Hurricane 8-80 review

It comes in the well known DHS 3-50, 3-60, H8 paper packaging, it does not have any glue layer or boositing applied by the factory. Corners are cut of course (wouldn't worry about this), the sponge has the most pronounced ridges I've ever seen by any company. I really am curious how they slice the sponge sheets to get this effect. Not sure if this has any benefit for us end users. I actually wish DHS applied the glue layer without the booster. (I wish all companies did this, it just makes applying rubbers so much faster and better, not to mention I think in factory enviroment they can have better control than we do)

During my great venture from transition from Calibra, Airoc, Mantra rubbers to chinese I used H3-50, Yinhe Moon Speed as a transition rubber. So I have some experience with hybrid types and H8-80 I would consider as a hybrid as the #80 sponge feels like a bit harder Rozena sponge.

I tested the rubber with a Joola Vyzaryz Trinity blade as I find this blade works really well with rubbers that are better with an open racket angle and chinese rubbers are exeptionally good with open racket angles. My main comparison will be with Mantra Hard and Rozena. Stiga Mantra H is an excellent rubber on backhand with open racket angles, and Rozena is a like the little bro of the well known Tenergy 80.

H8-80 is my first encounter with the H8 topsheet, and out of the package the topsheet has huge stickiness. It can lift the ball forever... I never had this kind of stickiness with H3 topsheets or 729 B2 or Big Dipper.

As mentioned before DHS promises lighter weight, I can confirm that uncut weight is around 64g, cut it's around 48g. This is a touch heavier than Rozena, and on par with Mantra H. H8-80 sponge has small pores, feels more elastic than Rozena, similarly elastic as Mantra H but, during play it is much softer than Mantra H.

Speed

I feel with 40+ plastic ball speed and control is the king, not spin. I tested with (new logo) Joola Flash ball, I can say that low gear game H8-80 is faster than both Rozena and Sitga Mantra H. Against incoming spnin it has a higher rebound angle deviation than both Rozena and Mantra, but you can get used to it. The sponge is crisper and more transparent than Rozena, and especially compared to Mantra. Mantra has a rather hard to bottom out sponge.

Medium gear is similar to Mantra, bit faster than Rozena.

High gear is not that fast Mantra H as H8-80 bottoms out on the blade and it becomes wonky. It looses its higher throw angle and you can hit the net. It's not terrible but certainly one needs to get used to the characteristic.

Spin

I'm not sure that backhand is capable to generate sufficient motion to generate crazy spin with sticky rubbers. I honestly don't think sticky rubber actually are generating more spin than grippy rubbers. I feel that Rozena and Mantra are capable of generating more spin and more dramatic arc on both fore and backhand than H3 or H8-80. I just feel like stickyness actually holds the ball too much and doesn't let the rubber do it's wind-up and release effect, like it happens with grippy rubbers. What I like about sticky rubbers is that they don't let the ball fall down so much from the rubber, which is probably the same effect that doesn't let the rubber generate more spin.

Control

This is where I believe sicky rubbers are unbeatable, and H8-80 is a good combination with a spring sponge type sponge with sticky topsheet. The topsheet is very stable while the sponge just gives the nice catapult effect. If you don't like this catapult effect actually Stiga Mantra is a really great option. It's super stable rubber while the sponge doesn't take over your shot. H8-80 sponge has a nice catapult effect, really similar to Rozena. Over the talbe touch control is great, banana flick no problem with H8-80.

I'm a lefty, and people avoid my forehand like the plague, so for me backhand is crucial. Having a great and manly block is absolutely essential and H8-80 is fantastic for it. You don't have to worry about racket angles too much, just that you have to make sure you press down the ball. I do it with my elbow, almost the same mostion as with Mantra. Mantra sponge can soak up more speed, but H8-80 is really good too. Quick short movement backhand exchanges are great because of the catapult effect with H8-80.

Shortcomings

I think H8-80 pairs better with hard surface blades. Koto I would imagine would be better than limba. So a Viscaria I think is superior combination than my Trinity. But I will keep giving the rubber more hours, I think Trinity is not a bad combination just needs more practice (possibly higher level too).

Rozena also felt better on a Viscaria type blade than on the Trinity.

Wish it would be even a touch lighter, 48g is like the higher limit for a BH rubber. I do care a lot about racket weight, and it is a bit absurd that my forehand B2 golden is 46.6g, why my backhand is 48g.

No glue layer by factory.

Personal positive notes

No bad smell

Probably durability is excellent like all DHS rubbers. Even after 1 year of absolute hell, Chinese rubbers perform excellent, with class leading grip. Chinese rubbers die on me by bubbling up. But after a year of absolute hell that I give them this is a huge positive.

Doesn't shrink like ESN rubbers.

Blade recomendation

Hard surface blade is recomended. Koto, rosewood... VIscaria type blades I would really recommend to be honest.

Limba could be OK.

Hinoki? I didn't test but I don't think so.

For 30USD from Aliexpress this is a pretty good rubber for backhand. Much better than H3-50, or any 37deg H3 versions. It's not for flashy play, it's a professional rubber to get +1 point in your favor.

If you're not that much into tacky rubbers on backhand, or have not much strength there I would really recommend Stiga Mantra, or Rozena from Butterfly. And I'm not a huge fan of ESN rubbers as the shrink and wear like there's no tomorrow, but the good old Vega Asia is a good backhand rubber. These are all around 30-35 USD from Ali or Prott.

Just as a PS, one of my teammates played with Tenergy 05 fx, and he used those until they were really worn, now he just bought 2pcs of T19, boosted them with Revo No3 booster and they do feel spinnier than a worn 05fx but not by huge margins. It's actually really dissapointing. Save your money for stuff that matters more, like good shoes or vitamins / supplements. Improve your body, and skills instead. Rubbers are to serve your needs, your body is still the dictator.