What Is Cured (Solidified) Long Pips? Can You Use It in Official Matches?

Recently, I have received a large number of emails asking about cured (solidified) long pips. Many long pips players are not very clear about what “solidified” long pips actually mean, and as a result, they often feel confused when choosing the right rubber.

In fact, more and more players are starting to experiment with long pips, which makes it necessary to clearly explain what curing or solidifying long pips really refers to, as well as the relevant ITTF regulations surrounding this topic.

In our previous articles, we introduced 12 best long pips rubbers, along with some less famous but well-worth-trying options. What many players may not realize is that a number of these rubbers come in both cured (solidified) and non-cured versions. In some cases, the cured version even costs more.

This naturally leads to a few questions: What does “cured” actually mean? Why does it exist? And what are you really paying for when you choose a cured version? In this article, we’ll break it down and explore these questions together.

What Is Cured Long Pips?

Cured long pips, sometimes also referred to as solidified long pips, are long pimpled rubbers that undergo a curing process—either through the use of chemical curing agents or other treatment methods—to harden the rubber surface. This treatment significantly changes the physical properties of the pimples.

After curing, the surface of the long pips becomes much smoother and offers very low friction, while the rubber’s natural rebound and elasticity are greatly reduced. As a result, the ball tends to lose speed quickly upon contact, creating a very pronounced deceleration and energy-absorbing effect.

This characteristic makes cured long pips particularly effective when dealing with heavy topspin loops, especially in defensive situations. When returning loop shots, the rubber absorbs much of the incoming energy, causing the ball to come back slower, flatter, and with a strong disturbance that can easily break the attacker’s rhythm.

How Normal Long Pips Differ from Normal Long Pips

Compared with solidified long pips, normal (non-cured) long pips are generally softer and offer a higher level of friction. This makes them more suitable for active offensive techniques, such as roll shots, counter-hits, and controlled attacks. Because the rubber surface can grip the ball to some extent, attacking with normal long pips tends to be more forgiving, with a relatively lower error rate.

By contrast, solidified long pips have extremely low friction—almost close to zero friction. As a result, attempting to attack in a conventional way becomes much more difficult, and the error rate on direct offensive strokes increases significantly. For this reason, solidified long pips are not designed for continuous topspin or power-based attacks.

However, where solidified long pips truly excel is in returning heavy topspin loops. Thanks to their very smooth surface and hardened pimples, they possess a natural energy-absorbing and spin-reversing ability. When defending against loop shots, the returned ball often travels low over the net, slows down sharply, and carries strong reversed spin. Even professional-level attackers may struggle to loop such balls repeatedly and are often forced to switch to a safer push instead.

This change in rally dynamics is crucial. Once the opponent is no longer able to attack freely with strong loops, the long pips player gains opportunities to take the initiative. Using techniques such as punching, swiping, lifting, or scooping with long pips, the defender can actively disrupt timing and placement. These unconventional attacking strokes are particularly effective because the opponent is already under pressure from the unusual spin and low trajectory.

In addition, attacking strokes like swipes and punches are often faster and more unpredictable with solidified long pips than with normal long pips. The ball tends to float, skid, or dip suddenly after the bounce, creating a high level of uncertainty. This unpredictability frequently forces weak returns, allowing the long pips player to set up a decisive attack with the other side of the racket, usually with inverted rubber.

In this way, solidified long pips give defensive players a realistic way to compete with high-level inverted rubber attackers. Rather than relying on pure defense, they can control the rally, limit the opponent’s looping ability, and patiently create attacking chances—turning defense into offense through tactical variation and placement.

ITTF Regulations for Long Pips

Many players are curious about whether solidified (cured) long pips can be used in official competitions. Before answering this question, let’s first take a look at the ITTF regulations for long pips, which will help us better understand it.

Rubber Approval and Post-Factory Treatment

First, factory approval is required. Only rubbers that appear on the ITTF List of Authorized Racket Coverings (LARC) are considered legal for competition. This means the rubber has been manufactured according to strict ITTF specifications and tested to meet performance and safety standards. Using a rubber that is not on the approved list—even if it looks similar to an approved model—can result in disqualification or match penalties. This ensures a level playing field, so that no player gains an unfair advantage by using exotic or non-standard equipment.

Second, no post-purchase alteration is allowed. Once you have purchased the rubber, it cannot be chemically or physically modified in any way. This includes curing, applying chemicals, sanding, or any other treatment intended to change the rubber’s friction, hardness, or elasticity. Even minor modifications that affect the rubber’s behaviour can render it illegal in official matches. This rule is particularly relevant for players considering solidified or home-treated long pips, because altering a rubber after purchase—even with good intentions—can unintentionally violate ITTF regulations.

Pimple Count and Distribution

Another important aspect of ITTF regulations for long pips is the number and arrangement of pimples on the rubber surface. For outward-pimpled rubbers, including long pips, the ITTF specifies that the pimple density must be between 10 and 30 pimples per square centimeter. This ensures that the rubber has enough pimples to function properly while avoiding extreme designs that could drastically change how the ball behaves.

The measurement of pimple density is done by calculating the spacing between pimples rather than manually counting each one. By using this standardized method, manufacturers can maintain a uniform distribution, which prevents pimples from being too close together or too far apart. A consistent pip layout is crucial for both fair play and predictable performance during rallies.

In addition, there are rules regarding pimple dimensions. Each pimple must be at least 1.0 mm high, and the height-to-diameter ratio cannot exceed 1.10. These restrictions prevent extremely tall or thin pimples, which could make the rubber overly unpredictable or give an unfair advantage. Together, these specifications ensure that long pips remain within a controlled range, offering both tactical effectiveness and regulatory compliance in competition.

