DHS Skyline 2 TG2

Good rubber for backhand gameplay.

I had this with DHS H3 on my first pre-made bat. It’s very spinny without requiring much effort. The speed is fast but balanced by adequate control. In my opinion, it’s better than H3, but I don’t have solid, consistent strokes. It’s very good for beginners and intermediates who want a spinny, controlled rubber. It’s not very good for chops or pushes, as the ball bounces off at a high angle and very fast.

Control is the key to winning points. Skyline TG2 proves it for you!

Do not buy this rubber if you play away from the table! Balls will go to the net every time and you will have to hit very hard to pass them.

If you play close to the table, this rubber is a different story. You will get very good control over the ball and can brush it to get great effect. It is the hardest rubber I’ve ever played with (I’ve always played with Chinese rubbers). The sound is also very nice.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Durable
• Spin above average, even on a stiff blade (may work well on a high-flex blade)

Cons:

• Heavy
• Dead feel
• Low speed (especially unglued)

Overall, this rubber is a good value for its price point. It is suitable for players who prefer tacky and heavy rubbers. It excels as a looping rubber, especially when budget is a concern. However, it performs poorly for drives due to its low speed.

I ended up getting this rubber after my Red G888. This rubber is a LOT lighter, has less speed, and offers more consistency than the G888. Pen-hold players will enjoy this rubber, though it is still a little slow.

Chops and close-to-the-net play require better control from the player, while mid- to long-distance play requires more power. This rubber would be good for Beginners and Intermediate players before attempting faster or spinnier rubbers.

I would rate this as an All-Round Rubber. You get to learn aggressive top-spins, smashing, chopping, pushing, blocks, simply looping, service, and basic play—all are improved and enhanced by this rubber.

However, if you are looking for the Killer rubber, this is not it. Your opponent WILL have enough time to read and return, and you will be rallying for a long time with this rubber. A better opponent will FINISH YOU if you play with this rubber.

So unless you plan to improve your game and yourself every day, you will be at a disadvantage. This rubber is an excellent training handicap that will MAKE you play the best game you can to win. It will make your opponent work as well, enough to give them confidence playing against you.

The upgrade from this rubber would be the TG2 Neo, but that is a lot harder, faster, and spinnier with lesser control and heavier.

Final Update:

Yep, this rubber is good enough for beginners, and for those trying to get a better game than usual. It’s just a practice rubber. The rubber does have better control but is almost lacking in speed.

As I no longer like the Chinese rubbers due to their lack of speed and hindrance to a higher level of play (I am sure the Chinese National Team rubber is not available to ANYONE AT ALL … it’s probably fake if you manage to buy it), so the Chinese Commercial rubbers are good for practice and hobbyists but useless in competition or anywhere else.

So it’s adios to all the Chinese rubbers! It was fun while it lasted, and thanks for all the fish.

Speed: The faster you swing, the faster it goes.

Spin: Loads of spin. I found it easy to generate and keep adding on even in faster topspin rallies. You can also chop really good with this. Also very good for serves. Think Ma Lin.

Control: Playing passive and letting the blade/rubber do the work is a no-no. You have to play active strokes. For me, this is the easiest of the DHS rubbers to control, even at high speeds. I like doing 3rd/5th ball attacks, and this rubber is a wonder for that. The short game is extremely good - I can execute drop shots, flips, and pushes with ease. Though keep in mind the tack does hurt a bit when receiving serves, but that’s why you work on that so it doesn’t affect you as much.

Throw Angle: I found myself able to execute loops like H2 and like H3 (just not as high). It depends on the stroke you play.

Summary: For me, this is a joy to play with because I can do absolutely anything with confidence that my shot will land on the table. It’s pretty hard to bottom out since what you put into it is what it will produce, though some people don’t like that.

The speed is very slow due to the hard sponge and the tacky surface, which almost stops the ball.

However, you can benefit from the hard sponge in blocking. It feels very slow when blocking fast or loop balls from your opponent, and you have good control.

Looping is terrible with this rubber. You have to work very hard for loops, because the hard sponge doesn’t allow you to have “the catapult effect.”

In my opinion:

• The block and serve are good.
• The loops and hits are terrible.

I tested the Hurricane3 to see if it was better, and I must say that it is not. I was disappointed with this rubber. It has less spin and control than the H3, although it is lighter. I prefer the Friendship Ritc 729 oem, in general. The Globe 999 and National, and Reactor Corbor and Thunder Red. Stiga Magna TC.

I’ve tested many rubbers, and this is the only one that I like for my forehand. To achieve the best spin and speed, you should tune this rubber.

My rating for this rubber is as follows:

Spin: 10. In my experience playing with others in my club, no rubber can beat the spin of Skyline 2!

Speed: 9.5. After tuning, it becomes very fast.

Control: 9.5.

However, if the rubber is not tuned, I don’t think it’s good because of the hard sponge and topsheet.

Well, I just tried this one and the TG3 and I will put it very mildly, it’s a waste of money.

Because of this: Here the rubber dictates your playing style, only suited for offense, and even while playing offense, there is no feeling because the sponge is so f…ing hard.

When I play less good players, I like to let them play so they also enjoy playing, but with this rubber, I have no control and in defense or all-around mode, it’s very hard to be effective. And in offense, well, it’s good but no feedback from the rubber.

I previously enjoyed Friendship/FX and Mark V and many other rubbers.

Next, I’ll try a Tenergy.

I’ve been playing with this rubber for a month now (2 Tourn) on a BFly Schlager C. It reminds me of another DHS type, the Hurricane 2, except with a tiny bit less tack and a tiny bit softer sponge.

So it has a little less control than the H2, but just a tad more speed (which isn’t much). It’s not a pre-madonna or anything. But if you enjoy using ‘spinny-control’ rubbers, you should definitely try it out.

Feels like a dead sheet of H3 (commercial). The topsheet is a lot less tacky than say, a brand new sheet of H3 (commercial)… and about the same as the provincial.

Speed is just terrible. Especially flat hitting/countering. That characteristic “plack plack” sounds from Chinese rubbers is pronounced. When loop driving, the rubber regains a bit of speed, but still slower than H3 and a LOT less spinny.

Works better on a soft 5-ply all wood. But seriously I doubt Ma Lin would be using this topsheet even on some magic sponge…

One of the best things about spin-oriented rubbers is that they allow for a wide range of spins, from soft touch shots to aggressive loops. This versatility makes them a great choice for players of all levels, from beginners to experienced pros.

Spin-oriented rubbers are also more forgiving than tacky rubbers, meaning that they are less likely to be affected by spin or dirt on the ball. This can be a big advantage in competitive play, where every point counts.

This rubber excels in its 1.5mm thickness, offering exceptional control and precision for blocking and hitting. These attributes contribute to its high control rating. The tacky surface enables effortless generation of spin on serves.

In its 2.2mm thickness, the rubber performs adequately for looping, but the sponge has a somewhat firm feel, making it more suitable for hitting and driving. Applying glue to the sponge significantly enhances its looping capabilities, resulting in increased spin generation.