DHS Hurricane is one of the most popular table tennis rubbers on the market with many professionals choosing this tacky Chinese rubber to give them tonnes of spin. However, it’s not for everyone and there are a few reasons why players may look for an alternative so in this article I’ll take you through some other options and explain the pros, cons and how they relate to DHS Hurricane.
Alternatives to DHS Hurricane
- Yinhe Big Dipper
- Sanwei Target National
- XIOM Vega China
- Friendship 729 Battle II Provincial
- Nittaku Hurricane Pro III Turbo Blue
Characteristics of DHS Hurricane
DHS Hurricane is best know for it’s tacky topsheet and hard sponge giving it excellent levels of spin and speed. It’s a classic Chinese-style rubber which means you have to put a lot of effort into your strokes to get the most out of it, which is typically why beginners won’t like it as much as more experienced players with better technique.
If you are looking for an alternative to DHS Hurricane, then you should prioritise the following:
- Tacky topsheet
- Hard sponge
- Mid-high speed
- Very High spin
- Excellent control
Issues with DHS Hurricane
The main issue with DHS Hurricane 3 is that it needs boosting to get the most out of it which many players do not want to do. The Neo, Neo Provincial and National versions of H3 have better performance but still usually benefit from boosting. If you do not want to boost the rubber but still want to use Hurricane, then your best option is H8.
Some players also find that DHS Hurricane is slow, however this is usually due to the technique. This rubber requires high-effort to get maximum speed. It has many gears which means the level of performance is massively dictated by the stroke.
DHS Hurricane is a durable rubber if you look after it and clean it with water and a sponge after each session to keep the tackiness. However, many players don’t like the level of upkeep required.
The Alternatives
Now let’s take a look at some alternatives (in no particular order). In each example, I’ll go through the pros and cons, some ratings and how it compares to DHS Hurricane 3.
Yinhe Big Dipper
Yinhe Big Dipper has a similar level of spin to DHS Hurricane but feels slightly faster. The throw angle is slightly higher compared to H3, but the tackiness and sponge hardness is lower, giving it a slightly different feel. The durability is similar compared to H3.
Advantages:
- Higher speed than DHS Hurricane
- Still needs boosting ideally
Disadvantages:
- Less tacky than DHS Hurricane
- Softer sponge than DHS Hurricane
| Feature | Yinhe Big Dipper | DHS Hurricane 3 |
| Speed | 4.75 | 4.5 |
| Spin | 5 | 5 |
| Control | 4.5 | 4.75 |
| Tackiness | 2.5 | 4 |
| Sponge Hardness | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Throw Angle | 3 | 2.5 |
| Durability | 80- 100 hours | 80-100 hours |
Here is a link to Yinhe Big Dipper on Amazon.
Image links to Amazon
Sanwei Target National
Sanwei Target National is a faster rubber than DHS Hurricane but has a similar level of spin and control. It has similar tackiness to H3 but a slightly softer sponge. The durability and price of of Target National is similar to H3.
Advantages:
- High speed rubber
- Good level of control
Disadvantages:
- Softer sponge than H3
- Hard to play far from the table
| Feature | Sanwei Target National | DHS Hurricane 3 |
| Speed | 4.75 | 4.5 |
| Spin | 5 | 5 |
| Control | 4.75 | 4.75 |
| Tackiness | 4 | 4 |
| Sponge Hardness | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Throw Angle | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Durability | 80-100 hours | 80-100 hours |
Here is a link to Sanwei Target National on Amazon.
Image links to Amazon
XIOM Vega China
XIOM Vega China is a faster rubber than DHS Hurricane but does not offer as much control and is not as tacky. This rubber feels more like a tensor rubber despite feeling fairly tacky, so it has a more bouncy characteristic than H3.
Advantages:
- High speed rubber
- Good in the short game
Disadvantages:
- Less control than H3
- Not as tacky as H3
| Feature | XIOM Vega China | DHS Hurricane 3 |
| Speed | 4.75 | 4.5 |
| Spin | 5 | 5 |
| Control | 4 | 4.75 |
| Tackiness | 2.5 | 4 |
| Sponge Hardness | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Throw Angle | 3 | 2.5 |
| Durability | 80-100 hours | 80-100 hours |
Here is a link to XIOM Vega China on Amazon.
Image links to Amazon
Friendship 729 Battle II Provincial
Friendship 729 Battle II Provincial is an excellent rubber with very high speed and spin, and a similar feel to DHS Hurricane with it’s hard sponge and tacky top-sheet. It is more durable than Hurricane H3 and faster.
Advantages:
- Excellent speed and spin
- Very similar hardness and tackiness
Disadvantages:
- Harder to find in the USA
- Lower throw angle than H3
| Feature | Friendship 729 Battle II Provincial | DHS Hurricane 3 |
| Speed | 5 | 4.5 |
| Spin | 5 | 5 |
| Control | 4.75 | 4.75 |
| Tackiness | 4 | 4 |
| Sponge Hardness | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Throw Angle | 2 | 2.5 |
| Durability | 100-120 hours | 80-100 hours |
Here is a link to Friendship 729 Battle Provincial on Amazon.
Image links to Amazon
Nittaku Hurricane Pro III Turbo Blue
Nittaku Hurricane Pro III Turbo Blue is a high speed and spin rubber with a similar sponge hardness and top-sheet tackiness compared to Hurricane H3, giving it a similar feel. The advantage of the Nittaku rubber is that it is more durable, however it is more expensive than the commercial version of H3.
Advantages:
- Similar feel to H3
- Better durability
Disadvantages:
- Less control than H3
- More expensive
| Feature | Nittaku Hurricane Pro III Turbo Blue | DHS Hurricane 3 |
| Speed | 4.75 | 4.5 |
| Spin | 5 | 5 |
| Control | 4.5 | 4.75 |
| Tackiness | 4 | 4 |
| Sponge Hardness | 4.75 | 4.5 |
| Throw Angle | 2.75 | 2.5 |
| Durability | 100-120 hours | 80-100 hours |
Here is a link to Nittaku Hurricane Pro III Turbo Blue on on Amazon.
Image links to Amazon
Check out this in-depth comparison between DHS Hurricane and Butterfly Tenergy.