DHS Gold Arc 8 vs Yinhe Mercury II: Which Should You Buy?
| DHS Gold Arc 8 | Yinhe Mercury II | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| best_side | forehand or backhand | both |
| control | medium-high | very high |
| speed | high | medium |
| spin | high | high |
| sponge_hardness | 47.5 deg (also a 50 deg version), ESN scale | medium to medium-soft (36-38 degrees Chinese scale) |
| type | non-tacky high-elastic ESN tensor, inverted | tacky inverted (budget Chinese) |
| weight_uncut_g | 69 | 60 |
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The Gold Arc 8 and Mercury II sit at opposite ends of price and intent. The Gold Arc 8 is a non-tacky high-elastic tensor with high speed, medium-high control and a balanced feel that loops and blocks well on both wings. The Mercury II is a genuinely tacky budget Chinese rubber with very high control, an elastic forgiving sponge and superb grip on serves, loops and chops, all for a few dollars a sheet.
Choose the Gold Arc 8 if you want offensive speed and easy short-to-mid looping without paying elite-tensor prices, and you do not mind a bouncier feel that needs solid technique. Choose the Mercury II if you are a beginner, improver, all-rounder, chopper or defender who values control and tacky spin over raw speed and wants to spend as little as possible.
The Gold Arc 8 carries the higher rating and is the faster, more aggressive sheet, but the Mercury II is far lighter, far cheaper and much more forgiving for players still building strokes.
FAQ
Which rubber is cheaper?
The Yinhe Mercury II by a wide margin, often around five dollars a sheet, making it one of the best value tacky Chinese rubbers available.
Which is better for a beginner?
The Mercury II. Its very high control and elastic, forgiving sponge suit beginners and improvers building their first custom racket better than the faster, bouncier Gold Arc 8.
Which one is faster?
The Gold Arc 8. It is a high-speed ESN tensor, whereas the Mercury II is medium speed and slower at distance, especially on flat hits and fast counters.
Are tacky and non-tacky a big difference here?
Yes. The Mercury II has a tacky topsheet that grips the ball for spin and control, while the Gold Arc 8 is non-tacky with limited tacky bite, so it relies more on speed and brushing.