Weight
80g
Thickness
6.5mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
153x149
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Kiso Hinoki V
Butterfly Kiso Hinoki V is a classic 5-ply all-wood blade crafted entirely from Kiso Hinoki cypress. It delivers a unique blend of speed and control, characterized by a soft touch and long ball dwell that facilitates heavy spin. Lightweight and responsive, this blade is designed for offensive players who prioritize feel and spin generation over raw power, making it ideal for controlled looping and aggressive close-to-the-table play. It offers a nuanced, traditional playing experience.
The blade is constructed from five layers of Kiso Hinoki cypress, each potentially of different thickness. This uniform all-wood construction is characteristic of traditional Hinoki blades, contributing to its soft feel, excellent ball dwell, and natural flex, emphasizing sensitivity and control.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Kiso Hinoki V offers respectable speed for a 5-ply all-wood Hinoki blade, fitting the OFF- category. It's designed for spin-oriented offensive play, allowing players to achieve good pace, especially when generating rotation. However, it lacks the explosive power of composite blades for attacking from mid-to-far distance, making it more suitable for controlled aggression.
The blade's inherent softness and long dwell time contribute to excellent control, enabling precise shot placement and effective spin manipulation. Players can confidently execute serves, returns, and delicate touch shots. This high level of control is a significant advantage for spin-focused offensive players.
Kiso Hinoki V has a distinctly soft feel, a direct result of its all-wood Hinoki construction. This sensitivity allows the ball to sink into the blade, enhancing dwell time and providing clear feedback to the player's hand.
The combination of soft wood and flexible structure typically produces a medium-high throw angle. This is beneficial for generating steep, powerful loops that dip sharply on the opponent's side.
The soft Hinoki wood and blade construction create a very long ball dwell time. This extended contact is ideal for imparting heavy spin, making the blade excellent for aggressive looping and controlled topspin shots.
As a 5-ply all-wood blade, it offers a good degree of flex. This flexibility aids spin generation by allowing the blade to bend slightly on impact, increasing dwell time and the ball's arc.
Hinoki wood provides good feedback, transmitting a medium level of vibration to the hand. This informs the player about contact quality without being excessive, suitable for controlled offensive play.
Butterfly is renowned for high-quality manufacturing, and the use of premium Kiso Hinoki wood supports an excellent rating. The blade features beautiful design and impeccable craftsmanship, reflecting its premium status.
Technology
Butterfly Kiso Hinoki V utilizes traditional craftsmanship focused on the natural properties of high-quality Kiso Hinoki wood. This single-material, multi-ply construction exemplifies classic blade design. The emphasis is on the wood's inherent density, grain, and flexibility to create a blade with exceptional feel, spin, and control, without synthetic materials. This approach harks back to an era when blades were judged on the nuanced performance of premium wood.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Jonyer Hinoki
Jonyer Hinoki is frequently discussed alongside Kiso Hinoki V as another 5-ply all-wood Hinoki blade. It offers similar characteristics in feel and spin generation, with some players noting subtle differences in ply thickness or overall sensation, but both provide an excellent looping experience with a natural wood touch.
Yinhe Kiso Hinoki 5
This blade serves as a more budget-friendly alternative that aims to replicate the characteristics of Kiso Hinoki wood. Players report a soft feel and good performance for spin and control, making it a viable option for those seeking similar playing attributes at a lower cost.