In the table tennis world, the table tennis rubber thickness or hardness on a table tennis blade plays a critical role in determining the stroke’s spin, speed, and control. However, many consumers are experiencing a frustrating problem where the rubber becomes so undomed that it affects their consumer experience just as much as if they had lost their factory tuning. Whether the rubber is domed or not does not affect the background; as they say, an imperfect rubber is imperfect.
The truth about undomed table tennis rubber thickness and hardness
When the rubber is cut by the factory staff, the sponge inside undergoes an amplification of elasticity due to physical tension. However, over time, the sponge gradually shrinks when stored, leading to the observed phenomenon shown in the picture on the right. It is important to note that this occurrence is a normal phenomenon and should not be misconstrued as an indication of poor quality, as claimed by some consumers.
This issue is highly unlikely to be caused by quality concerns, packaging issues, transportation problems, or temperature and humidity fluctuations. It is understandable that consumers may mistakenly perceive it as a quality issue since the irregular shape of the rubber is highly unusual.
According to a professional, before leaving the factory, there is an internal energy treatment process for the rubber because each sponge has unique microscopic characteristics, resulting in varying degrees of shrinkage. The Japanese and German processes involve an overall enlargement, which may give the appearance of flatness, but in reality, the rubber sponge is undergoing shrinkage.
