Pricey Hybrids or Accesible Chinese

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

Hello TTD community 👋. I hope you're doing well! This is my situation:
I like using chinese/hybrid rubbers on forehand and I've been trying different ones for a while, like H3 Commmercial and Provincial, Dragon Grip, K3, MK and currently PK50 (I don't plan to keep using it as it's discontinued and not quite my taste). Also, I tried Joola Inferno and liked it, even though I'm not familiar with german rubbers.
The thing is, in my country, it's a bit expensive to buy rubbers and I don't want to overpay for something that's not transcendental.
Hybrid rubbers like K3 and Dragon Grip are very good, but for someone that trains 2-3 hours almost every day, they wear out fast. I'd need to replace them each 1 and a half months. And they're expensive, over $50 each (in South America that's a lot compared to in Europe/USA). The Inferno, also a nice rubber, is around $60, don't know its durability though.
I've seen some bargains in PROTT for chinese rubbers. H3 Com+G555 is $31. H3 Prov BS is between $30-40. That's really tempting tbh. And they're not bad rubbers at all, pretty good actually.
I'd like to get your opinions. Should I go for these cheaper rubbers or just play with the hybrids? Thanks in advance 😁

 

[TensorBackhand]

Hello TTD community 👋. I hope you're doing well! This is my situation:
I like using chinese/hybrid rubbers on forehand and I've been trying different ones for a while, like H3 Commmercial and Provincial, Dragon Grip, K3, MK and currently PK50 (I don't plan to keep using it as it's discontinued and not quite my taste). Also, I tried Joola Inferno and liked it, even though I'm not familiar with german rubbers.
The thing is, in my country, it's a bit expensive to buy rubbers and I don't want to overpay for something that's not transcendental.
Hybrid rubbers like K3 and Dragon Grip are very good, but for someone that trains 2-3 hours almost every day, they wear out fast. I'd need to replace them each 1 and a half months. And they're expensive, over $50 each (in South America that's a lot compared to in Europe/USA). The Inferno, also a nice rubber, is around $60, don't know its durability though.
I've seen some bargains in PROTT for chinese rubbers. H3 Com+G555 is $31. H3 Prov BS is between $30-40. That's really tempting tbh. And they're not bad rubbers at all, pretty good actually.
I'd like to get your opinions. Should I go for these cheaper rubbers or just play with the hybrids? Thanks in advance 😁

If your style suits the Chinese hybrids, then go with those. Same or better performance at much lower price.

 

[lodro]

something that's not transcendental.

transcendental function, In mathematics, a function not expressible as a finite combination of the algebraic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, raising to a power, and extracting a root. Examples include the functions log x, sin x, cos x, ex and any functions containing them.

WTF has this got to do with the price of fish ???? 😂 😂 😂

 

[kase]

Big Dipper is a great hybrid, very cheap on ali express.

 

[JJ Ng]

I would go for DHS H3 provincial blue sponge. The top sheet looks like crap after a couple sessions but the tackiness remains there. Once you break in the blue sponge, the ball has this catapult effect. Either you like the hurricane sponge (blue sponge or orange sponge) or you don't like it. I happen to like it. Some club mates don't. But once you like it, it is hard to find anything else that compares to it.

 

[Topspinslinger]

Dandoy offers great prices, New gen hybrids go for €35 on sale

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Loki Rxton 5 Pro is an option
Double Finish Violent Phoenix too

 

[Airoc]

I'm not familiar with german rubbers.

But you said you´ve played Dragon Grip, K3 and Hybrid MK as well as Sieger - all made in Germany.

Or do you mean "German" as a type of rubber, Tensor and no hybrid?

Overall, I think the hybrid rubbers were introduced to combine Chinese characteristics and spin capabilities with more dynamic sponges. If you go backwards from hybrid to Chinese you might find that some Chinese rubbers go well with a little booster, which is where I think the idea of a hybrid rubber started...

So if you´re prepared to give your Chinese rubber a little extra Whooomp, you might well be able to spare yourself expensive hybrid rubbers.

 

[mocker88]

Check out LOKI - Rxton IX 39deg (a bit more expensive) or Yinhe - Big Dipper 38/39deg.

 

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

If your style suits the Chinese hybrids, then go with those. Same or better performance at much lower price.

I don't know much about that kind (chinese hybrids), I've only tried Big Dipper BS once and it wasn't precisely a great experience...

