iocTT.com :Most advanced multi-lingual discussion forum for tabletennis (Factual / parody). Uncensored. Free discreet membership to post. Simple registration. No email needed.

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

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

I also noticed a new column OX Yes or No
what is that for

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

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

What is next
Only approved blades will be allowed

Tiff @ wrote: ↑April 13th, 2026, 2:30 am Only approved blades will be allowed

Japan JTTA is already doing this FYI

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

I am shocked that ITTF has not banned all OX pips anyway to make it more difficult for all blockers and amteur choppers