Best way to maintain H3 neo tackiness

Hi fellas!

I have been using H3N for FH on my acoustic for 4 month now. It’s been working well for me!

One thing I’ve noticed is its loss of tackiness. When it’s brand new, it can hold the ball for more than 5 secs easily. Right now, it’s 1-2 secs at most.

I use a non adhesive protector and clean after every play with stiga cleaner. (Also occasionally with revolution3 cleaner)

I am wondering
1) how the time of holding a ball really affect the play? I am not good enough to tell the difference.
2) what’s the sign that I should replace the rubber?
3) any ways to improve the maintenance method? Ive heard ways like using olive oil occasionally, using some water when attaching the protector, etc but havent made thorough comparison yet.


Thanks!

Originally Posted by BersaKAIN

Hi fellas!

I have been using H3N for FH on my acoustic for 4 month now. It’s been working well for me!

One thing I’ve noticed is its loss of tackiness. When it’s brand new, it can hold the ball for more than 5 secs easily. Right now, it’s 1-2 secs at most.

I use a non adhesive protector and clean after every play with stiga cleaner. (Also occasionally with revolution3 cleaner)

I am wondering
1) how the time of holding a ball really affect the play? I am not good enough to tell the difference.
2) what’s the sign that I should replace the rubber?
3) any ways to improve the maintenance method? Ive heard ways like using olive oil occasionally, using some water when attaching the protector, etc but havent made thorough comparison yet.


Thanks!

My chinese tacky rubber is still very tacky even after one year of use. I use the DHS cleaner after each session and then cover it with a plastic protective sheet. Once a month I apply a light layer of Falco Life Extender.

I use water and regularly Revolution 3. Bio Rubber Cleaner. Never had a problem with a too quick loss of tack.

I clean with plain water after each practice/match session and cover with an adhesive protective sheet.

I don't cover the rubber with anything just put it in the case and clean it with Butterfly foam cleaner before and after practice and is still tacky after one year of use.

Water. Car window foam occasionally. Excessive cleaning/rubbing/scratching with sponge makes more harm than good.

Thanks all for sharing!

So it seems it doesn't matter that much how many seconds it can hold the ball.
Cleaning after each play should be enough to keep it tacky for near a year.

I will keep it cleaned and get back to training then.
(silently unhappy because lost a change to try new equipment... )

Originally Posted by BersaKAIN

Thanks all for sharing!

So it seems it doesn't matter that much how many seconds it can hold the ball.
Cleaning after each play should be enough to keep it tacky for near a year.

I will keep it cleaned and get back to training then.
(silently unhappy because lost a change to try new equipment... )

The most important thing is not only the rubber to be clean but the hall that you are playing in too because particles get stuck on the ball and they go on your rubber after that and damage it and scratch it so playing outside is a no no too.

I can attest that the mineral oil trick works better than revolution bio cleaner once normal cleaning with distilled or soft water and a soft sponge aren't good enough.

When my rubber lost its tack, I put three layers of hair clipper oil, which I presume is mineral oil, and it absorbed into the rubber like magic!

After that, it easily picks up and holds a ball again! Now all I need is a soft sponge, as perhaps the paper towels I was using are too abrasive.

I read somewhere that tacky rubbers have a pretty quick initial drop of tackyness but if you treat it reasonably well it keeps that level of tackyness for a long time and it still plays very well.

Timo said about the d09c that he likes it more after it has lost a bit of tackyness.

It might not hold the ball several seconds anymore but still spins the ball decently.

I am not sure if restoring tackiness is possible. What would be the scientific explanation? If there is a tacky layer on top and it wears out it can't be restored by adding some liquid, right?
If there is a grease, dirt, dust over the tacky layer then simple cleaning with water or soap should "restore tackiness".

I use my own sweat and breath and then cover it with a plastic sheet protector. Stays tacky until I break it!


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Originally Posted by alas26

I use my own sweat and breath and then cover it with a plastic sheet protector. Stays tacky until I break it!

That's just so unhygienic...

Originally Posted by DukeGaGa

That's just so unhygienic...

The sweat part or breath part?
It’s dried off by the time the ball hits it.



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Originally Posted by alas26

The sweat part or breath part?
It’s dried off by the time the ball hits it.

Dried off doesn't mean it's clean, has the past two years taught you nothing?