Article on regulating blades.

[fais]

http://tabletennis.about.com/od/rules/a/Racket-Control.htm

Is it just me, or this a really, really horrible idea? I consider the argument regarding boosting flawed, since the author is assuming all rubbers perform best when boosted, and that it is technologically impossible for manufacturers to develop rubber/sponges that rival/improve upon existing boosted options.

I'm somewhat surprised that I'm actually for the speed glue ban, because I know manufacturers are actively directing R&D into next gen rubbers that perform on par with boosted sheets (thus eliminating the need for reglue/reboost). What do y'all think? Is such technology possible, or Is it too far away?

 

[Tinykin]

I think most manufacturers are now working intensely on new bats and rubbers for the plastic balls. It should be more difficult to get anywhere near the amount of spin we do today with the celluloid balls. So we'll be getting a lot of marketing bull about how the new bat/rubbers get more speed/spin than the old stuff.

 

[Der_Echte]

Greg made this article a while ago, so it isn't exactly new. He and a LOT of players share the same frustration and a lot of us have come up with the same conclusions.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

I like a lot of things Greg Letts writes about but not this. I don't think that boosting is worth bothering with. Most of the top pros do it. I think, if the substance they are using to boost is not harmful to your health, it should not matter what they put on the rubbers.

 

[ttmonster]

whatever he is suggesting is not scalable. it can work at the max for the top 30 - top 50 players in the world. if you want to have uniform playing field, without going into the debate as to whether boosting , legal or illegal , or glueing give additional advantage , there has to be an agreement with the companies with ITTF to have same rubbers sold everywhere and no special treatment to anybody. Also , if there you cannot glue , you cannot boost, simple. If you can boost, you should be let to glue as well. either you let people tamper or you don't . Period. The other option could be having factory produced , sealed paddle-rubber combination. if you want to change rubbers, you have to send the paddle back to the company or visit their local outlet and they will give you new sealed rubbers. We have to understand the problem indeed is complex to solve and thats one of the big reasons ITTF has not been able to fix it so far. The funny thing is Adnam Sahara goes on record saying that he is against boosting of any kind and ITTF is partnering with companies which sells boosters ( Donic etc. ) , its sort of a double standard , isn't it ?

 

[Der_Echte]

I agree with the points that players who obey rules to spirit and letter at the top level are at a severe disadvantage, that the way the rules are set that there is no practical way to enforce it, and that there should be an easy way to fairly and consistently enforce rules.

I do not think the method he suggests will be effective or have a change though. Outside of ITTF building the bat and sanctioning it themselves, there is no practical way to enforce the equipment rules other than a visual inspection and check for thickness/irregularity. The top pros and their staff know how to easily get by that.