DHS W968 National vs W968 Gold / W968S / Q968 for intermediate player — no booster

[struke]

Hi everyone,


I would like to get honest advice before buying a premium DHS blade.


I am considering these 4 DHS blades:

1. DHS W968 Hurricane Long 5 National
2. DHS W968 Gold Grand Slam
3. DHS Golden 6 W968 / W968S Ma Long
4. DHS Q968 Hurricane King National

My planned setup is:


FH: DHS Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge 2.1
BH: Butterfly Dignics 05 2.1


Important note: I do not want to use booster at all, now or in the future. I want to use the Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge exactly as it comes from the factory, without boosting or re-boosting. Please take this into account when recommending the best blade for me.


About me:
I am a 32-year-old intermediate-level player. I train 4 hours per week in group sessions, plus one private 1-hour coaching session every week. My FH, BH, topspin, push and chop are quite stable for my level.


My current setup is Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC with Dignics 05 2.1 on both sides. I really like Dignics 05 on backhand, especially on inner carbon blades. I tried it on Viscaria before and it felt too fast/hard for me.


I also tried a DHS Hurricane Long 5 commercial with H3 Neo National Blue Sponge on forehand for one training session. The FH topspin felt much more real, heavy and dangerous compared to Dignics 05 on FH, and I really enjoyed it. However, I struggled more in the short game.


My goal is to move to a high-quality DHS blade for long-term use. I am not looking only for prestige or speed. I want the most suitable and forgiving option for my level with this setup, while still giving me high performance and long-term development potential.


Which of these 4 DHS blades would you recommend for me?


Main questions:

• Is W968 National the safest and best choice for my level and setup?
• Is W968S / Golden 6 more or less forgiving than W968 National?
• Is W968 Gold Grand Slam mainly a collector blade, or also a better playing blade?
• Is Q968 too fast/direct for my level?
• Which one would be closest in feeling to Harimoto Innerforce ALC, but with a premium DHS feeling?
• Which blade would be best for FH topspin with unboosted H3 National and still reliable on BH with Dignics 05?
• Which one is better for short game, pushes and serve receive?
• What blade weight would you recommend with this setup? I was thinking around 88–90g.

I would really appreciate opinions from players who have tried these blades, especially W968 National, W968S, Q968, or H3 National without booster.


Thank you.

 

[Tyce]

If you aren't going to use booster at all, I think you're wasting your money on any combination of H3 + premium DHS blade. H3 is meant to be boosted. You're basically buying a deflated tire - it needs pumping up to usable pressure.

Alternatively, you could go for 729/Friendship Battle 2 (or 3) which is quite usable out of the package without additional boosting. Hurricane 8 *might* also work because it has a little more catapult than H3.
Or, if you don't mind heavy gear, Nittaku's Hurricane 3 Turbo which has a "Japanese sponge".

If you insist on your selection of FH + premium DHS blade, and you're afraid D05 would be too fast, you could use Glayzer on your BH instead.

Third alternative, try using D09c on your current setup's FH. Especially if you are happy with the rest of it - blade and BH combo - this might be gold (and cheaper, easier to adjust to).


With the alternatives served, I would not recommend putting H3N on Harimoto ALC. The power curve of Butterfly's Innerforce ALC blade is a mismatch to H3's activation curves IMO. What I'm trying to say is, you don't want a blade that's closest to Harimoto ALC if your goal is to put H3 on it.
Forget about the special editions blades, pocket the hundreds of dollars that you don't have to spend on those. Get whichever you like most between W968 and Q968 (I would personally pick the black one even if I don't like WCQ all that much - it just looks better to me).

 

[struke]

If you aren't going to use booster at all, I think you're wasting your money on any combination of H3 + premium DHS blade. H3 is meant to be boosted. You're basically buying a deflated tire - it needs pumping up to usable pressure.

Alternatively, you could go for 729/Friendship Battle 2 (or 3) which is quite usable out of the package without additional boosting. Hurricane 8 *might* also work because it has a little more catapult than H3.
Or, if you don't mind heavy gear, Nittaku's Hurricane 3 Turbo which has a "Japanese sponge".

