Hu Heming and his latest video on equipment

[JJ Ng]

@Heming Hu just released a video last night and I watched it. I hope he comes back to the forum at some point! A few things and see if we can lead to some discussion:

1) He actually mentioned that with his last video, people said he sounded arrogant. Lol. I think I read the thread here. Some people did give him a bit of hard time in that regard but I hope he is not offended. It is nice to have a pro interacting with us on this forum!!

2) I totally agree with how he approached Hurricane. I do the exactly same thing. Two thick layers. Then the third layer depends. Did the rubber dome up enough after two layers or not? So for me, I would boost the H3 blue sponge with one heavy layer of booster. Let it sit for 48 hours. Then I apply another heavy layer of booster. Let it sit for 48 hours. After that, I will make a determination as to whether to apply a third layer or not. I also just use the regular commercial Haifu in yellow container.

3) For me to put a chinese rubber on properly, after boosting, I have to let the rubber/sponge "relax" and let the dome disappear. This issue is less so with all wood blade that has no lacquer applied. But any new blades that come with quite a bit of lacquer (I am talking about you, Gambler brand), it is actually quite hard to stick the rubber to the blade when it has domed up so much. So nowadays, after the last layer of booster, I would let the rubber sit anywhere from 3-5 days before installing it. Yes the process takes awhile but if you don't want to waste that expensive sheet of Hurricane blue sponge (provincial or national), then you just have to be patient.

4) After applying the glue, like Heming did, I make sure the edges of the rubber and edges of the blade get some extra glue. There is nothing more frustrating for you to go through all the process and the rubber does not stick! Don't be cheap. Pay special attention to the edge of the blade/rubber to make sure they stick well together. And of course pay special attention to apply the right amount of the glue in the middle. At the bottom of the rubber where it touches the blade handle, I don't really care how much glue is there. You get the point.

5) No, I do not get naked when I boost or glue rubber. Lol. Nor do I wear cheaper clothing when I assemble my blades.

6) I used to use one of the Revolution Nr.3 Racket Press. But it is not very effective for me. Plus the screws might not tighten properly after you use it for a while. What I have done is, just put a bunch of heavy books on top of the blade with Hurricane on it, sitting for a few hours. That does the trick. Then I turn the racket over and put the rubber on the other side. And I use scissors to cut. I cannot be bothered with using a knife.

7) For ESN rubber, I also apply one very thin layer of booster, just for the heck of it. I don't know how long the rubber has been sitting in the store/warehouse for. Has it been 3 months? Six months? A year or two? So I just apply one thin layer. When I apply the ESN rubber to my backhand side, it is super easy and super fast (not much waiting is involved).

8) I stretch my rubber a bit when I roll it on. Heming does not like to stretch the rubber at all. However I believe Dima stretches his rubber? This part is very subjective. For me, I just want to make sure there is no bumps, etc so I would line up the rubber at the handle area and then lightly stretch the rubber while rolling the rubber onto the blade. It works for me and I don't plan to change it. In addition, sometimes I like to EJ so when I transfer rubbers between blades, it is just easier to boost the rubber, expand the sponge a bit more so it fits onto the new blade better. Some of the ESN rubbers really shrink quite a bit. I have had issues with rubbers shrinking from the Donic, Tibhar, etc. brands. But the most shrinkage (don't ask me why) comes from the Xiom brand. I could not even attempt to transfer a couple Xiom rubbers because they shrink so badly. Just my personal observation.

9) Heming mentioned about a lot of the equipment assembly process is very subjective. And I agree with that. For me, most of the stuff that he has done, I have learned on my own over the years of assembling my own blades and they resonate with me. We don't do everything exactly the same way but close enough.

10) Heming mentioned that just as long as you don't use a Walmart pre-made blade, all the rest of the blades are just fine. I guess no more Golden Viscaria for me! Lol

 

[TensorBackhand]

Wow 200 free rubbers a year? Seems overkill even if you train everyday

 

[JJ Ng]

Wow 200 free rubbers a year? Seems overkill even if you train everyday

That means he goes through a set of rubber every week? He talked about changing his rubbers, during this playing days, every 2 weeks. So that means there are 52 weeks a year so he needs 26 sets of rubber per year. Yeah, he does not need 100 sets of rubbers a year.

