Why is H3 BS so hard to use?

[pedro.dantas]

Previously I tested the commercial H3 39º OS and it was much easier to penetrate the sponge and put more spin on it. With the H3 Neo 39º BS I can't put enough spin on it, I need to put in much more effort and even then the balls have less quality, it's easy to miss the table or go into the net. If I don't put in any effort I can't create any arc, and if I try to just brush with the topsheet the ball slips a lot. I've been using it for a month but it's still difficult to get used to, it only has one layer of regular haifu. Rakza Z is extremely easier to use, should I persevere? And learn to penetrate the sponge more? Maybe another layer of booster?

 

[belllfador]

Is the surface in good condition, slightly sticky, not oxidized? H3 even without a boost, is very spiny rubber that can lift more than Ronnie Coleman.

If the surface is good, boost it with 2 additional layers, without the glue. For high quality loop, H3 BS needs more body force and speed than other rubbers.

Consider the provincial H3N orange sponge and falco platinum or long, 2 layers. Haifu has a stronger effect but is diminishing fast.

 

[StreamOfWater]

Previously I tested the commercial H3 39º OS and it was much easier to penetrate the sponge and put more spin on it. With the H3 Neo 39º BS I can't put enough spin on it, I need to put in much more effort and even then the balls have less quality, it's easy to miss the table or go into the net. If I don't put in any effort I can't create any arc, and if I try to just brush with the topsheet the ball slips a lot. I've been using it for a month but it's still difficult to get used to, it only has one layer of regular haifu. Rakza Z is extremely easier to use, should I persevere? And learn to penetrate the sponge more? Maybe another layer of booster?

If you are coming from ESN background and never really used Chinese rubbers for prolonged time... If you want hard truth, then Hurricane 3 rubbers were never supposed to be easy. You either put in the work and tame them, or move on. That's the point of the hard sponge and tacky topsheet. You have to commit to every stroke, go into the ball, swing fast to make most out of it. If you are willing to work hard, train regularly, sweat, fight for every point, then go for it—it will teach you proper technique and mechanics better than anything else on the market. Otherwise you are sabotaging yourself

 

[SFF_lib]

the BS is a totally different sponge from OS

you can search the forum and find plenty of discussion on this.

Basically in low to medium impact:
Speed: OS > BS
Ease in activating spin: OS > BS

High impact:
Speed: BS > OS
Spin: BS > OS

Another factor is QC. DHS has lowered the QC in the new batches of provincial H3 BS. Hardness variation is wider than before. For example you get 10 H3 BS 39. 5 of them probably have 39.5 hardness and 3 are 39, the other 2 are 38.5. This is not the true distribution but many Chinese fans confirm the poorer QC.

 

[bhenthusiast]

the BS is a totally different sponge from OS

you can search the forum and find plenty of discussion on this.

Basically in low to medium impact:
Speed: OS > BS
Ease in activating spin: OS > BS

High impact:
Speed: BS > OS
Spin: BS > OS

Another factor is QC. DHS has lowered the QC in the new batches of provincial H3 BS. Hardness variation is wider than before. For example you get 10 H3 BS 39. 5 of them probably have 39.5 hardness and 3 are 39, the other 2 are 38.5. This is not the true distribution but many Chinese fans confirm the poorer QC.

Is the poorer QC also the case with Provincial Orange Sponge?

 

[Gtsnake]

This is why I don't use H3 anymore. The top sheet is just not tacky anymore so soft shots are harder to spin.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

With regards to hard tacky chinese rubber, if one has some decent fh, one can still manage to make decent fh stroke while during stroke warm-up drill, where the placement of the ball is pre-agreed.

The real test and the reason why hard chinese tacky rubber shows its true fang is when you are late to the position to make a proper fh loop during match time. In such case, many amateur players will make the ball will either go into the net ( very likely ) or fly long ( likely but into the net is more likely ).

 

[MOJOJOJO-74]

This is why I don't use H3 anymore. The top sheet is just not tacky anymore so soft shots are harder to spin.

You should try out Victas Triple Double Extra. Almost every one I've tried was extremely tacky. Unfortunately I've had inconsistent weight with my sheets and that's with boosting too. He shows how tacky it is and also goes in-depth about it too.

 

[SFF_lib]

Is the poorer QC also the case with Provincial Orange Sponge?