If you insist on your selection of FH + premium DHS blade, and you're afraid D05 would be too fast, you could use Glayzer on your BH instead.

Third alternative, try using D09c on your current setup's FH. Especially if you are happy with the rest of it - blade and BH combo - this might be gold (and cheaper, easier to adjust to).


With the alternatives served, I would not recommend putting H3N on Harimoto ALC. The power curve of Butterfly's Innerforce ALC blade is a mismatch to H3's activation curves IMO. What I'm trying to say is, you don't want a blade that's closest to Harimoto ALC if your goal is to put H3 on it.
Forget about the special editions blades, pocket the hundreds of dollars that you don't have to spend on those. Get whichever you like most between W968 and Q968 (I would personally pick the black one even if I don't like WCQ all that much - it just looks better to me).

Thanks for the detailed reply, I appreciate it.


I understand your point that H3 is commonly boosted and that many players feel it performs best that way. However, I already bought the DHS Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge 2.1, and I really do not want to use booster or deal with re-boosting/maintenance. I prefer to use it as it comes from the factory, even if that means less speed or catapult.


The reason I still want to use this rubber is that I already tried H3 Neo National Blue Sponge unboosted on a DHS Hurricane Long 5 commercial blade, and I really enjoyed the FH topspin. It felt more real, heavy and dangerous than Dignics 05 on FH. The main difficulty for me was the short game, not the topspin.


About the blade feeling: I prefer something closer to my Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC feeling, and less similar to Viscaria. I tried Dignics 05 on Viscaria before and it felt too fast/hard/direct for me. On my Harimoto Innerforce ALC, Dignics 05 feels perfect, especially on BH, so I want to keep Dignics 05 on backhand.


I also tried Dignics 09C before and did not like it as much as Dignics 05, so I do not really want to go in that direction.


If we narrow it down to W968 National vs Q968, considering that I will use unboosted H3 Neo National on FH and Dignics 05 on BH, and that I prefer an inner-carbon feeling closer to Harimoto rather than Viscaria, which one do you think would be more forgiving and suitable for an intermediate player?


My main priorities are:

• easier adaptation from Harimoto Innerforce ALC
• strong FH topspin with unboosted H3 Neo National
• reliable BH with Dignics 05
• better short game, pushes and serve receive
• not too direct, hard or demanding

Would you still pick Q968 over W968 National for my case, or would W968 National be the safer choice?

 

[golden_son]

They all have more or less the same composition, but Q968 is going to be closer to your HALC in terms of head size and responsiveness, if you're looking for a "smoother" transition. Though honestly without trying someone else's first I don't know why you would switch since on paper they are essentially the same and the DHS blades are ridiculously expensive. You might like it better, but it might end up a detriment.

You're also planning to switch both blade and FH rubber at the same time, which is a big change. Be prepared to love it for an hour or two in practice and then hate it as soon as you play your first match, and continue to hate it for a while after that until you A) switch back to your old setup or B) eventually get used to it. That much change takes a while to feel comfortable. I'd start with the blade first (if you must "upgrade") so you have a direct comparison with your current blade.

I'm with Tyce and definitely don't recommend playing H3 National BS unboosted (great tire analogy btw). It may make those great, "deadly" topspins in practice when you're in position and fully committed to your FH stroke, but the second you're out of position or give it less effort that ball loses any quality. Even boosted you still need to be on your game, but at least it's more forgiving on imperfect hits and touch shots. Unboosted you're paying $100 for a somewhat tacky brick. If boosting is too much trouble, sell that H3 and get one of the livelier alternatives mentioned (Battle III, Rxton 7/9, Sanwei Target National). They're all considerably cheaper, too, so you could probably get a sheet of each one for the price of that H3 National BS...

 

[struke]

They all have more or less the same composition, but Q968 is going to be closer to your HALC in terms of head size and responsiveness, if you're looking for a "smoother" transition. Though honestly without trying someone else's first I don't know why you would switch since on paper they are essentially the same and the DHS blades are ridiculously expensive. You might like it better, but it might end up a detriment.

