OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Yes, a man with a good competency of technical metrology is needed for this job. I am a happy one for being in charge of racket control for years.
LET'S IMPLANT FAIR PLAY ALL OVER THE SPORT.

No idea what this means. But I take this as evidence that Igorponger may not be a bot.

This is a scientifically proved Verification procedure we used to conduct in order to know actual rubber hardness, by Shore O scale. Don't take the present hardness you see on a sponge sheet as granted. The hardness value stated by a manufacturer always needs a practical proof or you may get a misleading guidance of rubber playing performance.

Be happy.
'Seeing is believing' (prov)



Shore-O durometer with a clock dial is used for those testings. Take care you get a test sample of around 6 millimeters thick. A single test sheet of 3mm is to probably cause a false reading with bigger numbers.

How would you get a 6mm thick sample, and how would you know that it's the same hardness?

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

If I may ask IgorPonger (or others) , what is the REAL reason for thickness measurement ?

Wilfard asked "what is the REAL reason for thickness measurement ?"

The rules say that the maximum thickness of an inverted (smooth) rubber is 4mm for topsheet + sponge. That is the real reason for thickness measurement.

What was happening was that players were speedgluing or boosting inverted rubbers that were already almost that thick, and this was causing the rubbers to exceed the 4mm maximum thickness. The ITTF has developed tests to detect speed glue, but has not developed tests to detect boosting by players, and boosting by manufacturers is allowed anyway, so good luck distinguishing the difference via testing. The other thing with thickness testing is that it detects differences in thickness, which can be caused by:

poor manufacturer quality control of their rubber thickness
poor manufacturer application of booster
poor gluing or build up of glue
poor non-manufacturer application of booster.

I hope this helps.

_________________
Retriever (sometimes golden, but often leaden)
Moderator, Inverted Retriever Technique sub-forum - http://ooakforum.com/viewforum.php?f=74

When it comes to measuring hardness - if you're using one of those Durometers with a probe, there's a minimum sample thickness for it to work and to give proper readings. Using a sample that is too thin (as any actual piece of sponge from an actual sheet of table tennis sandwich would be) would give a hardness reading that is greater than the material actually is.

I don't doubt there'd be a way to design Durometers that would give the proper reading with thinner sheets of sample, but they're not the ones you find on AliExpress.

Iskandar

I am only more confused.

Why is it necessary to "detect" speed glues & boosters ?

Is there a difference in detection methods for speed glue compared to detecting boosters ?

Are there ITTF rules on this ?

Also, Rubber manufacturers work with tolerance. They can't always obtain the desired hardness since mixing a batch of rubber is like mixing a cake.
Hardness in rubber will increase with ageing and the rate of the increase depends on environmental factors.

Do you mean "Why" beyond the reason that it is illegal? Plenty written about the ITTF rules out there to search.

Thanks for the reply.
I was very confused because some posters were talking about sponge "hardness" &
I did not understand what "hardness" had to do with the topic of this thread
which I think is racket "control" per ITTF rules. Sorry about that.

Getting back to need to "detect" illegal speed glues & boosters
No I did not mean the reason beyond "illegal" because I do not know what else is there beyond it.
But what I need help from you is why exactly speed glues & boosters are "illegal".
Is it just from civil law standpoint or criminal law or both & why

Actually I was confused earlier because when you said "illegal" I thought all you meant was ONLY ITTF "unauthorized".
I did not even know speed glues & boosters were also illegal under the law.
That is why I asked the question as to why speed glues & boosters are illegal under the law.
I did not mean to question anyone in this forum.Not my intent. I apologize

Because the way I understand it a long pips rubber may be ITTF "unauthorized" but definitely not "illegal"
But based on your explanation I now see clearly why speed glues & boosters are not only ITTF unauthorized but are also "illegal" under the law
What I ask your help is as to why they are also "illegal"

Speed glues & boosters are only unauthorised by the ITTF, they are NOT illegal as far as country laws are concerned. They are very similar to rubber cement or vulcanising cement, which are commonly used for gluing car/bike tires everywhere.

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

If I may ask, why are speed glues & boosters unauthorized by ITTF ?

Officially it's against this rule:
2.4.7 The racket covering shall be used without any physical, chemical or other treatment.

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Thanks I understand
But what I am more interested is as to the reason why ITTF had to pass this rule