And I agree with him as well. It takes a couple days to break in hurricane. It does not matter how many layers of booster you apply. The first 2-3 days with a new hurricane always feels a bit weird. But after those 2-3 days, the rubber comes alive!

Finally, yeah, I don't blow dry my sponge either after applying the glue. I use Butterfly Free Chack Pro II. That is one thick glue. It does not take long to dry. Heming specifically called out Free Chack glue (probably the original version) that is probably too thin. I have never used that product so I have no comment. Free Chack Pro II works fine for me. The worst is the revolution glue because when it is so thin, you literally and figuratively sit there to watch the paint/glue dry.... lol

I am very patient with the boosting process (well I have to be). But once the dome disappears, I am very impatient in applying both rubbers (one side H3 and one side ESN) onto the blade ASAP. So I have to use thick glue.

 

[banbekas]

My boosting process was a bit different.

1. I apply thin or medium layer of booster directly on the sponge. I don't really believe the whole "glue first before rubber to not weaken the bond between topsheet and sponge" nonsense.
2. Wait for 12-16 hour. I don't put second layer of booster because I feel it makes the rubber too soft and a bit mushy. Like, it loses the hard chinese feel which I like.
3. Next, apply two or three layers of glue on the rubber depending on the viscosity of the glue.
4. Slap it on the blade and play it.

Short and simple, but still a hassle and messy.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Wow 200 free rubbers a year? Seems overkill even if you train everyday

if primary 4 rackets, change every 2 weeks, that is 8 x 26
200 rubbers is actually only just enough.
Many receive way more than 200 rubber a year

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Have to say, I haven't seen a pro cut a rubber so badly, ever.

 

[netdriver]

lol i dont dare to put seamoon on esn/jap rubbers

oso i dont think hes arrogant at all

people who think that has a stick up their bum

 

[banbekas]

if primary 4 rackets, change every 2 weeks, that is 8 x 26
200 rubbers is actually only just enough.
Many receive way more than 200 rubber a year

I assume players like Shin Yubin, Jang Woojin, and other top players who are sponsored by DHS get in the 300 rubbers at least?
For sure CNT players get at least one rubber a day which is 30 rubbers a month?

 

[Lazer]

Not so much arrogant as ”he talks and talks and talks…” I didn’t have the energy to watch the whole thing.

I have my own process it works perfectly and the rubber last for at least o while session.
1) I use H3 prov 39 Orange. Seamoon yellow and Revolution 3 medium viscosity.

2) I use 2 to 3 THIN layers. The second layer as soon as the sponge seen to have been anbsorbed. Usually about 2 hours.

3) Let it sit over night. The next morning I may or may not add a third layer. This depends on the dome.

4) When I come home from work if I didn’t add the third layer it’s time to glue,
If I did it will sit another 24 hours.

5) Normally there is still some some present (sometimes a lot) but I don’t want to waste the tension so I glue it

6) When gluing I want to add as little weight as possible so I use 1 layer on blade, 1 (maybe 2) layers on rubber. Remember that the more times the glue lifts from the edgdes the higher the chance for lifting. I let the glue dry until it’s transparent and feels dry to the touch not longer. I use my home made press. This is just 2 pieces of MDF see below.

7) It sits for at least 2 hours in the press

With this process I get the boosting to last a whole season, actually it degrades gradually so that you get time to get used to it

Now after this season it’s about time to change but it still ha great grip and at the edgdes I can still lift a ball for a few seconds… So I may play longer with this one. It still has life in it. This is after 5 months of 3 2hr sessions per week…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I assume players like Shin Yubin, Jang Woojin, and other top players who are sponsored by DHS get in the 300 rubbers at least?
For sure CNT players get at least one rubber a day which is 30 rubbers a month?

CNT players is unlimited
they order in increments of 50 at a time and supply can be very quick from DHS to CNT.
DHS has a specific staff that service CNT.

I'm not sure what the Koreans get, but I'm sure the quantity is also not an issue.

