Weight
97g
Thickness
10.3mm
Plies
1-ply
Head Size
255x134
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Custom
Balance
Handle-Heavy
Kim Taek Soo
Butterfly Kim Taek Soo is a legendary, professional-grade Japanese penhold blade designed for aggressive offensive play. Named after Korean champion Kim Taek-soo, its defining feature is a thick 10.3mm construction from premium Kiso Hinoki wood, delivering immense power and exceptional looping capabilities. This single-ply blade offers a direct, stiff feel with surprising control for its speed class, making it a favorite for players who rely on spin-oriented attacks and powerful smashes. Its pure wood construction provides classic resonance and significant dwell time, ideal for executing devastating loop drives.
A single-ply construction of Kiso Hinoki wood is the hallmark of the Kim Taek Soo blade. This design provides a direct feel and immense power, optimized specifically for offensive play and delivering a classic wood sensation.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Kim Taek Soo is renowned for exceptional speed, a direct result of its thick, single-ply Kiso Hinoki construction. This design facilitates aggressive loop drives and powerful smashes, placing it firmly in the top tier of offensive blades. Players report it delivers explosive power that can overwhelm opponents when paired with a strong technique.
While primarily an offensive blade, Kim Taek Soo offers a surprisingly good level of control for its speed class. This control is most accessible to players who can effectively utilize its inherent dwell time. Penhold players, in particular, find they can manipulate the ball with their unique technique to achieve precise placement alongside its raw power.
The thick, single-ply Hinoki construction results in a stiff and direct feel. Players experience pronounced feedback from the ball, allowing for precise shot placement and a clear understanding of the ball's impact on the racket.
The combination of high speed and good dwell time facilitates a medium-high throw angle. This helps players execute powerful looping shots that clear the net effectively and land deep on the opponent's side of the table.
The premium Kiso Hinoki wood, combined with the blade's substantial thickness, provides significant dwell time. This allows for excellent spin generation and a more controlled feel during aggressive shots, enabling players to brush the ball effectively for heavy topspin.
The extreme thickness and dense nature of the Kiso Hinoki make this blade very stiff and inflexible. This stiffness is a key contributor to its high speed and direct, linear feel on impact.
Single-ply Hinoki blades transmit a good amount of feedback to the hand, which can be perceived as moderate vibration. This characteristic aids in touch and feel for skilled players, providing clear information on ball contact.
The blade is generally regarded as high quality, utilizing premium Kiso Hinoki wood. Our experts note that selecting a piece with tight, straight grain is important, as there can be variations in wood quality between production runs. A well-selected specimen delivers excellent performance and a classic feel.
Technology
Butterfly Kim Taek Soo exemplifies traditional blade making, focusing on the inherent qualities of a single, premium material. Its construction relies solely on a thick, single-ply of Kiso Hinoki wood, a high-quality Japanese timber renowned for its lightness, stiffness, and exceptional elasticity. This minimalist, all-wood approach allows the natural properties of the wood to dictate performance. The substantial 10.3mm thickness is a key technological aspect, amplifying the wood's natural power and spin-generating capabilities. The wood is meticulously selected and processed to maximize its playing characteristics, ensuring a direct feel and significant dwell time tailored for aggressive play.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Ryu Seung Min
Ryu Seung Min, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in men's singles, famously used a Butterfly Kim Taek Soo blade during his illustrious career. This blade's aggressive power and exceptional looping ability perfectly complemented Ryu's powerful forehand and dynamic, attacking style. The thick Hinoki construction allowed him to generate extreme spin and speed on his loops, overwhelming opponents. His success with this blade solidified its reputation as a top-tier weapon for elite offensive penhold players.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC.S (CS)
For players seeking a modern penhold option that still emphasizes aggressive looping and good dwell time, the Innerforce Layer ALC.S (CS) is a compelling alternative. While it uses Arylate-Carbon fibers embedded within wood layers (a hybrid construction), it provides a softer feel and enhanced dwell compared to traditional carbon blades. This offers a more controlled yet powerful looping experience compared to the raw, direct power of the all-wood Kim Taek Soo.
Nittaku Acoustic
Nittaku Acoustic is another premium, single-ply Hinoki blade, making it a direct alternative in terms of material and construction philosophy. Like the Kim Taek Soo, it is celebrated for its excellent feel and looping capabilities. However, the Acoustic is typically thinner and offers a slightly softer feel, making it a good option for players who want the classic Hinoki dwell and touch but with potentially more inherent control and less raw power than the extremely thick Kim Taek Soo.