Best No-Booster Alternative to Boosted H3 National Blue Sponge on a DHS W968?

[struke]

Hi everyone,


I’m looking for the closest possible forehand alternative to a properly boosted DHS Hurricane 3 Neo National Blue Sponge for use on a DHS W968 National blade.


I do not want to boost rubbers at all—not initially and not every few weeks. However, I still want to preserve as many of the advantages of boosted H3 Blue Sponge as possible:

• Very high spin and a heavy, penetrating ball
• Strong grip and tackiness
• Excellent control in the short game
• A stable, predictable arc
• High power when accelerating fully
• Enough built-in speed and catapult without boosting
• Good counterlooping and performance from mid-distance
• The characteristic “kick” effect of a hard Chinese rubber on a flexible W968 blade

I understand that no unboosted rubber will feel exactly identical to boosted H3 National Blue Sponge, but I am looking for the closest overall replacement across all parameters, not simply the fastest or tackiest option.


Which rubber would you rank number one for this purpose? I would especially appreciate opinions from players who have personally used both boosted H3 National Blue Sponge and the suggested alternative on a W968 or similar inner-fibre blade.


Thanks!

 

[Lazer]

My first initial guess would be Dignics 09C…

My second guess would be Tibhar hybrid K3…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Gekko]

I've been through this journey. Everyone recommends the same tired rubbers.
You want it to feel like H3? It needs to be hard. HARD.
So be prepared to be in the 57.5-60 degree range in the ESN scale.

 

[jk1980]

I think anything non chinese will be quite different. If we stick to chinese brands i would recommend 729/Friendship.
The real question is if you actually experienced a well boosted h3 blue spongemor if you are just parrotting what others say about it.

I would recommend you to try the following versions of battle 2 gold: 39° red rubber (which has a different sponge than the black one), 40° red rubber, 39° black rubber, 40° black rubber. I named them in the order of easy to play -> more close to h3 blu3 sponge

 

[Tyce]

1. You've made plenty of threads pointing out

I do not want to boost rubbers at all

but what is your reason for not wanting to boost at all? Perhaps if you share your train of thought, people here will be more able to understand what it is you're actually looking for, as it seems you have not found it yet despite....

2. In said threads, you have also gotten plenty of suggestions, but instead of taking on the conversation, or trying those suggestions, you circle back and make yet another thread with the same question.

I think anything non chinese will be quite different. If we stick to chinese brands i would recommend 729/Friendship.
The real question is if you actually experienced a well boosted h3 blue spongemor if you are just parrotting what others say about it.

I would recommend you to try the following versions of battle 2 gold: 39° red rubber (which has a different sponge than the black one), 40° red rubber, 39° black rubber, 40° black rubber. I named them in the order of easy to play -> more close to h3 blu3 sponge

+1
I have the black 38° blue sponge Battle 2 gold and it's quite lovely once broken in. Yes, the topsheet behaves a little bit differently but as I've used SuperFX in the past the feeling is actually quite familiar to that, but clearly better quality and performance.
I do feel the 38 gets drowned out on a hard, stiff blade (FZD ALC) but on a 7-ply (Sanwei Fextra) it works very well.

 

[Kilogramme]

HI, I recently tried the Quan Shi Bao Power-F1. Brand of Fang Bo. I play it without booster, and it is really good. Feels like H3 boosted. Grip is insane.
Here is my review of both QSB rubber https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/quan-shi-bao-is-amazing.36049/post-582016

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

It would be nice if unicorns existed, but they do not.