PS. we don't work on 1 a day, or 30 a month
we normally work on, how many blades, and then work on how many rackets and work from there.
300 isn't a lot to be honest, as if only 4 rackets sets, that is only 37 weeks of new rubbers, or 1 rubber lasting under 1 and half week, which is pushing it.

There is a few key indicators - every tournament will have new rubbers.
Long tournament will have new ones in between too.

1 Hurricane every 3 to 4 days, will require 100 sheets just for 1 blade (1 side) , so if 4 rackets, that is 400 sheets.

 

[banbekas]

CNT players is unlimited
they order in increments of 50 at a time and supply can be very quick from DHS to CNT.
DHS has a specific staff that service CNT.

I'm not sure what the Koreans get, but I'm sure the quantity is also not an issue.

PS. we don't work on 1 a day, or 30 a month
we normally work on, how many blades, and then work on how many rackets and work from there.
300 isn't a lot to be honest, as if only 4 rackets sets, that is only 37 weeks of new rubbers, or 1 rubber lasting under 1 and half week, which is pushing it.

There is a few key indicators - every tournament will have new rubbers.
Long tournament will have new ones in between too.

1 Hurricane every 3 to 4 days, will require 100 sheets just for 1 blade (1 side) , so if 4 rackets, that is 400 sheets.

Woah, that's insane. No wonder I have never seen a blemish everytime I watch them play, it's always fresh out of the package!

 

[Federal_Agent]

Good topic!
As a normal human being, and always thinking about cost VS benefit, my national H3 BS is adjusted every two and a half months.
Atually my protocol for boosting:
1) a medium layer of long temperature and 24h relax;
2) another medium layer and 24 hours relax;
3) a thin layer of national yellow haifu and 48 hours relax;
4) Glue with two layers of DHS evolution 15 on the rubber and one layer on the blade;
5) Relax between heavy books for 24 hours.

To reboot:
I follow the same steps explained above, however I only apply a medium layer of long temp.

With this protocol, my hurricane rubbers maintain their performance for 8 months / 10 months, very satisfactory as I train 12/16 hours a week.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Woah, that's insane. No wonder I have never seen a blemish everytime I watch them play, it's always fresh out of the package!

you don't want to know how many bottles of booster they use a year

 

[banbekas]

you don't want to know how many bottles of booster they use a year

I'd assume a barrel or two per month 😆

 

[vvk1]

Good topic!
As a normal human being, and always thinking about cost VS benefit, my national H3 BS is adjusted every two and a half months.
Atually my protocol for boosting:
1) a medium layer of long temperature and 24h relax;
2) another medium layer and 24 hours relax;
3) a thin layer of national yellow haifu and 48 hours relax;
4) Glue with two layers of DHS evolution 15 on the rubber and one layer on the blade;
5) Relax between heavy books for 24 hours.

To reboot:
I follow the same steps explained above, however I only apply a medium layer of long temp.

With this protocol, my hurricane rubbers maintain their performance for 8 months / 10 months, very satisfactory as I train 12/16 hours a week.

"As a normal human being, ... <proceeds to describe a 5-day rubber preparation/gluing procedure involving at least 3 different chemical substances" , lol.

 

[turbozed]

you don't want to know how many bottles of booster they use a year

They go through more bottles of booster than bottles of lube for Diddy

 

[riemsesy]

I guess this isn't coming out
= That's what she said
😂😂🤣🤣

 

[Deep74]

@Heming Hu just released a video last night and I watched it. I hope he comes back to the forum at some point! A few things and see if we can lead to some discussion:

1) He actually mentioned that with his last video, people said he sounded arrogant. Lol. I think I read the thread here. Some people did give him a bit of hard time in that regard but I hope he is not offended. It is nice to have a pro interacting with us on this forum!!

2) I totally agree with how he approached Hurricane. I do the exactly same thing. Two thick layers. Then the third layer depends. Did the rubber dome up enough after two layers or not? So for me, I would boost the H3 blue sponge with one heavy layer of booster. Let it sit for 48 hours. Then I apply another heavy layer of booster. Let it sit for 48 hours. After that, I will make a determination as to whether to apply a third layer or not. I also just use the regular commercial Haifu in yellow container.

