bbkon should have checked the LARC first Re: Custom Sponge for pips
Posted: June 3rd, 2026, 8:42 pm
If you are only playing casually or only play in non-ITTF tournaments , it does not matter.bbkon wrote: on Monday 01 Jun 2026, 12:31
Any know where can I find soft sponge for pips around 1.8mm?
Thanks.
This is the recommended path for those playing all spins diversity table tennis
But if you play in an ITTF (or affiliate such as USATT) sanctioned tournament (I cannot see why any pips player with an ounce of self-respect would support the top spin only anti-style-diversity Olympic style tournament) , you may want to note that there are some changes in ITF LARC but it is not clear
Looks like every pips rubber MUST be on the ITTF LARC as an approved rubber for OX version. If not you cannot use it. You cannot buy a pips rubber with sponge & remove the sponge and stick that OX top sheet on a blade. You can only use OX version you purchased (Don't ask me how they can check this ......I do not know)
More importantly it seems like you can no longer mix and match any sponge with any top sheet ( pips out or pips in) .
If you click on any rubber listed in ITTF LARC it will open a second part that shows what color sponges are allowed , if allowed
You cannot use a different color sponge
Now can I buy a top sheet & stick it to a sponge of approved color for that specific brand?
I have no answer because I do not know
But as a high level lawyer of ITTF matters (Ha Ha just kidding I am not a lawyer I am a school drop out) I would tend to think that why they are saying that you can only use the rubber with the sponge that comes pre attached in factory to the top sheet. You cannot change it or add your own sponge to an OX only approved top sheet.
How would they know ? Is there a logo on the sponge also ? Even if there is a logo on the sponge it won't be visible DUH
(I have some ideas on how they can solve this but I am not giving them any ideas unless I get paid LOL)
These are all questions I have no answers to. And I wonder if even any IRs (international referees) know.
Because ITF now has chosen to operate in high secrecy stealth mode with zero transparency
AGMS are held in TOTAL secrecy. Results of proceedings are a secret
In other words the ITTF LARC itself is a fast moving target day by day minute by minute
Rubbers can get approved or de-approved on the fly any minute .It is not like the previously used quarterly release of the LARC anymore it seems