Best alternatives to Dignics 09C?

[jaghaimo]

Chinese rubbers:

On the forehand: Yinhe Jupiter 3 Asia 38 (or 39) OR DHS H8-80 38 (or 39)
On the backhand: DHS H8-80 37 (or 38)

With the H8-80 it's good to have a durometer, my sheet of 37 degrees was much harder (like I'd expect from 39-40 degrees) than the sheet of 38 degrees.

I couldn't adapt to J3A on BH, thus settled for H8-80. I could play H8-80 on both wings. H8-80 (higher throw) is more similar to D09C than J3A (lower throw). I will try J3A again after boosting.

Other rubbers I tried that were rejected: Yinhe Big Dipper, Friendship Dragon-F, Friendship Battle 2, Hurricane 3 (regular and NEO). Do note: what works (and doesn't) for me, might not work (or will work) for you.

 

[NetProphet]

The Dignics 09C was probably developed so the non DHS sponsored players could have an alternative to this beast.

It was actually developed with Timo Boll as a countertop rubber, something that can handle the insane spin of H3. That's why you feel it has that extra 'hold' of the ball.
There's a few videos around about the development process and the purpose/strengths of the rubber

 

[blahness]

I use D05 treated with tackiness enhancer. It lasts forever and produces a shit ton of spin just like 09c. All the benefits without the downsides imo.

 

[NetProphet]

I use D05 treated with tackiness enhancer. It lasts forever and produces a shit ton of spin just like 09c. All the benefits without the downsides imo.

What is a tackiness enhancer?

 

[Brs]

What is a tackiness enhancer?

 

[igorponger]

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

There is a deep rooted misbelief with table tennis folks that tacky rubbers can produce spinnier balls as compared to normal grippy materials. It is long way off from reality.
Experimental works did explicitly proved that the grippy does have a better spinny effect, anyway.
__________________
® Be erudite of everything.

 

[FZD999]

What are the best alternatives to 09C?

Dignics 80

 

[land_killer]

I believe there are some rubbers are just not replaceable. Like boosted h3 or d09c
You may find something has some similarity but you can never replace them

 

[JJ Ng]

I believe there are some rubbers are just not replaceable. Like boosted h3 or d09c
You may find something has some similarity but you can never replace them

I tried various cheaper Chinese rubbers to replace hurricane blue sponge on my forehand side. I failed. I tried Sanwei Target National, Rxton 9, etc. They are not bad but they are not hurricane.

Then I tried D09c (unaltered of course; not boosted) and it felt very very familiar to my hand. It feels just like boosted hurricane except even a bit more catapult effect. That's the best way I can say. They feel familiar and interchangeable to my forehand. That is what matters the most. How it plays. How do your natural strokes fit in with the rubber. Mine can use either D09c or H3 BS on the forehand side.

 

[Snek]

I use D05 treated with tackiness enhancer. It lasts forever and produces a shit ton of spin just like 09c. All the benefits without the downsides imo.

Please tell us more about this enhancer.

 

[Robin0910]

Isn’t H8-80 even boosted a lot slower than D09c? Can those who used both compare the 2?
ive never tried the H8-80

 

[FrenchFrog33]

How is Donic Bluestar rubbers?

 

[blahness]

Please tell us more about this enhancer.

It is basically this:

https://www.taobao.com/list/item/wap/650820558547.htm

Well i just did a treatment for my 2yr old D05 and it worked wonders, now it is back to being spinny af.

 

[WingTT]

It was actually developed with Timo Boll as a countertop rubber, something that can handle the insane spin of H3. That's why you feel it has that extra 'hold' of the ball.
There's a few videos around about the development process and the purpose/strengths of the rubber

I think we're both saying the same things in different ways. I saw those videos myself.

 

[disaster3]

I believe there are some rubbers are just not replaceable. Like boosted h3 or d09c
You may find something has some similarity but you can never replace them

The same, is for t05, for years many have been trying to replicate T05 and they failed. Life! If you want something which behaves like T05, buy T05, if you want something which behave like D09C, buy D09C, easy af.

