DHS Hurricane 301 vs DHS Hurricane Long 5: Which Should You Buy?
| DHS Hurricane 301 | DHS Hurricane Long 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 8.6/10 |
| feel | medium-hard, crisp, direct inner arylate-carbon with deep dwell on power shots | hard, powerful |
| handle | FL | FL/ST |
| plies | 5W+2 Aramid-Carbon (Koto outer, Ayous middle and core, inner Arylate-Carbon) | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon |
| speed | OFF | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| weight_g | 90 | 89 |
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Both are inner arylate-carbon blades that come alive with tacky Chinese rubber and reward a forehand topspin game, so this is about pace and feel. The Hurricane 301 is the crisp, medium-hard, value pick, rated OFF with a very wide gear range from controllable touch up to power loops, and it is often a third of the price of premium inner-ALC blades. The Hurricane Long 5 is a harder, more powerful OFF+ blade with a large sweet spot and a deep, consistent catapult that returns a high, safe arc on nearly every stroke.
The Long 5 carries outstanding control for an OFF+ blade thanks to its inner carbon, but it is not actually faster than outer-carbon blades and feels slow if your looping technique is not developed. It also strongly favors Chinese rubber on the forehand. The 301 has a sharper, more direct Koto-top feel that can be polarizing, and it splinters when changing rubbers so it benefits from sealing.
Both weigh around 89 to 90g. Pick the 301 if you are an intermediate, improving looper who wants a spin-friendly inner-ALC blade with a wide control range at a low price. Pick the Long 5 if you are a more developed close-to-mid-table attacker who wants a higher, more powerful arc and the biggest sweet spot with tacky rubber.
FAQ
Which is faster?
The Long 5 is rated OFF+ versus OFF for the 301, but it is not actually faster than outer-carbon blades and feels slow without developed looping technique. The 301 covers a wide range from control to OFF+ power.
Do both need tacky Chinese rubber?
Both come alive with tacky Chinese rubber. The Long 5 strongly favors it on the forehand, while the 301 also pairs well with fast Euro and Japanese rubbers thanks to its wider gear range.
Which is the better value?
The 301 is exceptional value, often around a third the price of premium inner-ALC blades. The commercial Long 5 is pricier and has a known hollow feel versus the premium W968.