Table tennis glue, otherwise called speed glue is an adhesive material applied on table tennis paddles to increase their elasticity, which in turn increases the spin and speed of the ball. The solvent vapors of the glue expand the cells of the rubber affixed on the racket to expand and the resultant tension sends the ball rocketing to the enemy territory when hit. However, the glue must be applied at least thirty minutes before a game starts to achieve maximum gains.
The discovery that glues enhance performance of a table tennis racket came about accidentally in the year 1970. A player, who used bicycle puncture repair glue to fix the rubber on his racket, found that its performance has become better. However, the effect stayed on only for some hours. Later on, glues gained popularity as a performance enhancing material. The speed of a glue applied racket is too great that lesser players might not be able handle. However, table tennis glue can prove to be a boon for an offence oriented player who stays put at the table.
Speed glue has some disadvantages too. It is common knowledge that speed and control are inversely proportional. Due to the increased speed, controlling the ball becomes more difficult. Applying glue before every match increases the racket weight and lessens its maneuverability. Also, it can affect the durability of the table tennis racket too.
Some kind of glues has been found to evict toxic vapors. Mercifully, the International Table Tennis Association has banned the use of such toxic material. However, the ban has proved to be a blessing in disguise as table tennis equipment manufacturers are trying to come up with water based non-toxic glues.
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