Equipment changes

Hi Coach,

I have OX LP Grass D.Tecs in my BH. Due to gradual wear and tear, the rubber torn significantly from the periphery towards the center. To accommodate with that, I re-pasted the rubber by stretching the rubber across the entire width (unform lateral stretching across the entire length). I also had to cut excess rubber off the edges. This resulted in wide spacing (perfectly uniform) between the pimples. (ITTF stamp and name of the rubber still completely visible)

As per my understanding of the principles of OX LP, I thought this setup would be actually beneficial. I assumed that the wide spacing will result in more bending of the pimples on impact of the ball and hence will create more wobble. Also the wide spacing of pimples will also increase the friction-less-ness of the LP rubber and create more reversal.

Playing with this condition I FELT that the characteristics of the OX LP rubber heightened. But this might be completely a placebo confidence due to my above thought. I do not have enough experience to actually comprehend or quantify the difference.

I am about to paste a new rubber and am in a dilemma whether to stretch it like above or paste it normal.

Is my above assumption correct? What are your thoughts on this?

Hi Rajat,

Altering the spacing between the pimples by stretching the rubber can affect how the pimples behave during ball contact. Wider spaced pimples can potentially enhance the pimple deformation upon impact, which might lead to increased wobble of the ball, as you've observed. This deformation could also contribute to greater reversal effects, where the spin coming from your opponent's strokes is returned more effectively.

However, it's essential to consider a few points: While manually stretching the rubber can alter its characteristics, achieving a perfectly uniform stretch across the rubber is challenging. Inconsistencies can lead to unpredictable reactions during play, which might not be ideal in competitive scenarios. According to ITTF rules, any modification that alters the original characteristics of the equipment might render it illegal for official competitions. Even though the ITTF stamp and rubber name are visible, if an official or opponent notices the modification and deems it significantly alters the rubber's properties, it could be grounds for disqualification. Stretching the rubber might stress the material differently, potentially leading to quicker deterioration or unexpected failure during important matches. Given these considerations, while your experimental setup did appear to change the rubber's behavior in a way that you found beneficial, I would recommend using the rubber as manufactured for competitions, especially to ensure compliance with ITTF regulations and to maintain consistency in your play.