You're also planning to switch both blade and FH rubber at the same time, which is a big change. Be prepared to love it for an hour or two in practice and then hate it as soon as you play your first match, and continue to hate it for a while after that until you A) switch back to your old setup or B) eventually get used to it. That much change takes a while to feel comfortable. I'd start with the blade first (if you must "upgrade") so you have a direct comparison with your current blade.

I'm with Tyce and definitely don't recommend playing H3 National BS unboosted (great tire analogy btw). It may make those great, "deadly" topspins in practice when you're in position and fully committed to your FH stroke, but the second you're out of position or give it less effort that ball loses any quality. Even boosted you still need to be on your game, but at least it's more forgiving on imperfect hits and touch shots. Unboosted you're paying $100 for a somewhat tacky brick. If boosting is too much trouble, sell that H3 and get one of the livelier alternatives mentioned (Battle III, Rxton 7/9, Sanwei Target National). They're all considerably cheaper, too, so you could probably get a sheet of each one for the price of that H3 National BS...

Thanks a lot for the detailed reply, I really appreciate it.


Just to clarify one important point: I already bought the DHS Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge 2.1, not the regular non-Neo version. From what I understood, the Neo version comes factory tuned/boosted to some extent from the factory.


I completely understand that many players still boost even the Neo version and that H3 usually performs best when boosted. However, I really do not want to deal with booster or re-boosting. I prefer to use the rubber as it comes from the factory, even if I lose some speed or catapult.


Another question: why would you recommend Q968 over W968 National in my case?


From what I have read, I got the impression that W968 National is usually considered more forgiving, more dwell-oriented and better for heavy FH topspin, while Q968 is often described as more direct, faster, more responsive and possibly less forgiving.


Since I am an intermediate player coming from Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC, and I prefer a feeling closer to Harimoto rather than Viscaria, I thought W968 National might be the safer and more forgiving option.


Could you please explain why you think Q968 would be closer to my Harimoto ALC and better for a smoother transition?


My priorities are still:

• easier adaptation from Harimoto Innerforce ALC
• unboosted H3 Neo National Blue Sponge on FH
• Dignics 05 on BH
• good short game, pushes and serve receive
• not too direct, hard or demanding
• strong but controllable FH topspin

Would you still recommend Q968 over W968 National after considering that my rubber is the Neo National Blue Sponge version and that I prefer a Harimoto-like inner carbon feeling?

 

[struke]

Thanks a lot for the detailed reply, I really appreciate it.


Just to clarify one important point: I already bought the DHS Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge 2.1, not the regular non-Neo version. From what I understood, the Neo version comes factory tuned/boosted to some extent from the factory.


I completely understand that many players still boost even the Neo version and that H3 usually performs best when boosted. However, I really do not want to deal with booster or re-boosting. I prefer to use the rubber as it comes from the factory, even if I lose some speed or catapult.


Another question: why would you recommend Q968 over W968 National in my case?


From what I have read, I got the impression that W968 National is usually considered more forgiving, more dwell-oriented and better for heavy FH topspin, while Q968 is often described as more direct, faster, more responsive and possibly less forgiving.


Since I am an intermediate player coming from Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC, and I prefer a feeling closer to Harimoto rather than Viscaria, I thought W968 National might be the safer and more forgiving option.


Could you please explain why you think Q968 would be closer to my Harimoto ALC and better for a smoother transition?


My priorities are still:

• easier adaptation from Harimoto Innerforce ALC
• unboosted H3 Neo National Blue Sponge on FH
• Dignics 05 on BH
• good short game, pushes and serve receive
• not too direct, hard or demanding
• strong but controllable FH topspin

Would you still recommend Q968 over W968 National after considering that my rubber is the Neo National Blue Sponge version and that I prefer a Harimoto-like inner carbon feeling?

One more question:


If I decide not to use the H3 Neo National Blue Sponge and instead choose DHS Hurricane 8 for my forehand, would Hurricane 8 be a better option for my case since I do not want to use booster?


