Alternative for boosted h3 neo, for a kid

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Hi all,

My kid is almost 11 years old, and he has his main blade with a nittaku fastarc g1 on fh, and dhs h3 neo on bh.

Originally, this setup was a test setup, and the h3 was unboosted.

Once, after training, he told me that the coach asked him to stop forcing on his bh, and that he would end up hurting himself when growing up.

So I bought some common booster, boosted the h3, and asked him to test on bh, and on fh.

He told me it was much better on bh, and also it was better on fh than the Nittaku.

The thing is, at 11, everything new is always better, and the Nittaku starts to have holes - planning to replace it at Christmas -.

Anyway, as supportive mum as I am, I kind of don't want to reboost every 1,5 month his bh and/or fh rubber. Too much time consuming.

So you have some advice on alternative to boosted h3 neo, at max 35-40€? He prefers also a light setup.

He has already another setup with vega pro on fh and vega Europe on bh.

Thanks!
 
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well, if this kid is serious in training, you will need to change any other rubber in 1.5 months time too.
so if you factor that in, boosting every 1.5 months is really the same as changing rubbers.

similar rubbers in hybrids I can recommend too, but rubbers beyond 1.5 months (or better than ESN) will be Butterfly's D09C

PS, we have kids using H3 on both sides.... they seem fine
 
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Hi all,

My kid is almost 11 years old, and he has his main blade with a nittaku fastarc g1 on fh, and dhs h3 neo on bh.

Originally, this setup was a test setup, and the h3 was unboosted.

Once, after training, he told me that the coach asked him to stop forcing on his bh, and that he would end up hurting himself when growing up.

So I bought some common booster, boosted the h3, and asked him to test on bh, and on fh.

He told me it was much better on bh, and also it was better on fh than the Nittaku.

The thing is, at 11, everything new is always better, and the Nittaku starts to have holes - planning to replace it at Christmas -.

Anyway, as supportive mum as I am, I kind of don't want to reboost every 1,5 month his bh and/or fh rubber. Too much time consuming.

So you have some advice on alternative to boosted h3 neo, at max 35-40€? He prefers also a light setup.

He has already another setup with vega pro on fh and vega Europe on bh.

Thanks!
Teach him to do the rebooting himself. At 11 he should be able to do both this and gluing.

Cheers
L-zr
 
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If he likes H3 NEO on backhand, perhaps check out Yinhe Big Dipper 38deg, 729 - Battle III 38deg, Yinhe - Moon 12 Blue/Green or Yinhe - Moon Speed 53 Euro. All these are rubbers that got a bit more elastic top sheet than H3 and they will give a bit softer feel and makes it more easy to develop his backhand technique. Personally I feel that the H3 is good for forehand, but is a little bit hard for my backhand, and I like these above much better.
 
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Jupiter 3, Big Dipper, and Battle Gold are great choices, however, they don't come close to creating the same venomous ball as H3 does. I mean the spin and wiggly acceleration that H3 produces when hit on the opponent's side. Also, I would still boost each of these rubbers :D But they are surely quicker than H3 out of the box.

In other words, nothing can replace H3, but Jupiter 3 Asia (38) has the closest feel to the H3 provincial orange sponge.

Speaking of boosting, you can reduce its frequency by using Falco Tempo Long every 3 months. It's very durable, however, the effect isn't as strong as that of Haifu National or Kailin.
 
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well, if this kid is serious in training, you will need to change any other rubber in 1.5 months time too.
so if you factor that in, boosting every 1.5 months is really the same as changing rubbers.

similar rubbers in hybrids I can recommend too, but rubbers beyond 1.5 months (or better than ESN) will be Butterfly's D09C

PS, we have kids using H3 on both sides.... they seem fine

He trains ~8hours a week, serious enough to be a good hobby player, one day. He is not "gifted" for table tennis, just passionate.

If it is needed, I don't mind changing his rubbers every 1,5 months: gluing only is easier than boosting.

Teach him to do the rebooting himself. At 11 he should be able to do both this and gluing.