Friction Coefficient

Another key regulation for long pips is the friction coefficient of the rubber surface. According to ITTF rules, long pimpled rubbers must meet a minimum kinetic friction coefficient of 0.50 when tested under standardized laboratory conditions. This ensures that the rubber can properly interact with the ball, allowing spin to be generated or reversed during rallies.

The main purpose of this rule is to prevent artificially frictionless surfaces. If a rubber’s surface were too smooth or slippery, it could dramatically reduce the ball’s spin or create unpredictable behaviour, giving the player an unfair advantage. Maintaining a minimum friction level helps preserve fair play and keeps rallies consistent and competitive.

This rule has important implications for solidified (cured) long pips. Factory-produced cured rubbers are designed to meet this friction standard, so they are legal for competition. However, any home modifications or chemical treatments that reduce friction below the ITTF minimum will render the rubber illegal in official matches. In other words, while solidified long pips are allowed, they must come from the manufacturer in their approved, unmodified condition to comply with ITTF regulations.

There are also some simple tools that can help us make a quick, rough judgment about a rubber’s friction. For example, as shown in the image below, the racket is placed on a testing device and tilted at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the horizontal surface. A weighted object is then placed on top of the rubber.

With non-cured long pips, which have relatively high friction, the object usually does not slide down. However, with cured or solidified long pips, the surface friction is much lower, and the object will slide off easily. This simple method can give players an intuitive idea of how slippery the rubber surface is.

That said, it is important to note that the ITTF does not use this type of testing device. The actual methods and equipment used by the ITTF to measure friction are highly specialized and not publicly disclosed.

Thickness and Rubber Type

Another important ITTF regulation for pips-out rubbers, which includes both long pips and short pips, concerns the maximum thickness of the rubber. According to the rules, these rubbers — typically without a sponge layer — cannot exceed 2.0 mm in total thickness, including any adhesive applied during installation.

The purpose of this rule is to standardize the behaviour of pips-out rubbers in competition. Thickness directly affects how the ball interacts with the rubber: a thicker rubber can increase rebound speed and unpredictability, while a thinner rubber may reduce power but enhance control. By limiting pips-out rubbers to 2.0 mm, the ITTF ensures that all players using long or short pips face similar performance characteristics, which helps maintain fairness in matches.

For long pips players, this thickness limit is particularly important. Long pips are primarily used to control spin, disrupt opponents’ rhythm, and execute chops or blocks. If the rubber were excessively thick, these defensive techniques could become too powerful or unpredictable, giving an unfair advantage. Staying within the 2.0 mm limit keeps the rubber’s performance consistent and predictable, allowing players to focus on strategy and technique rather than equipment anomalies.

Colour Requirements

Another important ITTF regulation for long pips and other racket coverings concerns colour and surface finish. According to the rules, one side of the rubber must be black, while the other side must be a bright colour that is clearly distinguishable from black and from the table tennis ball. This requirement is designed to help players and umpires easily identify which rubber is being used during a rally, which is especially important in matches where one side uses long pips and the other uses inverted or short pips.

In addition to colour, the surface of the rubber must be matt and uniform, without excessive gloss. A glossy or uneven surface could affect how the ball spins or how it is visually perceived by the opponent, giving an unintended advantage. The matt finish ensures consistent ball behaviour and prevents players from exploiting reflections or visual tricks.

For long pips players, following the colour and surface rules is essential. When using a black long pips rubber on one side and a bright inverted rubber on the other, it helps both the player and the opponent anticipate spin and direction more accurately, maintaining fairness while still allowing strategic advantages inherent to long pips play.

Racket Inspection

ITTF rules also include requirements for racket inspection, which apply to all types of rubbers, including long pips. Before a match begins, players are required to show their racket to both the opponent and the umpire. This allows quick verification that the racket’s coverings, thickness, and colours comply with official regulations. By doing this, the rules help ensure fair play and prevent disputes during rallies.

During the match, if a player chooses to switch to a different racket, the new racket must also be presented for inspection before it can be used. This ensures that every racket used in official play meets ITTF standards, including thickness, pimple characteristics, and approved colours.

Can Cured Long Pips Be Used in Official Matches?

After understanding the rules, answering the question of whether cured long pips can be used in official matches becomes much easier. The ITTF does not explicitly forbid solidified long pips, which means that as long as a rubber meets all the official requirements, it can be used in competition. First, the rubber must be listed on the ITTF-approved LARC list. This is straightforward, because measurements like friction coefficient and pimple density require specialized equipment and laboratory testing — these checks are done before the rubber reaches the market, not at the venue.

Once a long pips rubber leaves the factory, it cannot be modified or “home-cured” in any way. Some players try unusual methods at home, such as boiling the rubber, soaking it in hot water, or immersing it in oils like olive oil. While this might be fun for casual practice, these modifications are not allowed in official matches.

Manufacturers take ITTF approval very seriously, so they ensure that all factory-produced long pips — whether cured or not — comply with the rules. However, based on my experience as a longtime table tennis player, I strongly recommend always buying official, approved equipment. The market has many non-compliant long pips, and you don’t want to discover at a critical tournament that your racket is illegal. As a precaution, it’s also wise to keep a backup racket with non-cured long pips. That way, if your main racket doesn’t pass inspection for any reason, you’ll still have a ready-to-use backup.

Final Thought

In the end, cured and non-cured long pips are simply different types of equipment, and choosing the right rubber is only part of the game. What matters most is developing your skills. Long pips may look simple at first glance, but playing them effectively takes practice. Techniques like push, block, chop, and even using the reverse side all require time and effort to master.

The most important thing is to pick equipment that feels right for you and focus on improving your technique. With patience and practice, you can enjoy the unique challenge and satisfaction that long pips bring, and fully experience the fun and creativity of table tennis.