Identification of the sponges is due and overdue.

says Fair Play first
says Fair Play first
Well-Known Member
Jan 2012
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Identification of the sponges is due and overdue.

an EQC expert group brings in a packet of innovations regarding the use of sandwich rubbers.
-- 5.2.2. A sandwich rubber shall be a permanent combination consisting of:
— a topsheet currently authorised by ITTF
— a sponge layer of a single type.

--5.2.3. Within a type, sponge layer must be of the same material (i.e. colour, density, hardness) and may only differ in thickness.

-- 5.2.4. Sponges of different types shall not be authorized as one brand-name.

OF TOP IMPORTANCE.
-- Players MAY NOT use a casual sponge without an identiti label of uniform design.


Good news indeed. Identification of sponge materials is due and overdue.

IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPONGE IS DUE AND OVERDUE.

As far as I know 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 practicable way for umpire to know if the sponge underneath meets all ITTF standards. It is not an admissible situation anyway.

It is hoped the earlier EQC proposal, that every factory sponge must be marked with an identity label, should take effect somewhere next year 2025. Till then, any sponge is well accepted for sandwich composition.

PS// Waiting for hot lively debates within EQC. 🔨 🪓 ⚔
 
Last edited:
says Table tennis clown
says Table tennis clown
Well-Known Member
Apr 2020
3,453
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7,494
Identification of the sponges is due and overdue.

an EQC expert group brings in a packet of innovations regarding the use of sandwich rubbers.
-- 5.2.2. A sandwich rubber shall be a permanent combination consisting of:
— a topsheet currently authorised by ITTF
— a sponge layer of a single type.

--5.2.3. Within a type, sponge layer must be of the same material (i.e. colour, density, hardness) and may only differ in thickness.

-- 5.2.4. Sponges of different types shall not be authorized as one brand-name.

OF TOP IMPORTANCE.
-- Players MAY NOT use a casual sponge without an identiti label of uniform design.


Good news indeed. Identification of sponge materials is due and overdue.

IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPONGE IS DUE AND OVERDUE.

As far as I know 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 practicable way for umpire to know if the sponge underneath meets all ITTF standards. It is not an admissible situation anyway.

It is hoped the earlier EQC proposal, that every factory sponge must be marked with an identity label, should take effect somewhere next year 2025. Till then, any sponge is well accepted for sandwich composition.

PS// Waiting for hot lively debates within EQC. 🔨 🪓 ⚔
""""""3.2.1.3 Any ordinary pimpled rubber or sandwich rubber covering the racket shall be currently authorized by the ITTF ."""""

This does NOT talk about the authorization process per se and therefore does not stipulate the actual quality of the sponges.

..............and any future rule will highly likely ignore this as well.
 
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