Cheers
L-zr

I'm not sure somebody who put the TV remote on his drying rubber, because he "did not look", is mature enough for gluing and boosting his stuff :) I think around 12 or 13, he will do it himself.

If he likes H3 NEO on backhand, perhaps check out Yinhe Big Dipper 38deg, 729 - Battle III 38deg, Yinhe - Moon 12 Blue/Green or Yinhe - Moon Speed 53 Euro. All these are rubbers that got a bit more elastic top sheet than H3 and they will give a bit softer feel and makes it more easy to develop his backhand technique. Personally I feel that the H3 is good for forehand, but is a little bit hard for my backhand, and I like these above much better.

It seems like he has a good backhand, unlike most kids around here. Thanks for the rubber references!

Jupiter 3 is a cheap Chinese hybrid. Hybrid and reasonably fast, you can try that.

I will make him try, thanks!

Jupiter 3, Big Dipper, and Battle Gold are great choices, however, they don't come close to creating the same venomous ball as H3 does. I mean the spin and wiggly acceleration that H3 produces when hit on the opponent's side. Also, I would still boost each of these rubbers :D But they are surely quicker than H3 out of the box.

In other words, nothing can replace H3, but Jupiter 3 Asia (38) has the closest feel to the H3 provincial orange sponge.

Speaking of boosting, you can reduce its frequency by using Falco Tempo Long every 3 months. It's very durable, however, the effect isn't as strong as that of Haifu National or Kailin.

It seems like his backhand is fast and spiny, especially with lateral effect. He is very good with preparing the ball for a good attack, messing with his opponent, and as a consequence, a very good double partner.

I used the Haifu Sea Moon, but switching to Falco Tempo Long is a good idea, especially if you're telling me that you would boost the other Chinese rubber references anyway :) I keep the references for further tests.
 
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He trains ~8hours a week, serious enough to be a good hobby player, one day. He is not "gifted" for table tennis, just passionate.

If it is needed, I don't mind changing his rubbers every 1,5 months: gluing only is easier than boosting.



I'm not sure somebody who put the TV remote on his drying rubber, because he "did not look", is mature enough for gluing and boosting his stuff :) I think around 12 or 13, he will do it himself.



It seems like he has a good backhand, unlike most kids around here. Thanks for the rubber references!



I will make him try, thanks!



It seems like his backhand is fast and spiny, especially with lateral effect. He is very good with preparing the ball for a good attack, messing with his opponent, and as a consequence, a very good double partner.

I used the Haifu Sea Moon, but switching to Falco Tempo Long is a good idea, especially if you're telling me that you would boost the other Chinese rubber references anyway :) I keep the references for further tests.
If his backhand really excels at spin with side effect, then he should 100% stick to H3. Seriously, there is no rubber that successfully replicates spin+side.
Plus, I am sure he will not appreciate lesser grip, because nothing compares to H3 in terms of grip.

Falco Tempo Long is the most delicate booster, usually used for European rubbers but works excellent for the Chinese rubbers as well. Will even be cheaper thanks to manufacturing in France, sponges absorb it fast, it is the best choice if you want to boost and forget about the hustle.
 
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He trains ~8hours a week, serious enough to be a good hobby player, one day. He is not "gifted" for table tennis, just passionate.

If it is needed, I don't mind changing his rubbers every 1,5 months: gluing only is easier than boosting.



I'm not sure somebody who put the TV remote on his drying rubber, because he "did not look", is mature enough for gluing and boosting his stuff :) I think around 12 or 13, he will do it himself.



It seems like he has a good backhand, unlike most kids around here. Thanks for the rubber references!



I will make him try, thanks!



It seems like his backhand is fast and spiny, especially with lateral effect. He is very good with preparing the ball for a good attack, messing with his opponent, and as a consequence, a very good double partner.

