Spare racket ruling

Scenario #1: Known RPB player has inverted on one side and SP on the other, but for the first half of his match, he plays traditional PH with the inverted only. Then for the remainder of his match, he switches to playing traditional PH with the SP only.

I thought you can not switch to using another racket during the match unless the one you started with was damaged to the point it would effect play, especially the rubber surface. 

You can use any back up racket as long as it is legal, doesn't have to be same setup as the one you started with. 

Scenario 3 could be against the rules.

2.04.08  Before the start of a match and whenever he or she changes his or her racket during a match a player shall show his or her opponent and the umpire the racket he or she is about to use and shall allow them to examine it.

3.05.02.05  If a player changes his or her racket during an individual match when it has not been damaged, the umpire shall suspend play and report to the referee.

#3 is not allowed.

Follow-up question. It sounds like the spare setup can be whatever. So if a player has been playing double inverted, then accidentally damages his racket, he can switch to say SP and LP in the middle of a match? That doesn't seem fair, because his opponent might be at a disadvantage against chopping from LPs. Or does the opponent have the right to object?

Some players are proficient playing different styles and different rubbers. Some are even proficient in both SH and PH. The point is more about potential disruption to the opponent as a result of a dramatic change. Of course, if the setting of the premise is the international stage of professional competition at the highest level, then what you say is true. But say you run into something like this at your local tournament. It's not difficult to picture someone who's really good playing double inverted and less than stellar against the pips and antispin varieties.

Different rules for different associations.  The quoted rules regarding racket replacement are for international competitions only.

If you know ahead your opponent has trouble against pips or anti, then you may as well opt for them in place of inverted from the get-go.

And if one is proficient to adjust the strokes, it is totally feasible to play like anti with inverted on some shots.

Edited by zeio - 05/24/2012 at 12:40pm

Is there any difference between 1 and 4? 

Originally posted by ZApenholder racquestforsale,yes you are right.I recall hearing a rule some where that it needs to be the same type of rubber, sp for sp, lp for lp, inverted for inverted.how true is this?

Probably not true at all, I've never heard of it. You are free to use what ever back up bat you've got.

About the disadvantage. Sure, this could be true, but remember here, the blade have to be accidentially broken. If your opponent breaks his bat on purpose, he isn't allowed to change but will get Dqf instead. Then there is always the risk of going from a double inverted to a LP set up while you face someone who excels at playing against pips. So, this can work both ways. Besides, I doubt to many people who accidentially break their main set up, are interested in changeing to something completely different. Most people wants to play with the same stuff, or somethingh as simillar as possible.

What will Speedplay do when Der_Echte breaks into his flat, takes Speedplay's THREE backup Wavestones, and gives them away to the TT needy? BTW Speedplay, I gave away the Wavestone I had to a rec center worker on an Army camp here.

Twiddling the racket will help you as much as swopping several different rackets in a match. . Moreover, the twiddling is entirely legal action in opposition to the swopping.    
http://www.gregsttpages.com/gttp/index.php/Long-Pimples/the-art-of-twiddling.html

In the USATT rules there is absolutely no stipulation as to what kind of backup racket you are allowed to use if the main one is broken or DQ'd. Recently, at USA Nationals 2011, Dan Seemiller had to use another racket (as his main one was DQ'd) and used a setup which was quite different from his usual one - he lost the match.

The umpire will make the decision if it is unplayable or not.   If you are caught trying to pull the rubber off at all or trying to "self damage"  the rubber by hitting the corner edge of the table,  you will be immediately DQ'd.  It has happened before in an ITTF event, and one I recall seeing from California.  

Edited by Rich215 - 05/25/2012 at 1:46pm

No answers to this yet? I thought someone would know, at least about pulling the rubber off.

Originally posted by dingyibvs Yea, of course it's legal, you can play with any part of the blade and there are no rules regarding how you can hold the blade.

Is it? Isn't there a rule about "the part used to strike a ball should be covered with rubber" and if you delibertly use the handle to play with, wouldn't you break this rule. Kind of like playing with a one sided C-pen and using the non rubber covered sided to hit with?