Would Hurricane 8 work well on both W968 National and Q968?


Also, how would you describe Hurricane 8 compared to H3 Neo National Blue Sponge?


Is Hurricane 8 still a tacky Chinese-style rubber with good spin, but with more built-in catapult and easier use out of the package?


For my level and goals, would Hurricane 8 on FH + Dignics 05 on BH make more sense than unboosted H3 Neo National Blue Sponge, especially on W968 or Q968?

 

[Tyce]

You are overthinking this.

Both blades are great, one is a little more stiff than the other and they are both made to be played with Hurricane.
It's far more important to use it and get used to it - even a couple of weeks with one blade will make it better for you than the other even if it was initially the worse choice.

If you have unlimited budget, do your thing, but I don't understand why you would pick the most expensive options of something you have only had a short taste of. Getting a Provincial version would be adequate for almost everyone and a lot cheaper.

 

[Faker]

They all have more or less the same composition, but Q968 is going to be closer to your HALC in terms of head size and responsiveness, if you're looking for a "smoother" transition. Though honestly without trying someone else's first I don't know why you would switch since on paper they are essentially the same and the DHS blades are ridiculously expensive. You might like it better, but it might end up a detriment.

You're also planning to switch both blade and FH rubber at the same time, which is a big change. Be prepared to love it for an hour or two in practice and then hate it as soon as you play your first match, and continue to hate it for a while after that until you A) switch back to your old setup or B) eventually get used to it. That much change takes a while to feel comfortable. I'd start with the blade first (if you must "upgrade") so you have a direct comparison with your current blade.

I'm with Tyce and definitely don't recommend playing H3 National BS unboosted (great tire analogy btw). It may make those great, "deadly" topspins in practice when you're in position and fully committed to your FH stroke, but the second you're out of position or give it less effort that ball loses any quality. Even boosted you still need to be on your game, but at least it's more forgiving on imperfect hits and touch shots. Unboosted you're paying $100 for a somewhat tacky brick. If boosting is too much trouble, sell that H3 and get one of the livelier alternatives mentioned (Battle III, Rxton 7/9, Sanwei Target National). They're all considerably cheaper, too, so you could probably get a sheet of each one for the price of that H3 National BS...

And maybe S968 can feel similar to your HALC. But maybe it can feel faster to your HALC. But the touch, feel and spin is better ı believe. Even though W968 and Q968 are more popular, ı think S968 is more suitable for European players.

 

[struke]

You are overthinking this.

Both blades are great, one is a little more stiff than the other and they are both made to be played with Hurricane.
It's far more important to use it and get used to it - even a couple of weeks with one blade will make it better for you than the other even if it was initially the worse choice.

If you have unlimited budget, do your thing, but I don't understand why you would pick the most expensive options of something you have only had a short taste of. Getting a Provincial version would be adequate for almost everyone and a lot cheaper.

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate your honest opinion.


I understand your point that I may be overthinking it, and that both W968 and Q968 are excellent blades made to work with Hurricane. I also understand that getting used to one setup is probably more important than small differences between these blades.


However, I would like to clarify one specific point about the rubber:


I bought DHS Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge 2.1. From what I have read, the Neo National version already comes factory-tuned/boosted by DHS to some extent. I understand that many players still add booster, and that it may perform better with additional boosting, but I really do not want to use booster or re-boost the rubber myself.


So my question is:
Do you still think H3 Neo National Blue Sponge is a bad idea completely unboosted, even though it is the Neo factory-tuned version?
Or is it still playable and reasonable on a DHS blade like W968 National or Q968, if I accept that it will have less catapult and speed?


One more question about DHS blades:


I have read several posts here about DHS blades having top-ply damage or wood splintering when removing rubbers. Some people recommended using a blade protector before gluing the rubbers.


I believe the dedicated DHS product is called DHS AP01 Blade Protector.


For a premium DHS blade like W968 / Q968, should this protector be applied only once before the first rubber assembly, or should it be applied again every time I change rubbers?


