Is your table tennis rubber approved?

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There is more to a table tennis rubber on your table tennis paddle than just speed, spin and control ratings. You might not have heard about this stupid thing that I’m going to talk about. The table tennis rubber on your table tennis paddle is also called Racket coverings. That is the technical term being used by ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation). This racket covering need to be approved to be used in tournaments. Every table tennis tournament approved by a table tennis organization like USATT will allow only racket coverings approved by ITTF - USATT is a member of ITTF. To be specific 4 star and 5 star tournaments like US Nationals and US Open.

Isn’t that crazy? Yes, it is for a table tennis sports lover. Before you raise your horn, I can tell few reasons why this stupid rule is in place. The ITTF or USATT is the overseer to make sure table tennis rules are followed by its members. You go to your friend’s home to play in his basement. Does the rules apply to you? Not really. But if you go to a tournament approved by USATT or ITTF, the rule applies to you. Why can’t the tournament organizers allow the players in a USATT approved tournament to follow any rubber on the planet? There are many reasons behind why the players are asked to follow rules. The USATT or ITTF have a system in place. Their tournament policies make a smooth tournament organization. The events attract sponsors. The ITTF approved pro-tour events bring in more than $100,000 in prize money - in a three day event that’s the money the table tennis players receive for winning and being qualified. The sponsors who spend that much money into events and support the sport. The ITTF has to convince the sponsors a fair game - a fair game of the players using the right equipments. The racket coverings list is for this purpose primarily.

The ITTF regularly publish racket covering list. You can find the October 2009 racket coverings list here:

ITTF Racket Coverings List October 2009

Even an experienced player will have problem understanding the names in this list. Here are some tips to make sure your rubber is approved:

1. When you buy rubber from a table tennis store, read the description of the rubber. It should say the table tennis rubber is ITTF approved. In case it does not say, ask the sales department of the store. A local organization like USATT can endorse certain table tennis products. They don’t approve table tennis racket coverings to be used in 4 and 5 start tournaments.

2. It is not necessary that the rubber you bought should have the name listed in the ITTF approved racket coverings list exactly. The Joola brand has two rubbers with name top spin - top spin and top spin chop. The top spin is the only name you will see in the ITTF approved racket coverings list. You will not see top spin chop. This is because the same racket covering Joola top spin being used for both top spin and topspin chop rubbers.

3. It is risky to use recreational paddles in tournaments. The recreational rackets are made for recreation only. The rubbers on a recreational paddle may not be a ITTF approved. In a tournament, the referees can disqualify you for using an unapproved rubber.

4. You don’t have to go anywhere to get a rubber approved. If you have bought a table tennis rubber from a table tennis store, and if it is ITTF approved, you are safe. You can participate in any tournament. In the tournament, the referees do a random check. You can be asked to bring in your racket for inspection. The referees will look at the rubber on your paddle and make sure it is in the ITTF list. You will have problem if it is not there in the list. If the rubber is not in the list you can be disqualified. This procedure is for 4 and 5 tournaments. The lower level tournaments don’t have any racket testing.

Table Tennis is a good sport. We must be fair in this game using the equipments approved by the table tennis organization ITTF, so someone has an advantage with their equipments. That’s why this stupid rule is made.

Tagged as: ittf racket coverings

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