These Domestic Tacky Rubbers, Substitutes for Hurricane 3
By some players’ request, I should not only cover high-end gear but also chat more down-to-earth. Today, let me discuss domestic tacky rubbers that can replace Hurricane 3.
1
Blue-sponge provincial Battle II. Keywords: loop-drive, push-attack. Compared with most domestic tacky rubbers here, it was born relatively early. So locally, over the past five years, many amateur experts use it — what they consider the most effective Hurricane substitute. Boosted is better, unboosted is okay too. Compared with Hurricane 3, the Blue Battle’s surface is relatively tougher, so thin-brushing’s settledness is inferior, making you feel the grip is not solid enough when adding spin. But its loop-drive sense of speed is better than Hurricane 3’s, and the block is fairly solid. Both 39-degree blue sponge, it is about half a degree harder than the blue provincial Hurricane. But recently, the Blue Battle released a new inorganic built-in-energy version. I asked 729 — the sponge processing differs a bit, and the surface restores the old tackiness. We shall see.
2
Guobiao Bullseye 3rd gen. Keywords: thin-brushing, cake sponge. Reportedly it uses the white-crepe raw material Red Auntie gives the pro teams. The first feel is that the surface friction is very punchy — that is the Hurricane flavor, with a dragging feel when gripping the ball. For players demanding much of thin-brushing, this suits fairly well. The sponge is a medium-pore cake sponge, so with one coat of inorganic glue, the elasticity is quite nice — surely a built-in-energy product. Overall, those who like Hurricane 3’s surface pause when loop-driving but do not want to glue-boost can consider this.
3
Hurricane 8-80. Keywords: picky about blades. On the backhand, the friction is indeed more stable, but the speed is still slow. Sometimes I feel the 38-degree is more comfortable on the forehand, decent unboosted. Support is enough, especially paired with blades of decent deformation that are not too soft — unexpected effects. Like the Hurricane Long 5, Boll ALC. The 80# large-pore sponge — though the elasticity is not outstanding, it is a bit better than the original orange and blue sponge. Mainly paired on a blade with deformation tension, the elasticity is enhanced and it becomes easy to play. Simply put, for forehand pairing, it is picky about blades.
4
Jupiter 3 Asia version. Keywords: does everything, a lazy person’s essential. This has a pre-factory base. Convenient and cheap. Just brush glue and go. Its overall performance is decent — ball-holding and speed both okay. The do-everything-but-not-sharp type. If you demand especially high single-ball quality, do not choose it. But if you are lazy, want easy play, a balanced type with no weaknesses, it works. This year the Beidou 5 launched, generally rated higher, seen as a soft-springy Hurricane 8.
5
National Battle II. Keywords: fast, continuity, feel. Though bearing the national name, actually for me, I rate it below the provincial blue-sponge Battle II. But many players ask, so I should chat. First, its speed-up really is fast, and spin is okay too — these are advantages. But if you want to loop one heavy, powerful ball to score directly, that is harder; for hooligans, this is unsuitable. If you are the type scoring by continuous looping, it works. From this angle, it is a bit like the Tibhar K3 type.
6
Ruilong 9 national rubber. Keywords: high-tack surface, high-spring sponge. This one is fairly well-rated — like an upgraded national Battle. First, the surface really is tacky. Though tacky does not necessarily mean good friction, lifting underspin is no problem. Second, the sponge is fairly powerful among domestic tacky rubbers, with good elasticity, so it can loop fast too. On these two points, it beats the national Battle. The only thing inferior to Hurricane is, I feel, the ripping-underspin effect is still not as penetrating as Hurricane. But overall, very nice.
7
Gaobo Power. Keywords: very effortless, very cheap. This has two: backhand orange sponge 37 degrees, forehand blue sponge 40 degrees. Relatively, I like this backhand, even over 37-soft Hurricane, because it is very effortless and light. The forehand also lands very easily, with okay built-in energy, easy to con over, with a good arc. Just the power is average. Backing off, it is a bit weak. For a strong-attack type like me, the single-ball quality demand is high. But for many beginner-to-intermediate players, it is enough — especially, it really is cheap.