I usually replace rubbers every 6–8 months, so I want to understand the correct long-term maintenance procedure.


Thanks again for your help.

 

[Matteones]

W968 (or Q968, or S968) is not the racket you are looking for at your level and especially if you play it with unboosted hurricane: you will just experience pain and hardship, but from what I read in the post you are not willing to accept advice, which is a legit position, just try it for yourself and see how you like that blade with that rubber coming from HALC and dignics 05. Which by the way I also wouldn't recommend for someone at beginner/intermediate level like you.

 

[Faker]

But you can also use Fastarc G1 with the viscaria. If you don't want to use boosted hurricane. G1 is a excellent rubber too.

 

[golden_son]

The HALC is already a slightly larger, faster, more direct version of an inner carbon blade, hence why I said the Q968 would be more similar in feeling and thus an easier transition. The Q968 is also generally accepted to have a better backhand than the W968.

Look, H3 Blue Sponge, whether Neo or not, is meant to be boosted, period. That's why it only goes up to 2.1 thickness. Notice there are only Provincial and National versions, and not a Commercial BS? It's designed for advanced Chinese team players who will boost it like crazy, use it for a couple of weeks at most, and then replace it.

You gotta understand the material to get the best performance out of it. Would you use a smartphone without a SIM card? Sure, it's still got a nice camera, but you need a 5G plan if you really want to get the most out of what you bought.

I get that you already bought the H3N BS. That doesn't mean you're stuck with it. I bet there are players at your club that would buy it off of you, or you could put it up for sale here at a slight discount. Or just order some Haifu and give in to the Dark Side .

 

[Gekko]

Do what you want, but it's a very expensive lesson to learn to listen to the collective advice.

If you're not boosting and intend to replace it 6-8 months, then Hurricane will have plenty of life left.

From your questions I think you are diving in way too deep over your head. But best of luck mate, I hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[mihalichtheone]

1. DHS W968 Hurricane Long 5 National
2. DHS W968 Gold Grand Slam
3. DHS Golden 6 W968 / W968S Ma Long
4. DHS Q968 Hurricane King National

Pick one by the looks (I enjoy blue handle with Ma Long photo, of course), slap that non-boosted H3 and D05 and just have fun playing, these are all good blades. Hitting through w968 with unboosted h3 is gonna be so hard though

 

[Yxoons]

Hi everyone,


I would like to get honest advice before buying a premium DHS blade.


I am considering these 4 DHS blades:

1. DHS W968 Hurricane Long 5 National
2. DHS W968 Gold Grand Slam
3. DHS Golden 6 W968 / W968S Ma Long
4. DHS Q968 Hurricane King National

My planned setup is:


FH: DHS Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge 2.1
BH: Butterfly Dignics 05 2.1


Important note: I do not want to use booster at all, now or in the future. I want to use the Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge exactly as it comes from the factory, without boosting or re-boosting. Please take this into account when recommending the best blade for me.


About me:
I am a 32-year-old intermediate-level player. I train 4 hours per week in group sessions, plus one private 1-hour coaching session every week. My FH, BH, topspin, push and chop are quite stable for my level.


My current setup is Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC with Dignics 05 2.1 on both sides. I really like Dignics 05 on backhand, especially on inner carbon blades. I tried it on Viscaria before and it felt too fast/hard for me.


I also tried a DHS Hurricane Long 5 commercial with H3 Neo National Blue Sponge on forehand for one training session. The FH topspin felt much more real, heavy and dangerous compared to Dignics 05 on FH, and I really enjoyed it. However, I struggled more in the short game.


My goal is to move to a high-quality DHS blade for long-term use. I am not looking only for prestige or speed. I want the most suitable and forgiving option for my level with this setup, while still giving me high performance and long-term development potential.


Which of these 4 DHS blades would you recommend for me?


