Opponents Rubber for Tournaments

Rick August Asked 7 months ago

When you play a tournament does your opponent have to tell if he has short, medium or long pips or does he have to show you his bat?  If he doesn't tell you are you allowed to touch the rubber surface to see what size pips he has?  What is the protocal that most people use?

Alois Rosario Answered 6 months ago

Hi Rick,

In tournaments players need to show their racket to the umpire and opponent before the match commences.  This typically involves showing the racket so that you can see the color and type of the surfaces. You are not allowed to touch the rubber surface of your opponent's racket. The inspection should be visual only. If you're unsure about the type of rubber just by looking, you could observe how the rubber performs during the warm-up to get a better idea of its characteristics. Remember, it's perfectly reasonable and within your rights to ask to see your opponent's racket. Most players expect and are prepared for this as part of pre-match protocol. Best of luck in your tournaments.