Dignics 80 vs Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial

[JJ Ng]

Reviving this thread because i have been playing with the 09C on my Bh of prov W968 and it’s kind of like you said, the throw angle does make me feel uncomfortable. But my BH is now very strong with 09C and it’s been noted by my club mates as much stronger than before. But even still after nearly 3 months of using the 09C i can’t really adjust to the throw angle during matches. Maybe I should try going back to H3N on my BH but with 2 layers boost since my BH is stronger now.

If budget is not a concern and durability is not a concern, why not try K3? From my clubmates who play with both K3 and D09c, they are similar enough but K3 might have slightly lower throw.

there is a huge debate about the durability of K3 so I have no comment in this area (I have played with K1 europe version and K2; I liked K2 alright. I got my K2 from Aliexpress because TT11 stopped carrying K2. If K3 plays similarly or better than K2, then K3 is a pretty good choice).

 

[Migzkulit]

If budget is not a concern and durability is not a concern, why not try K3? From my clubmates who play with both K3 and D09c, they are similar enough but K3 might have slightly lower throw.

there is a huge debate about the durability of K3 so I have no comment in this area (I have played with K1 europe version and K2; I liked K2 alright. I got my K2 from Aliexpress because TT11 stopped carrying K2. If K3 plays similarly or better than K2, then K3 is a pretty good choice).

+1
Dignics 09c to Hurricane again is still a huge gap on backhand. Even boosted, there's not as much support from Hurricane compared to dignics 09c. Putting however many layers of booster to make it similar to D09c just makes it die quicker.

I do hear that K3 is a good backhand rubber as well.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

If budget is not a concern and durability is not a concern, why not try K3? From my clubmates who play with both K3 and D09c, they are similar enough but K3 might have slightly lower throw.

there is a huge debate about the durability of K3 so I have no comment in this area (I have played with K1 europe version and K2; I liked K2 alright. I got my K2 from Aliexpress because TT11 stopped carrying K2. If K3 plays similarly or better than K2, then K3 is a pretty good choice).

My two cents on K3:

I think K3 has a lower throw angle after the tackiness/boost wears off (which is quite quickly). In my experience with K3, the first week plays really fast and spinny, and then the tackiness and boost wear off. I think it's still usable at this point, but many people do not think it is worth using.

After the boost wears off, it's still quite spinny and significantly faster than H3, but the throw angle drops and it feels somewhat mushy. The quality of the topspin-drive decreases, but you can still make high quality backspin pushes using a short sharp motion. Slices and other underspin shots are very stable. Slow-looping also produces very spinny balls.

I think an extra layer of booster on H3N will not solve your problem, and as @Migzkulit said, more booster will just make the rubber degrade faster. K3 is a good rubber to try.

If it's the hard-sponge aspect of hybrid rubbers that you like, you could also try a non-tacky hybrid-ish rubber like Rasanter C53/R53 or Tenergy 05 Hard. I think that the hard sponge preserves the ability to touch well in the short game, which is an aspect of H3 that you said you liked. At the same time, C53, R53 and T05H are faster and springier than H3 when you add some power to them. Their throw angle is lower than D09c or K3, and I think that this is because they are less tacky (or not tacky at all).

 

[NextLevel]

You can try boosting your BH a bit more. I'm switching from D09c to H3 37 on the BH side, boosted x4 layers. The regular Seamoon isn't that strong, so I think 3-4 layers is more appropriate. The D09c can't match the H3 in spin, and you can always generate speed by hitting harder (all equipment top out at similar speed).

Dignics 05 (and the Dignics sponge in general) is highly underestimated as a rubber in many respects. While it isn't sticky, it actually plays closer to Hurricane on pushes when compared to the usual ESN fare. And the need for speed out of short stroke, especially blocks and pushes, should not be underestimated IMHO. I used to wonder how Butterfly could claim the Harimotos were using it on both sides. But since changing to it on backhand, I haven't missed Hurricane or Skyline on backhand. Of course there is Dignics 09c for people who want something stickier, but there is definitely a gap between how Dignics holds the ball vs Tenergy, the bouncing factor is much lower (probably in part because of harder sponge). But everyone has said my backhand play improved in terms of the balls I am able to loop and the heights I am able to loop from.

But yeah, DHS and Butterfly rule the world for a good reason.

