'To boost or not to boost'?

**Priya**

Hi everyone,

I'm a little confused.. It is said that most chinese rubber work best with chemical boosting. Can we use boosters and still compete at ITTF approved trounaments? Is it allowed? If not, is their any chinese rubber (for the forehand) that functions well even without chemical boosting?
Thanks so much!

**yogi_bear**

boosters are not allowed of course if it is outside factory boosting. if you do not join ITTF sanctioned tourneys then boosting is fine.

**Priya**

Thanks Yogi_bear,
Any chinese rubber that you would recommend that works optimally without boosing?
Thanks.

**Lazer**

The problem here being if You get used to it it's difficult to live without it. And it's a pain in the a**.

**yogi_bear** · 11:08 AM

I do boost my Hurricane 3 all the time.

**Tango K**

Most of the pain of boosting is thinking without doing it itself. Applying it is even easier than applying glue. A day drying is like another day waiting the delivery...

**Lazer**

You have to remove the rubber from the blade, this without causing damage. If there is a damage You have to fix it, then wait a day or two before regluing.
No thank You, that is something I want to avoid...

**Tango K**

))) if you play a lot. You have to remove the rubber every 3 months anw.

**Lazer**

Oh no, 3 months, that a little optimistic, and I expect my rubbers to last 6 months to a year.

**yogi_bear**

Originally Posted by Tango K

))) if you play a lot. You have to remove the rubber every 3 months anw.

I think 3 months is too long. Ideally, you need to boost every 2 months or 1. 5 months

**Priya**

Originally Posted by Lazer

The problem here being if You get used to it it's difficult to live without it. And it's a pain in the a**.

Haha! Nicely said!

**Priya**

Originally Posted by Tango K

Most of the pain of boosting is thinking without doing it itself. Applying it is even easier than applying glue. A day drying is like another day waiting the delivery...

Totally!

**Priya**

@Tango K, Lazer, Yogi_bear,
Thanks for the info...

**Kuba Hajto**

Originally Posted by yogi_bear

I think 3 months is too long. Ideally, you need to boost every 2 months or 1. 5 months

I would say it depends on the booster itself.

**Kuba Hajto**

Originally Posted by Lazer

You have to remove the rubber from the blade, this without causing damage. If there is a damage You have to fix it, then wait a day or two before regluing.
No thank You, that is something I want to avoid...

Then polish or varnish the blade. Also isn't Primorac top ply hinoki? Isn't Hinoki harder to damage?

**Lazer** · 02:10 PM

I have both a Primorac Carbon and and an ALC.S (and an Akkad coming), I have small rips in both. I always varnish but it may still rip.
I have no idea if some woods rips easier than others.

**yogi_bear**

Originally Posted by Tango K

))) if you play a lot. You have to remove the rubber every 3 months anw.

Originally Posted by Kuba Hajto

I would say it depends on the booster itself.

I do not know of boosters lasting 3 months. Even falco long lasts about 1.5months despite having 2 months effect. Seamoon lasts about a month.

**IB66**

One way of looking at it is, if you use a Tacky Chinese rubber for the very first time, don’t boost, play with it and see how it plays, get use to it and never boost. Then you’ll never know what you’re missing!!!!

Otherwise try Hybrid tacky rubbers, Joola Golden Tango, Golden Tango PS (which is bouncier) Rakza Z, etc,
some players would still boost these though!! Mind you there’s a fair amount of BTY and ESN rubber users that boost as well!!!

**Music&Ping**

Originally Posted by yogi_bear

boosters are not allowed of course if it is outside factory boosting. if you do not join ITTF sanctioned tourneys then boosting is fine.

Nope sir, many of the countries have adopted the ITTF rules as their own national rules, therefore boosting isn't allowed even at a national level.

Fact is boosters cannot be detected yet, that's why people like you and the international pros circumvent the law. It's like driving fast over the speed limits with a device that makes your car being invisible.

Boosters, like speed glues more than a decade ago, are also being studied cos' they might be harmful, say unhealthy.

Don't use them, period.

**harty**

If your game level is very good, you will definitely use boosted rubber.
The best way to find out is to compare it.
All top players use booster !!!!!!!
You must not exceed a rubber height of 4 mm.
Otherwise, everything is fine.