Go back to Hurricane?

[Lazer]

Slower compared to tensors, sure. Even when boosted. I'm comparing stiffer sponge to less stiff sponge on the same rubber. Of course nobody knows the absolute exact performance curves so there can be some situations where it's different.


QC being better means it's closer to what you're buying. If you're buying a 2.15mm in 41 hardness, it will be closer to that than the commercial version on average. You could still buy an exact commercial version and get a dud provincial. They all come out of the exact same batches and the only difference is that the commercial versions have less man-hours spent on testing them. The hardness and thickness reported is an average from the batch. At least, that's what DHS and DHS connected people claim and that's typically how all mass production works, but if you want to believe that is up to you.

This matters to players who have an intimate understanding of the rubber properties and don't want a 38deg sheet when they wanted a 40deg sheet. Even then, very particular (More like superstitious IMO) people will send rubbers back if they differ from their ideal spec even a little. Even Zyre or Dignics will have a relatively large spread in the hardness that you get when you buy them, and some sheets are more consistent than others across the area. There's also a reason that ESN rubbers typically need to be "Soft, Mid, Hard" in EU and not exact degrees; they even say +-2deg on the packet in other regions.

None of this matters to you at all. You will play identically with any of them. Get whatever is cheapest, or failing that, whatever you feel best emotionally with. I just suggest not wasting money on DHS hyped provincial rubbers which have a 200%+ markup until you have a world ranking and it matters to you. Of course it's your money, so do whatever with it that you like.

The reality of the matter is that 1400 is not exactly high, and you can beat a 1400 with heavy serves, well placed pushes and blocks. They will miss 90% of their shots by themselves. You don't even need to attack. I'm not particularly good and I beat people like that just putting the ball back on the table.

So it doesn't really matter what "level" you play at and who you "can beat", just focus on what you're doing to the ball.

I suggest rolling the ball off the table, and just when it drops off the edge, brushing it softly with just your wrist and forearm. Those spin training things which skewer the ball and allow you to spin it in place are good too. Then try to do it in drills, starting off slow and high.

I agree the blue sponge is a little faster and feels a little harder. It’s also a bit heavier. I buy them in batches and weigh them with the package, The light ones I use for some blades and the heavy ores för others. It can differ a lot in weight. A really heavy I try to match up with a light BH rubber.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Archosaurus]

I agree the blue sponge is a little faster and feels a little harder. It’s also a bit heavier. I buy them in batches and weigh them with the package, The light ones I use for some blades and the heavy ores för others. It can differ a lot in weight. A really heavy I try to match up with a light BH rubber.

Cheers
L-zr

There's likely a density difference and thus a force curve difference too although the % delta is likely not the same as the mass one. It can be hard to tell which part is lighter or heavier; the topsheet, sponge, adhesives, booster, mold treatment etc etc.

 

[Souther]

The only reason I was thinking of going with prov is like you said, the QC I've heard is way better for privincial. I was thinking OS prov since it might be the best of both worlds, where I have the easy use from commercial and the QC of a prov (but idk that was my thinking). Also, I'm already managing well with Petr Korbel. I'm coming from some EJ setups that are insanely fast, so the Petr Korbel with the fastarc rubbers has been great, and found no issues with controlling it. Also, my official ranking is 1049 USATT (I've only played in 3 tournaments), but I have beaten 1200-1300 players (this was before I even learned how to loop, so my ego says I can even win against a 1400, but that's just me being big-headed lmao).

You want equipment to be consistent and predictable when you are learning, so you're correct with the logic to get provincial. H3 lasts forever anyway, so it's not that big a deal to go for provincial and eat one less burger in a year. Petr Korbel is excellent. I also agree with not boosting, also for the same reason of keeping your equipment consistent and predictable. Orange or blue? get one of each. Have a spare Korbel and then put a different color on each blade. You won't know what you like until you spend some time with both. If you can keep playing with this setup for a year without changing, I can guarantee you'll improve much faster compared to if you keep changing your equipment.

 

[Archosaurus]

You want equipment to be consistent and predictable when you are learning, so you're correct with the logic to get provincial. H3 lasts forever anyway, so it's not that big a deal to go for provincial and eat one less burger in a year. Petr Korbel is excellent. I also agree with not boosting, also for the same reason of keeping your equipment consistent and predictable. Orange or blue? get one of each. Have a spare Korbel and then put a different color on each blade. You won't know what you like until you spend some time with both. If you can keep playing with this setup for a year without changing, I can guarantee you'll improve much faster compared to if you keep changing your equipment.

Honestly I disagree. The adjustment time between the sponge hardnesses is a couple of minutes. The reason people buy a harder or softer sponge is to optimize the playing characteristics for their abilities. I don't think he is planning to buy a new sheet every day.

I would not EJ at all at this level where one cannot do almost anything. Start EJing in 2-3 years, once spinning the ball is solid, and equipment matters more.

 

[Kilogramme]

Hello everyone! I've been playing with a Butterfly Petr Korbel with Fastarc G1 and C1 as a beginner setup for a couple months now. I'm a recovering ej and one of the setups i had was the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive with DHS Hurricane 3 Neo Prov. Blue sponge for forehand and Andro Rasanter R48 for backhand. When i played with that setup, i didn't like the outer ply of the MLEO, especially being paired with the Hurricane 3, it was just to hard and stiff so i had a difficult time playing with it (keep in mind, I'm still a beginner a little over 1000 usatt and have just now started to develop my feeling for brushing and looping the ball correctly). In the past with other setups, I've always flat hit but now i can actually brush and loop the ball.