 

[Chang]

So I am an intermediate level player who trains about 2 hours per week or so and I am a two wing looper. I currently play with Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial Blue Sponge 40 boosted 2 layer Haifu Seamoon Commercial for my forehand and H3NP Orange Sponge 37 boosted 1 layer HSC on my backhand. My blade is the Viscaria Super ALC

I really enjoy player H3 on forehand but find that on the backhand, while safe, feels quite slow even when boosted. My BH topspin always lands on the table but for blocking it’s really slow. However, my serve receive and short game is my weak point which is why I love H3 for BH.

Recently I came across Dignics 80, and based on the reviews, seem to be a balance of speed spin and control. What are you opinions on this rubber vs H3? Is it a very big change? Will I lose too much in my short game and serve receive in exchange for better BH topspin and Block? Cost is not an issue for me.

(Could also consider Dignics 05 but heard it’s a lot more spin sensitive and worse in short game than D80)

I would offer my perspective here.

Note, that I am not an expert nor someone with great backhand.

Nevertheless, since you are playing with Hurricane on the backhand, it wouldn´t be too good to go for a soft rubber, hence the hardness of dignics is good. Rozena is too soft.

Remember, the backhand receive and short push requires a lot of training, so in the end, it is not about the rubber, but about your skills.

In this case, it depends, on how much are you willing to spend on the rubber.

If you want something similar, but with more catapult, you can go for Dignics 09C, but the tackiness disappears rather quickly and then it will be quicker, but still good. A similar case is already mentioned Tibhar K3, but its top-sheet downgrade really fast, like a month, it changes its characteristics.

Dignics 05 or 80, it doesn´t really matter. Pro players or semi-professionals go with 80 on backhand sometimes- You will get the catapult, the block is also possible, and a short push is a matter of training.

If you would like something cheaper, you can get a Glayzer, it is fast, but not faster than Dignics, it is controllable, it is not sensitive to incoming rotation, the block is good, receive is good, and it lasts long.

Since you are playing with a really fast blade, I would recommend going to 1,9 mm sponge for all rubber, it would be lighter, and better for backhand swing over the table, you would feel the ball more, and the speed loss would be noticeable only in heavy hits, which you say your backhand is not that good, hence you won't perform them too much. It would teach you to feel the rubber and the ball and offer an option to learn better backhand.

Another option, that is still good and would last long would be Donic Baraccuda.

 

[Migzkulit]

Dignics 05 (and the Dignics sponge in general) is highly underestimated as a rubber in many respects. While it isn't sticky, it actually plays closer to Hurricane on pushes when compared to the usual ESN fare. And the need for speed out of short stroke, especially blocks and pushes, should not be underestimated IMHO. I used to wonder how Butterfly could claim the Harimotos were using it on both sides. But since changing to it on backhand, I haven't missed Hurricane or Skyline on backhand. Of course there is Dignics 09c for people who want something stickier, but there is definitely a gap between how Dignics holds the ball vs Tenergy, the bouncing factor is much lower (probably in part because of harder sponge). But everyone has said my backhand play improved in terms of the balls I am able to loop and the heights I am able to loop from.

But yeah, DHS and Butterfly rule the world for a good reason.

Yep Dignics and Tenergy feels miles apart. It just feels so solid that when I compared H8-80 and Dignics 05, they felt the "same". Any other rubber feels mushy in comparison except for those harder >53 deg sponges from ESN.

 

[joshmak10]

To everyone who replied, thank you for all your thoughts and suggestions, I really do appreciate it. I am probably going to use a Butterfly rubber on the BH, but I am struggling between the T05H and D05. I have used both these rubbers before on a outer carbon when I was a beginner (huge mistake there, couldn’t control them in matches), but they both felt like really good rubbers, especially the D05 on BH, I only tried T05H on Forehand.

Since I am at the level to use T05H and D05 now, which one would be better for me, especially regarding backhand loops, blocks, spin sensitivity, and short game? Durability is also a factor in my choice of rubber, which is why I don’t pick K3 because the ones I had before didn’t feel good for me after a month

 

[MrGeorge]

To everyone who replied, thank you for all your thoughts and suggestions, I really do appreciate it. I am probably going to use a Butterfly rubber on the BH, but I am struggling between the T05H and D05. I have used both these rubbers before on a outer carbon when I was a beginner (huge mistake there, couldn’t control them in matches), but they both felt like really good rubbers, especially the D05 on BH, I only tried T05H on Forehand.

