Illegal vs unapproved vs de-approved

Page Moved

This page has permanently moved to:

If you are not redirected automatically, click the link above.

  Return to Advanced TT Home Page

Illegal vs unapproved vs de-approved rubbers

Some clarification in needed about the use of the word "illegal".  the context of rubbers (not in the context other rules such as illegal serves) it is a little more complex.  The only rubbers that are illegal in ITTF (and also non-ITTF) are the boosted or spein-glued rubbers. Such rubbers are both

1.  ITTF unapproved (per rule 2.4.7 as well as regulation 3.4.2.2)  of ITTF Statutes ( https://ioctt.com/kg/2025_ITTF_Statutes_clean_version.pdf  ) 

2. but  lot more importantly also illegal under health codes of almost all nations,

On the other hand,  other rubbers that are not boosted or spein glued are only unapproved under ITTF rules because they are not listed on ITTF-LARC . They are not “illegal” under common law.

So, you have to be very careful when you use the word illegal. Especially if you are a pips player you should NOT be using the word "illegal" related to non-boosted rubbers. If you do,  you are falling into the same brainwashing trap set for you by the booster supremacist controlled ITTF .

More so because there are also ITTF de-approved rubbers . Most of these are ALL long pips (before 1977) or many slim pips that were once approved by ITTF but are now de-approved by the ITTF with their 14 rules & regulation since 1977 to oppress pips players every which way.

Also  (contrary to popular myth)  ITTF is not the sole supreme authority on table tennis. Sure, you could disappear in North Korea or even Russia in the middle of the night when ping pong police may come and grab you for even fantasizing about long pips . But even in China you can use long pips & lot of players do use them.

In USA there is a new association created in Florida on every street corner and they are not ITTF affiliates.   

So, you can use long pips or anything in non-ITTF tournaments as long as the Tournament Director (or Tournament Committee) is OK with it. Actually, you can even use non-ITTF  rubbers if a tournamnet direct allows it in an ITTF tournament.  Thousands of players are allowed to use non-ITTF (& illegal) rubbers every day worldwide in ITTF tournaments with full blessing of TDs . How you ask. It is simple. These players use spein glued or boosted rubbers , TOTALLY untested (endangering the health of themselves, their families, official, spectators via second hand effects of these dangerous VOC-ful homemade concoctions of spein glues or boosters, TOTALLY untested) .

Now about one-color rackets. The two-color rule of 1983 & 1985 was rendered null and void by legal precedence set by Marty Reisman at the 2000 US Open Team in Baltimore, MD.  Marty Reisman ( movie about him called Marty Supreme (starring Gwyneth Paltrow etc.)  due to be released on Christmas day 2025 ) used  a one-color blue-blue racket at this tournament in the main event (not the hardbat event).  USATT never had any directive later voiding this void of the two-color rule (I have asked USATT repeatedly for an OFFICIAL VOID of this VOID) …….keep in mind that individual ITTF national affiliates can use their own rules or modify ITTF rules. (Just because they rarely do does not mean there are not exceptions) .

The fact that Marty Reisman is a super legend is irrelevant. If rules or exceptions apply to him, the same must apply to everyone. This situation is very similar to ITTF spot testing a few players only at the higher levels. ITTF & its affiliates  should be testing every player at every level in every tournamnet for boosting violations due to health reason, as well as performance & fairness issues (Especially given that the playing field is severely tilted in favor of boosted supremacists, thanks to the 14 rule and regulation changes by ITTF to oppress pips players)  . Failure to do so is like saying that the health of a low-level player is far less important than a pro TT athlete.

What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander  I would say 

This is why you can use one color racket in all official USATT tournaments unless there is an OFFICIAL USATT directive I am not aware of after November 2000.

Of course you can use any rubber at non ITTF events  or even ITTF events as long as TD is OK with it (as is the case with illegally boosted rubbers) .

If you use a one-color racket with actual long pips even in a USATT (ITTF) sanctioned tournament & if your opponent refuses to play you, then you now know who your real friends are & who the hypocrites are. In a non-USATT  tournament it is a no brainer & an easy call

  Return to Advanced TT Home Page