DaveR
05-15-2008, 07:53 PM
http://www.sportfocus.com/newsimage/234587764_47d6f50177_o[1]19.jpg
Racket Testing will be taking place this weekend at the Cadet Masters aimed at education, awareness and data collection.
At the same time as this weekends event is taking place, the ETTA Chairman and Chief Executive will be meeting with members of the ITTF Executive Board, who are visiting London, to discuss a number of issues including Racket Testing.
Following these discussions in London, and through correspondence with the ITTF Equipment Committee, we will put in place a revised Racket Testing Procedure.
It is becoming apparent that some "boosters" can cause the rubbers to expand beyond the thickness limits approved in the regulations and that they can also cause an uneven surface.
Care should be taken in regard to this by the players as normal umpiring bat checks will be made.
It is also becoming clear that some “tuned” rubbers contain or react to water based glues causing over the limit VOC emissions. The ITTF are discussing these issues with the Manufacturers, who appear not to have been aware of this situation, and further information will follow".
This is an ETTA article but is worth following up on the "some tuned rubbers" are creating problems for the "sniffer" to the extent it seems many are failing and dont quote me on this but joola seems to be king of the failures in tuned rubbers so beware. There are various stories of players not glueing up for months and months but the joola tuned are still failing dismally, if this proves to be the case where does this leave us?
Do those who play with them stop doing so because of the problem or do they relax in favour because of it?
You can hardly blame those who are failing the test if its not their particular fault, which leads nicely into the question ........does this mean joola then "reimburce" or "replace" the rubber with another. Not going to happen i hear you say !
But will the problem be recified by changing the rubber / sponge design technology process.
This is exactly what many were saying before this came into play...........this is a complete mine field wating to explode, with players being reported or even a ban incurred if the rubber fails through no fault of their own.
Your thoughts are?
Racket Testing will be taking place this weekend at the Cadet Masters aimed at education, awareness and data collection.
At the same time as this weekends event is taking place, the ETTA Chairman and Chief Executive will be meeting with members of the ITTF Executive Board, who are visiting London, to discuss a number of issues including Racket Testing.
Following these discussions in London, and through correspondence with the ITTF Equipment Committee, we will put in place a revised Racket Testing Procedure.
It is becoming apparent that some "boosters" can cause the rubbers to expand beyond the thickness limits approved in the regulations and that they can also cause an uneven surface.
Care should be taken in regard to this by the players as normal umpiring bat checks will be made.
It is also becoming clear that some “tuned” rubbers contain or react to water based glues causing over the limit VOC emissions. The ITTF are discussing these issues with the Manufacturers, who appear not to have been aware of this situation, and further information will follow".
This is an ETTA article but is worth following up on the "some tuned rubbers" are creating problems for the "sniffer" to the extent it seems many are failing and dont quote me on this but joola seems to be king of the failures in tuned rubbers so beware. There are various stories of players not glueing up for months and months but the joola tuned are still failing dismally, if this proves to be the case where does this leave us?
Do those who play with them stop doing so because of the problem or do they relax in favour because of it?
You can hardly blame those who are failing the test if its not their particular fault, which leads nicely into the question ........does this mean joola then "reimburce" or "replace" the rubber with another. Not going to happen i hear you say !
But will the problem be recified by changing the rubber / sponge design technology process.
This is exactly what many were saying before this came into play...........this is a complete mine field wating to explode, with players being reported or even a ban incurred if the rubber fails through no fault of their own.
Your thoughts are?