Question for H3 users

[bones]

I'm keen to try an H3 rubber or two but find all the variations confusing.

What is the difference between

Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 40'(blue sponge)​

Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 40'​

if it is just the sponge colour, then which one would best suit NOT boosting. I don't want (can't be bothered ) to boost.


Also, I see the sponge hardness comes in 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, what would be the closest hardness to the PK50 and Rakza Z, that I have been using?

Finally, of all the variations, are there any which are particularly suited to close to the table play?
I like to play the ball straight after the bounce and when faced with heavy topspin/loop attack, I like to block the returns, especially on the backhand.

All opinions much appreciated,
Thank you.

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

Regular Hurricane has the #20 orange sponge, the blue sponge is coded #22. I think blue sponge reacts better to boost, and orange sponge is easier to use with no boost. If you're coming from ESN50 I'd suggest starting with DHS38, I think it is a bit closer to ESN50 than the DHS39

 

[chinacurious]

I would not get H3 if you don't want to boost.

There are plenty of chinese rubbers nowadays that don't require boosting.

You may want to look into Hurricane 8-80, Sanwei Target National (new), Double Fish Volant Phoenix, Loki Arthur China, Loki Rxton 3 Pro.

 

[mocker88]

When coming from tensor rubbers it might be hard going straight for H3. But if you do, start out with a H3N Commercial 39deg. The difference up to the provincial is mainly money...

Otherwise start out with Yinhe - Big Dipper 38 or 39deg, to see if this is something for you.
Or 729 - Dragon F...

 

[joshmak10]

If you don’t boost H3, it’s quite honestly a useless rubber. Just get D09c at that point

 

[Jslick89]

I'm keen to try an H3 rubber or two but find all the variations confusing.

What is the difference between

Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 40'(blue sponge)​

Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 40'​

if it is just the sponge colour, then which one would best suit NOT boosting. I don't want (can't be bothered ) to boost.


Also, I see the sponge hardness comes in 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, what would be the closest hardness to the PK50 and Rakza Z, that I have been using?

Finally, of all the variations, are there any which are particularly suited to close to the table play?
I like to play the ball straight after the bounce and when faced with heavy topspin/loop attack, I like to block the returns, especially on the backhand.

All opinions much appreciated,
Thank you.

Serious question- if you can't be bothered to boost your hurricane, why even use a hurricane rubber?

But to answer some of your other questions- I've only played with the orange sponge. supposedly its a little more bouncy with a higher arc than the blue. I'm about to throw on a blue sponge on both of my paddles in a couple weeks. Will 100% be boosting with haifu national yellow.

I dont know which hardness matches Rakza Z but ive used both 39 and 40 degree and i prefer the 40 degree hardness.

 

[SFF_lib]

OS and BS differ in the following aspects (assuming same hardness)

1. Feedback - OS gives clearer feedback at low to medium impact. At high impact, you can feel both easily.
2. Max spin & speed - higher with BS
3. Possibility of bubbles - BS is known to form bubbles more likely after boosting
4. Boosting - BS relies more on booster

Your safest bet is a OS Neo H3 provincial at $30. At 39 degree you don't need to boost

 

[MaggiGoreng11]

I've used the Provincial Blue Sponge version and the Commercial version, both are playable, and can be decent without booster. However, it shines mostly with boosters. Touch, speed and spin were in a different league with booster. I use Kailin, and the effect lasts about 3 weeks for me, before it starts losing the booster effect, after 3 weeks boosting is required again as the sponge becomes hard.

 

[RomanAngerer]

What is the difference between

Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 40'(blue sponge)​

Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 40'​

BS: harder, longer/lower arc, reacts to boosting better, higher max speed/spin, requires more physical strength, prone to bubbles after excessive boosting, cam sometimes hit flat/block (still bad), harder to play, more about power and spin.
OS: softer, higher/shorter arc, reacts to boosting less, lower max speed/spin, requires less physical strength,
didn't see bubbles after boosting, flat hitting/blocking are nonexistent, easier to play, more about spin.

if it is just the sponge colour, then which one would best suit NOT boosting. I don't want (can't be bothered ) to boost.

Then avoid H3, imo. Both OS and BS.

Also, I see the sponge hardness comes in 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, what would be the closest hardness to the PK50 and Rakza Z, that I have been using?

Imo, 38 (the black one comes exclusively as OS Prov).

Finally, of all the variations, are there any which are particularly suited to close to the table play?

OS.

