Comparing Several Speed Boosters and Base Coat Oils for Table Tennis Rubbers
This article compares the effects of several boosters and base coat oils. Even though I personally only apply one or two coats of inorganic glue to my main bat and never boost, I can’t deny that boosting has its magic — especially for Hurricane 3.
What are the benefits of boosting? It improves feel, making the rubber softer with more dwell; it increases the rubber’s elasticity and therefore exit speed; it improves spin and makes the arc more controllable. For rubbers where the topsheet has badly flaked or the sponge has lost its energy, boosting works quite well.
Looking back, I played in my provincial college games using organic-era rubbers on both sides — Hurricane 3 and Skyline 2 — without boosting at all. I can only say: youth has endless energy. Now, facing a new sheet of Hurricane 3, my honest reaction is: stiff, and while you can still add spin, the speed is really slow. If you don’t boost, you’ll get easily blocked back.
Thunder Expander
This can be used when the outer topsheet has contracted — it provides a certain “softening and expansion” effect. Tibhar rubbers come with a Thunder Expander smell from the factory, so…
Generally better to apply on the outer topsheet. The effect on Hurricane is mediocre — you need a large enough quantity before Hurricane really absorbs it.
Falco TEMPO Oil
It claims an 8–12 week duration, improving spin, speed, and ball feel. Compared to the Haifu oils below, when you boost Hurricane with Falco TEMPO, what you feel is: a softer feel, deeper dwell, higher looping arc, but not as fast as the Haifu oils. Essentially, this one suits close-to-mid-table spin-oriented looping players.
Falco TEMPO Platinum
In terms of duration, feel, and speed, the Platinum is similar to the standard TEMPO. After applying, the topsheet also becomes softer and grippier. The slight difference is that at the same dosage, the sponge ends up harder than the standard version, without as much added elasticity — but it can produce better spin. The arc is a bit lower and flatter. I’d say this leans more toward close-table play: counter-looping, counter-driving, and counter-blocking.
Haifu Sea Moon
Duration is 3–4 weeks. In terms of feel, it’s not as clear as Falco TEMPO, and the spin addition seems weaker. But it also creates a softer feel and a higher arc. The advantage is: compared to Falco TEMPO, the elasticity is stronger and the speed is faster. So stepping back to mid-table, this one has more punch than Falco TEMPO.
Haifu National Team Yellow Oil
Compared to the national team black oil I’ll cover at the end, legend has it the yellow oil has a better feel. Multiple top players used it at the Tokyo Olympics — not necessarily just our Chinese national team players.
As for the black oil, many national team players use it now. Reportedly, the black oil increases topsheet friction and has a longer penetration time into the sponge.
Compared to the Sea Moon above, this national team yellow oil, after application, leaves the sponge slightly harder than the standard Sea Moon, but the topsheet portion is more elastic. Stepping back to mid-to-deep table, I increasingly feel that this yellow oil has an edge in both spin pressure and speed.
Haifu National Team Black Oil
Compared to the yellow oil, the elasticity is somewhat lower, but the sponge is more solid. Simply put, if you have the power, this one is more stable — but it takes more effort than the yellow oil.
In terms of feel, the black oil is harder and the yellow oil is softer. The yellow oil makes it easier to generate good elasticity and speed when looping. But when counter-looping, the black oil has higher stability and better support; when counter-driving, the speed is just a touch faster.