4. Boosting
Players developed different rituals, like "priming" new rubbers with X layers of glue which was said to soften the sponge permanently, then re-apply a number of layers before each session. The speed-glue effect lasted a few days and it was strongest in the first few hours.

T2 Diamond is another league that is very big in Asia and they have different rules from the ITTF - for example they allow other color rubbers than red and black. Romanian player Bernadette Socz used a pink rubber there recently Also recreational players and clubs are probably not affiliated to the ITTF. Even in competitions, the rackets are not normally inspected until a serious level.

You'll also see that the Nittaku H3 Pro (24-037) has a different number than non-Pro Nittaku H3 (24-035)! (There's also Nittaku H2 (24-036) and H2 Pro (24-038) as well, with separate numbers - has anyone ever SEEN them?) Theoretically this means they COULD be totally different topsheets, since they were submitted for registration separately from regular H3, and the Pro topsheet COULD be totally different than the non-Pro. Who knows... until someone dissects, photographs and tests them we'll NEVER know.

From the product description: "The Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Orange uses the topsheet from the iconic DHS Hurricane 3 combined with a new type of Japanese sponge." So the topsheet is the same which also makes the most sense commercially. I believe that the different entries in LARC are simply because of the different product names written on the rubber. Just like there are separate entries for Stiga Mantra S, M and H in spite of them sharing the same topsheet.

From what I’ve heard the Neo topsheets are less tacky than the regular non-Neo topsheets. I’ve seen comparisons where someone can pickup the ball with H3 just by touching the top of the ball with the rubber and having it stick for a second, then they try the same thing with Neo and can’t do it.


I’ve only used Neo so I can’t confirm. Just wondering what everyone else thinks.


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Thanks for the overview. You are missing one variant, the Nittaku Hurricane 3 (without Pro).
The German Nittaku page says it is has a "Japanese Powersponge", Chinese topsheet (obviously), glued together in China.
https://nittaku.tt/collections/noppen-i ... urricane-3

Do H3 rubbers need a "break-in" period?
Various forum post claim that new rubber sheets need a "break-in" period of up to 10 days to achieve their best playing characteristics. That is nonsense. Consider this: top players commonly apply new rubbers every 1-3 days during tournaments. According to these geniuses, the top players in the world never achieve the full potential of their rubbers. How stupid of them, right? So no, new rubbers don't need a "break-in" period. What I suspect happens is the other way around, the player adapts to the new rubber and uses it more effectively, therefore thinking that now the rubber plays better.

Of course you are right, no rubber needs a breaking in. But consider: any object exposed to stress changes. Because of the applied pressure at ball impact sponges are getting softer, chemical and physical reactions are happening in the topsheet that is exposed to light, air, liquids. I'm not even talking about fading out of any boosters... The amount of change is the most pronounced at the beginning.

So H3 - as well any other rubber -, changes its playing characteristics with use. Call it beaking in, call it wear - it doesn't matter. For us normal players using a rubber for months and replacing it only a few times a year, it is ok getting used to the characteristics after several hours of use. For pros this is not acceptable, as they are required to use a spare racket at short notice and be comfortable with it at once. So they have to replace their equipment frequently.