Main questions:

• Is W968 National the safest and best choice for my level and setup?
• Is W968S / Golden 6 more or less forgiving than W968 National?
• Is W968 Gold Grand Slam mainly a collector blade, or also a better playing blade?
• Is Q968 too fast/direct for my level?
• Which one would be closest in feeling to Harimoto Innerforce ALC, but with a premium DHS feeling?
• Which blade would be best for FH topspin with unboosted H3 National and still reliable on BH with Dignics 05?
• Which one is better for short game, pushes and serve receive?
• What blade weight would you recommend with this setup? I was thinking around 88–90g.

I would really appreciate opinions from players who have tried these blades, especially W968 National, W968S, Q968, or H3 National without booster.


Thank you.

I can talk on the differences of W968, as I myself have been through that journey recently, and landed on W968 6-gold, mainly due to the thickness of the blade and handle, check my other post for comparison (it's very noticeable).

W968 National and Gold Grand Slam are more similar in handle size, and main differences is that Gold Grand Slam/6-gold is better for backhand because of the thicker core, and you definitely feel it. However this also makes it less "crisp" in my opinion, which is what others like about the W968. The thicker blade/handle also makes it a lot easier for me to transition between backhand and forehand. I'm mainly a backhand player, and I find it suit me very good.

I wouldn't call any of them too fast, however I would say the Gold and 6-gold have a longer trajectory which makes them take a bit longer to adapt to.

If you do decide to play unboosted, I would also look into getting the H3N star player editions, as they’re better tuned by the factory and can be played more easily without booster. The price from Prott is very similar to the ones of H3N national.

 

[struke]

I can talk on the differences of W968, as I myself have been through that journey recently, and landed on W968 6-gold, mainly due to the thickness of the blade and handle, check my other post for comparison (it's very noticeable).

W968 National and Gold Grand Slam are more similar in handle size, and main differences is that Gold Grand Slam/6-gold is better for backhand because of the thicker core, and you definitely feel it. However this also makes it less "crisp" in my opinion, which is what others like about the W968. The thicker blade/handle also makes it a lot easier for me to transition between backhand and forehand. I'm mainly a backhand player, and I find it suit me very good.

I wouldn't call any of them too fast, however I would say the Gold and 6-gold have a longer trajectory which makes them take a bit longer to adapt to.

If you do decide to play unboosted, I would also look into getting the H3N star player editions, as they’re better tuned by the factory and can be played more easily without booster. The price from Prott is very similar to the ones of H3N national.

I can talk on the differences of W968, as I myself have been through that journey recently, and landed on W968 6-gold, mainly due to the thickness of the blade and handle, check my other post for comparison (it's very noticeable).

W968 National and Gold Grand Slam are more similar in handle size, and main differences is that Gold Grand Slam/6-gold is better for backhand because of the thicker core, and you definitely feel it. However this also makes it less "crisp" in my opinion, which is what others like about the W968. The thicker blade/handle also makes it a lot easier for me to transition between backhand and forehand. I'm mainly a backhand player, and I find it suit me very good.

I wouldn't call any of them too fast, however I would say the Gold and 6-gold have a longer trajectory which makes them take a bit longer to adapt to.

If you do decide to play unboosted, I would also look into getting the H3N star player editions, as they’re better tuned by the factory and can be played more easily without booster. The price from Prott is very similar to the ones of H3N national.

Thank you very much for the detailed reply. I really appreciate the explanation, especially the part about Innerforce blades being more “two-gear” blades and Viscaria feeling more linear, direct and crisp. That actually makes a lot of sense to me.

I also understand your point that it is not about “outgrowing” the Harimoto Innerforce ALC, but more about discovering blade preferences and what feels better for your own game.

I have one more question:

Do you think Viscaria with the following setup is a smart combination?

FH: Butterfly Dignics 09C 2.1
BH: Butterfly Dignics 05 2.1

My idea is that Dignics 09C on the forehand could give me more grip, spin, heavier topspin and better short game control compared to Dignics 05 on FH, while Dignics 05 on the backhand would still give me the speed, stability and direct pressure that I like.

Also, in your opinion, is the regular Viscaria more forgiving than the Fan Zhendong ALC, or are they basically the same in that regard?