I still really hope to play with Hurricane 3 because I love playing with Chinese tacky rubbers and i really hope i can play well with it in the future (Also, i got demolished by a 2100 guy that played with H3N and lowkey loved his play style, which got me wanting to play it even more and I've aspired to play like him one day). I don't plan on changing blades any time soon because i just love the blade so much, it can do everything i want it to do and it truly fits me.

With that being said, after my rubbers on my Petr Korbel dies would it be okay to switch to Hurricane 3 on the FH? Would the H3N play better with the Petr Korbel rather than the MLEO? The only issue i had before with it was that i didn't have the technique to brush/loop the ball with it (especially against any backspin) and having it on a hard/stiff wood blade didn't really help me in my opinion (beside the constant switching of setups and not dedicated to stick with something and learn lol). However, now that I've been really focusing on the loop/topspin shots and have finally been getting somewhere with that technique. Should i try H3N again or should i still stick with what i got.

*** I'm going to listen to everyone's advice, not just post something and continue to do what i want (which i admit i have done that before). I want to get better and I'm willing to listen to the advice of everyone here (since majority of the people on here are more experienced and know better than I do), even if its not advice i necessarily want to hear. If majority thinks its best for me to stick with what i got than that's what i plan on doing. I just want to know if i should go for it or not ***

HI, hope your doing well.

I suggest you to go with H3 NEO Orange sponge 39. The beginner friendly H3. Boosting helps, but at your level, i would go with 1 layer. If no booster, it is fine, but the H3 needs to "break in". Booster kinda remove this period.
Break in, is like when you get a brand new car/motorcycle. The rubber will feel super hard and dead the first few session. The harder you hit, the faster the breakin is. The topsheet and sponge will be a bit softer and more explosive (nowhere near your current setup, but better).

On your current blade, it should be fine. It is softer and flexier than your old blade, so the dwell (contact time length) should be better. You will feel the ball more than your prevous setup.

You will have to develop a different approach than regular people, as the rubber plays differently. You will have to do bigger swing, from your leg, core, shoulder, arm, wrist and grip. But, it is rewarding. A proper technic gives you a great ball with lots of spin. The rubber being kinda slow at first, you will learn the hit and brush technic, that allows you to hit hard with lots of safety. The biggest difference between amateur and pro, is the hit brush technic. The ball is quick and spinny. Additionnaly, hit brush technic is the best tool against backspin. To picture it, you touch the ball to stop incomming spin, then generate your own. If you want to know what hit brush is, go on google and search.

Finally, I want to say, be patient. It will be a huge change from your current setup, a lot more demanding. It will take time to get use to it.
Later, if you don't want to boost your H3, but enjoy the H3 boosted, the vega china VM is close to it. I stopped H3 because I was tired of boosting and I find similarities in the Vega China VM (tacky, High throw when brush, low throw when hit brush). But I might get back to H3 later. I improved my physique a lot since I changed H3 for Vega China.

 

[Kilogramme]

Hello everyone! I've been playing with a Butterfly Petr Korbel with Fastarc G1 and C1 as a beginner setup for a couple months now. I'm a recovering ej and one of the setups i had was the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive with DHS Hurricane 3 Neo Prov. Blue sponge for forehand and Andro Rasanter R48 for backhand. When i played with that setup, i didn't like the outer ply of the MLEO, especially being paired with the Hurricane 3, it was just to hard and stiff so i had a difficult time playing with it (keep in mind, I'm still a beginner a little over 1000 usatt and have just now started to develop my feeling for brushing and looping the ball correctly). In the past with other setups, I've always flat hit but now i can actually brush and loop the ball.

I still really hope to play with Hurricane 3 because I love playing with Chinese tacky rubbers and i really hope i can play well with it in the future (Also, i got demolished by a 2100 guy that played with H3N and lowkey loved his play style, which got me wanting to play it even more and I've aspired to play like him one day). I don't plan on changing blades any time soon because i just love the blade so much, it can do everything i want it to do and it truly fits me.

With that being said, after my rubbers on my Petr Korbel dies would it be okay to switch to Hurricane 3 on the FH? Would the H3N play better with the Petr Korbel rather than the MLEO? The only issue i had before with it was that i didn't have the technique to brush/loop the ball with it (especially against any backspin) and having it on a hard/stiff wood blade didn't really help me in my opinion (beside the constant switching of setups and not dedicated to stick with something and learn lol). However, now that I've been really focusing on the loop/topspin shots and have finally been getting somewhere with that technique. Should i try H3N again or should i still stick with what i got.

*** I'm going to listen to everyone's advice, not just post something and continue to do what i want (which i admit i have done that before). I want to get better and I'm willing to listen to the advice of everyone here (since majority of the people on here are more experienced and know better than I do), even if its not advice i necessarily want to hear. If majority thinks its best for me to stick with what i got than that's what i plan on doing. I just want to know if i should go for it or not ***

Also, If you are a beginner with H3. Read this amazing article from our dear @victormanriquey : https://www.tabletennisequipmenthelp.com/blog/dhs-hurricane-3-neo-complete-amateur-guide