 

[jaghaimo]

Isn’t H8-80 even boosted a lot slower than D09c? Can those who used both compare the 2?
ive never tried the H8-80

I have both. Out of all Chinese I tried (J3A, Big Dipper, Dragon-F, Battle 2) the boosted H8-80 plays most similar to D09C, as in I can use the same stroke with it.

D09c is bouncier and it is easier to get the speed out of it. It is still fairly tame, but compared to it the H8-80 is easier to control. Grip (spin capability) is similar, but H8-80 is tackier (lifts ball for longer than D09c, which only lifts for a split second). Adding spin is similarly easy-ish for both rubbers, provided you can engage the sponge.

I have since boosted D09c as well (thin layer of Haifu) which made the rubber 2-3 deg (Shore-O) softer. Faster, throw angle a bit lower now but also a tad harder to control. I was alternating between boosted and unboosted sheets and preferred boosted one.

Is boosted H8-80 a lot slower? I would say it's not a lot slower, but it is noticeably slower. At my level you gain control and stability though, which you may not need if your technique is clean and you got the footwork to match it.

Would I replace D09c with H8-80? Yes, since it's beneficial for my playstyle and a quarter of D09c price. The only issue is lack of provincial version, and you can't trust commercial (see below).

Will I replace D09c with H8-80? Maybe. I've since boosted J3A on both sides and had a great fun with it. It does play different, but I had better results than with D09c (again, easier to control, but faster). In my last post I said I couldn't adjust to unboosted J3a on BH, but with a boosted one I finally did.

Hardness list (all Shore-O, I strongly suggest buying a durometer if you're going to purchase DHS commercial sheets as they rarely are what's on the box):

1. H8-80 forehand (red) 53 deg, boosted once 51 deg [bought as 37! thanks DHS]
2. H8-80 backhand (black) 48 deg, boosted once 45 deg [bought as 38, this one seems correct]
3. D09c forehand (black) 48 deg, boosted once 45 deg
4. D09c backhand (red) 45 deg, boosted once 43 deg
5. D09c forehand (black) 48 deg, unboosted
6. D09c backhand (red) 45 deg, unboosted
7. J3A forehand (black) 48 deg, boosted once 45 deg [bought as 38]
8. J3A backhand (red) 48 deg, boosted once 45 deg [bought as 38]

 

[Yurifi]

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

There is a deep rooted misbelief with table tennis folks that tacky rubbers can produce spinnier balls as compared to normal grippy materials. It is long way off from reality.
Experimental works did explicitly proved that the grippy does have a better spinny effect, anyway.
__________________
® Be erudite of everything.

and just to add of top this very good thought - technique. with proper technique you will produce heaps of ball rotation on loops, topspins, backspins, pushes, even flips, no matter the type of the rubber surface.

 

[Yurifi]

How is Donic Bluestar rubbers?

amazing! I tried Bluestar A1. it is not as tacky, thus gives a sense of being a faster rubber (so far I tried Bluegrip C2 and Omega China Guang). good sensation, good spin as well, but to my liking a bit too fast … quite catapulty, so to say.

Bluegrip C2- really loved playing with this rubber. good spin, right amount of spin, not so much catapult, but still there, what troubled me durability. it looked really bad after 2-3 months of playing 3 times a week. I know I am aggressive player, but would prefer a bit longer life in the rubber. it also chipped on the edges a lot.

was recommended to try some Xiom hybrids and Omega China Guang was discontinued recently in my local TT shop so I pulled the trigger. after two sessions, I really like it. when I first glued it and tried it at home, just tapping the ball, I was a bit concerned how it would play, as it felt a bit dead, but realised I was very very wrong after first couple of warm up drives. I hope I will be able to play again today, hopefully against defence-playing teammate … but it is very promising and could be a nice BgC2 replacement.

 

[NetProphet]

I think we're both saying the same things in different ways. I saw those videos myself.

Maybe.
But you said "probably developed" which suggested you were guessing rather than confirming something you knew from having watched the development videos. 🤷

 

[jammmail]

Ive gone back to D09c on FH and (maybe its this current sheet) but ive found it to be far faster than previous and especially on 3/5 ball harder to handle than previously. The catapult seems more than i remember.
Has anyone got any alternatives that are slower on that counter shot or maybe have less throw that would be a bit easier to control. I think 09c is perfect if your playing a bit further away from the table but not so much closer up?