Possible fake DHS Hurricane 3 Neo Blue Sponge “National”? (Different feel, print, packaging, sponge)

[Perceval_BZH]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for help to figure out whether one of my two DHS Hurricane 3 Neo BS (Blue Sponge) “National” rubbers might be counterfeit (or if DHS changed production details recently).


I have three photos:

• Photo 1: both rackets side by side (old rubber on the right racket, new rubber on the left racket)
• Photo 2: close-up comparison of the top-sheet printing / logos
• Photo 3: sponge comparison (new rubber on the left, older rubber on the right)

Background​

• Both rubbers were bought on AliExpress from the same seller: Global Sports Store.
• Both came with an anti-counterfeit sticker, and both codes checked out as valid.
• Both were boosted the same way: 1 layer Haifu National Yellow + 1 layer National White.

Rubber A (older one – on the right racket in Photo 1)​

This is the one that has been on my main setup for the last months.

• Marked hardness: 40°
• Very tacky/sticky
  • In the “tack test”, it can lift the ball properly (especially when lifting the ball sideways).
• In play: very grippy, produces a lot of spin, good topspin arc, and I can feel the ball well through the topsheet.
• Visually: the topsheet looks more glossy/shiny (probably because it’s very sticky).
• Printing: the DHS / Hurricane print looks flat and uniform (not raised).

Rubber B (new one – on the left racket in Photo 1)​

I ordered two new “National” H3 Neo BS from the same seller, and glued one on my other blade.

• Marked hardness: 39°
  • But it actually feels harder than my 40° in real use.
• Almost not tacky at all
  • It’s nearly impossible to lift the ball in a vertical tack test, and overall it feels much less sticky.
• In play: very linear, produces much less spin, and the topsheet feels very firm / stiff.
• The sensation is very “dead”: the ball seems to barely rebound, even though the rubber isn’t tacky.
• I only tested it for about one week, so I’m not sure if it’s just not broken in / not “settled” yet.

Visual differences that worry me​

1) Topsheet printing (Photo 2)

• On the older rubber: printing looks smooth, flat, uniform.

• On the new rubber: the logo/letters look slightly raised / embossed, especially around the edges of letters.

2) Packaging differences

• On the older package: the black-ink text looks darker, and some letters have a white outline.
  
  
  
• On the newer packages: the black looks lighter, and the white outline is missing.

3) Sponge differences (Photo 3)

• The sponge color is different between the two. (older one is darker)
• The new rubber’s sponge cut looks irregular, with visible lines / grooves, while the older one looks clean and uniform (no “creases” in the cut).

My questions​

1. Do these differences (printing slightly raised, packaging text/outline differences, sponge color + irregular cut) match anything you’ve seen with genuine DHS production changes?
2. Does the “dead + not tacky” behavior sound like a known batch issue, storage issue, or common sign of a fake?
3. Could my boosting method affect two “identical” rubbers so differently, or is that unlikely if both were boosted the same way?
4. If you’ve bought “National” H3 Neo Blue Sponge recently, have you noticed less tack / harder topsheet compared to older ones?

Any input is welcome. I honestly don’t know if my older one is the genuine one and the new ones are fake, or the opposite, or if DHS changed packaging + rubber characteristics.


Thanks in advance!

 

[Xiaoys]

From what I've observed, it's all true.
If possible, you should check the printing code on the back.
If the new one is old stock, it wouldn't be surprising.

 

[triana197555]

Original DHS rubbers have an oleographic seal on the protective film and on the rubber line below where it says "Hurricane" there is a very small "DHS" written

 

[Leno]

1. Yes, they have horrible quality control. The older sponges are darker and without lines. The newer one I've bought these 2 years in china are all with lines. Not sure about packaging and printing. The ones with lines react better to booster though.

2. I've had several issue with the newer batches. I concluded that preboost layer was just too thick and dead. My last two rubbers I've removed the preboost before glueing or boosting and it was lively again.

3. I genuine think you have 2 batches of old and new sponge. I still have a sponge that's even darker and no pigments. That was when haiyun sold their #22 sponge without rubbers.

4. Yes, newer sheets have way less tack or the tack just fades after 1 session. However DHS is not consistent with it either. Same batch might have tacky and less tacky ones. Still horrible quality control.

 

[zeio]

The one with grooves on the sponge is authentic. That's the DHS "trademark" feature. The counterfeit code is not reliable anymore.

 

[ttarc]

I can't remember if I ever had a H3N without ripples/grooves on the sponge but I've never had national versions.
Just two provincials. The left was the one I tried unboosted (they look bluer, don't know what my phone's camera does when zooming)