Friendship battle 2 national vs provincial

This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Mar 2024
120
108
239
Hello,
Recently I've switched from the 729 Battle II prov to the 729 Battle III to make it easier to spin the ball on low power shots, but I feel like I've lost too much top end power. Will the Battle II national be a good compromise between the two? The hardness is 39deg in all cases. I like the B3 for the low end shots (half long loops, loops when out of position, the spin in general), but I feel like it sometimes lacks the kick when I try to kill the ball.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Jan 2021
3,922
2,876
8,104
Read 1 reviews
For low end topspin You need to brush, for high power You need to engage the sponge. I don't know of a rubber that is great for both. Its a compromise. H3 OS in the "brush end" of the scale and Tenergy in the "enganging the sponge" end of the scale. Everything in between is a compromize.

My guess for the best compromise here would be H3 39 provincial Blue (Maybe H3N).... I have played with Battle 2 and I didn't like it nearly as much as H3...

Cheers
L-zr
 
  • Like
Reactions: Angerer
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Jan 2024
327
411
1,140
Hello,
Recently I've switched from the 729 Battle II prov to the 729 Battle III to make it easier to spin the ball on low power shots, but I feel like I've lost too much top end power. Will the Battle II national be a good compromise between the two? The hardness is 39deg in all cases. I like the B3 for the low end shots (half long loops, loops when out of position, the spin in general), but I feel like it sometimes lacks the kick when I try to kill the ball.
Maybe try Battle 2 Provincial Gold?
It only comes in 40 degrees (and has the most powerful purple sponge in the series), it can kill balls, and has solid spin on brushes.
By default, it's more "killer shot" oriented. But 1 layer of Falco Long booster made brushing attacks good enough, so it's a decent compromise for versatile play.

P.S. Lazer is right about H3N Prov Blue 39 having the best sweet spot for your playstyle - slow spinny shots are excellent, while the "kill shot" potential is still decent.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Mar 2024
120
108
239
Maybe try Battle 2 Provincial Gold?

P.S. Lazer is right about H3N Prov Blue 39 having the best sweet spot for your playstyle - slow spinny shots are excellent, while the "kill shot" potential is still decent.
Hmm... Havent thought about it, but boosting is mostly a no for me... Besides it's supposed to have the same top sheet as the normal B2, which is unfortunetly too hard for me on those low power shots...

I've read some reviews suggesting that the Battle 2 Nat is easier to play with (more elastic), hence my question.

And well, I know the H3 is pretty much the best out there (I was gonna test it eventually, for now looking for something more familiar in order not to confuse myself mid-season), but at the same time it is kind of expensive, im not sure whether it'd benefit me at my level, and overall Im unsure about the price/performance ratio of the rubber.
 
Last edited:
says Leave the righteousness to me.
says Leave the righteousness to me.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Nov 2020
1,611
1,467
7,000
Hmm... Havent thought about it, but boosting is mostly a no for me... Besides it's supposed to have the same top sheet as the normal B2, which is unfortunetly too hard for me on those low power shots...

I've read some reviews suggesting that the Battle 2 Nat is easier to play with (more elastic), hence my question.

And well, I know the H3 is pretty much the best out there (I was gonna test it eventually, for now looking for something more familiar in order not to confuse myself mid-season), but at the same time it is kind of expensive, im not sure whether it'd benefit me at my level, and overall Im unsure about the price/performance ratio of the rubber.

Try Loki Rxton 9 in H39.
 
says Leave the righteousness to me.
says Leave the righteousness to me.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Nov 2020
1,611
1,467
7,000
Any reviews I could read to get the idea of what to expect?

Wow, I see now you play Rakza XX now on the BH, me too. Anyway, reviews - I guess you have to search a little. I personally don't try to write reviews, just couple of hints by comparing with other rubber. So, I suggested the R9 H39, because you want H3 prov. BS alternative, which has elastic top-sheet and is cheaper, and R9 ticks those. All I can say is that for me (we all feel diff.) it is the best H3 prov. BS alternative. In this thread there is some short discussion. Put simply: trust me and thank me later ;)

@Attitude, @TensorBackhand - do you know about some R9 reviews, by chance?
 