I used the Haifu Sea Moon, but switching to Falco Tempo Long is a good idea, especially if you're telling me that you would boost the other Chinese rubber references anyway :) I keep the references for further tests.
Seriously, You don’t need to change or reboost rubbers that often. Maximum twice a year and even that is too much…
The rubbers get a little worse but it still very good and the change is gradual so you get used to it. If he wants to reboost he can do it himself.

Cheers
L-zr
 
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well, if this kid is serious in training, you will need to change any other rubber in 1.5 months time too.
so if you factor that in, boosting every 1.5 months is really the same as changing rubbers.

similar rubbers in hybrids I can recommend too, but rubbers beyond 1.5 months (or better than ESN) will be Butterfly's D09C

PS, we have kids using H3 on both sides.... they seem fine
A bit offtopic, but question regarding D09c: For us hobby players (intermediates) who have a hobby player impact, how long does the d09c last? Is the durability really alot better than typical ESN rubbers?
 
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Jupiter 3, Big Dipper, and Battle Gold are great choices, however, they don't come close to creating the same venomous ball as H3 does. I mean the spin and wiggly acceleration that H3 produces when hit on the opponent's side. Also, I would still boost each of these rubbers :D But they are surely quicker than H3 out of the box.

In other words, nothing can replace H3, but Jupiter 3 Asia (38) has the closest feel to the H3 provincial orange sponge.

Speaking of boosting, you can reduce its frequency by using Falco Tempo Long every 3 months. It's very durable, however, the effect isn't as strong as that of Haifu National or Kailin.
Just got Battle 2 gold for me, can't recommend it enough. Jupiter may have an edge though, battle isn't a hybrid.
 
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Just got Battle 2 gold for me, can't recommend it enough. Jupiter may have an edge though, battle isn't a hybrid.
B2G is faster and more suited to 3rd ball attacks, it really capitalizes on body strength. But it's also less forgiving with its low and long trajectory, gotta be in position every time.

J3 has a shorter, more curvy trajectory, a bit more spin, doesn't require as much body strength, and most importantly, it excels in the "ease of spin creation" category--just move an arm. But it's surely slower than B2G, probably even with a booster.

B2G is just deadly but too demanding imo.
 
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B2G is faster and more suited to 3rd ball attacks, it really capitalizes on body strength. But it's also less forgiving with its low and long trajectory, gotta be in position every time.

J3 has a shorter, more curvy trajectory, a bit more spin, doesn't require as much body strength, and most importantly, it excels in the "ease of spin creation" category--just move an arm. But it's surely slower than B2G, probably even with a booster.

B2G is just deadly but too demanding imo.
Jupiter is a hybrid, battle is a high level Chinese rubber.
 
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A bit offtopic, but question regarding D09c: For us hobby players (intermediates) who have a hobby player impact, how long does the d09c last? Is the durability really alot better than typical ESN rubbers?
I play 10h a week with two bats - (local) league bat (6 matches a week, circa 3h playtime) and training bat (around 7h weekly). With D09c, as a hobby player I focus on good usage of my money and rotation of rubbers - I do not chase the absolute performance.

The league bat lasts me 6 months (Oct-Apr) - in that period it is good enough for my skills and competitive play. I reglue it (take off and add one extra layer of glue on rubber) every 1-2 months - it slows down / becomes harder and after regluing it feels softer and faster.

The training bat is a bit different, as it starts with used rubbers (either from previous season, or bought from my teammates) and is used more often than league bat. Thus I aim to change every 3-4 months, so the performance isn't too different from the league bat.

If I was not playing competitively, I'd just comfortably keep my D09c for a year. When I'm done with the rubbers, I always sell them as even a 1yo D09c rubber has a value in it.

If you are after durability and performance, then D09c is a good rubber. But so is Fastarc G-1 which is much cheaper.

Edit: After the season I will be testing some cheaper options too (to see if they fit my playstyle): Jupiter 3, Loki Arthur series, and Hurricanes (H3 & H8-80).
 
