Tibhar Hybrid K3

Wanna give it a try once my MX-D wears out.

Step up for sure, faster than k1 euro but still feels as controllable - way faster than 'dead' Rakza Z, slightly tacky but has a slap noise when I go for chinese style topspins (just like H3). 

Faster than gold arc 47.5 (or at least as fast), can do fan zhendong backhands like mad.

It's a crazy rubber and was destroying people in league today, first time ever using it

No

Interested to know if you boosted it from the packet and if you did with which booster. I've heard it's quite heavy boosted straight out of the packet as well.

It sounds to have quite a few advantages both having that tacky topsheet sheet and lighter weight with an good level of speed.

I'm guessing everyone will want to make the D09C compare...to be honest.

Cheers

I play both sides as I don't lose enough speed to justify going full euro. In fact, I think overall it is faster than a T05 (unless you count the really light shots a lot). I can rip backhands more efficiently with K3

I don't mean properly dead, but if you watch TT11's review, I agree with them - it's heavier and duller than most euro rubbers, and even other hybrids like Donic Bluegrip. 

I'm really being picky as Rakza Z is fast enough, and only slightly slower than K3. But in this case, the marketing is right, something with the factory boosting is just one level above Rakza Z, it's almost like K1 Euro harder and slightly faster too!

It is a hybrid - it's the same thing (just depends on your definition) - by your definition K3 is also euro rubber that's tacky, I call it a 39.5deg hybrid (says on packaging).

Actually I am playing with Rakza Z on forehand, because ...

vanjr wrote: I really like razkaZ-I find it very linear. By saying that it does not seem like a hybrid I guess I mean that it is tacky, but I can play loop and do topspin play with exactly the same stroke I used for rasanter R47. I play with it like it is a euro rubber.

and because of the fact that the over all speed is not as fast as hell and very controllable.

That's the reason why I play with RZ on forehand (T05 on backhand).

In the last days I tested the Tibhar Hybrid K3 during 2 training sessions and like the feeling. K3 is not really tacky, but extremely grippy. It is a big fun to loop with this rubber, because it grips the ball at least as good as Tenergy 05 or better.

If I compare K3 with Butterfly rubbers, it does not feel like Dignics 09C. It is more a combination of Dignics 05 and Tenergy 05. For me K3 has the feeling of T05 with the speed of D05. This sounds very positive for a Tibhar rubber (especially if I compare it with the prices of those Butterfly rubbers), but for me this high speed is a little disadvantage in the moment, because it is (like D05) a bit too fast for me (at least on my actual blade). 

For lower level players like me the higher control of rubbers like Tenergy 05 or Rakza Z seems to be more important than the higher speed of K3 or D05. But if you are playing at a higher level and prefer to power-loop, do not hesitate to test the new K3, because you will like it. I really do not see any argument to buy a D05 instead of K3.

Personally I have 2 options: 

1. I will continue playing with Rakza Z because of the higher control.

2. I could switch to a more controlled blade, paired with K3 on both sides.

As our season will have a break between the middle of November and the middle of January, I will test the K3 with 1-2 AR (+) blades in these 2 months. But for the moment Rakza Z is still my favourite.

I came off Butterfly rubbers a long time ago and I have not had one in 5 years so I cannot compare the HK3 to anything Butterfly.

As for my thoughts, it is a very good rubber indeed. However, it is not as special as the reviews might suggest. If I look at the prices of similar rubbers on TT11 to compare: HK3 costs 63,4 EUR,  Donic Bluegrip C2 52,81 EUR, Victas Triple Double Extra 52,81 EUR I find a 10 EUR difference which does not manifest itself in performance compared to its competitors.

Why did I say that? I bought a C2 along with this new Tibhar wonder and tested them yesterday in training. I am convinced that the sponge under C2 and the Tibhar HK3 is the same and the difference lies in the topsheet: the Tibhar's is visibly thinner and the pimples are a tad smaller and perhaps a little more densely spaced.

I put the C2 on my Viscaria and the HK3 on a Tibhar Szocs. In terms of endspeed we did not see a significant difference between the two. Spinwise, both of them are terrific.

How it compares to other hybrids? The original Hybrid K1 Euro pales in comparison to this new rubber in every possible way, that is for sure. Other than that, I have tried the aforementioned C2 / C1 and Victas TDE. The difference is the way the topsheet bites and releases the ball.

The THK3's topsheet is more rigid but still grips the ball fantastically in terms of ESN rubbers. The C2, C1 and the Victas TDE (I know it is made in China) have a slightly more supple topsheet that bears resemblence to the way the Bluestorm series  work in spite of them being a hybrid. Therefore they lose a little edge on close to the table opening topspins. The THK3 fixes this and is noticeably harder from the topsheet, taking it closer to a Hurricane Neo 3, for example. You can be more aggressive with it from close up. This rigidity also translates into less catapult compared to the others. Blocking against strong topspin is easier. It is adequately fast up to 2-3 meters from the table.

The throw angle is definitely lower than C2. As far as spin goes, I do not think it is spinnier.

So in summary, in terms of feel, this hybrid comes the closest to a H3 Neo that I have come accross. There is a lot more speed to it, too. It is a step forward from the relentlessly catapulty rubbers such as Z1 and its equivalents because is a rubber at long last that leaves the user more say into what arc they want to produce on loops which is especially important in my view. However, I do not see that somebody using a C2 would be at a disadvantage against a THK3 user. I think the price difference is not justified.

Please bear in mind that these are my first thoughts and by next Wednesday I will have probably moved my sheet to a Viscaria. I will give an update then.

It is the same level as Rakza Z at best

Don't misunderstand this. Although K3 is not tacky, you are able to produce as much spin with it as you get with Rakza Z or other hybrid rubbers - especially if you are used to European rubbers normally.

K3 is also very linear. Short game is really easy because it is not bouncy in this part of the game.

None of them?