 

[boretennis]

better try 3-50 and 8-80 if you don't want to boost

 

[bones]

Thanks for all the advice.
Having read some reviews on various sites. It seems that the majority of people boost H3 rubbers.

What exactly does boosting do to the rubber?

Does it just make a hard sponge softer and add catapult effect?

 

[Tyce]

Thanks for all the advice.
Having read some reviews on various sites. It seems that the majority of people boost H3 rubbers.

What exactly does boosting do to the rubber?

Does it just make a hard sponge softer and add catapult effect?

There's tons of information, but the gist is it expands the sponge, like speed glue used to do. The result is a softening plus a tension which creates the catapult.

 

[Yurifi]

I'm keen to try an H3 rubber or two but find all the variations confusing.

What is the difference between

Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 40'(blue sponge)​

Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial 40'​

if it is just the sponge colour, then which one would best suit NOT boosting. I don't want (can't be bothered ) to boost.


Also, I see the sponge hardness comes in 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, what would be the closest hardness to the PK50 and Rakza Z, that I have been using?

Finally, of all the variations, are there any which are particularly suited to close to the table play?
I like to play the ball straight after the bounce and when faced with heavy topspin/loop attack, I like to block the returns, especially on the backhand.

All opinions much appreciated,
Thank you.

forget about Hurricane 3 (Neo) and go for Hurricane 8. I went for Hurricane 8 40, because everyone suggested that H8 is playable even without boosting. I really don’t want to mess with boosters and stuff … after two weeks, I like it, I like it a lot. starting to fall in love … 🙈

but - I have a very good stroke technique (FH and BH, was a professional player 20 years ago) and I can create tons of spin on my own (H8 just adds the cherry on top). and I can create a lot of power on my own.

on BH I am playing with Xiom Omega 7 China Guang but am seriously considering of getting the Hurricane 8-80 for BH, that’s how much I like it. 😉

 

[Tyce]

forget about Hurricane 3 (Neo) and go for Hurricane 8. I went for Hurricane 8 40, because everyone suggested that H8 is playable even without boosting. I really don’t want to mess with boosters and stuff … after two weeks, I like it, I like it a lot. starting to fall in love … 🙈

but - I have a very good stroke technique (FH and BH, was a professional player 20 years ago) and I can create tons of spin on my own (H8 just adds the cherry on top). and I can create a lot of power on my own.

on BH I am playing with Xiom Omega 7 China Guang but am seriously considering of getting the Hurricane 8-80 for BH, that’s how much I like it. 😉

How would you describe the difference between H3 and h8?

 

[TensorBackhand]

How would you describe the difference between H3 and h8?

H8 is faster.

 

[Gekko]

Thanks for all the advice.
Having read some reviews on various sites. It seems that the majority of people boost H3 rubbers.

What exactly does boosting do to the rubber?

Does it just make a hard sponge softer and add catapult effect?

Boosting makes it playable.
The idea is that hurricane rubbers are varying degrees of brick hard. You choose one that you are able to compress with your stroke. The. The boosting allows for it to provide SOME speed. Hurricane never attempts to win with speed, it's the spin that's magical.

In china, unboosted H3 is often compared to pig's skin or a car tyre.

 

[Yurifi]

How would you describe the difference between H3 and h8?

I played one longish session with H3N, commercial, 38 degrees. like TensorBackhand said, H8 is a bit faster, but also more elastic. it’s not as ”brickey”. I would dare say H8 40 plays softer, plays like H3N 38, but that could be due to factory boosting. it’s not catapulting or anything it’s just a tad bit more elastic, allowing the ball to sink a bit more into the sponge. this could also be due to hardness, but some “flat” hits do provide more speed and closing drives are more stingy, but that could just be me (because this was one of the negatives in many reviews of H3 and H8, but I currently don’t have problems in his regard).

so, H8 is 40, H3N was 38, which translates into ESN 50-52 if I am not mistaken. on BH I am playing with Xiom Omega 7 China Guang, ESN55, and isn’t even remotely as hard as Hurricanes …

 

[merlin el mago]

I guess H8 doesn't have the spin of H3N boosted, right?

 

[Tyce]

H3 has a very tough topsheet, which probably does a lot in making it feel like a harder rubber than something else with the same sponge hardness. I guess H8 has a more friendly topsheet?

 

[RomanAngerer]

I guess H8 doesn't have the spin of H3N boosted, right?

Not even close to H3, from my experience.