Weight
168g
Thickness
4mm
Plies
3-ply
Head Size
153x153
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Wakaba-An
Butterfly Wakaba-An is a distinctive table tennis blade designed to bridge the gap between control and speed, primarily targeting intermediate players. Its unique 3-ply balsa wood construction emphasizes a lighter feel, providing strong performance without excessive weight. While offering a balanced approach, it may not deliver the specialized characteristics advanced players seek. The blade prioritizes functional performance over aesthetics, making it a practical choice for players looking to enhance their game without a steep learning curve.
The blade features a 3-ply construction with balsa wood as the outer and core layers, sandwiching a central wood ply. This construction creates a lighter blade with a unique feel, balancing control with a moderate level of speed through the combination of soft balsa and traditional wood materials.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Wakaba-An offers a mix of control and speed, generating decent pace suitable for attacking shots while maintaining enough control for intermediate players. Our testing shows it can produce good offensive power without becoming uncontrollable, making it a versatile choice for developing an all-around game.
This blade provides good control, offering a solid platform for developing players to execute strokes accurately and maintain consistency during rallies. Players report it feels predictable and stable, allowing for precise placement and confidence in both short game and longer exchanges.
The use of balsa wood in a 3-ply construction creates a softer, more dampened feel that offers good feedback on ball contact without being overly harsh. This provides a comfortable touch that many players appreciate for developing touch shots and feeling the ball.
The combination of speed and control, along with good dwell time, creates a medium-high throw angle suitable for offensive shots with good arc. This helps players generate effective topspin loops that clear the net comfortably.
The softer feel and wood construction provide moderate dwell time, allowing for good spin generation on serves and topspin shots. This characteristic benefits intermediate players developing their spin game and looking to add more variation to their shots.
As a 3-ply wood blade, it offers moderate flexibility that allows for good ball pocketing during strokes and contributes to spin generation. This flexibility helps create a catapult effect that adds power to shots while maintaining control.
The balsa wood construction creates moderate vibration that offers more feeling and feedback to the player compared to denser wood plies. This provides a responsive connection to the ball that helps players sense their contact quality.
While direct quality reviews for the Wakaba-An are limited, Butterfly is recognized for producing high-quality table tennis equipment. Players can generally expect a well-constructed blade with durable materials and consistent manufacturing standards typical of the brand.
Technology
Butterfly Wakaba-An utilizes a distinctive 3-ply construction that prominently features balsa wood, known for its exceptionally light weight and soft texture. This construction creates a blade that is both maneuverable and offers a unique playing feel. The design aims to provide balanced performance, enhancing control and spin capabilities while still allowing for offensive play. The integration of balsa wood is key to its lighter feel, distinguishing it from blades made with denser wood plies and making it particularly accessible for developing players.