Tin Arc 3 Review (update)

I can start off by describing the rubber:

1.  Sponge is porous very similar to Tenergy 05, which I am currently using for my backhand.  It's about 90% identical, so I wouldn't be surprise if DHS is using a similar technology.
2.  Color is a little more red than Tenergy 05.  If they were the same color, I don't think people would be able to tell the difference between the sponges.
3.  Bounce.  It's a little strange, but I would say Tenergy 05 is higher.  The rubbers are set on the Allround40, a blade with a hard feel.
4.  On a scale of 1-5 for tackiness, I give this rubber a 1 (maybe even less).  For a "DHS" rubber, this is probably the least tacky.  I am also comparing this with my provincial H3 and National Globe 999. I mean, it kinda reminds me of Tackifire in terms of tackiness, but maybe even less than that.  I wonder if Gold Arc is like that. 
5.  I don't think this rubber is glossy like most Chinese rubbers I came across.
6.  Hardness - very similar to Tenergy 05, but Tin Arc 3 might me slightly softer.  Even softer than my H3.  When I press the rubber with my fingers, it feels very much like Tenergy 05.

I will give it a go possibly on Friday and then I will let you guys know more about it.  I hope this is the FH rubber I'm looking for. 

Day 1:
So far I like this rubber even though I only spent like half an hour today.  The sponge seems a bit soft for my taste.

Day 2:
All man, I've been playing nothing but choppers lately and I guess that's a good thing.  I love to loop and loop kill against choppers and to be honest, TinArc 3 does a pretty good job at it.  When compared to H3 Pro and even Nat 999, TinArc is faster but not as spinny.  The Spin is where you need add a little bit yourself when you want more, especially if you are used to rubbers like H3.  I honestly feel that the rubber is bit soft, so I constantly find myself wishing it was a bit harder and even a bit tackier.  Throw angle is actually lower than H3 from the way I look at it, which I kinda like.  Counterattacking mid distance is superb.   I haven't tried counterattacking far away from the table, but I do find lobs a little less responsive to the opponent's ball (well, the kid wasn't adding enough power on his shots).  This rubber is great for blocking from backhand to forehand.  I personally find that my shots were a little more consistent when compared to my H3 Pro.

Ok, I had the chance to try Tenergy 80 and 64x tonight just for a little bit.  I absolutely loved the feel of Tenergy 80 for my forehand.  64X was just too soft for me, but it worked well for flat hitting and blocking, while Tenergy 80 simply had more to offer in terms of gears.  You are probably wondering why I'm bringing this up and yes, there's a reason for that.  A lot of people have said that TinArc series is like a Tenergy rubber with a tacky topsheet and some even compared it with T05.  To be quite honest, T05 and TinArc 3 are two different rubbers in terms of feel.  T05 has a harder and springy feel, which TinArc 3 sort of lacks.  TinArc 3 isn't as fast as T05, but it is fast for a Chinese rubber.  IMO, I wouldn't recommend TA3 for starters (maybe a little hard for them to control), especially if s/he doesn't have the right technique yet.  What about T80 you ask? You are not going to believe me, but TA3 feels more like a distant cousin of T80.  Yes, in terms of feel and throw angle in loops, TA3 feels more like a slower version of T80.  When the TA3 starts biting, it feels very similar to T80.  

I remember watching Brian Pace's review on TA3 and I somewhat agree about the amount of spin/power you add on the ball as you probably have the tendency to over do it.  This is where you need to practice a little, so that you become a little more familiar with the rubber on what it can do.  Maybe the weight of rubber does affect your strokes slightly because I do find TA3 a bit lighter than H3 Pro.

Maybe I should give TinArc I a try someday, but I actually hope that DHS continues to make more improvements on the new line of the Arc series.  Maybe they should consider on a TinArc2 with a tackier topsheet and slightly harder sponge.


Edited by O! Ju Qian - 09/15/2013 at 3:36am

sandiway wrote: I switched from Tenergy 05 to Tin Arc 3 on my forehand (black) recently (this summer). My two cents... I like the Tin Arc 3 because it's more forgiving. Has good spin and a bit less speed than Tenergy 05. Tenergy 05 is a rocket. Tin Arc 3 is a bit easier to control but is still spinny. YMMV.

thanks for sharing.  I am really dying to try this baby.

I have TA3 on HHao3 as RPB rubber. It has some tack as DHS called it "sticky and roughness". They said it has combine tack with no tack (Chinese + Euro/Jap) so in theory it is the best of both world. It looks like Tenergy but don't expect any more similarity. You still needs to put all your power into your shots like using Chinese than Euro/Jap. I have not boost so tuner may help. TA3 is about 55% the cost of GA3 in China so not sure why it is so expensive elsewhere. BTW I have used 3 non-tacky DHS rubbers. Memo 2, Dipper 3 and TNT.

Edited by TurboZ - 09/11/2013 at 8:29pm

how much is this?

All the DHS "arc" series rubbers are really quite good and definitely under the radar, not a lot of people playing with them or talking about them.

There are already fake TA3 going around in TB so it is not safe as most think.

TA3 is okay. better sponge than H3 and TG3. topsheet is not that tacky and not as durable. but as it doesn't rely on tackiness, it can be played for awhile. 

Edited by kurokami - 09/16/2013 at 2:20am

@ O! Ju Qian - stop stealing my T80 and T64FX!