An embarrassing article in our table tennis rules (ITTF)

[alain61]

The article 2.4.7 is very clear : "the racket covering shall be used without any physical, chemical or other treatment".
We all know that this article is not respected for various reasons. I don't intend to discuss these reasons, good or bad. The only real question that interests me is this: is this article still realistic ? Should it be adapted according to certain conditions, or perhaps even removed ?

 

[merlin el mago]

The big problem is to enforce the rules.

 

[thisisit]

cutting the rubber is a physical treatment of it.

 

[Tyce]

cutting the rubber is a physical treatment of it.

So is glueing, and if you really want to get pedantic even cleaning and playing

 

[ajtatosmano2]

The forum's favourite anti-boosting member posted a video recently about haveing a reactive chemical on the sponge which gets discolored when contacted by booster and the video claimed ITTF will try to implement it in 2027. I don't like the idea to having to pay more for top performing rubbers instead of jsut boosting a hard chinese rubber.
I haven't really tried tried the ones which work well without booster, but they are usually still morer expensive.

 

[Ninja26Go]

The article 2.4.7 is very clear : "the racket covering shall be used without any physical, chemical or other treatment".
We all know that this article is not respected for various reasons. I don't intend to discuss these reasons, good or bad. The only real question that interests me is this: is this article still realistic ? Should it be adapted according to certain conditions, or perhaps even removed ?

yeah everyone boosts and does random sht these days to boost performance. ZJK is literally teaching it.

 

[igorponger]

Yes, it came to me directly from the horse mouth,
--- ITTF does stay determined to keep up the rule 2.4.7 onwards without any mitigation. The whole reason lays in the basic ITTF document of the ITTF Statutes and it states as follows

ITTF STATUTES
effective of January 30, 2023.

1.5.1 The Objectives of the ITTF shall be to:
1.5.1.4 foster friendly sporting competition and eliminate unfair and unsporting practices, such as match manipulation, irregular and illegal betting, doping, and use of illegal equipment to enhance performance.

 

[igorponger]

INVENTION BY DONIC WORTH OF EXPERT ATTENTION.
Here is the latest proposal as moved up by DONIC of how to prevent unruly and uncontrolable boosting on rubbers. We're glad to be an integral part of expert group to evaluate this proposed innovation.

 

[alain61]

I don't like the idea to having to pay more for top performing rubbers instead of jsut boosting a hard chinese rubber (1)
I haven't really tried tried the ones which work well without booster, but they are usually still morer expensive (2)

(1) You could even call it the best low-cost performance.
(2) Special rubber technology is obviously more expensive than the booster-amplifier, which is merely a gimmick.

 

[alain61]

INVENTION BY DONIC WORTH OF EXPERT ATTENTION.
Here is the latest proposal as moved up by DONIC of how to prevent unruly and uncontrolable boosting on rubbers. We're glad to be an integral part of expert group to evaluate this proposed innovation.

View attachment 40139

This proposal has potential, at least I sincerely hope so. That said, let's wait and see, because I'm convinced there will be many negative reactions. Let's not forget that many competitors won't maintain their level without it. Or at least, they'll have much more difficulty implementing their tactics.

 

[merlin el mago]

Apart of non enforced rules, the problem in pro level is that nobody wants to take disadvantage so better to boost because you don't know if the other player is boosting or not.

 

[alain61]

Apart of non enforced rules, the problem in pro level is that nobody wants to take disadvantage so better to boost because you don't know if the other player is boosting or not.

You are absolutely right, ... unfortunately !

 

[Matteones]

I had never boosted before putting on an H3 provincial blue sponge a couple of months ago to try it.

I have now played with it more than 100 hours and the rubber (that has been boosted and reboosted two times already) is still going strong and not giving any signs of wear and tear, I actually feel it's fully broken in and a pleasure to play with now. I don't know how much longer it will last, but considering that it is already the longest living rubber that I have had since I've come back to pingpong and that it costs exactly half of all the hybrids and high end rubbers I've tried before, it is definitely the rubber I will be using for the foreseeable future.

Commercial H3 costs a quarter of those rubbers.

On the point of the question, it feels clear to me that they are doing all they can to increase the prices and this absolutely useless ban (I say useless because not only it can't be proven, they actually factory boost and add a 100% recharge on the price for essentially the same process as boosting) was another move in this direction, considering the excuse they used was that fresh glue was toxic and these products are not the intent is clear (at least to me).

Don't even get me started on the balls, 20 years ago they literally cost close to nothing, they were round and perfectly playable for a very long time. Now to have decent balls you have to spend an absurd amount and even the good ones become unusable after very short time.

As for the pros, they will always have any treatment that can give them an edge done by the company if they can't do it themselves.

So yes, that rule should be removed.

 

[W3R]

I've never boosted but it seems an unfair rule.. boost or not boost doesn't really matter, it'snot that you're using anti or something - and even anti is allowed.

Moreover isn't also an unfair advantage if someone has the budget to buy the new best equipment and someone else can only play with older / cheaper equipment? So maybe also ban Dignics and the like? Obviously not - might as well let people boost.

 

[alain61]

it costs exactly half of all the hybrids and high end rubbers I've tried before, it is definitely the rubber I will be using for the foreseeable future.

Commercial H3 costs a quarter of those rubbers.

It seems obvious to me that the financial aspect is also very important, especially when we see the current prices of "special" rubbers. However, if this article is deleted, which I personally don't want, won't that open the door to anything?

 

[Matteones]

It seems obvious to me that the financial aspect is also very important, especially when we see the current prices of "special" rubbers. However, if this article is deleted, which I personally don't want, won't that open the door to anything?

That's a fair point. Then what about a rule that allows privates to do the same treatment that firms and companies that produce rubbers already do? After all it is already legal with the blades, that anyone can produce following certain guidelines.
To my understanding, what H3 does is it gives you a "baseline" rubber that you can then DIY into what you want for much less financial strain than spending absurds amount of money with the already company boosted rubbers. Which are fine for people who have the economical means and don't play that much. But I personally (and anyone else who's not sponsored and not rich, which by the way includes almost everyone and especially kids) don't want to buy one (or two) super expensive new rubbers a month so that they can make money out of it if I can do the same thing myself.

 

[John_]

As long as they're not treated with voc materials due to health concerns, but I don't see why players shouldn't be allowed to tune their rubbers with safe methods like oil based boosters.

Only for the sponge though, doing anything to the topsheet should be illegal, I've seen a few guys though my years that leave rubbers out in the sun or microwave them to change the grip and stiffness of the topsheet, that should be illegal. But honestly, everything else is fair game. Everyone has access to it, and different boosters do different things. In my book that's a good thing, giving options to the players.

 

[alain61]

As long as they're not treated with voc materials due to health concerns, but I don't see why players shouldn't be allowed to tune their rubbers with safe methods like oil based boosters.

Yes, I agree with you : AS LONG AS ... Isn't that already a condition ?
In fact, I would prefer to keep article 2.4.7 but with realistic accommodations included.

 

[merlin el mago]

@John_ So you accept oil booster and not sun treatment pips...

Do you really aren't honest, rules are rules so both is treated rubbers/sponges so not ITTF approved for tournaments!!

 

[merlin el mago]

I've never boosted but it seems an unfair rule.. boost or not boost doesn't really matter, it'snot that you're using anti or something - and even anti is allowed.

Moreover isn't also an unfair advantage if someone has the budget to buy the new best equipment and someone else can only play with older / cheaper equipment? So maybe also ban Dignics and the like? Obviously not - might as well let people boost.

I disagree, rules are to everybody, if you don't like the rules play ping pong in place of table tennis sanctioned tournaments!!