It’s no secret that the rubber on your paddle plays a large role in its overall performance. That’s why companies that manufacture table tennis blades have come to make rackets with replaceable rubbers more and more common - because a simple change in rubber could lead to monumental changes in performance. So aside from bats that allow users the ability to switch to different rubbers, different rubber designs have also become something of a trend in the table tennis market.
These days, there are a lot of brands competing for the top spot as the best replacement rubber for table tennis bats. But one of the sure stand-out names in the market is none other than DHS. Specializing in table tennis gear and accessories, this brand takes pride in its precision designs, developed with optimal tournament level performance in mind. One of their most popular rubbers to date? The Hurricane 3, or simply, H3.
The H3 has become well-known in many circles throughout the table tennis community, but is it really worth all the hype? Find out what we learned about this specific rubber with our comprehensive DHS Hurricane 3 review.
What’s Special About the Hurricane 3?
There are lots of different play styles, but the Hurricane 3 mainly caters to players who prefer to adopt a more relaxed, defensive, or controlling play style. The H3 uses thick and soft textures, allowing a lengthy dwell period, and cushioning the ball upon impact to dampen speed and neutralize any spinning forces. Despite all of that though, the Hurricane 3 does offer some offensive functionality by way of its tacky feel that helps impart spin much more readily compared to smoother rubber surfaces.
At a glance and when you first get to touch it, the first thing you’ll probably notice about the H3 is that it’s heavy and dense. This is what makes it a premium control rubber, leveraging its weight and density to slow down a table tennis ball and provide users more time to anticipate possible ball behavior after impact.
Ratings for the DHS Hurricane 3
Ready to get into the facts? Here are the average ratings the DHS Hurricane 3 got from its manufacturer, as well as from hundreds of verified users who have left their feedback on the H3 online.
Speed rating: ★★★★
Unlike blades, the speed rating on table tennis rubbers can be differentiated into two main types - looping speed and volley speed. Essentially, looping speed refers to speed generated from heavy topspin shots, while volley speed refers to speed imparted by way of direct, flat contact. The purpose of defining the two is because some rubbers can generate only one or the other, so it can be instrumental information in choosing the right type of rubber for your needs.
The H3 from DHS works best for heavy topspin shots, imparting explosive speed when used for looping styles. This is mainly a result of the incredibly tacky surface which clings tightly against the ball upon impact, making it easier to impart spin with nothing more than a flick of the wrist. In terms of volley speed, the H3 might not be the best because of its soft, thick, and padded feel. But even then, it really can’t be considered a slow rubber.
Spin rating: ★★★★★
Many of us tend to associate heavy spin with fast play styles because spin is often seen as an offensive play tactic. But there’s a lot to gain out of utilizing spin even if you’re a defensive player. This is made undoubtedly clear with the H3’s capacity to impart impressive spin despite being a slower rubber. The tacky texture slaps satisfyingly against a ball in play, so players can add slight directional movements to their stroke to generate heavy spins for a variety of tactics.
On top of that, the rubber is also soft and pliable, so the ball tends to dwell much longer. This delayed contact is essential for generating spin, and also works well to give players a better capacity to anticipate how the ball will behave after impact.
Control rating: ★★★★★
Another one of the DHS H3’s strong suits is control. It’s heavy, tacky, and comes with an exceptionally long dwell time which lets users truly decide the outcomes they want and achieve them with the right strategy. The rubber owes this high level of control to its dense, sticky texture which cushions the ball and slows it down upon receiving it form the opponent.
The benefit of a rubber that slows down the ball is that it makes the ball “stay” with you much longer. This is what’s referred to as dwell time, which we’ve mentioned quite a number of times up top. As the ball dwells on your racket, you have a longer time to determine how you want to strike it in order to achieve the landing you want. Dwell also makes it easier to impart a variety of spin styles without the ball feeling too erratic. This results to a much slower, much more controlled pace that’s easier to predict.
Of course, despite offering superb control, the DHS H3 doesn’t sacrifice too much speed. With a 4-star speed rating, this rubber can still be pretty fast even with its maximum control rating, so it’s great for intermediate players who want to learn new tricks without having to give up their offensive play style.
Tackiness rating: ★★★★
Tackiness refers to how “sticky” the rubber feels, which dictates how well it will allow a ball to cling to it upon impact. With greater tackiness comes a greater capacity to impart spin because the rubber “holds” the ball better. Based on user reviews, the H3 is an exceptionally tacky rubber that’s perfect for versatile spin play. This feature also makes it a suitable choice for heavy topspin or looping players, or for those who want to learn the specific technique.
Keep in mind though that the tackiness that the H3 offers while it’s fresh out of the packaging might not stay if you don’t care for it well enough. If there’s anything that users complain about with the H3 it’s that the tackiness does seem to fade pretty quickly especially if you use it often.
Hardness rating: ★★★★
In terms of hardness, the H3 from DHS gets a 4 star rating from us. The rubber utilizes a fairly dense sponge material as a backer, and this helps balance out the pliable, tacky texture of the rubber itself. The purpose of the hard sponge is to assist with speed, by adding a layer of material that doesn’t absorb energy and instead translates it upon strike to increase ball velocity. We actually find this little bit to be highly beneficial and intuitive, as the rest of the rubber tends to cushion impact.
Durability rating: ★★★
So, does the DHS Hurricane 3 last long enough to give you a return on your investment? On average, it lasts a maximum of 4 months, which is actually pretty short if you consider the half-year lifespan that other rubbers parade. Other durability issues with the H3 include the fact that it’s susceptible to humidity and oil, which both lead the tackiness to drop significantly.
Despite all of that, we’re still giving the H3 a durability rating of 3 stars. Why? Considering the fact that it only costs a little over $20 USD, it really won’t be too painful on the pocket to simply repurchase once the rubber gives in to the onslaught of wear and tear.
Who is the DHS Hurricane 3 For?
So, who would best benefit from using the DHS Hurricane 3? We highly recommend the rubber for defensive heavy topspin players who enjoy versatile, multi-directional play without losing their sense of control and tempo. The rubbers aren’t the fastest, and they offer outstanding control, but they are great for looping as well.
While they do work well for professional players with a slower pace, we also think the DHS H3 can be great for intermediate players who want to polish their skills. The rubber’s capacity to impart different types of spin can be ideal for learning new techniques, while at the same time allowing a high level of control to prevent too much confusion or frustration during use.
Pros of the DHS Hurricane 3
l Suitable speed for competitive performance as well as practice play for advanced intermediate users.
l Tacky rubber texture increases ball dwell time and lets players enjoy a number of benefits including superb spin versatility and an increased capacity to assess ball behavior.
l Impressive capability to impart lots of different types of spin more readily, perfect for those who bank on heavy topspin play strategies.
l Fairly affordable rubber doesn’t feel like a giant expense when you buy it.
l Great learning rubber, ideal for players who already have some knowledge and skill in playing table tennis but want to polish their technique or learn new strategies.
Cons of the DHS Hurricane 3
l Requires quite a bit of effort to achieve maximum speed.
l Not the easiest rubber to become accustomed to because of its low forgiveness capacity.
l Durability could be improved.
Overall rating: ★★★★
If there’s anything we want you to take away from this DHS Hurricane 3 review, it’s that speed isn’t always the only thing that matters. The H3 proves this with its intuitive combination of features that can help make a defensive player more versatile and more challenging to play against. The tackiness allows superb spin capabilities, while still keeping the user in control with its impressively long dwell time. Would we call it the best rubber out there? Probably not, but if you were looking for a great learning rubber or a rubber that could help maximize your defensive play style, then the H3 could just be the answer to your needs.