Weight
73g
Thickness
5.5mm
Plies
5-ply
Handles
ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Bogen
Arbalest Bogen is a 5-ply hybrid carbon blade that masterfully blends speed with exceptional control. Its construction pairs two carbon layers with three wood plies, featuring American Cypress outer veneers for a surprisingly soft touch and a generous sweet spot. Remarkably lightweight, this blade offers outstanding maneuverability, making it an agile choice for players who value quick exchanges and precise placement. It serves as an accessible entry point to carbon-enhanced performance, providing a balanced feel that supports both offensive drives and controlled defensive play.
The 5-ply construction follows a 3+2 pattern: three wood plies sandwich two carbon fiber layers. American Cypress forms the outer veneers for a softer touch, carbon layers enhance power and sweet spot, and a Kiri wood core provides lightweight stability. This layering is engineered for a balanced blend of speed and control.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Arbalest Bogen delivers solid offensive speed, rated at 8.8. It generates good pace for attacking shots, sitting comfortably between slower all-round blades and the extreme speed of pure offensive carbon models. This makes it fast enough for assertive play while retaining the manageability needed for consistent shot-making.
Control is where this blade truly excels, earning a top rating. The combination of carbon layers and softer wood veneers creates a connected, predictable feel that allows for precise placement, controlled rallies, and effective serving. Players report exceptional confidence in their touch shots and blocks.
Arbalest Bogen offers a pleasant, medium-soft feel that is notably softer than many carbon blades. This creates a more connected sensation with the ball, enhancing touch and feedback, which is a key contributor to its high level of control.
Arbalest Bogen produces a medium-high throw angle, ideal for looping and spin-oriented attacks. The arc helps the ball clear the net comfortably and dip onto the table, making it effective for topspin rallies.
The blade provides good dwell time, allowing the ball to sink into the surface for an extended moment. This characteristic is crucial for generating heavy spin on loops and serves, giving players more time to impart their desired effect on the ball.
Flexibility is medium. The carbon layers provide underlying stiffness for power transfer, while the wood plies introduce a degree of flex. This balance supports both powerful drives and controlled, brushing loops.
Vibration feedback is moderate. The construction avoids an excessively stiff or jarring impact, resulting in a comfortable playing sensation that provides enough feedback for touch without being harsh.
Arbalest Bogen features high-quality construction and precise manufacturing. The materials are well-integrated, resulting in a durable, well-balanced blade that offers excellent value. Our assessment finds it to be a reliably built piece of equipment that performs consistently.
Technology
Arbalest Bogen utilizes a hybrid 5-ply construction that integrates two layers of carbon fiber with three wood plies. The technology focuses on balancing carbon's power and sweet spot enlargement with the tactile feedback of wood. American Cypress outer veneers provide a softer impact feel, while the likely Kiri wood core contributes to overall lightness and balance. This design aims to create an agile, responsive blade that is easy to handle during fast exchanges, offering a controlled carbon experience.
Similar Blades
Yinhe T-6
Arbalest Bogen is often compared to the Yinhe T-6. Players find the Bogen offers a similar carbon-enhanced experience but with a slightly softer feel and marginally less outright speed. It's a strong alternative for those who want the T-6's performance profile with a bit more dwell time and control.
Arbalest Thor 6.0
Within the Arbalest family, the Thor 6.0 is a common point of comparison. The Bogen is frequently recommended as a more controlled and potentially slower option for players who find the Thor 6.0 too fast, showcasing different performance tuning within a similar hybrid construction philosophy.