Since I am at the level to use T05H and D05 now, which one would be better for me, especially regarding backhand loops, blocks, spin sensitivity, and short game? Durability is also a factor in my choice of rubber, which is why I don’t pick K3 because the ones I had before didn’t feel good for me after a month

D05 is spin sensitive. For T05H I cant say bcs I dont have it.

 

[joshmak10]

D05 is spin sensitive. For T05H I cant say bcs I dont have it.

D05 far more or only a little more spin sensitive than 09C

 

[MrGeorge]

D05 far more or only a little more spin sensitive than 09C

I would disagree. I try it BH as substitution for 09c. But I switched back due to spin sensitivity. Second reason was short game.

 

[NextLevel]

D05 far more or only a little more spin sensitive than 09C

D05 is spin sensitive for sure, but only if you are extremely passive. With just a modest amount of activity, it plays very well, unlike say Tenergy, where you have to be precise. But if you are coming from 09c, once you adjust to the lack of tack, you will get a lot out of the rubber, both on thin brush and on active blocks and counterloops.

The one thing about T05H is that you would need to have really good technique to play over the table backhand spin shots. For that reason I would prefer D05 or D80.

 

[joshmak10]

D05 sounds promising again, but another option would be to just adjust my technique to fit the 09C throw angle, because I really like the spin insensitivity (relative of course), and the short game, really comparable to the H3 short gme

 

[joshmak10]

But it has been 3 months and still struggling a bit to adapt. It’s been getting better the more i train tho

 

[MrGeorge]

But it has been 3 months and still struggling a bit to adapt. It’s been getting better the more i train tho

First of all its technique. If u lack technique then doesn't matter which rubber we using. I can play with D05 or D09c but I like spin and control of 09c and even aggressive block or chop blocks on BH with that rubber. That's the reason why I choose it for BH. For me personally provide better consistency in blocks and pushing.

 

[S-Pin]

The best solution in my view is to train for more than 2 hours a week.

So I am an intermediate level player who trains about 2 hours per week or so

 

[joshmak10]

First of all its technique. If u lack technique then doesn't matter which rubber we using. I can play with D05 or D09c but I like spin and control of 09c and even aggressive block or chop blocks on BH with that rubber. That's the reason why I choose it for BH. For me personally provide better consistency in blocks and pushing.

I think it’s only a technique thing in the way that my racket angle is still too open like I’m too used to using something like a H3 or D05 on my BH. I’ve never had a rubber as high a throw angle as 09C. But it feels like the best rubber in the world for BH for me since it has so much control in short game while still great speed and spin in blocking and topspin’s, even if the throw angle bugs me

 

[joshmak10]

The best solution in my view is to train for more than 2 hours a week.

I’m now training nearly 8 hours a week now

 

[S-Pin]

I’m now training nearly 8 hours a week now

Lots of players who are levels above you and train 20+ hours a week, avoid D09 on BH because it's not an easy rubber to play on BH, so don't be surprised if you struggle. Just be realistic about it. You may as well try to play with a Rakza Z, which is also a high throw rubber, but is much easier to adapt to, and after that your transition to a D09 will be much smoother. Moving back and forth between D09 and H3 won't help, these are too different worlds. My feeling is you are a bit too ambitious for an intermediate player when it comes to your equipment.

 

[joshmak10]

Lots of players who are levels above you and train 20+ hours a week, avoid D09 on BH because it's not an easy rubber to play on BH, so don't be surprised if you struggle. Just be realistic about it. You may as well try to play with a Rakza Z, which is also a high throw rubber, but is much easier to adapt to, and after that your transition to a D09 will be much smoother. Moving back and forth between D09 and H3 won't help, these are too different worlds. My feeling is you are a bit too ambitious for an intermediate player when it comes to your equipment.

I play much better than ever with my current equipment even thought I’m not totally used to the BH yet, and I am probably just going to try and stick with 09C for as long as i Can since I already bought it and don’t want to spend any more money than i have to

 

[MrGeorge]

Lots of players who are levels above you and train 20+ hours a week, avoid D09 on BH because it's not an easy rubber to play on BH, so don't be surprised if you struggle. Just be realistic about it. You may as well try to play with a Rakza Z, which is also a high throw rubber, but is much easier to adapt to, and after that your transition to a D09 will be much smoother. Moving back and forth between D09 and H3 won't help, these are too different worlds. My feeling is you are a bit too ambitious for an intermediate player when it comes to your equipment.

Hmm I am playing TT for 13+ years and training 8hours per week. Its all about how good u understand when some1 explaining technique to you and how fast u can adapt to this technique.