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As some have already pointer out: there is no alternative to boosted H3.
The question is which sponge hardness he is currently using. This forcing might be caused by a too hard sponge.
For BH I would get 37°, and maybe 38° later. 39° and more is just too much in most game situations 1)
Cheap commercial is usually enough. With one or two thin layers Seamoon more than enough 2)
Commercial Hurricane 8-80 37° (does not need booster) could work too if DHS has managed to keep sponge hardness consistent between batches otherwise provincial.

1) afaik there are no pros using anything above 38° on their BH. Wang Chuqin and Liang Jinkun 38°, Ma Long 37°, Xu Xin once used 37.5°
2) if an easy to remove glue is used (DHS or Revolution for me) reboosting takes not that much time. I peel of the glue layer, add one thick(er) layer of booster and wait a couple of hours until completely dry (rubber should be either flat again or have a slight dome) and reglue.
 
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A bit offtopic, but question regarding D09c: For us hobby players (intermediates) who have a hobby player impact, how long does the d09c last? Is the durability really alot better than typical ESN rubbers?
yes, D09C or butterfly rubbers in general has better lifespan than ESN made rubbers.
 
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If you are after durability and performance, then D09c is a good rubber. But so is Fastarc G-1 which is much cheaper.

Edit: After the season I will be testing some cheaper options too (to see if they fit my playstyle): Jupiter 3, Loki Arthur series, and Hurricanes (H3 & H8-80).

If he can keep one D09c one year, it is still interesting, at a financial point of view. But you say that Fastarc is durable, but this is how looks his one after 2,5 months of use ( and he doesn't always use it):

nittaku.jpg


I will see if this little hole on the top right is fixable... In addition of his weekly hours, he plays some day sessions during his school vacation, and go to tournaments or teams championships twice a month.
As some have already pointer out: there is no alternative to boosted H3.
The question is which sponge hardness he is currently using. This forcing might be caused by a too hard sponge.
For BH I would get 37°, and maybe 38° later. 39° and more is just too much in most game situations 1)
Cheap commercial is usually enough. With one or two thin layers Seamoon more than enough 2)
Commercial Hurricane 8-80 37° (does not need booster) could work too if DHS has managed to keep sponge hardness consistent between batches otherwise provincial.

1) afaik there are no pros using anything above 38° on their BH. Wang Chuqin and Liang Jinkun 38°, Ma Long 37°, Xu Xin once used 37.5°
2) if an easy to remove glue is used (DHS or Revolution for me) reboosting takes not that much time. I peel of the glue layer, add one thick(er) layer of booster and wait a couple of hours until completely dry (rubber should be either flat again or have a slight dome) and reglue.
I don't know the hardness of the sponge. I bought the "simple" H3 neo on TT11, assuming it's the "commercial" one. But there is no hardness info, not like provincial or national versions. Maybe it's random?

For the boosting process, I removed the glue, I apply one layer but that seemed too thin at first. I waited 12h, applied another "normal" layer. Then a third thin layer after 12 or 24h, waited again, remove the TV remote from the rubber, and start to glue it but I saw that the size of the rubber changed. I put it in a wood press, which I don't need to do when I only glue a new rubber.
 
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B2G is faster and more suited to 3rd ball attacks, it really capitalizes on body strength. But it's also less forgiving with its low and long trajectory, gotta be in position every time.

J3 has a shorter, more curvy trajectory, a bit more spin, doesn't require as much body strength, and most importantly, it excels in the "ease of spin creation" category--just move an arm. But it's surely slower than B2G, probably even with a booster.

B2G is just deadly but too demanding imo.
You mean that cheap ass Jupiter 3 rubber? Is it that good?
 
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You mean that cheap ass Jupiter 3 rubber? Is it that good?
Yes, for its money (12$) it's an undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. But there are 2 caveats:
1) It must be the Asia version, not Euro. Asia has a better topsheet/spin imo.
2) It must be 38 degrees, as it's much bouncier than other softer/hardrer variants. Imo, 38 is a true hybrid with decent speed, although I still would boost it a bit.

The best way to describe it is: "cheapo H3N Pro OS with factory booster".
 
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