Table Tennis Rules Q & A

22nd September 2005

Joshua Chu asks:

I play with long pimple, antispin, short pimple and soft rubber. In total I have 4 blades with 4 different combinations of rubbers, albeit, am able to play equally good on those combinations.

So depends on the mood, I can easily adapt myself to play from close to table offensive combination game ( with twiddled long pimple or antispin), to play B/H and F/H loop and drive using two soft side rubbers, in the 2nd set. Some of players suggest that it may be illegal. Is that so?

Greg replies:

Sorry Joshua, but these players are correct.Under ITTF rules it is illegal to change bats between games of a match, or at any other time during the match. The only exception is if your bat is damaged and the umpire feels it is damaged enough to affect the way the bat might play (ie handle is broken, a big tear in the rubber etc), in which case he will allow you to replace it. Then you could use a different bat. I guess you could break the first one if you really wanted, but it's kind of an expensive way to be able to change bats though! (Actually, you'd have to break it but make it look accidental, as rule 3.4.2.2 below states).

The relevant rules are as follows:

ITTF Handbook 2005-2006

2.4.8 At the start of a match and whenever he changes his racket during a match a player shall show his opponent and the umpire the racket he is about to use and shall allow them to examine it.

3.4.2.2 A racket shall not be replaced during an individual match unless it is accidentally damaged so badly that it cannot be used; if this happens the damaged racket shall be replaced immediately by another which the player has brought with him to the playing area or one which is handed to him in the playing area.

3.5.2.5 If a player changes his racket during an individual match when it has not been damaged, the umpire shall suspend play and report to the referee.

ITTF Handbook for MATCH OFFICIALS

7.3.3 A player is not allowed to change a racket during a match unless it is accidentally damaged so badly that it cannot be used. If it is discovered that a player has changed an undamaged racket the umpire should immediately suspend play and report to the referee, who may disqualify the player.

7.4 Damage

7.4.1 A racket which is legal when a player starts to use it may become damaged to an extent which invalidates its legality by, perhaps, destroying the continuity of the covering or the uniformity of pimples over a significant part of the surface. If a player wishes to continue with a damaged racket and the umpire has any doubt about its continuing legality he should immediately report to the referee.

7.4.2 In deciding whether to allow further use of a damaged racket the referee should consider primarily the interests of the opponent. The ball is likely to rebound unpredictably from a damaged surface and this could cause difficulties for both players, although the player who wishes to use the racket has implicitly accepted this risk. Therefore, unless the damage is trivial, it is generally better for the racket to be replaced.

Best regards,

Greg Letts 23rd September 2005

Copyright Greg Letts 2005