tuners were "immediately" examined by the ITTF and tested seriously over a period of about 3-4 months. All of the products contained VOCs. At least 2 contained other forms of poisons that if ingested would cause serious harm especially to children. The manufacturers were given the reports and the respectable ones immediately stopped producing these products. Therefore, if boosters and tuners contain VOCs, they are treated in the same category as any other part of the racket that contains VOCs, it's clearly illegal.
4. It is a well known fact, and some manufacturers print it on their package that the rubber must be aired for at least 48 hours before use. It is even better to air for 72 hours top get rid of any VOCs.
5. I have nothing against harmless oils that are added to the sponge. But all of these oils without exception are absorbed by the rubber and alter the rubber by expanding it. This is also illegal, if such expansion happens AFTER the authorization process.
6. The ITTF is NOT your sport governing body. Your national association is your SGB. The ITTF is the sport governing body at the International level only. This is the structure of all IFs, not just the ITTF. I am sorry if you consider that a slap in the face, it is not meant to be. This is how sport is structured.
7. There is no confusion at all. Confusion is created by those who fail to accept what is clear. It is clear that VOCs are banned, so accept and don't use any products containing VOC. Very clear. It is clear that "additives" were never legal and are not legal. So do not "add" anything to your racket that is not allowed by the rules. Maybe this is not so clear. So to clarify, if you add something to the sponge part only, ensure that it is VOC-free, then attach it to the rubber and you do not alter the rubber in any way, then it is OK. Now clearer. That's it. Very clear.

I hope I was able to "answer" you this time. I am sure it is NOT the answer you want, but that is it. I will not make any more attempts.

   HAIFU OIL SHALL NOT PASS EITHER... ITTF has conceived a scheme to control ANY boosters whatever. http://umpire2.narod.ru/boost1.gif        SD --Standard Lenght =100.0 mm    The red marks are affixed to the rubber sheet a proper while AFTER the end of production process, that is when the rubber geometry is well settled. If, on checking the actual SD by racket inspector, an increment to the SD is over 3.o mm, this will always indicate deliberate heavy boosting on the rubber/sponge.     BE ALERT OF EMBOSSED TRIANGLES TO COME WITH YOUR NEW RUBBER !! :)

Originally posted by igorponger HAIFU OIL WILL NOT PASS EITHER...               ITTF has conseived a scheme to control ANY boosters.       http://umpire2.narod.ru/boost1.gif                    SD --Standard Lenght =100.0 mm      The red marks are affixed to the rubber sheet a proper time AFTER the end of prodaction process, that is when the rubber geometry is well settled.    On checking the actual SD by racket inspector, an increment over 3.o mm will always indicate deliberate heavy boosting on the rubber/sponge. BE ALERT OF ANY RELIEF TRIANGLES OVER YOUR NEW RUBBER !! :)

This had better be before the sponge has been applied, while the topsheet is in a state where the sponge cannot affect is dimensionally.  Otherwise, the  validity of the reference marks will be suspect.

I never glued myself so I have no idea what it is like. However after all these heated discussions that seem to be prolonged indefinitely and the ubiquity of fussing about the ban, it must be something really amazing. Thank you guys, now there is something itching in me...