So, I had a training session and a tournament playing with the C55. Let me say right away, I certainly don’t have the power of professional athletes. But I can share my subjective impressions of the C55, specifically in the context of comparing it to the H3N, as I’ve played with the H3N for many years. Moreover, I always play only with a heavily boosted National version on a blue sponge. So can't say nothing about default unboosted h3n. And after reading this thread, people were comparing the C55 to a boosted Hurricane I was very curious.
So, I’ll say right away, based on my subjective impressions – there is no similarity. Nothing, except for the cracking sound.
Firstly, the C55 is not tacky at all. Shame on Xiom for lying in their advertising, describing their new product as a tacky rubber similar to Chinese rubbers. This is simply shameful. In my video above, I showed how tacky an old, damaged Hurricane is compared to the brand-new C55.
Secondly – dwell time. A boosted Hurricane has fantastic dwell time. I can feel the ball sinking into the rubber and then being kicked out. This gives a very confident feeling of stability. I didn’t feel this with the C55. It’s just a regular hard rubber. The ball strikes it with a noticeable contact point, almost like hitting glass.
Thirdly, the play against underspin is dramatically different. With the h3, I can endlessly loop against strong underspin. Playing with the C55, I couldn’t predict how the ball would behave. Sometimes it got a nice arc, other times the ball would fall off or fly straight.
And lastly – speed. Yes, undoubtedly, the C55 has a distinct catapult effect on passive shots, but the peak speed of the h3 is not lower. Moreover, the Hurricane has an additional range in the short game. Hurricane simply has incomparably more gears.
In the end, I am very disappointed. I thought, could c55 really be something similar to a boosted h3? But no, the C55 is a completely different rubber. And its marketing description is complete nonsense.
Hi, thank you for the impressions. First of all, I kind of feel bad if my review made you buy the rubber, since you are quite disappointed. But let me comment on some of your remarks regarding the C55.
There is one huge thing that changed for me since I tried the C55: I have tried boosted H3 Blue Sponge Provincial Version. Before, I only used Orange Sponge Provincial Version. It is crazy to me how good Blue Sponge is, it has unbelievable dwell time and is alot more comfortable than Orange Sponge to me. I used Orange Sponge for almost a year, and now I am just in love with Blue Sponge. BS topsheet also feels softer than OS. There is some magic in this rubber.
Back to the C55, I initially compared it to Boosted H3 Prov. Orange Sponge 40 degree. Regarding your remarks:
1. I tested the tackiness of C55 vs H3 Prov OS. Out of the box, C55 was able to lift the ball but not hold it. New H3 OS , especially the new ones who are matte colored, can not lift the ball or can barely lift it but not hold the ball. The tackiness on OS is gone. I have absolutetly no clue how your BS Nat. Version can lift the ball like this, my BS Prov. Version is also only slighly tacky.
2.Yes, Orange Sponge has more dwell time than C55, and blue sponge has way more than both of them. And, as I said in my review, C55 doesnt have this kick feeling (grab and launch effect). I miss this feeling in C55 aswell.
3. Underspin looping was different to me only when scooping those half long balls, which was way better with H3 topsheet and feels like is one of the specialities of H3. But regular backspin loops felt quite similar, and in open topspin play the shot feeling was very similar (again, compared with orange sponge. blue sponge feeling is further off from C55).
4. Yes, H3 has more gears. But, short game on C55 for me was extremely comfortable, I didnt miss any gears. And , C55 might not be faster than H3, but its speed is very easily accessable, and it makes it more user friendly. Also, I felt like C55 has many gears overall, not as many as OS or BS, but still quite good.
To conclude, I get your disappointment. Why? Since I tried out Blue Sponge, I ditched the C55. The feeling is just way too good, I love this rubber. Blue Sponge even feels quite different in comparison to Orange Sponge, so of course the C55 is even further off. I still think C55 is the best Hybrid I ever played, better than D09c for me, because the spin is enourmous and the rubber is really easy to use. I could play with C55 immediatly, and it would be a comfortable shot feeling while my level of play on FH wouldnt drop. But, Blue Sponge is just too much fun too use.
Of course, I dont know your level, maybe you are an advanced player and you are missing crucial gears or notice a lack of spin that hinders your play. I am just a lower intermediate level player, in fact, I played my very first league matches today (opponents were around 1700-1800 USATT). On this level, while I prefer H3, I could interchangably use H3 OS / C55 and would be more than satisfied performing any shots. Blue Sponge is a different beast though.
Hope this helps, cheers
