It seems Watta-san prefers the H9 with the #80 version of the sponge. That sponge is pretty good on the H8-80 too, bouncy, spinny, I can imagine with a less tacky topsheet it's very lively.
Has anyone tried the violet or green H9?
I have tried blue, pink and violet (2 sessions with violet, 1 with blue and pink)
all with the softest sponge.
I haven't tried green yet, but I assume it will be similar to violet.
Firstly, even though 22#, 20#, 80# sponge is used, the H9 top sheet is different to that of H3 (for 20 and 22) and H8 (80)
The price of H9 (cost price) as another seller has said in earlier posts, is not attractive enough. I can just buy a H3 orange prov for just about the same cost price. (the other user is talking about selling price, while I have DHS pricelist, and can agree on the cost price)
But I see H9 as not a H3 orange sponge competitor, but rather a BH rubber to tackle non DHS business.
I am a hard sponge user, and prefer H8-80 over the H9-80 for BH
I prefer H3-22 and H3-20 over the H9-22/20 for forehand.
If the top sheet was similar to H3 tack, I think that would be great, but then again H9 is not making another H3.
If coming from a H3-22 and H8-80 user (which is me), H9 isn't great. It looses a lot of spin potential due to top sheet.
But if coming from those bouncy ESN rubbers, I do think H9 has some potential.
Now, do you pick the colour, or do you pick the sponge? Not every one understand sponges.
For a more BH sponge, 80 is idea.
20 felt harder but spinner than 22, while 22 felt faster with lower arc.
I am a spin player, so after sampling H9, I will go back to H8-80
But I think for ESN BH users (or even FH), H9 can be an option.
It isn't going to be a T05 or D05 or hybrid killer, but I do think it does have a balance between a fast ESN and a firmer topsheet.
The violet 80 is very easy to block with (BH to BH rallies in a match), more easier than H8-80, because the topsheet is softer, while h8, I would require to generate my own spin, else the ball could sink into the net.
Overall, Violet or 80 sponge to me is better for BH. But I won't write out the other 2.
My test setup
Main:
Intensity Cpen
H3-22, 40deg (black)
H9-80, 37deg (violet)
Other:
YEO Cpen
H9-22 38 deg (blue)
H9-20 38 deg (pink)
I would rate 20 with maybe the most spin from my Cpen RPB point of view.
For those who want a Hybrid Killer, go H8-80