Last edited:
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Jul 2015
305
308
999
Read 1 reviews
The difference between B2 Nat and Prov is not very big. What's more interesting to me is that you write that you've lost top end speed.. I would say that Bat 2 Prov has great gears and a rather serious top end speed. The National version may be a liiiiitle bit faster, but not by much. So I would assume if you have problems with Top End speed with the Prov - the National won't help a lot. But I would suggest you experiment with technique a little - the Prov version has a lot of speed in it really..
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Mar 2024
120
108
239
Wow, I see now you play Rakza XX now on the BH, me too. Anyway, reviews - I guess you have to search a little. I personally don't try to write reviews, just couple of hints by comparing with other rubber. So, I suggested the R9 H39, because you want H3 prov. BS alternative, which has elastic top-sheet and is cheaper, and R9 ticks those. All I can say is that for me (we all feel diff.) it is the best H3 prov. BS alternative. In this thread there is some short discussion. Put simply: trust me and thank me later ;)

@Attitude, @TensorBackhand - do you know about some R9 reviews, by chance?
Okayy, many thanks for your contribution!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: latej
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Mar 2024
120
108
239
The difference between B2 Nat and Prov is not very big. What's more interesting to me is that you write that you've lost top end speed.. I would say that Bat 2 Prov has great gears and a rather serious top end speed. The National version may be a liiiiitle bit faster, but not by much. So I would assume if you have problems with Top End speed with the Prov - the National won't help a lot. But I would suggest you experiment with technique a little - the Prov version has a lot of speed in it really..
I think you misunderstood a little. I switched from the B2 Prov to the B3, which made the rally play easier, but at the same time the kill shots aren't as spinny or as fast as with the B2 prov.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Aug 2023
30
10
43
I played with B2 BS Prov and Nat. They are the same except that Nat is more consistent. I agree with you that B3 OS is a bit slower, less top end power and more difficult to hit through because of different sponge. I boosted the B3 and it is easier to hit through and seems faster. If you don’t like boosting, then may be you have to consider other rubbers. Friendship 729 has the new Battle 2 Neo but I haven’t tried it yet.
 
says former JPEN, now CPEN
Hmm... Havent thought about it, but boosting is mostly a no for me... Besides it's supposed to have the same top sheet as the normal B2, which is unfortunetly too hard for me on those low power shots...

I've read some reviews suggesting that the Battle 2 Nat is easier to play with (more elastic), hence my question.

And well, I know the H3 is pretty much the best out there (I was gonna test it eventually, for now looking for something more familiar in order not to confuse myself mid-season), but at the same time it is kind of expensive, im not sure whether it'd benefit me at my level, and overall Im unsure about the price/performance ratio of the rubber.

b2 nat is indeed more elastic but as mentioned in the prev thread you would still need to boost it otherwise the shots are not threatening enough (at least for me) and it is not what you are looking for

OTOH b2 nat unboosted will undoubtedly be the better choice than prov if your blade is fast enough

the blade i am using at that moment (yasaka atletico spin) that i used both B2s with is a little weak for a carbon blade
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Jul 2015
305
308
999
Read 1 reviews
I think you misunderstood a little. I switched from the B2 Prov to the B3, which made the rally play easier, but at the same time the kill shots aren't as spinny or as fast as with the B2 prov.
Ok, yes, my bad :) Well, the logic stays mostly the same - can't say there's big difference between the Nat and the Prov versions. I play with the Nat version (unboosted) and it's either you do quality shots with good effort, or the shots are not a problem to the opponent(and still - B2 is much better in this regard compared to other tacky rubbers).. This is a typical problem for classical tacky rubbers. Maybe boosting can solve this, but I don't know :)
 
says nothing
says nothing
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Apr 2021
1,106
1,277
3,973
Read 1 reviews
Hmm... Havent thought about it, but boosting is mostly a no for me... Besides it's supposed to have the same top sheet as the normal B2, which is unfortunetly too hard for me on those low power shots...

I've read some reviews suggesting that the Battle 2 Nat is easier to play with (more elastic), hence my question.

And well, I know the H3 is pretty much the best out there (I was gonna test it eventually, for now looking for something more familiar in order not to confuse myself mid-season), but at the same time it is kind of expensive, im not sure whether it'd benefit me at my level, and overall Im unsure about the price/performance ratio of the rubber.
I suggest you try B2 NT, once was my favorite (after Bloom Power and Battle 2 Golden :p) it has very good high end power, the throw angle is a bit lower than H3 of the same degree but the power is the same. I played it unboosted and did not lack power
 
Top