Alternative to smelly Chinese rubbers

[RidTheKid]

You certainly can do whatever you feel like but you are missing some information. On the H3N package the manufacture month is actually stamped. And since it's vacuum sealed booster is intact. After breaking the vacuum seal the factory booster effect wears off in a few weeks and then you're free to apply any booster you want, if that's the way you wanna go. I put on 4 layers of Haifu black oil right out of the package without letting the factory boost wear off, it's not like I destroyed the effect of the boost, but improved it. Like I said, you're free to do whatever you want but I think it's good to make decisions from facts not assumptions.

So? I don’t see any reason to switch, because you don’t know when the rubber is manufactured and even with the seal it is not guaranteed to still be boosted when you take it out of the seal , you also don’t know what booster was applied or how much, and that affects things a lot. I always suggest people who know how to apply boost to not buy pre-boosted rubbers .

 

[RidTheKid]

Yes Carl, all you mention is true.

But isn't the sponge for the old ones designed for the absorption of speed glue? And isn't the sponge for the Neo designed for the absorption of modern tuners? Also, isn't the Neo sponge more elastic and aren't there tests that show it has a more dynamic response?

 

[yogi_bear]

The old h3's are good enough to absorb bkosters and they still play well plus cheaper so i still use old h3s

 

[frankhond]

I am late to this discussion, but why not go with something grippy, spinny, and medium hard sponged:
Nittaku Fastarc G-1 is a great forehand rubber. (I like it on the backhand too.) I don't find it bouncy, but YMMV.

--Tim

That’s a good suggestion and I might be able to order this rubber easily. Any idea how it compares to Mantra?

 

[DukeGaGa]

You certainly can do whatever you feel like but you are missing some information. On the H3N package the manufacture month is actually stamped. And since it's vacuum sealed booster is intact. After breaking the vacuum seal the factory booster effect wears off in a few weeks and then you're free to apply any booster you want, if that's the way you wanna go. I put on 4 layers of Haifu black oil right out of the package without letting the factory boost wear off, it's not like I destroyed the effect of the boost, but improved it. Like I said, you're free to do whatever you want but I think it's good to make decisions from facts not assumptions.

The thing with the seal, not true. I’ve seen H3N dead right out of the package. And yes, I know you can do whatever you want with it, but again, don’t see the point to do that on the H3N because you DON’T know how much or what was applied before. Also, if you’re already applying booster, there’s no point of getting the Neo version, it’s marketed to those who don’t know or don’t want it too lazy to apply boost themselves.

But isn't the sponge for the old ones designed for the absorption of speed glue? And isn't the sponge for the Neo designed for the absorption of modern tuners? Also, isn't the Neo sponge more elastic and aren't there tests that show it has a more dynamic response?

Nope, blue sponge wasn’t designed for speed glue at all, I think you’re mixing things up, it’s actually the top sheet that was designed for the older 40mm balls. The blue sponge version was designed to take booster. And there’s no difference in the sponge of Neo vs. none-Neo at all, it’s just pre-boosted, but since you don’t know what or how much was applied, and I’m going to apply booster myself anyway, I don’t bother with the guess work.

 

[ttmonster]

Nope. But like old Windows CDs , I have a few activation codes lying around from our last adventures .. will they work Der_Echte ?

Monster, have you seen the activation code yet?

 

[Der_Echte]

The codes auto generated from Carl's embedded keygen... look for codes starting with gs-xxxx

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[ttmonster]

gs == Golden State ? ... I don't know about that .. I heard KD is going to get his achille's checked with Carl .. I will just pass it on to his mom

The codes auto generated from Carl's embedded keygen... look for codes starting with gs-xxxx

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[RidTheKid]

What can I say, I've purchased 12 H3N National rubbers, both BS and red 37 degree and none of them has been a dud, or had broken package. They act as advertised. And you're wrong about the sponges. They're not the same.

The thing with the seal, not true. I’ve seen H3N dead right out of the package. And yes, I know you can do whatever you want with it, but again, don’t see the point to do that on the H3N because you DON’T know how much or what was applied before. Also, if you’re already applying booster, there’s no point of getting the Neo version, it’s marketed to those who don’t know or don’t want it too lazy to apply boost themselves.



Nope, blue sponge wasn’t designed for speed glue at all, I think you’re mixing things up, it’s actually the top sheet that was designed for the older 40mm balls. The blue sponge version was designed to take booster. And there’s no difference in the sponge of Neo vs. none-Neo at all, it’s just pre-boosted, but since you don’t know what or how much was applied, and I’m going to apply booster myself anyway, I don’t bother with the guess work.

 

[DukeGaGa]

What can I say, I've purchased 12 H3N National rubbers, both BS and red 37 degree and none of them has been a dud, or had broken package. They act as advertised. And you're wrong about the sponges. They're not the same.

Tell that to DHS, if they say it’s not the same then I’ll believe you, but what they told me is it is exactly the same sponge.

