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It definitely does
too bad this is forbidden according to ITTF rules
"Rule 2.4.7: The covering material should be used as it has been authorised by the ITTF without any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc."
i really think it makes a difference
too bad this is forbidden according to ITTF rules
"Rule 2.4.7: The covering material should be used as it has been authorised by the ITTF without any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc."
i really think it makes a difference
too bad this is forbidden according to ITTF rules
"Rule 2.4.7: The covering material should be used as it has been authorised by the ITTF without any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc."
i really think it makes a difference
Donic Sales person said that they already consulted top umpires in Japan and said it won't be considered as modification of the covering material. Warming it up to 40 degrees is not outside of the norm they said.
This rule makes it illegal to clean your rubber by any method, even a damp cloth. With any of those procedures, you are using water (or a cleaner) to solubilize materials that have landed on your rubber surface (a chemical procedure) and you are using the mechanical force (a physical treatment) of a cloth or sponge to facilitate removal of things that are on the surface of the rubber. And a clean rubber makes a difference. Some cleaners probably have other effects on the topsheet.
Obviously that is not something anyone really intends. After all you are just restoring your rubber and sponge to it's initial condition, aren't you? Ok, let's see where that leads us.
Restoring the initial condition is actually what people would be doing if they added booster to an old sheet of, say, MX-P; or by rapidly bringing a rubber up to a reasonable temperature (perhaps that of the factory) on a cold day in, say, Sweden. This is because as a rubber ages, it moves farther and farther away from the condition the samples authorized by ITTF were in. Would not a player actually have an obligation to boost some older rubbers so as to maintain them in the same condition (physical or chemical state) that was authorized by ITTF?
Also, we hear a lot about different pro players getting their own slightly different sponge hardness custom made for them. Isn't that illegal, since the ITTF does not separately review every subtle difference? On the ITTF LARC you can find the approval for Hurricane Whatever, which maybe ITTF checked out with a 47 degree sponge. But maybe Ma Long gets his Hurricane Whatever made for him with a 48 degree sponge (because he is Ma Long and DHS makes rubbers specifically for the CNT). Clearly illegal.
So we see where the ITTF has brought us with their absurd rules. I am just showing where an extremely literal interpretation of those rules would get you.
View attachment 11983
Tried it the other day and it does make huge difference. Almost felt like the rubber was boosted. Probably more so because it was 3 degrees outside and my rubber was as hard as a brick. Difference is not as noticeable when it was used for the rubber which was left in warm room temperature.
One of the advantage it has is that you'll be using a rubber with consistent bounce every time.
It's pretty expensive as I said earlier. Almost $100 per sheet. I only play couple times a month so I'm still not sure if I'll buy one in the end.
You can use the good old heat pad to achieve the same purpose.go to the supermarket and buy a couple of packets of yellow split peas.
Heat the split peas in the micro wave . Check the temperature with a thermometer the first time so you will know
how long to heat to reach about 40C.
Fit the heated packs into your blade/ racket bag or wrap everything in a nice old shawl.
cost : about 3 bucks
Yes, you can also cook the peas, add a smoked bacon hock and get yourself a tasty soup........😁
Re. legality or illegality of things : Somebody tell ITTF to shut their faces and lodge a worldwide campaign to promote
LEGAL SERVING all the way down to provincial small club level. 😂
You can use the good old heat pad to achieve the same purpose.
Absolutely agree with you.
However your comment shows that you are not fond of pea and bacon soup 😁