DHS Gold Arc 9

UPDATED! After being pleasantly surprised by the GoldArc 9 (38-degree sponge, 2.1 mm), I’ve now bought one with a 37-degree sponge and 2 mm thickness. Weight in original packaging: 108 g. Uncut: 65 g. - I’m really curious to see how it compares to the firmer version, and I’ll report back soon! ;-P After playing the Gold Arc 5 (with 47.5 degree sponge in max.) for a season a few years ago, I was very excited about the new GA 9. I'm testing this rubber (... once again, first) on my Huieson ZLC outer, on my FH. ( ... together with the Xiom Veha Hybrid, both glued with solvent-based glue.) Facts: black rubber in 38 degree version with 2.1 mm sponge. Weight in original packaging 112 g., sealed 79 g. and uncut 76 g. On my blade, the final result is a pleasant, medium weight of 48 g. (157 x 150 mm). For years "a" GA 5 has been made in Germany and plays almost like a mixture of Tensor and China rubber ;P and now there's the GA 9, made in China, which plays almost like a Tensor!!! - funny. :-D From the very first hits, it is immediately apparent that the GA 9 is much softer/more elastic and catapults better than the GA-5 (with 47.5 degrees at max.). The speed and rotation level of both seem to be roughly identical. What I definitely like about both rubbers is that they both react very little to incoming rotation and play in a very controlled manner. Unfortunately, I am currently unable to directly compare the 37-degree and 38-degree versions of the GA 9, consequently I have not made any entries in the table for them. However, the fact remains that these highly catapult-like rubbers deliver impressive speed, which results in a slight loss of control. Bottom line: I, too, currently think that this rubber comes very close to Tenergy 05—except that it isn't spin-sensitive!!!

This is a fast rubber. When I tested it (with 37 and 38-degree sponge hardness) on the other side of the same blade with the DHS Goldarc 8 (47.5), my flat hits were faster. However, many people consider it slow because the sponge doesn't have the same high catapult effect as modern tensor rubbers, but it provides a similarly long ball dwell time. The rubber's speed is primarily provided by the soft, thin, and elastic top sheet. The smashes are bullet-fast and very accurate. Compared to the GA8, it's easier to aggressively receive serves with a quick loop, thanks to the energy-absorbing sponge, despite this being one of the GA8's strengths. The sponge requires a few hours of playing-in.

I bought this rubber to try it out and I was surprised, it is very similar to the famous Butterfly Tenergy, I'm talking about the foam and the arc of the ball, it's just a little more sticky, it has good control and very good speed, if you're looking for a Instead of the expensive butterfly rubber, this could be a great alternative. It is available in hardnesses of 37 and 38 degrees, which are approximately equivalent to 43 and 47 degrees. It's really worth trying. I bought two sets, one 37 and the other 38 degrees, there is a noticeable difference but it's not that big, I felt that the 37 degree rubber offers a little more control without significant loss of speed, so it's up to each player to choose their own. best option taking into account your playing style and especially your blade, I tried it with the long 5 and the nobilis all from Stuor, for me the long 5 was the most balanced option, and for me I opted for the GoldArc 9 37º (without booster) on the backhand and the Hurricane 8-80 38º (with booster) on the forhand. In the long 5 blade there was more permanence and a greater arc making backhand shots easier and also better control, in the nobilis lamina it lost a little control and permanence of the ball but gained a little speed. I opted for the long 5 blade, and I opted for the 37º hardness version..

Very good. It has great speed and spin but it has especially good control.

Good modern japanes sponge like tensor rubber. Not too fast. Very controllable with medium high throw angle. I use it on a def blade for forehand attack. And it works very well on every stroke.