Weight
95g
Thickness
10mm
Plies
1-ply
Head Size
163x135
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Oversized
Balance
Balanced
Excellent Hinoki
Ariex Excellent Hinoki is a premium single-ply Kiso Hinoki blade crafted for players seeking exceptional speed and a direct, powerful feel. Manufactured in Taiwan using top-tier Japanese wood, it features a substantial thickness for a fast, solid impact, ideal for aggressive drives, smashes, and loop drives. While its speed is a standout, controlled play remains achievable for those who adapt to its direct response. The blade's beautiful wood grain and superior construction place it among the top-tier Hinoki options, offering both visual appeal and high-performance capability for offensive-minded players.
This blade is constructed from a single piece of high-quality Japanese Kiso Hinoki wood, a traditional method for single-ply Hinoki blades that provides a direct feel, excellent dwell time for spin generation, and a unique sound and vibration profile, with thickness crucial to its performance characteristics.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Ariex Excellent Hinoki is exceptionally fast for an all-wood blade, with its single-ply, thick Kiso Hinoki construction generating power comparable to some carbon blades. This speed is consistent up to mid-distance, making it ideal for aggressive drives and smashes where raw power is a priority.
Despite its high speed, the Excellent Hinoki offers excellent control, particularly for blocking and short pushes. Players find drop shots and defensive maneuvers effective, though controlled spinny loops may require more adjustment due to the blade's speed and low arc.
The blade offers a solid and hard feel upon impact, characteristic of thick, single-ply Hinoki, providing a direct response and clear ball contact that aids in placement and power generation for offensive play.
Ariex Excellent Hinoki produces a low to medium-low arc on loops and re-topspins, requiring players to adjust their racket angle and stroke technique to ensure the ball clears the net and stays on the table effectively.
Single-ply Hinoki blades are known for their exceptional dwell time due to the wood's natural elasticity, allowing the ball to sink in for heavy spin generation, especially when brushing the ball with proper technique.
The blade is quite stiff, consistent with its thick, single-ply construction, which contributes to its speed and direct power transfer with less flex compared to multi-ply blades, favoring a solid impact.
Thick, single-ply Hinoki blades have a distinct vibration profile, often described as a resonant 'thwack' that is noticeable but not jarring, contributing to the blade's tactile feedback and feel during play.
Ariex uses selected, top-quality Kiso Hinoki, with the Excellent grade representing only the top 5-10% of harvested wood. The craftsmanship is consistently praised as top-notch, featuring beautiful wood grain and a smooth finish that reflects its premium status and attention to detail.
Technology
Ariex emphasizes its use of premium, selected Kiso Hinoki wood sourced from Japan, with the 'Excellent Grade' designation signifying only the top 5-10% of harvested wood characterized by superior grain, resonance, and weight. Leveraging 30 years of OEM experience, Ariex produces high-quality blades since establishing their brand in 2005, focusing on craftsmanship and material selection for optimal performance.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Senkoh 90
Butterfly Senkoh 90 is also a 1-ply Kiso Hinoki blade, offering a similar pure wood feel. Players note that while the Senkoh 90 is a good blade, the Ariex Excellent Hinoki is significantly faster, suggesting the Senkoh 90 might provide a slightly slower, potentially more controlled alternative within the single-ply Hinoki category.
Darker Tanpan
Darker Tanpan is another single-ply Hinoki blade representing high-quality, traditional construction. While specific speed comparisons aren't detailed, both blades cater to players who appreciate the unique characteristics of single-ply Hinoki wood, with the Tanpan possibly offering a different feel or speed profile in the same premium category.