This is the review for unboosted 41 degree hardness, 2.2 mm thickness black rubber. USATT rating 1750 (March 2019). This review is only for forehand and based only on my experience for past 2-3 years. I started playing with H3N when I was 1100. That time I was using 40 degree hardness and 2.15 mm, black and red on both sides on a 5 ply blade. I started to feel the rubber was slow and started trying out different rubbers. At that time, I did not realize importance of training and sticking to the same equipment to develop feeling. I tried 729 FX, Palio red and yellow, Mercury 2, Rasanter 42 and Rakza 7 during past 3 years. Then after some training decided to come back to H3N on TB ALC blade. Been playing with the combination for over 2 months and saw that the consistency and spin on my FH loops increased a lot. Maybe because I started playing table tennis with H3N, it just feels right for me. I wish I kept playing with H3N for last 3 years. TB ALC is one of the best blade for H3N. There is very little margin for error but that makes you play the correct strokes every time (a.k.a. no more love tapping). Of course serves and pushes are better with H3N. Best returns for the efforts you put in.
If someone wishes to use this rubber for the first time, I would recommend at-least 3-4 months of practice before the tournament. Otherwise the "slowness" or the lack of correct FH technique\footwork will frustrate you. If you get nervous and freeze in the tournament match, not executing the correct technique\footwork, you won't be able to loop at all. But if you play the correct technique, the rewards are much higher than softer rubbers such as Rakza, Rasanter-42 (I never played with T-05 so I cannot compare it to T-05). During gameplay against players rated under 1700, I find that most of the times my opening loop alone wins points because of the high amount of spin. Playing topspin-topspin counters away from the table with varying amount of spin and placement is also benefited using H3N.
H3N generally last long time (2-3) years (I still have my old rubbers) if you clean the rubber after every practice session and use some covering. Any plastic sheet will work for covering. The tackiness usually "recovers" after you keep the topsheet covered. That is the main reason this rubber lasts long time. Some of my friends complained about the durability of H3N but I also never see them cleaning/covering their topsheets after practice
.
If you are really confident in your backhand loop and flicks, there is no reason why you cannot use H3N (maybe 40 deg-2.15 mm) on your backhand too. But then playing punch shots and poking shots would require a very good timing with H3N on BH. Also using H3N on both sides makes the setup very heavy that most of the players do not prefer.
TLDR: One of the best FH rubber to learn the FH loop and develop technique and footwork. Beginners using H3N need to be patient and should spend a lot of time practicing instead of seeking immediate fruits. Best on flexible\hard blades. Only use on backhand if you are spin oriented on both wings and if you don't care about the weight.
Update after playing first tournament with TB ALC and H3N: Forehand was the most reliable shot for me this tournament and overall pleased with H3N on FH.
If someone wishes to use this rubber for the first time, I would recommend at-least 3-4 months of practice before the tournament. Otherwise the "slowness" or the lack of correct FH technique\footwork will frustrate you. If you get nervous and freeze in the tournament match, not executing the correct technique\footwork, you won't be able to loop at all. But if you play the correct technique, the rewards are much higher than softer rubbers such as Rakza, Rasanter-42 (I never played with T-05 so I cannot compare it to T-05). During gameplay against players rated under 1700, I find that most of the times my opening loop alone wins points because of the high amount of spin. Playing topspin-topspin counters away from the table with varying amount of spin and placement is also benefited using H3N.
H3N generally last long time (2-3) years (I still have my old rubbers) if you clean the rubber after every practice session and use some covering. Any plastic sheet will work for covering. The tackiness usually "recovers" after you keep the topsheet covered. That is the main reason this rubber lasts long time. Some of my friends complained about the durability of H3N but I also never see them cleaning/covering their topsheets after practice
.If you are really confident in your backhand loop and flicks, there is no reason why you cannot use H3N (maybe 40 deg-2.15 mm) on your backhand too. But then playing punch shots and poking shots would require a very good timing with H3N on BH. Also using H3N on both sides makes the setup very heavy that most of the players do not prefer.
TLDR: One of the best FH rubber to learn the FH loop and develop technique and footwork. Beginners using H3N need to be patient and should spend a lot of time practicing instead of seeking immediate fruits. Best on flexible\hard blades. Only use on backhand if you are spin oriented on both wings and if you don't care about the weight.
Update after playing first tournament with TB ALC and H3N: Forehand was the most reliable shot for me this tournament and overall pleased with H3N on FH.
