Speed glue is a special adhesive used to attach rubber surfaces to a table tennis paddle. It's usually applied about 30 minutes before a match, making the rubber more elastic. This elasticity helps players hit the ball with extra speed and spin, giving them an advantage. The glue works by making the tiny cells in the soft rubber expand, stretching it out to create a "trampoline" effect on the ball.
This clever trick was actually discovered by accident in the 1970s when a player used bicycle tire repair glue on his racket. The improved bounce of the ball was immediately noticeable, and a player named Dragutin Šurbek helped make it very popular. The special effect of speed glue only lasts for a few hours, so advanced players often reapplied it before games. However, it can make the rubber wear out quicker and sometimes decreases a player's control over the ball.
Over time, concerns grew because some speed glues contained strong, potentially harmful chemicals known as volatile organic compounds. These chemicals raised health worries, so the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) began to ban them. The ITTF eventually prohibited all speed glues with these volatile compounds, and it was last permitted in the Olympics in 2008. Since the 2012 Summer Olympics, speed glue has been completely forbidden in the Games, leading to the development of safer, water-based glues.