 

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

Big Dipper is a great hybrid, very cheap on ali express.

Yes, I've heard a lot about it.
But some time ago I tried the Provincial BS, and it was great, until de rubber started coming off the center of the blade. It happens that it curved the wrong way. I used a booster but it didn't work, so I had to change to another rubber. Maybe it was a quality control problem though.

 

[TensorBackhand]

I don't know much about that kind (chinese hybrids), I've only tried Big Dipper BS once and it wasn't precisely a great experience...

Then I would recommend you stay with esn rubbers.

Big dipper is very good, but if it didnt suit you, then it may not work for you.

 

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

I would go for DHS H3 provincial blue sponge. The top sheet looks like crap after a couple sessions but the tackiness remains there. Once you break in the blue sponge, the ball has this catapult effect. Either you like the hurricane sponge (blue sponge or orange sponge) or you don't like it. I happen to like it. Some club mates don't. But once you like it, it is hard to find anything else that compares to it.

I actually used to play with H3 on forehand since I started playing. After almost 2 years my coaches suggested me to use another faster, more "advanced" rubber to improve my game (also, chinese rubbers are not popular in my country, most use Xiom, Joola and Nittaku). Maybe I should try to go back to the roots.

 

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

Then I would recommend you stay with esn rubbers.

Big dipper is very good, but if it didnt suit you, then it may not work for you.

It wasn't because of the playing characteristics, but for the problem I described above. I wouldn't mind giving it another try if I was sure the rubber quality is gonna be good.

 

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

But you said you´ve played Dragon Grip, K3 and Hybrid MK as well as Sieger - all made in Germany.

Or do you mean "German" as a type of rubber, Tensor and no hybrid?

Yes, my bad! When I said "German" I meant non-tacky topsheet, with usually softer and springier sponge.

Overall, I think the hybrid rubbers were introduced to combine Chinese characteristics and spin capabilities with more dynamic sponges. If you go backwards from hybrid to Chinese you might find that some Chinese rubbers go well with a little booster, which is where I think the idea of a hybrid rubber started...

So if you´re prepared to give your Chinese rubber a little extra Whooomp, you might well be able to spare yourself expensive hybrid rubbers.

I don't mind boosting and reboosting my rubbers each certain time as long as I can play great with them at a lower price. If they work as good as the hybrids when boosted, then why not

 

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

UPTADE: I've played a couple of sessions with the PK50 and I started liking it. Although it's not very fast compared to other hybrids, it has a lot of spin on serves and loops. The tackiness seems good for the moment.
Too bad it's discontinued, even if I chose it as my main rubber I would still need to switch to another eventually. Do you know a rubber with similar play as this one?

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

UPTADE: I've played a couple of sessions with the PK50 and I started liking it. Although it's not very fast compared to other hybrids, it has a lot of spin on serves and loops. The tackiness seems good for the moment.
Too bad it's discontinued, even if I chose it as my main rubber I would still need to switch to another eventually. Do you know a rubber with similar play as this one?

Rakza Z, pretty similar imo

 

[mocker88]

Yes, I've heard a lot about it.
But some time ago I tried the Provincial BS, and it was great, until de rubber started coming off the center of the blade. It happens that it curved the wrong way. I used a booster but it didn't work, so I had to change to another rubber. Maybe it was a quality control problem though.

Big Dipper Pro does not have blue sponge, but this is a totally different rubber than the original Big Dipper. Do you mean the original Big Dipper in black? It has blue sponge. The red one has yellow sponge. Never heard of this problem with them and I've used about 30 pcs of them over the last 5-6 years and sold more than 60 pcs. What hardness did you use? I think 38 and 39deg are really great, but the 40deg is a bit too hard for me.

 

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

Rakza Z, pretty similar imo

What is it like compared to PK50? And is the durability good?

 

[PeruvianPenholder_2008]

Big Dipper Pro does not have blue sponge, but this is a totally different rubber than the original Big Dipper. Do you mean the original Big Dipper in black? It has blue sponge. The red one has yellow sponge.

I used this one:

Here's the one you're talking about, I think: https://www.prott.vip/Product-Details.aspx?productcode=DipperPro

What hardness did you use? I think 38 and 39deg are really great, but the 40deg is a bit too hard for me.

My previous Big Dipper BS was 38deg, not too hard but felt like it needed some break-in.

Talking about the BD Pro, how is it compared to H3 provincial?