Fair enough. If you ever come past a motorbike shop or a repair shop you can always go in and ask them if you could have a small amount. 🙂
And where did you get this definition? So if a rubber has a booster application by the factory and it does not curve, it is not boosted?
So where is the rubber that has this "booster" application?
The definition comes from the booster you use itself, because it is exactly what it does, which gives you the more bouncier effect.
What many people confound (i guess that is the right word^^) is the "factory tuned" status of a rubber and the boosting process. The problem here is (the main reason why i wrote that it is useless to discuss or think about it) this happens in the making of a rubber. A process which is usually not published in a detailed way or at all. So the changes to recreate this process propperly are kinda nonexistent.
Sadly there is not much information out there of which i could tell on how to differentiate between the boosting process (usually selfmade with an oil of your choice) and the factory tuning componies are mentioning.
One source for it might be this interview: https://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=35876
There are several sources to this or at least similar interviews, but there is kinda no possible way to know if the interviews people really belong to DHS (in this case) or not.
This interview should explain what Zwill mentioned too. Though i am not certain if this should happen at all, because i tried to get rid of this layer with 2 rubbers in the past and besides damaging the rubber at least slightly in the process it just curved a little bit, but in the complete other direction than it would if i boost that same rubber (which i did afterwards^^).
I would prefer to go the other way : ITTF should simply wash their hands of "controlling " the rubber manufacturing process. The ITTF stamp on the rubbers is just a sales-gimmick anyway 😁
It does come from the ITTF, they check the rubbers at the tournaments, there is a line drawn in the sand. So whether ‘factory’ boosted, or ‘player’ boosted, they are checked. If the VOC emissions are under the ‘legal’ limit the rubber is allowed to be used.
ITTF has an equipment committee , they examine and have tests done on balls, tables (surfaces) rubbers etc. they advised on ball size changes, VOC testing etc. The Chairperson has past links to ESN, she worked for ESN for many years, no surprise factory boosting is tolerated!!!
My concern is more on human safety than politics. There are 2 people I've know got the same cancer and the suspect was from VOC substance as they boosted their rubbers every time before they played. It is hard to pinpoint exactly where /how the cancer came from but at least we know VOC is likely the culprit.
I think 2 people out of thousands..................................I would call this "inconclusive"
Anyway, I was under the impression that the VOC -speed glue times were long gone
and when we are talking about boosting now , it is boosting with VOC-free means.
Am i wrong ??
2 persons I personally know then it is not 2 out of thousands. It may be inconclusive but VOC can cause cancer is a fact. How do you know the booster we are talking about is VOC free? Did ITTF test it?
YES ! VOC is measurable. There are some shops that may still supply VOC-speed glue but most boosters
are advertised as VOC-free.
Boosters that are voc-free hardly smell at all and no matter how long i sniff them - they will not make me smile.
Old-style speed-glue make you smile......................before you fall over.
To be fair I never saw an ITTF logo on any booster and I don't think they will start to approve them all of a sudden, but some are totally tested on international tournaments since many players use them and rarely do you hear that rackets are being failed during this testing.
For sure old speedglue was bad for health and in worst case can cause cancer, best case some illumination... No wonder painters have to wear protective mask.
However these new VOC free boosters should be very safe. As far as I know ITTF approves the rubber topsheet and not the sponge, and you are not allowed to chemically treat the topsheet. The sponge should be OK as long as it is within the rules.
Sure hope using non-ITTF logoed rubber cleaners is not considered illegal treatment of the topsheet.