3) For me to put a chinese rubber on properly, after boosting, I have to let the rubber/sponge "relax" and let the dome disappear. This issue is less so with all wood blade that has no lacquer applied. But any new blades that come with quite a bit of lacquer (I am talking about you, Gambler brand), it is actually quite hard to stick the rubber to the blade when it has domed up so much. So nowadays, after the last layer of booster, I would let the rubber sit anywhere from 3-5 days before installing it. Yes the process takes awhile but if you don't want to waste that expensive sheet of Hurricane blue sponge (provincial or national), then you just have to be patient.

4) After applying the glue, like Heming did, I make sure the edges of the rubber and edges of the blade get some extra glue. There is nothing more frustrating for you to go through all the process and the rubber does not stick! Don't be cheap. Pay special attention to the edge of the blade/rubber to make sure they stick well together. And of course pay special attention to apply the right amount of the glue in the middle. At the bottom of the rubber where it touches the blade handle, I don't really care how much glue is there. You get the point.

5) No, I do not get naked when I boost or glue rubber. Lol. Nor do I wear cheaper clothing when I assemble my blades.

6) I used to use one of the Revolution Nr.3 Racket Press. But it is not very effective for me. Plus the screws might not tighten properly after you use it for a while. What I have done is, just put a bunch of heavy books on top of the blade with Hurricane on it, sitting for a few hours. That does the trick. Then I turn the racket over and put the rubber on the other side. And I use scissors to cut. I cannot be bothered with using a knife.

7) For ESN rubber, I also apply one very thin layer of booster, just for the heck of it. I don't know how long the rubber has been sitting in the store/warehouse for. Has it been 3 months? Six months? A year or two? So I just apply one thin layer. When I apply the ESN rubber to my backhand side, it is super easy and super fast (not much waiting is involved).

8) I stretch my rubber a bit when I roll it on. Heming does not like to stretch the rubber at all. However I believe Dima stretches his rubber? This part is very subjective. For me, I just want to make sure there is no bumps, etc so I would line up the rubber at the handle area and then lightly stretch the rubber while rolling the rubber onto the blade. It works for me and I don't plan to change it. In addition, sometimes I like to EJ so when I transfer rubbers between blades, it is just easier to boost the rubber, expand the sponge a bit more so it fits onto the new blade better. Some of the ESN rubbers really shrink quite a bit. I have had issues with rubbers shrinking from the Donic, Tibhar, etc. brands. But the most shrinkage (don't ask me why) comes from the Xiom brand. I could not even attempt to transfer a couple Xiom rubbers because they shrink so badly. Just my personal observation.

9) Heming mentioned about a lot of the equipment assembly process is very subjective. And I agree with that. For me, most of the stuff that he has done, I have learned on my own over the years of assembling my own blades and they resonate with me. We don't do everything exactly the same way but close enough.

10) Heming mentioned that just as long as you don't use a Walmart pre-made blade, all the rest of the blades are just fine. I guess no more Golden Viscaria for me! Lol

How often do you reboot H3BS? I usually leave 3 months so I usually boost a new sheet before season starts in mid sept and then around dec usually during Xmas break when I know I have wk off from playing so I’m going to reboost them tomorrow.

Usually 1 layer seamoon on reboost. I’m not sure if good idea to reboost my backhand rubber D05, mind you this time I didn’t bother reboosting the D05 even when new.

Any thoughts?

 

[lodro]

”he talks and talks and talks…” I didn’t have the energy to watch the whole thing.

😁 Same here, I went into "fast forward mode" after a while .😁

 

[lodro]

How often do you reboot H3BS? I usually leave 3 months so I usually boost a new sheet before season starts in mid sept and then around dec usually during Xmas break when I know I have wk off from playing so I’m going to reboost them tomorrow.

Usually 1 layer seamoon on reboost. I’m not sure if good idea to reboost my backhand rubber D05, mind you this time I didn’t bother reboosting the D05 even when new.

Any thoughts?

The whole industry seems to cater to the idea that BH rubbers should be softer than the FH rubbers but after initially "following" but then experimenting, I use un-boosted commercial H3 for my BH