Identification of the sponge is due and overdue.

[igorponger]

IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPONGE IS DUE AND OVERDUE.

To all evidence the whole matter is still unresolved. The rule 3.2.1.3 states that sandwich rubber must be an ITTF approved combination both of sponge and topsheet.
So far there is no practical way for umpire to know if the sponge underneath meets all ITTF standards, which makes the rule just a mockery. It is neither reasonable nor acceptable situation anyway.

It is hoped the proposal, that every factory sponge should be complemented with an ID label, should come in force by the end of the year 2025. Till then, any sponge whatsoever is admissible for sandwich combination.

Here is a proposal drafted by an international expert group of proficient table tennis umpires and referees.

3.2.1.3.1 (Draft)

--An identifying label of uniform pattern (единого образца) shall be mandatory for all sandwich coverings on the backside of sponge layer.

Be happy.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

igor, do you know what is no 3?

 

[Trevize84]

What is the backside of the sponge layer? I mean how umpire can possibly read that label once glued?

Also, I guess this label will be a good excuse to charge 20€/sheet more!

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

What is the backside of the sponge layer? I mean how umpire can possibly read that label once glued?

Also, I guess this label will be a good excuse to charge 20€/sheet more!

exc of VAT/GST too lol

you don't pay, they just deduct off your earnings that they will never pay in the same quarter

 

[AndySmith]

igor, do you know what is no 3?

Looks like the manufacturing date code for month and year. Like they use on boxes of balls.

 

[pong99]

"Here is a proposal drafted by an international expert group of proficient table tennis umpires and referees." = Igor + the maker of the portable LP friction tester + the person who made the metal ball sponge masher

 

[Zeen]

seems reasonable, but is it even relevant?
Without professional vulcanization process I doubt the bond will result in a consistent rubber.
Also if a better sponge would be available, the manufacturer would just use that anyway.
I fail to see the point.

Of course, it's Igor's post so I should just take it with a grain of salt anyway lol

 

[brokenball]

It is hoped the proposal, that every factory sponge should be complemented with an ID label, should come in force by the end of the year 2025. Till then, any sponge whatsoever is admissible for sandwich combination.

I think igorponger has a point. The sponge and top sheet should be certified together.
Long ago, Pathfinderpro was trying to evaluate the effect of sponge thickness on the bounce/return of the ball. The problem is that he chose Chinese rubbers where the sponges where different from one thickness to the next.
I play a lot with Rakza 7. The sponges are the same regardless of the thickness. Obviously Rakza 7 soft has a different sponge.

Pathfinderpro's results were invalided because the sponge type varied by thickness. This is sad because Pathfinderpro put a lot of effort into testing the two different thicknesses of rubber. Back then I was in contact with Pathfinderpro. I could have sent him Rakza 7 1.8mm, 2mm and max for testing if he knew ahead of time the Chinese sponges were different.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Looks like the manufacturing date code for month and year. Like they use on boxes of balls.

I was hoping igor who knows it all can answer that

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

"Here is a proposal drafted by an international expert group of proficient table tennis umpires and referees." = Igor + the maker of the portable LP friction tester + the person who made the metal ball sponge masher

igor feels like a history teacher
he quotes 1960s stuff a lot

 

[igorponger]

ITTF to redouble control of player's equipment.

ITTF just published Agenda of the 2025 AGM. Good to see they did now adopted our insisting advices of the "identity markings" on the sponge.
Heh, knock the door persistently, and they let you skip in some day, indeed. 🤩

---------
Yes, Hole Bible does tell the pure truth, Luke 11:9

And so I tell you --keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."

 

[igorponger]

ITTF to redouble control of player's equipment.

ITTF just published Agenda of the 2025 AGM. Good to see they did now adopted our insisting advices of the "identity markings" on the sponge.
Heh, knock the door persistently, and they let you skip in some day, indeed. 🤩

---------
Yes, Hole Bible does tell the pure truth, Luke 11:9

“And so I tell you,
--keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."

View attachment 36131

 

[haggisv]

Good to see they did now adopted our insisting advices of the "identity markings" on the sponge.

That doesn't say anything about marking the sponge, it just says you can't glue on a different sponge.

 

[Colestt]

I was told by Emise Barsai that it was still ok to mix and match pips out, but that inverted should now be factory assembled only. They don't want the random mixing of sponges.

Why? The only reason I can come up with is that a dark sponge under a red top may not be bright enough. I can see their concerns with red, but black shouldn't matter one bit. Just ittf trying to insert themselves further, trying to make another dollar. More testing to have to pay for.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPONGE IS DUE AND OVERDUE.

To all evidence the whole matter is still unresolved. The rule 3.2.1.3 states that sandwich rubber must be an ITTF approved combination both of sponge and topsheet.
So far there is no practical way for umpire to know if the sponge underneath meets all ITTF standards, which makes the rule just a mockery. It is neither reasonable nor acceptable situation anyway.

It is hoped the proposal, that every factory sponge should be complemented with an ID label, should come in force by the end of the year 2025. Till then, any sponge whatsoever is admissible for sandwich combination.

Here is a proposal drafted by an international expert group of proficient table tennis umpires and referees.

3.2.1.3.1 (Draft)

--An identifying label of uniform pattern (единого образца) shall be mandatory for all sandwich coverings on the backside of sponge layer.

Be happy.

View attachment 29652

And how will they look at the back side of the sponge layer to know it has this information?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

And how will they look at the back side of the sponge layer to know it has this information?

some roller device maybe

 

[NextLevel]

some roller device maybe

Nah, MRIs and X-rays...

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Nah, MRIs and X-rays...

i'm trying to think what igor will recommend
it needs to be manual stuff

 

[Matt Hetherington]

If the topsheet and sponge has to be certified together this means that all players using modified sponge hardnesses then have to what, get ittf approval for a whole new rubber? What if a player is using a 52.5 degree sponge instead of a commercial 50 degree for example. Are the limitations on all of the exact specs or just on the composition material and formula for the sponge?

 

[ViperTableTennis]

It's illegal to use a pips-in rubber without a sponge so every ITTF approval on a pips-in racket covering should just cover the rubber top-sheet and the sponge i.e. treat both components as a single unit.

I was told by Emise Barsai that it was still ok to mix and match pips out, but that inverted should now be factory assembled only. They don't want the random mixing of sponges.

Why? The only reason I can come up with is that a dark sponge under a red top may not be bright enough. I can see their concerns with red, but black shouldn't matter one bit. Just ittf trying to insert themselves further, trying to make another dollar. More testing to have to pay for.

There shouldn't be "mix and match" on anything. There are literally hundreds (thousands?) of ITTF approved factory made options to choose from. The notion that a player can't be expected to settle for one of those and should have the freedom to go off-piste and start hybridising racket coverings is ridiculous, in my opinion.