Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue

Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue – Premium pimples-in table tennis rubber
Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue is a high-end pimples-in table tennis rubber developed by the Japanese manufacturer Nittaku. It combines the legendary DHS Hurricane 3 high-grip topsheet with a newly developed Japanese sponge. Manufactured in China (topsheet) and Japan (sponge and assembly), this rubber is ITTF and JTTA approved and features a hard, fast sponge (50°) that delivers high speed (15/20) and exceptional spin (15.5/20). Using Nittaku's ACTIVE CHARGE technology, Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue overcomes the weaknesses of traditional Chinese rubbers, offering more power and elasticity, especially for mid- to long-distance play. Compared to Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Orange (45° sponge), Turbo Blue is harder and faster, offering more power but requiring more precise technique. This rubber is an ideal choice for advanced attackers who focus on spinny topspin shots, powerful attacks, and technical mid- to long-distance play.

Main Features:

• Rubber type: Pimples-in
• Speed: 15/20
• Spin: 15.5/20
• Sponge hardness: 50° (hard, equivalent to ~58° ESN scale)
• Sponge thickness: 2.0 mm, MAX
• Colors: Red, black
• Origin: Topsheet made in China, sponge and assembly in Japan
• Approval: ITTF and JTTA approved
• Weight: ~49 g (uncut, 180x170 mm), ~36 g (cut, 157x150 mm)
• Technologies: ACTIVE CHARGE system, high-grip DHS Hurricane 3 topsheet, Japanese sponge

Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue features a modern construction that blends the spin of a Chinese topsheet with the power and elasticity of a Japanese sponge, providing an excellent balance of speed, spin, and power:

Sponge (50°):
The hard Japanese sponge (50° Nittaku scale, approx. 58° ESN scale) has a fine-pored structure that ensures strong ball rebound and minimal catapult effect. Compared to the Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Orange (45°), Turbo Blue's sponge is harder, offering more power and speed, especially for long-distance topspin play. Compared to Tenergy 05 (36°), Turbo Blue is significantly harder, requiring more forceful arm movement but rewarding technical players with greater power and precision. The sponge gives a “crisp” feeling, clearly transmitting blade characteristics.

Topsheet:
The high-grip DHS Hurricane 3 topsheet is legendary for generating exceptional spin (15.5/20), especially on topspin shots, serves, and banana flicks. Its tacky surface allows the ball to “dwell” longer on the rubber, enabling high spin and precision on spin-based strokes. ACTIVE CHARGE technology enhances the topsheet's elasticity, adding more speed (15/20) and power compared to traditional DHS Hurricane 3. Compared to Nittaku Magic Carbon (spin 9.25/20), Turbo Blue is significantly grippier but more sensitive to incoming spin, requiring advanced technique.

ACTIVE CHARGE Technology:
This Nittaku technology increases sponge and topsheet elasticity, providing added speed and spin without extra boosters. It ensures a “sharp” impact feel, enabling players to precisely control stroke power and spin, especially for topspin, flat attacks, and counter-attacks. Compared to Moristo 44, Turbo Blue offers more power and spin, suited for mid-distance play.

Weight:
Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue is a medium-weight rubber (~36 g cut), heavier than Moristo SP (~31 g), similar to Tenergy 05 (~37 g). This weight pairs well with lighter blades like Nittaku Acoustic to maintain racket balance.

The rubber is available in two sponge thicknesses: 2.0 mm for a balanced game, and MAX for aggressive offensive play, especially topspin and flat hits. Color options – red and black – meet ITTF standards. Nittaku recommends water-based glues such as Nittaku Fine Zip for assembly.

Technical Ratings and Playing Characteristics:

Speed (15/20):
Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue is a very fast rubber, suitable for powerful topspin attacks, flat hits, and third-ball attacks. Compared to Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Orange (14.75/20), Turbo Blue is faster due to its harder sponge, similar in speed to Moristo 44 (15/20). The Japanese sponge delivers extra power, especially from mid- and long-distance, offering an advantage over traditional Chinese rubbers. The rubber requires strong arm movement to fully utilize its speed potential.

