Manually create tension into the rubber (legally)?

Lionel Unknown Asked 15 years ago

Hi Jeff, Alois,

Not sure if my suggestion here is making sense, pertaining to manually create tension into the rubber without using any tools or speed glue. 

1)  spread the ITTF-approved glue evenly onto the rubber and blade, wait for the glue to dry,

2)   During attaching the rubber onto the blade, manually stretch the rubber apart to make it bigger in area and thus tensioned built-in, only then attach the rubber onto the blade,

3)  cut off the excess rubber from the blade edge.

 stretching the rubber will make the sponge and top sheet in tension, and making the total thickness lower slightly which still meet ITTF rule.

Question is, 

*  is this method of manual stretching allowed by ITTF? 

**  And the tension pre-built into the rubber using this method is reducing the life of the rubber?  

***  The most important effect of course, is whether this method will create the high tension into the rubber as can be achieved by speed glue?

 Thanks and regards, Lionel

Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago

Hi Lionel,

Most players will stretch their rubber a bit when putting it on.  It is perfectly legal.

Stretching the rubber does reduce the life of the rubber. That is why the High tension rubbers tend to last for a shorter time.