Why air bubble appeared between sponge and blade?

Lionel Unknown Asked 15 years ago

Hi coach,

It is so strange that my Sriver 2.1mm Red, in Jan 09 for the first time sticking onto Butterfly Chinese Real blade using Fit Chack (new ITTF approved glue from Butterfly), then surprisingly air bubble got in between sponge and blade surface (I could see bulging topsheet).  The shop which sold me this blade and rubber helped to peel off and reglued with Fir Chack....goodness, just days from playing, again bulging again, and keep repeating the process of peeling off and regluing.

It has now passed the first 4 times fit chack reglue, and 2 times Butterfly Fair Chack reglue (speed glue), still had bubble-kind of bulging.  And thus for the 7th attempt on Sunday just passed, I asked him to use Chack Sheet (glue sheet) to stick between rubber and sponge.  Actually what went wrong with the rubber and spionge?  Only played few days (12 hours accumulated) and bulging topsheet happened... any idea how to solve this issue?

Thanks, Lionel

Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago

Hi Lionel,

This is a defect with the manufacturing of the rubber.  The top sheet should not come away form the sponge that quickly.  It does happen sometimes, but once it happens it is very difficult to fix, as you have found out.