Hybrid suggestions for someone coming from H3

[navuzor]

I have similar Setup as you. I did try VIscaria (which is the same compo of FZD ALC), and it did not suit me. It is very different from HL5. I think you won't like it. If you change rubber, keep the blade, otherwise it will be too much change, and you won't know what the new rubber feels. You will lose tons of control too.
I did play H3 boosted on FH for 5+y. This year, I was tired of boosting. So I switched to Xiom Vega China VM. It is the closest to a Boosted H3. An Hybrid, with ESN sponge, but with a true tacky topsheet like H3. Lift the ball for months. It keeps the characteristic of H3, but with ease of use, and speed easier to access. Trust me, I am the one that create the biggest speed and spin in my club with my FH. I have HL5 golden, and it pairs well with the Vega China VM. I suggest you to go for that in the FH. Last long, tacky, power, very good replacement for H3 that last very long.

For the BH, I went from Rakza Z to Tenergy 19 to now H8-80. Rakza was too hard for my BH. T19 was easy to use, but sometimes too quick/dynamic, that leds to many unforced error. Additionnaly, I missed the tacky, so I went back to H8-80 I played 2y ago. My playstyle involve some tiny brush when late, and I need tack to do that. And I am very impressed. Plenty of speed, spinny, and I find the famous ball pop up after table rebound that surprise the opponent because of the amount of spin. Sure it would be less dynamic than proper ESN Hybrid. But, if you come from H3, H8-80 is a good transition. And no need to be boosted, last long and is cheap.

On Aliexpress, you can get the H8-80 for 25€ and Vega China for 40 to 45€ a sheet.

If you want a proper Hybrid, see the review of @victormanriquey on his website. Bluegrip S1 and Nuzn 48 could fit your BH.

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bear in mind the new sheets of the Xiom Vega China VM might be different to what they used to be, I bought a sheet in July and I was very dissapointed that was nothing like a boosted H3 and more like the typical hard hybrid from ESN.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/xiom-vega-china-vm-review.17935/post-583296

 

[victormanriquey]

bear in mind the new sheets of the Xiom Vega China VM might be different to what they used to be, I bought a sheet in July and I was very dissapointed that was nothing like a boosted H3 and more like the typical hard hybrid from ESN.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/xiom-vega-china-vm-review.17935/post-583296

I bought begin next year and will start testing next week, lets see! )

 

[belllfador]

Andro Chintac is closer to H3 than the new Xiom Vega China. Chintac 52.5 is slower (but faster than non boosted H3 BS), lighter, linear, spinier and with better control. Topsheet and sponge are fragile, so I don't expect a long useful life. I found it to be the best H3 replacement during the hot summer months.

 

[victormanriquey]

Andro Chintac is closer to H3 than the new Xiom Vega China. Chintac 52.5 is slower (but faster than non boosted H3 BS), lighter, linear, spinier and with better control. Topsheet and sponge are fragile, so I don't expect a long useful life. I found it to be the best H3 replacement during the hot summer months.

Ah thats nice to hear, contradictory reviews so far, some people like it some dont at all, i guess thats life haha durability may not be longer than 3-4 months @belllfador ? so like half a nuzn or so?

 

[belllfador]

Ah thats nice to hear, contradictory reviews so far, some people like it some dont at all, i guess thats life haha durability may not be longer than 3-4 months @belllfador ? so like half a nuzn or so?

I like linear rubbers that can chop, so it is normal to have different impressions from most. Never played with NUZN, but Vega China is looking better than Chintac after less play time with Chintac. My rough estimation will be half life of XVC, quater of provincial H3 / TG3 BS, or 50 hours in the best case.

 

[victormanriquey]

I like linear rubbers that can chop, so it is normal to have different impressions from most. Never played with NUZN, but Vega China is looking better than Chintac after less play time with Chintac. My rough estimation will be half life of XVC, quater of provincial H3 / TG3 BS, or 50 hours in the best case.

Okay cool clear, let's keep each other posted on that, 50h is really not that much, 1.5 months for me on full usage, so that would be just a bit better than the Iconixx I just tested, then I would not see it as interesting for myself, but I can handle 3-4 months, if it lasts one season it's acceptable for top hybrid performance

Of course 4-6 months would be better but truth is, H3N boosted only also lasts so much after boosting

 

[Kilogramme]

bear in mind the new sheets of the Xiom Vega China VM might be different to what they used to be, I bought a sheet in July and I was very dissapointed that was nothing like a boosted H3 and more like the typical hard hybrid from ESN.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/xiom-vega-china-vm-review.17935/post-583296

Ofc it is different to a H3 boosted. But to my experience, it is the closest on all the hybrid I tested. Very Tacky, and hard. But the dynamism and the topsheet softenss is indeed different to a H3. To me, it felt closer to H3 boosted than a Rakza Z.

If DHS would make a H8-80 with 40° sponge, it would be even closer to H3 boosted (still don't get why they don't do harder H8-80 or even H3-80).

To be fair, I dropped back the Xiom Vega China, because, I went to the gym a lot, and now I have the physical ability to handle a proper chinese rubber. I play with Quan Shi Bao Power F1 on the FH. Easier rubber to play than H3, and don't need to boost to play with. And not a hybrid. It is tacky (lift the ball) when brand new, but after 2h you can't lift the ball, yet still spinny and hold/lift backspin easily. Quite surprising. Maybe that is why it is easier than H3.