 

[trumpet_guy]

That’s a good suggestion and I might be able to order this rubber easily. Any idea how it compares to Mantra?

I have not played with Mantra rubbers yet, but I expect yogi_bear has tried bth and can compare them.

I think you should just order one sheet of G-1 and try it. It is one of the most popular rubbers in Japan.

Cheers,
Tim

 

[RidTheKid]

What are you gonna believe if DHS gives us conflicting information?

Tell that to DHS, if they say it’s not the same then I’ll believe you, but what they told me is it is exactly the same sponge.

 

[frankhond]

I think you should just order one sheet of G-1 and try it. It is one of the most popular rubbers in Japan.

Let me guess, the other popular rubber is Moristo SP...? ;-)

I'll order some G1 and see what that's like.

 

[DukeGaGa]

What are you gonna believe if DHS gives us conflicting information?

First get the response, then we can decide.

 

[trumpet_guy]

Let me guess, the other popular rubber is Moristo SP...? ;-)

I'll order some G1 and see what that's like.

For the short pips players, I would expect so.
For the rest of them, undoubtedly Tenergy rubbers rank high on the list.

For a big dealer that doesn't sell predominately Butterfly products, here is their popularity list from 2018:
https://blog.tabletennis11.com/top-10-table-tennis-rubbers-2018

 

[yogi_bear]

I believe even Mantra rubbers have factory tuning of some sort but they are good rubbers. I like the mantra H in particular because it is a good offensive fh rubber but i use it as a bh rubber.

QUOTE=trumpet_guy;278073]I have not played with Mantra rubbers yet, but I expect yogi_bear has tried bth and can compare them.

I think you should just order one sheet of G-1 and try it. It is one of the most popular rubbers in Japan.

Cheers,
Tim[/QUOTE]

 

[Suga D]

Tell that to DHS, if they say it’s not the same then I’ll believe you, but what they told me is it is exactly the same sponge.

Ok, this is definitely not accurate!

My old H3 prov bluesponge came with the No. 20 sponge whereas my H3N prov bluesponge uses the No. 22 sponge. If the sponges were identical what sense would these numbers have then?

You can also even see that the Neo's blue differs to the old version's blue in terms of a different shade of blue. .
I've already posted pics of both here on the forum. Both are original and from legit sources

I'll try to find the old post with the pics, otherwise i'll take some new ones so you can see for yourself.

 

[Jabugo]

Hi everyone. I'm currently trying a setup based on EmRatThich's article "10 best blades". Stiga Allround Classic with Hurricane 3 Neo on FH and Stiga Mantra M on BH. It's actually a very enjoyable setup for me, a developing player. But...

The Hurricane stinks of chemicals, and makes my hand, my bag and my other stuff stink as well. There are many accounts of this on the web, apparently "all Chinese rubbers smell", with advice like "let it air out" or "put the racket in a plastic bag" but I just find it appalling to be in contact with something that emits chemicals. Pouring more chemicals on my rubbers to boost them seems appalling too, so I'm not interested in that.

The Mantra doesn't smell, neither did any other non-chinese rubbers I tried so far.

Given no boosting, are there any good alternatives to a hard Chinese rubber that don't smell? I read about Stiga Genesis rubbers which supposedly are some kind of mix of Chinese and Japanese, and Xiom Vega China that has "China" in the name... but would those be similar?

And back to the original post, I was testing Nittaku H3 Pro Turbo Orange and Dianchi D back to back. Neither of them smell anything like the H3 Neo and do not have any foul smell. The Nittaku behaves very close to H3 neo but slightly faster. The Dianchi topsheet is harder and slips more with passive blocks/strokes. My favorite for forehand is H3 neo, and Nittaku Turbo Orange is the closest in performance (with probably similar QC to Provincial/National knowing Nittaku QC) without smelling at all like H3 Neo.

 

[frankhond]

And back to the original post, I was testing Nittaku H3 Pro Turbo Orange and Dianchi D back to back. Neither of them smell anything like the H3 Neo and do not have any foul smell. The Nittaku behaves very close to H3 neo but slightly faster. The Dianchi topsheet is harder and slips more with passive blocks/strokes. My favorite for forehand is H3 neo, and Nittaku Turbo Orange is the closest in performance (with probably similar QC to Provincial/National knowing Nittaku QC) without smelling at all like H3 Neo.

Nice, that's very good to know! I'll see if I can get some together with the G1.

Sounds like an interesting setup could be G1 on BH and Turbo on FH.

 

[RidTheKid]

I have one sheet of Nittaku H3 Pro Turbo Orange that I don't use. I've tested it for 30 mins but I still use H3N National anyway so it just lays there ready to be sold to someone who will use it. If you're interested I'll get some pics.

Nice, that's very good to know! I'll see if I can get some together with the G1.

Sounds like an interesting setup could be G1 on BH and Turbo on FH.