ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Highly technical & extremely controversial topics. Not for the faint of heart
Post Reply
User avatar
Fly Spin
Posts: 5
Joined: December 3rd, 2023, 6:36 am
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
City & State: Scarborough
Playing Style: ..
Grip: ..
Cohort: .
My blade:
Blade Type: .
Side F rubber brand:
Side F rubber type: .
Side B rubber brand:
Side B rubber type: .
Orientation: .

ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Post by Fly Spin »

I heard a rumor that ITTF now restricts what sponge colors can be used with each specific rubber top sheet
Is this true
I checked on the current ITTF LARC and see no such restrictions
User avatar
Λυκοῦργος
Posts: 6
Joined: March 17th, 2023, 8:53 pm
Country: Ελλάδα Greece
City & State: Aigaleo
Playing Style: Loop & block
Grip: Shakehand
Cohort: .
My blade:
Blade Type: .
Side F rubber brand:
Side F rubber type: .
Side B rubber brand:
Side B rubber type: .
Orientation: .

Re: ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Post by Λυκοῦργος »

This is true but for some reason ITTF has hidden this information.
The sponge colors allowed is hidden on the web version of the ITTF LARC
You have to click on individual rubber and it will show you the colors allowed for that specific product
But if you download the excel file of the LARC you can see it listed directly in detail for each rubber with a column
For your convenience I downloaded and sorted the current LARC and sorted it by rubber type
You can take a look below

Use the scroll bar at the bottom to view the new columns on far right
Use the scroll on the right to scroll up and down to view the full list of rubbers

You can also view the page on a separate tab for better scroll. Click here

Wide pips is ika (incorrectly known as) short pips & ika "out" on ITTF LARC
Slim pips is ika "long" pips on ITTF LARC
Because there are no long pips in ITTF table tennis . ITTF banned all long pips in 1977 at the Birmingham 1977 BGM but continues to call them "long" to fool the clueless pips plps players especially the even more clueless and the ignorant fools > the choppers
User avatar
Nayla S
Posts: 16
Joined: November 15th, 2022, 10:30 am
Country: Panama
City & State: Changuinola
Playing Style: Two Wing Looper
Grip: Shakehand
Cohort: .
My blade:
Blade Type: .
Side F rubber brand:
Side F rubber type: .
Side B rubber brand:
Side B rubber type: .
Orientation: .

Re: ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Post by Nayla S »

I also noticed a new column OX Yes or No
what is that for
User avatar
Slice Anti
Posts: 4
Joined: August 3rd, 2022, 1:03 pm
Country: Australia
City & State: Fitzroy Crossing, WA
Playing Style: ..
Grip: ..
Cohort: .
My blade:
Blade Type: .
Side F rubber brand:
Side F rubber type: .
Side B rubber brand:
Side B rubber type: .
Orientation: .

Re: ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Post by Slice Anti »

Nayla S wrote: ↑April 13th, 2026, 1:58 am I also noticed a new column OX Yes or No
what is that for
That means that you cannot use a top sheet from removing it from the sponge
You can only use the separate OX version of that rubber but only if the OX version is specifically LARC approved for that specific brand and rubber top sheet. It should say Yes on ITTF LARC. If No , you cannot use it
User avatar
Fernand77
Posts: 20
Joined: December 9th, 2024, 7:31 pm
Country: Nicaragua
City & State: Matagalpa
Playing Style: All round
Grip: Shakehand
Cohort: .
My blade:
Blade Type: .
Side F rubber brand:
Side F rubber type: .
Side B rubber brand:
Side B rubber type: .
Orientation: .

Re: ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Post by Fernand77 »

Quiet a few players are going to be surprised on the tournament site when the umpire tells them their rubber is not approved because the sponge does not match the top sheet or the OX version of that top sheet is not listed on ITTF LARC as approved :D
Tiff @
Posts: 3
Joined: May 12th, 2024, 5:33 am
Country: Australia
City & State: Edmonton QLD
Playing Style: ..
Grip: ..
Cohort: .
My blade:
Blade Type: .
Side F rubber brand:
Side F rubber type: .
Side B rubber brand:
Side B rubber type: .
Orientation: .

Re: ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Post by Tiff @ »

What is next
Only approved blades will be allowed :lol:
User avatar
Festast115
Posts: 2
Joined: September 7th, 2022, 10:59 am
Country: Deutschland Germany
City & State: Fürstenfeldbruck
Playing Style: ..
Grip: ..
Cohort: .
My blade:
Blade Type: .
Side F rubber brand:
Side F rubber type: .
Side B rubber brand:
Side B rubber type: .
Orientation: .

Re: ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Post by Festast115 »

Tiff @ wrote: ↑April 13th, 2026, 2:30 am Only approved blades will be allowed :lol:
Japan JTTA is already doing this FYI
User avatar
Nurgül
Posts: 5
Joined: September 6th, 2022, 11:23 pm
Country: Türkiye
City & State: Konya
Playing Style: Loop & block
Grip: Shakehand
Cohort: .
My blade:
Blade Type: .
Side F rubber brand:
Side F rubber type: .
Side B rubber brand:
Side B rubber type: .
Orientation: .

Re: ITTF LARC surprise - Sponge color restrictions- is this true?

Post by Nurgül »

Fernand77 wrote: ↑April 13th, 2026, 2:05 am Quiet a few players are going to be surprised on the tournament site when the umpire tells them their rubber is not approved because the sponge does not match the top sheet or the OX version of that top sheet is not listed on ITTF LARC as approved :D
I am shocked that ITTF has not banned all OX pips anyway to make it more difficult for all blockers and amteur choppers
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “For advanced (and above) tabletennis athletes”