I agree with Music&Ping's hard position that it is illegal, we should not use it, it's official, point, end of discussion. That is the higher ground.
But, first, on my level, no-one cares. Also I do not care if some one uses speed glue when playing against me, and people still do. And second, I also disagree with this particular rule against booster oil.
(Edit: The way I wrote this is not very lucky. Peace.)
Hi latej how’s it going ? I’ve just read the PM you sent me yesterday.
I’m sticking on that « higher ground » for many reasons. And health concerns too.
1- booster is made of gas, gas is volatile. Speed glue has been banned because of volatile gas that caused health problems. But as a player who started TT in the 80’s, I’ve used speed glue, I’ve seen some people doing some really weird and unconventional process with speed glue and rubbers: re-activating the speed glue effect with ... trychloroethylene ! on a tibhar Dang, see what I mean... it was a chinese made rubber by tibhar who wanted the real tacky rubber and hard sponge thing. It was literaly stinking all over the sport hall because of those guys. No need to mention the special glueing rooms in tournaments, some people would literaly get nauseous.
2- you’ll tell me: « I do this at home, no health concerns for other people than me. » fine, but how do we know you’re using a « legal » process ? in that case, why not stick to speed glue still as it is way simpler to use , and as some stores still sell it ? you do it at home, it lasts 1 day, fine.
https://www.silver-equipment.com/co...le-rapide-voc-de-tennis-de-table-1-litre.html
3- in the vas majority of tournaments, there’s no testing device indeed... even for speed glue ! In that case, why not sticking with the good old speed glue ? only because it « could » be detected ?
4- As I’ve said in other threads, the problem is not players like you, or me, the non pros. If you’re a pro, then you’ve got a serious problem. The problem is when you play at a national level where the ITTF rules apply in most of the countries now. I guess that at the level you play in lower tournaments or leagues, there will be still many players with fair glue, rubbers and blades that will be able to beat you...
5- are the ITTF rules being hypocritical ? of course they do, as long as there’s no efficient testing device, as long as China do what ever possible to screw the game with its custom rubbers made to CNT players requirements and not making them available on the market, and as long as ITTF officials bend their knee because putting everyone in the same glueing room only 2 or 3 hours before the tournament starts to check the players glueing process would literaly offend the chinese delegation. This is where the ITTF is being hypocritical. China uses TT as « soft power » but beware, they do with their own rules.
To me, it does not obey the LARC regulations. We all know what protectionism is. Euro/jap/korean players boost euro/jap/korean rubbers, there are known on the worldwide market, no custom requirements allowed to fit in the LARC regulations, Butterfly is very clear and strict about it. Not the same with blades of course as it easy to control: the maximum synthetic material thickness ratio, the blade’s color. Fine.
6- sooner or later, a device will be available to detect boosters, where will it be used ? national level tournaments and leagues only of course, I know it well... as it’s the same for speed glue now. Will amateur level players then used another chinese game screwing process because « it’s ok it cannot be detected » ? when at the same time they will never see any testing device in their whole journey ? who’s being hypocritical ... now ?