I have been using H3 for over 20 years.

The old commercial H3 last a long time.

You only got provincial H3 if had special connections.

Now commercial is rubbish, provincial is rubbish. They don’t last 6 months anymore. 3 months max.

All sponges affected.

 

[bhenthusiast]

I have been using H3 for over 20 years.

The old commercial H3 last a long time.

You only got provincial H3 if had special connections.

Now commercial is rubbish, provincial is rubbish. They don’t last 6 months anymore. 3 months max.

All sponges affected.

Man that's sad, I know there's no true alternative to a good sheet of boosted H3, but are there any viable alternatives out there?

Some rubbers I've seen get mentioned are Quanshibao F1, Pinyi Cuifeng, Jupiter 3 Tour(aka blue sponge, aka National), Vega China, Sanwei Target National(silver packaging?), Tau 2 (no info on Tau 3 yet). Too much conflicting info on Battle 2/3, Big Dipper, etc so I won't count those and a lot of others seem to also have QC or durability issues(Loki Arthur China).

 

[Gtsnake]

You should try out Victas Triple Double Extra. Almost every one I've tried was extremely tacky. Unfortunately I've had inconsistent weight with my sheets and that's with boosting too. He shows how tacky it is and also goes in-depth about it too.

I've tried it in the past. I thought it was too heavy. I didn't use it long enough to remember the longevity. At double the price of Chinese rubbers I started to lean away from it.

 

[SFF_lib]

Man that's sad, I know there's no true alternative to a good sheet of boosted H3, but are there any viable alternatives out there?

Some rubbers I've seen get mentioned are Quanshibao F1, Pinyi Cuifeng, Jupiter 3 Tour(aka blue sponge, aka National), Vega China, Sanwei Target National(silver packaging?), Tau 2 (no info on Tau 3 yet). Too much conflicting info on Battle 2/3, Big Dipper, etc so I won't count those and a lot of others seem to also have QC or durability issues(Loki Arthur China).

I've said this many times, Vega China is a must try.

Great value at $35USD

1. Topsheet tackier than D09C and all hybrid
2. 55 black sponge is equivalent to boosted 40 DHS
3. Topsheet is very durable (6 months no problem)
4. Easier to generate high spin and speed than H3

The only down side is the max spin is less than boosted H3.

But you ask yourself, in a match, out of 10 FH shots, how many can you engage 100%? Most of the time you engage 50% and H3 just does not work well.

 

[bhenthusiast]

I've said this many times, Vega China is a must try.

Great value at $35USD

1. Topsheet tackier than D09C and all hybrid
2. 55 black sponge is equivalent to boosted 40 DHS
3. Topsheet is very durable (6 months no problem)
4. Easier to generate high spin and speed than H3

The only down side is the max spin is less than boosted H3.

But you ask yourself, in a match, out of 10 FH shots, how many can you engage 100%? Most of the time you engage 50% and H3 just does not work well.

Thanks for the info! I will try a sheet of Vega China when my H3 needs to be replaced.
And yeah I agree in match situations most us amateurs do not have clean enough footwork to engage the H3 optimally. It only feels good(90-100%) in training because we know where the ball is traveling and what spin is on it beforehand so we are in the optimal position already to get the most out of it.

 

[SFF_lib]

Thanks for the info! I will try a sheet of Vega China when my H3 needs to be replaced.
And yeah I agree in match situations most us amateurs do not have clean enough footwork to engage the H3 optimally. It only feels good(90-100%) in training because we know where the ball is traveling and what spin is on it beforehand so we are in the optimal position already to get the most out of it.

Haha, I know that exact feeling. In warm-up, I often feel my forehand is deadly and powerful. Then in a match, I'll be lucky to perform two killer shots.

 

[pedro.dantas]

Haha, I know that exact feeling. In warm-up, I often feel my forehand is deadly and powerful. Then in a match, I'll be lucky to perform two killer shots.

Do you think vega china is better than Rakza Z?

 

[mamedium]

it’s not the equipment it’s the player

if you are weak in technique don’t even bother using H3

 

[SFF_lib]

Do you think vega china is better than Rakza Z?

It's more lively. Rakza Z is tackier, slower but spinnier.

Vega China is D09C but easier to play.

 

[blahness]

Probably a botched boost job but why suffer through this when there are easier to use rubbers out there?