And do you think the Viscaria has the same or even higher ceiling compared to Fan Zhendong ALC, considering how proven and popular it has been for so many years?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Yxoons]

Thank you very much for the detailed reply. I really appreciate the explanation, especially the part about Innerforce blades being more “two-gear” blades and Viscaria feeling more linear, direct and crisp. That actually makes a lot of sense to me.

I also understand your point that it is not about “outgrowing” the Harimoto Innerforce ALC, but more about discovering blade preferences and what feels better for your own game.

I have one more question:

Do you think Viscaria with the following setup is a smart combination?

FH: Butterfly Dignics 09C 2.1
BH: Butterfly Dignics 05 2.1

My idea is that Dignics 09C on the forehand could give me more grip, spin, heavier topspin and better short game control compared to Dignics 05 on FH, while Dignics 05 on the backhand would still give me the speed, stability and direct pressure that I like.

Also, in your opinion, is the regular Viscaria more forgiving than the Fan Zhendong ALC, or are they basically the same in that regard?

And do you think the Viscaria has the same or even higher ceiling compared to Fan Zhendong ALC, considering how proven and popular it has been for so many years?

Thanks again for your help.

I think you replied to the wrong comment it seems, for your reply I can’t really help much sadly

 

[harty]

Hi everyone,


I would like to get honest advice before buying a premium DHS blade.


I am considering these 4 DHS blades:

1. DHS W968 Hurricane Long 5 National
2. DHS W968 Gold Grand Slam
3. DHS Golden 6 W968 / W968S Ma Long
4. DHS Q968 Hurricane King National

My planned setup is:


FH: DHS Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge 2.1
BH: Butterfly Dignics 05 2.1


Important note: I do not want to use booster at all, now or in the future. I want to use the Hurricane 3 Neo National 40 Blue Sponge exactly as it comes from the factory, without boosting or re-boosting. Please take this into account when recommending the best blade for me.


About me:
I am a 32-year-old intermediate-level player. I train 4 hours per week in group sessions, plus one private 1-hour coaching session every week. My FH, BH, topspin, push and chop are quite stable for my level.


My current setup is Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC with Dignics 05 2.1 on both sides. I really like Dignics 05 on backhand, especially on inner carbon blades. I tried it on Viscaria before and it felt too fast/hard for me.


I also tried a DHS Hurricane Long 5 commercial with H3 Neo National Blue Sponge on forehand for one training session. The FH topspin felt much more real, heavy and dangerous compared to Dignics 05 on FH, and I really enjoyed it. However, I struggled more in the short game.


My goal is to move to a high-quality DHS blade for long-term use. I am not looking only for prestige or speed. I want the most suitable and forgiving option for my level with this setup, while still giving me high performance and long-term development potential.


Which of these 4 DHS blades would you recommend for me?


Main questions:

• Is W968 National the safest and best choice for my level and setup?
• Is W968S / Golden 6 more or less forgiving than W968 National?
• Is W968 Gold Grand Slam mainly a collector blade, or also a better playing blade?
• Is Q968 too fast/direct for my level?
• Which one would be closest in feeling to Harimoto Innerforce ALC, but with a premium DHS feeling?
• Which blade would be best for FH topspin with unboosted H3 National and still reliable on BH with Dignics 05?
• Which one is better for short game, pushes and serve receive?
• What blade weight would you recommend with this setup? I was thinking around 88–90g.

I would really appreciate opinions from players who have tried these blades, especially W968 National, W968S, Q968, or H3 National without booster.


Thank you.

FYI, there is no "National" designation for the W968 and Q968 blades. Only the DHS rubbers have the designation "National" or "Provincial". National is just a marketing gimmick.

 

[Yxoons]

FYI, there is no "National" designation for the W968 and Q968 blades. Only the DHS rubbers have the designation "National" or "Provincial". National is just a marketing gimmick.

That’s incorrect, provincial is just referred to as W968 letters also.

 

[harty]

I think you replied to the wrong comment it seems, for your reply I can’t really help much sadly

For markets other than China, no W968 has national and provincial designations, see attachment.