Table Tennis Rules for Penholder Racket

Submitted by Mario
(Croatia)

Hi Martin!

Of late I am playing quite frequently with players using the penhold rackets. During one of the matches a question regarding the validity of the racket used took place.

Usually there is no problem on the forehand side of any of the penholder rackets that I had seen, they use approved ITTF rubber, following the rules and regulations of ITTF.

The backhand side is what confounds me. Specifically there is a racket that on the backhand side was covered only half with one of the allowed long-pips ITTF rubber.

The other portion of the blade, i.e. wood, has been painted matt black as it should be, matching the color of the rubber.

The rules state that the side of the blade used in striking the ball should be covered uniformly with the approved rubber, and rule 2.04.05 states that it has to be of uniform thicknes.

By interpreting those 2 rules, I thought the racket not adhering to the ITTF regulations.

The penholder player argues the validity of this specific blade using the rule 2.04.04, citing "... except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers may be left uncovered or covered with any material." as he is really holding his fingers extended to the half of the backhand side whilst playing.

To his understanding, the whole "area" of the racket that he uses when holding it (including the upper half of the blade towards the handle) is just a "handle".

Could you please be so kind to give some more detailed explanation about the interpretation of the rules in this case?

And if it is a valid racket, what happens if the ball strikes the backhand surface that has no rubber on it, and is returned as a valid ball back in the match.

Best regards,
Mario

----- Martin's Reply -----

Mario,

Thanks for an interesting question.

The rules do not state precisely how much of the blade that a penhold player can leave uncovered or covered with any material, except "the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers", so if he wants to leave half the blade uncovered, that's OK.

But, as regards...
"what happens if the ball strikes the backhand surface that has no rubber on it?"

The crucial rule is 2.04.03 which says...
A side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be covered with either ordinary pimpled rubber, with pimples outwards having a total thickness including adhesive of not more than 2.0mm, or sandwich rubber, with pimples inwards or outwards, having a total thickness including adhesive of not more than 4.0mm.

So, a legal return is only made if it is hit with the rubber.
If the ball is returned by using an uncovered part of the blade, it would not be a valid return.