DHS Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 38° Blue Sponge completely unboosted how does it really play?

[Archosaurus]

Agreed. I like a rubber that I feel is bottoming out on flat hits because I feel or believe that is helping me catch the ball for a split second and then smashing through the spin will be more executable.
That’s why I wanted Rakza 7 soft.
I just realized though that this is not the soft version, LOL.
Sounds and feels like a good ‘tok’ through to the blade though, so I’m good with it.

I had to go to a softer backhand sponge because I couldn't (reliably, safely) sink the ball enough, and it'd slip sometimes. The benefit from not netting some balls was higher than whatever largely theoretical performance gain from a harder sponge on shots that are already good enough.

On the forehand it's the opposite, and I benefit more from higher performance when sunken than I benefit from whatever theoretical control gains there are to softer sponges. In fact sometimes the softer sponge isn't as controlled due to what I expect from it. Going to a super soft option doesn't eliminate some major mistakes either, so it doesn't really impact my scoring positively.

Even if my play level doesn't improve a lot, the choice of sponge may change as my backhand improves or if my forehand strategy changes, though.

 

[ajtatosmano2]

Don't do it unboosted. Just get a D09C.

 

[passifid]

Really please use 8 80 power or 09c. I only use unboosted H3 because I started for years with unboosted 40d globe 999 national and are not particularly good. Or else I would probably still use z03

 

[Archosaurus]

Don't do it unboosted. Just get a D09C.

"Just get a 3 times more expensive rubber" is one way to put it, but he did say price isn't an issue.

 

[Peter93]

OP, just try it out. I've had tons of success against multiple >2000 rated players with 37 deg. orange sponge and 38 deg. blue sponge, both unboosted. Zero trouble with smashes, and the spin is immense. I did just boost the 38 deg. just for fun, but I don't think it's necessary, I just wanted to see what it feels like.

 

[ajtatosmano2]

"Just get a 3 times more expensive rubber" is one way to put it, but he did say price isn't an issue.

I mean, I think he has 3 options:
1. Buy an ESN hybrid which die fast.
2. Go down the 'chinese alternatives to H3 which don't need boosting' rabbithole, try out Battle2, LAC, Rxton, Big Dipper 2, Target National, Pinyin Cuifeng etc...which is fun for sure, but it's a hassle
3. Buy the D09C, which lasts pretty long, has top tier performance, has excellent quality control and doesn't need much technique adjustments coming from the H3.

 

[Archosaurus]

I mean, I think he has 3 options:
1. Buy an ESN hybrid which die fast.
2. Go down the 'chinese alternatives to H3 which don't need boosting' rabbithole, try out Battle2, LAC, Rxton, Big Dipper 2, Target National, Pinyin Cuifeng etc...which is fun for sure, but it's a hassle
3. Buy the D09C, which lasts pretty long, has top tier performance, has excellent quality control and doesn't need much technique adjustments coming from the H3.

Sure, but Battle 3 is more similar to H3 than D09c is, feel and price wise. Although D09c is more performant in some ways.

OP, just try it out. I've had tons of success against multiple >2000 rated players with 37 deg. orange sponge and 38 deg. blue sponge, both unboosted. Zero trouble with smashes, and the spin is immense. I did just boost the 38 deg. just for fun, but I don't think it's necessary, I just wanted to see what it feels like.

I bought some as an experiment, but I'm probably not buying more to use seriously once it runs out. Maybe if I become a 2200+ player (lol good luck) my opinion will change. To now it's not magic and it doesn't fundamentally change the characteristics of the rubber at all, and I think people are mostly talking about it without having tried it seriously for a long enough time.

Sure, it's bouncier, and it's objectively softer, but the performance increase is pretty small. You can slap as much booster as you want on your H3 and it's not becoming something different. It's better, though.

 

[ajtatosmano2]

Sure, but Battle 3 is more similar to H3 than D09c is, feel and price wise. Although D09c is more performant in some ways.

Sure, but why not the LAC then? And with that we arrive to the "read the forums and try out a bunch of chinese alternatives" point.