DHS Gold Arc 8

Rubber description:

The DHS Gold Arc 8 is a premium tensor rubber that has earned high praise from many reviews. It is made in Germany rather than China, which sets it apart from many other Chinese-made rubber options. The rubber is known for its excellent balance of speed, spin, and control.

In terms of tackiness, the Gold Arc 8 is described as a non-tacky rubber, which means it provides good grip and spin without being overly sticky. The weight of the rubber is considered medium-heavy, weighing around 73g for the max thickness version.

Reviewers consistently highlight the rubber’s durability as a major strength. Many report getting 3-6 months of heavy use out of a single sheet before needing to replace it, which is quite impressive for a high-performance tensor rubber.

When it comes to the playing characteristics, the Gold Arc 8 is praised for its versatility. It excels at a wide range of shots, including powerful topspin loops, quick counterattacks, and stable blocking. The rubber has a medium-high throw angle, providing a nice balance between speed and control. Several reviewers noted that the 47.5 degree version offers slightly better control and feel compared to the 50 degree max version.

Overall, the DHS Gold Arc 8 seems to be an exceptional all-around rubber that can suit the needs of both offensive and well-rounded players. Its combination of spin, speed, control, and durability make it a popular choice for advanced players looking to upgrade their equipment. At a relatively affordable price point, it offers excellent value for the performance it delivers.

Recent Reviews

#1 — July 2023

A typical tensor rubber with great speed and spin, this time with a lot of control. It’s very easy to use. It can perform very well and easily. It’s also very durable.

I used it for my drive too, but it has been my backhand rubber for a long time; it is my reference (replaced Razka 7). I tested a lot of rubbers, but I always return to Gold Arc 8 for my backhand.

There are now a lot of new hybrid rubbers with very different feelings if you compare them vs tensors, but Gold Arc 8 will always be my reference.

My favorite tensor.

#2 — March 2023

Has great control on H301 series blades. I feel the control works better on alc blades. This has a controlled tensor feel (if that makes sense). It actually is a fast and spinning rubber.

Abnormal grip on the ball so it can lift the ball quite well and produce great spin. I use as RPB rubber and it actually feels reliable.

#3 — October 2022

Before deciding to buy it, I had read many positive reviews from various sources, so that it made me curious about the GA-8.

On the first day of trying it on FH, I glued the rubber (50 deg) on the Viscaria with 3 coats of WBG and felt the performance is slightly better than my favorite rubber R47, G1, R7 due to the balance of speed and control.

This rubber has excellent grip and although the sponge has a hardness of 50 deg it feels slightly harder than 47.5 deg. If you want more dwell time and control, better choose 47.5 deg.

When making 3rd ball attacks with a slow loop or fast top spin the trajectory is medium/medium high. In short games and also the opponent’s attack blocks I felt more confident to return and keep the ball on the table.

SPEED: R50 = MXP > GA8 > T05 = R47 = G1 > R42 = R7
SPIN: T05 > GA8 = R42 > R47 > G1 > R50 = MXP > R7
CONTROL: GA8 > R42 > R47 = G1 > R7 > MXP = R50 > T05

Overall I gave it a score of 9.5. As for the durability, I can’t conclude because I’ve only been using it for a few days.
(@hobbypingpong).