DHS Hurricane Long 5 Review: An Inner-Carbon Looping Platform Built for Chinese Rubber

By UltraSpin · 2026-06-06 · blade

The DHS Hurricane Long 5 is the blade most associated with the Chinese national-team style: an inner arylate-carbon stick built to loop with tacky Hurricane rubber. It is the commercial cousin of the famous W968. This review brings together three independent English-language sources — the Revspin community database, r/tabletennis discussion, and the TableTennisDaily equipment reviews — to explain what the Long 5 does well, where it disappoints, and who should buy it.

Performance

The Long 5 is a 5-ply wood plus 2-ply arylate-carbon blade with the carbon placed inside (a Limba surface over an ayous core), rated OFF+ at the lower end of that range, and it weighs in heavy at roughly 89–93g. The signature trait is a woody, natural feel with the carbon only activating when you hit hard or block powerful shots — so soft touches, pushes and blocks stay controllable while real power is there when you drive through the ball. Revspin reviewers single out a large sweet spot, about 65% bounce, and a deep but consistent catapult on nearly every stroke, with looping rated as high as 9.7 and serve/receive around 9.5. The arc is high, and the blade is at its best with unboosted or mildly boosted Chinese rubber: more than one reviewer found it underwhelming with European/Japanese rubbers until a Hurricane 3 Neo forehand made ‘the whole thing come alive.’ The honest caveat, raised directly by users, is that it is not actually faster than outer-carbon blades like Primorac or many ZLC/ALC sticks; without a developed looping stroke you will find it slow for an OFF+ blade. It also carries the commercial-version baggage of a ‘DHS hollow feeling’ from a less dense core than the premium W968.

What Reviewers Agree (and Disagree) On

Every source agrees on the core identity: a controllable, high-arc inner-carbon looping blade that is happiest with tacky Chinese rubber and rewards good technique. The disagreements are about speed and value. Some owners experience it as fast and lively once driven; others stress it is slow relative to genuine OFF+ outer-carbon blades unless your looping technique is there. And there is a clear value debate around the commercial Long 5 versus the premium W968 — the W968 is reckoned to have a denser core and better quality control, leading some to consider the Long 5 overpriced for the ‘hollow’ feel.

Who Should Buy It

Buy the Hurricane Long 5 if you are an intermediate-to-advanced attacker who loops with tacky Chinese rubber on the forehand and wants a controllable, high-arc platform for a close-to-mid-table topspin game. It rewards players who can consistently loop and drive, giving back deep, spinny arcs and excellent control between attacks. Skip it if you are a beginner, if you prefer European/Japanese rubbers (the blade gives its best with Chinese rubber), or if you want genuine outer-carbon speed — in which case a stiffer outer-ALC or ZLC blade will serve you better. If you love the concept but want the best build, consider saving for the premium W968.

FAQ

Is the Hurricane Long 5 a fast blade?

Not in the way its OFF+ rating suggests. It is controllable and woody, with a deep catapult that unleashes power when you drive through the ball — but reviewers agree it is not faster than outer-carbon blades, and it can feel slow without a developed looping stroke.

What rubber should I use on it?

It is built for tacky Chinese rubber, especially Hurricane 3 Neo or a provincial blue-sponge Hurricane on the forehand. Several reviewers found it underwhelming with European/Japanese rubbers until they switched to Chinese rubber.

Long 5 or W968?

The Long 5 is the commercial version of the W968. The W968 is reckoned to have a denser core and better quality control; the Long 5 is more available but carries a known ‘hollow’ feel. If build quality matters most and budget allows, the W968 is the upgrade.

Is it suitable for beginners?

Not really. It is best for intermediate-to-advanced players (roughly three or more years in) who already loop well; beginners are better served by a softer, more forgiving all-wood blade.