Spin (15.5/20):
Thanks to the highly grippy DHS Hurricane 3 topsheet and ACTIVE CHARGE technology, this rubber generates exceptional spin, especially on topspin strokes, serves, banana flicks, and backspin pushes. Compared to Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Orange (15/20), Turbo Blue’s spin is slightly higher, close to Tenergy 05 (61/100). The rubber is sensitive to incoming spin, so blocking requires precise technique, but it is extremely effective in spin-based play.

Control:
The hard sponge (50°) and grippy topsheet offer good control for technical players, though the rubber is less forgiving than Turbo Orange or Moristo DF due to its hardness and spin sensitivity. The minimal catapult effect aids control in the short game and blocking, but the rubber demands precise positioning and technique, especially for long-distance shots.

Trajectory:
Curved, high arc on topspin shots, ideal for offensive and spin-based techniques. The trajectory is flatter when blocking, suitable for stable close-to-the-table blocks. Compared to short pips rubbers, Turbo Blue offers an arced trajectory, suitable for mid- to long-distance play.

Playing Aspects:

Drives (attacks):
Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue is extremely effective for topspin attacks (9.6/10), especially forehand strokes, delivering powerful shots with strong spin. The rubber suits third-ball attacks and counter-attacks, especially from mid-distance, thanks to the Japanese sponge's power and elasticity.

Blocking:
Blocks against topspin are stable but require technique (8.7/10) due to the rubber’s sensitivity to incoming spin. Minimal catapult effect supports both passive and active blocks, especially on the forehand; the backhand side may be challenging for beginners.

Pushes:
Long pushes (9.4/10) are highly grippy, generating strong backspin that complicates the opponent’s return. Short pushes (9.1/10) are precise, ideal for close-to-the-table play due to the sponge’s stability.

Flicks:
Banana flicks (9.5/10) are highly effective, especially for topspin over backspin, thanks to the grippy topsheet and speed.

Serves & Receive:
Serves (9.6/10) are very spinny, especially backspin and sidespin serves, generating strong rotation. Passive receive (8.6/10) requires technique due to spin sensitivity, but active receive like flicks is very effective.

Blade Compatibility:

Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue pairs well with various blades, especially those emphasizing speed and power:

• Nittaku Violin – Balances speed and feel, ideal for technical strokes
• Butterfly Timo Boll ALC – Maximizes speed and power, suitable for aggressive attackers
• Butterfly Viscaria – Provides stability, suitable for counter-attacks
• Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive – Adds extra speed, great for powerful hits

Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC: Offers better dwell time and improved control, suitable for players who rely on spin and precise placement.

DHS Hurricane Long 5: A powerful blade that pairs well with Turbo Blue for high-level offensive play from mid to long distance.

Nittaku Acoustic: A softer and lighter blade that balances out the heavier rubber, offering excellent feel and control while maintaining good offensive potential.

Conclusion:
Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue is a premium, hybrid-style rubber designed for advanced offensive players who emphasize powerful, spin-oriented topspin shots and technical gameplay. By combining the legendary Chinese DHS Hurricane 3 topsheet with a fast, hard Japanese sponge and integrating Nittaku's ACTIVE CHARGE technology, this rubber offers a dynamic balance of speed, spin, and precision. Compared to the Turbo Orange variant, Turbo Blue is faster and harder, demanding higher technical skill but delivering more power and spin in return. It is especially effective for forehand use in aggressive styles of play, particularly from mid and long distance.

This rubber is ideal for players who:
• Prefer a hard, tacky rubber for spin-heavy topspin shots
• Are technically advanced and able to control a harder sponge
• Want to combine Chinese-style topsheet grip with Japanese sponge speed and elasticity
• Play with powerful forehand loops, spinny serves, and active strokes from mid to far distance