Butterfly Korbel vs DHS Hurricane 301: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Korbel | DHS Hurricane 301 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 8.6/10 |
| feel | medium, soft and flexible all-wood with long dwell | medium-hard, crisp, direct inner arylate-carbon with deep dwell on power shots |
| handle | FL/ST | FL |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — limba-limba-ayous-limba-limba | 5W+2 Aramid-Carbon (Koto outer, Ayous middle and core, inner Arylate-Carbon) |
| speed | OFF- | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 88 | 90 |
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These blades suit different stages of a player’s development. The Butterfly Korbel is a soft, flexible all-wood 5-ply rated OFF-minus, with long dwell, a high throw and spinny serves, ideal for learning to loop. The DHS Hurricane 301 is an OFF inner arylate-carbon blade with a hard Koto top, a very wide gear range, and great value at around one third the price of premium inner-ALC blades.
The Korbel shines on feel, control and versatility across the gears, gentle for touch yet capable on offense, and is a strong way to develop feeling before moving to carbon, though it is only medium speed and you must supply your own power for far-table attack. The Hurricane 301 spans controllable touch up to OFF+ power loops, with long dwell, high spin and a crisp close-to-table feel, but it splinters when changing rubbers and needs sealing, has a polarizing sharp index-finger feel, and a handle that can feel slippery for heavy sweaters.
By style: control-first players and improvers learning to loop and play the short game should take the Korbel. Forehand-dominant loopers and early-ball attackers who want carbon power, high spin and a wide control range on a budget should choose the Hurricane 301.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Hurricane 301. It is an OFF inner-carbon blade that reaches OFF+ on power loops, while the Korbel is a medium-speed OFF-minus all-wood that needs you to supply power far from the table.
Which is better for a beginner?
The Korbel. Its forgiving, high-feel all-wood build is ideal for learning looping and short play, while the Hurricane 301 is aimed at intermediate and improving offensive players.
Does the Hurricane 301 need maintenance?
Yes. It splinters when changing rubbers, so sealing or sanding is recommended. The Korbel has no such warning but is widely counterfeited.
Which has more spin potential?
Both are spin-friendly. The Hurricane 301 offers high spin and excellent results against backspin, while the Korbel’s high throw and dwell make it very spinny for an all-wood blade.