 

[victormanriquey]

I must say @Kilogramme the sheet I'm testing now of XVC feels more like a C2 than a D09c or H3N, if anything more similar to D09c, so I unfortunately cannot agree with being the closest hybrid, for me the closest is still Battle 2 Prov BS but the throw is low, as it was before, I ordered a B2 Neo to test too and compare, and I will boost the B2 (I never played it boosted before, that's kind of the point haha) and will report on findings.

And I'm not per se liking the national target of sanwei, I have a friend who just came back from China and people there told him that STN is a backhand rubber, I have to agree it feels better on backhand somehow, very crazy, go figure! haha

I will probably get the QSB next year from you to test as well

 

[Kilogramme]

I must say @Kilogramme the sheet I'm testing now of XVC feels more like a C2 than a D09c or H3N, if anything more similar to D09c, so I unfortunately cannot agree with being the closest hybrid, for me the closest is still Battle 2 Prov BS but the throw is low, as it was before, I ordered a B2 Neo to test too and compare, and I will boost the B2 (I never played it boosted before, that's kind of the point haha) and will report on findings.

And I'm not per se liking the national target of sanwei, I have a friend who just came back from China and people there told him that STN is a backhand rubber, I have to agree it feels better on backhand somehow, very crazy, go figure! haha

I will probably get the QSB next year from you to test as well

You have far more testing experience than me. Only Hybrid I tested are Rakza Z, Hurricane 8-80, TG3-60, H3-50, QSB Speed 08 and XVC. Quicly on peoples racket, i tried Nuzn 50/55, D09C. As DHS hybrid are BH rubber to me, I don't count them as "closest to H3N boosted", but ofc you feel the link between the two. But as a FH hard rubber, the XVC was the closest of the one I tried. Rakza Z and D09C felt similar, with D09C being livelier softer in feel. To me, the biggest difference between XVC and H3 boosted, is the topsheet. XVC has a soft/flex topsheet. Whereas the H3 topsheet is harder. (Yes it is different, that is why I am going back to chinese FH rubber)

 

[victormanriquey]

You have far more testing experience than me. Only Hybrid I tested are Rakza Z, Hurricane 8-80, TG3-60, H3-50, QSB Speed 08 and XVC. Quicly on peoples racket, i tried Nuzn 50/55, D09C. As DHS hybrid are BH rubber to me, I don't count them as "closest to H3N boosted", but ofc you feel the link between the two. But as a FH hard rubber, the XVC was the closest of the one I tried. Rakza Z and D09C felt similar, with D09C being livelier softer in feel. To me, the biggest difference between XVC and H3 boosted, is the topsheet. XVC has a soft/flex topsheet. Whereas the H3 topsheet is harder. (Yes it is different, that is why I am going back to chinese FH rubber)

You've also tested a good amount

It may also just be the new XVC to be honest, and as always experiences may differ, no problem But so far from my testing of XVC I'm not a big fan of it, that's just what I'm feeling, pity cause I was expecting good things, but it's too non linear and big throw, im even considering moving it to BH haha yeah topsheet of XVC feels indeed more flexy, and for sure sponge is more cakeish

And yes Rakza Z and D09c same philosophy for sure, but D09c has more of the same.

 

[Kilogramme]

You've also tested a good amount

It may also just be the new XVC to be honest, and as always experiences may differ, no problem But so far from my testing of XVC I'm not a big fan of it, that's just what I'm feeling, pity cause I was expecting good things, but it's too non linear and big throw, im even considering moving it to BH haha yeah topsheet of XVC feels indeed more flexy, and for sure sponge is more cakeish

And yes Rakza Z and D09c same philosophy for sure, but D09c has more of the same.

Really the throw is high for you ? I had to adjust to the lower throw than H3 when I got it. And it felt pretty linear to me. Far more than Tenergy 19, and more than Rakza Z. I did not know they changed it, so I have no idea which version I got. Your description surprises me.
I removed it because I did not get the infamous Spinny jump ball after rebound you get when topspinning with Chinese rubber.

 

[victormanriquey]

Really the throw is high for you ? I had to adjust to the lower throw than H3 when I got it. And it felt pretty linear to me. Far more than Tenergy 19, and more than Rakza Z. I did not know they changed it, so I have no idea which version I got. Your description surprises me.
I removed it because I did not get the infamous Spinny jump ball after rebound you get when topspinning with Chinese rubber.

Yes man, it surprised me too as well, i was expecting a FH rubber, was kinda hyped, got a C2 like rubber, i think they changed the mix, think @navuzor and others mention this as well, it used to be H3 but now is D09c, or thats at least the sheet im testing now

 

[Kilogramme]

Yes man, it surprised me too as well, i was expecting a FH rubber, was kinda hyped, got a C2 like rubber, i think they changed the mix, think @navuzor and others mention this as well, it used to be H3 but now is D09c, or thats at least the sheet im testing now

Maybe they wants to be competitive to D09C, but that is sad for those who liked the H3 like version