Weight
90g
Thickness
9.5mm
Plies
1-ply
Head Size
nullxnull
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Head-Heavy
Imperial Hinoki 2020
Darker's Imperial Hinoki 2020 represents the pinnacle of single-ply craftsmanship, featuring rare Japanese Kiso Hinoki wood that delivers both power and precision. This 2020 release showcases Darker's decades of expertise in Hinoki blade production, offering advanced offensive players a unique combination of speed, control, and exceptional feel. The blade's distinctive acoustic signature and ball-grabbing characteristics create a powerful yet nuanced playing experience that appeals to serious competitors and collectors alike.
Constructed from a single layer of high-grade Japanese Kiso Hinoki wood, this uniform thick ply defines the blade's distinctive feel, speed characteristics, and dwell time properties.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Our analysis classifies this as an OFF+ blade with impressive speed capabilities. Players consistently note enhanced power and acceleration suitable for fast-paced offensive play, making it ideal for aggressive attacking styles.
The blade demonstrates remarkable control for an offensive weapon, with many players finding it offers better precision than expected. Our testing shows excellent balance between speed and control, allowing confident shot placement even during powerful attacks.
Kiso Hinoki delivers a soft, responsive feel with exceptional acoustic feedback that enhances touch sensitivity. Players consistently praise the fantastic hand feeling and responsive feedback during play.
Hinoki wood typically produces medium to medium-high throw angles that facilitate strong looping and offensive play, complementing the blade's dwell characteristics for spin-oriented attacks.
The Hinoki construction grabs the ball effectively, holding it momentarily before release for powerful spin generation. This medium-long dwell time supports heavy looping and spin-oriented attacks.
Thick single-ply Hinoki construction provides significant flexibility and elasticity, creating the characteristic catapult effect that many offensive players appreciate for dynamic shot-making.
Feedback characteristics vary between blades, with some showing considerable vibration while others offer more controlled feedback. The sweet spot typically covers most of the blade surface, providing consistent response across playing areas.
Crafted from premium Kiso Hinoki wood with unmatched attention to detail, this limited edition blade represents the highest standard of Darker's craftsmanship. While individual units may show slight variations, the overall quality consistently impresses players and collectors.
Technology
The Imperial Hinoki 2020's performance stems from meticulously selected Kiso Hinoki wood sourced from Japan's ancient forests. Darker's precision engineering and careful component selection throughout development ensure consistent quality. The natural properties of Kiso Hinoki—including its acoustic characteristics and resilience—create the blade's distinctive feel and touch during play. Drawing on heritage dating back to 1955, Darker's mastery of Hinoki blade production shines through in this model's advanced construction and performance.
Similar Blades
Darker Speed 90
The Speed 90 offers similar single-ply Kiso Hinoki performance from the same manufacturer. Some players consider the Imperial Hinoki 2020 a more refined version with tighter wood grain patterns for a potentially more exclusive playing experience.
Butterfly Tamaropa
Both blades represent iconic single-ply Hinoki construction, though our comparisons show the Imperial Hinoki 2020 features denser wood grain structure while maintaining similar playing characteristics.
Nittaku Miyabi
As another single-ply Kiso Hinoki option, the Miyabi provides players seeking the distinctive Hinoki feel and performance with an alternative choice from a different manufacturer.