USATT Referee Memo 2008-5 August 6, 2008
1. ITTF Law 2.4.7 effective September 2008
The covering material should be used as it has been authorised by the ITTF without any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc.
2. ITTF has approved a new racket-testing device called Enez.
It has been used throughout the world in 2008 at junior competitions including junior and cadet events at the North American Championships. It has been shown to be reliable.
3. USATT will require the Enez box to be used at all Three Star and higher-level tournaments beginning in January 2009.
The boxes cost between $350 and $400.
4. Newgy, (615) 452-6470, has four boxes and will rent them.
Their use is authorized but not required at lower level tournaments. Rental fees have not yet been set.
5. Recommended policies for lower level tournaments:
a. Complete regluing a racket at the tournament is prohibited unless new rubber is being applied.
b. If possible, a vendor should apply new rubber with an adhesive from an original container of water-based adhesive.
c. Partial gluing should be approved and supervised by the referee. Partial regluing should be authorized only if an edge of the rubber is loose. The referee should see that the adhesive is from a container marked as water based.
d. Ace Hardware has an adhesive that has passed tests with the Enez device. TearMender comes in a 2 fluid oz tube for $6.99. Prices may vary. e. Table tennis manufacturers with water-based adhesives should be taken at their word.
f. ITTF guidance is that new rubber should be aired 48-72 hours before being applied to a racket or it may fail the Enez test.
g. Players may not clean rubber with any substance during a match. Wiping water from the rubber with a dry cloth is OK.
h. The tournament should have some legal rackets for loan if practicable. Wendell Dillon, IR, Chairman
NEW Gluing Rule:
Valid from 1. September 2008 (The Law 2.4.7.):
The covering material should be used as it has been authorised by the ITTF without
any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing
properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc.
This means an absolute ban for the use of boosters (tuners, enhancers, improvers, etc.).
The purpose of a booster is to change something – if not, what would be the intention.
You may find such products claiming to be harmless, to be allowed by ITTF, or to be
without VC (volatile compounds), etc. There is little reason to believe this is true. Please
be very sceptical since these are generally bad for your health, even containing poison in
some cases.
According to our tests there is no way that a sponge can be treated separate from the
covering; refer the usual way a booster is applied, i.e. on the sponge.
Boosters represent a messy, time consuming, costly, unhealthy, and now illegal way of
achieving spin and speed, and you may be detected in a tournament. Other and better
ways exist for the same purpose.

Remember:
You as a player are responsible for using a clean racket, i.e. without VC and with the
correct thickness. Air your new rubber outside the plastic bag for at least 72 hours before
gluing it. Use only water based glue or PSAs . Always carry a spare racket if you can.
Testing for VCs will be made at tournaments using a device called enez. This is able to
detect very small amounts of solvents thereby showing a red light when too much. Also
newer versions are available being more sensitive than the present version to detect
boosters. Some places there will be a backup device called RAE which is even more
sensitive.
Testing for maximum thickness (= 4.00 mm) will be more strict than before since more
accurate measuring equipment are available. Our Technical Leaflet T4 states regarding
the thickness limit: ‘On no part of the playing surface on a racket covering should
this be extended’.