Butterfly Korbel vs DHS Hurricane Long 5: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Korbel | DHS Hurricane Long 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 8.6/10 |
| feel | medium, soft and flexible all-wood with long dwell | hard, powerful |
| handle | FL/ST | FL/ST |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — limba-limba-ayous-limba-limba | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon |
| speed | OFF- | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.9 |
| weight_g | 88 | 89 |
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These blades aim at different forehand setups. The Korbel is a flexible, medium-speed all-wood blade with long dwell, high throw and broad rubber compatibility, great for learning and control across the gears. The Hurricane Long 5 is an OFF-plus inner-carbon blade that delivers a deep, consistent catapult and a high, safe arc, with the carbon only stepping in on hard hits, giving surprisingly woody feel and elite control for its class.
The Hurricane Long 5 strongly favors tacky Chinese rubber on the forehand, comes alive for looping and serve-receive, but feels slow if your looping technique is not developed and runs heavy at around 89 to 93 grams. The Korbel is lighter, more universally rubber-friendly and more forgiving for developing players, but you supply the pace. Pick the Korbel for a versatile control-first build and learning; pick the Hurricane Long 5 if you loop with tacky Chinese rubber and want a high-arc inner-carbon topspin game close to mid-table.
FAQ
Which suits tacky Chinese rubber best?
The Hurricane Long 5. It is designed to come alive with tacky Chinese rubber for an elite looping and serve-receive game. The Korbel is more neutral and pairs well with European, Japanese and tacky Chinese rubbers alike.
Is the Hurricane Long 5 actually faster than the Korbel?
It is the more powerful, OFF-plus blade, but it is not faster than outer-carbon blades and can feel slow if your looping technique is not developed. The Korbel is a medium-speed OFF-minus blade where you supply the pace.
Which is heavier?
The Hurricane Long 5 runs heavy, around 89 to 93 grams, while the Korbel sits near 88 grams. Both can feel head-heavy once thick rubbers are mounted.