Weight
87.8g
Thickness
9mm
Plies
1-ply
Head Size
242x141
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Custom
Balance
Balanced
Speed 90
Darker Speed 90 represents the pinnacle of single-ply craftsmanship, meticulously carved from premium Japanese Kiso Hinoki wood. This legendary blade delivers a dynamic playing experience where soft touch meets explosive power. Its precisely engineered thickness creates exceptional stability and a generous sweet spot while minimizing vibrations. The natural grain patterns and resin characteristics of Kiso Hinoki contribute to its unique heritage and premium quality. Originally designed for Japanese Penhold players, it has also found appreciation in shakehand variations among players seeking its distinctive feel and performance characteristics.
The single-ply construction allows the full expression of Kiso Hinoki's natural characteristics without interference from additional layers or composite materials.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Darker Speed 90 generates impressive speed through Kiso Hinoki's natural energy storage and dynamic rebound properties. Players experience what we call 'geared performance'—moderate pace for touch shots that transforms into explosive power during aggressive strokes. This makes it ideal for offensive players who need both control in rallies and power for finishing shots.
Despite its high-speed potential, the Speed 90 maintains remarkable control through Hinoki's unique feedback. The wood provides excellent ball sensation that enables precise placement and delicate touch play. Players can execute controlled loops and effective short game maneuvers even at higher intensity levels, making it surprisingly versatile for a power-oriented blade.
The blade delivers a distinctive cushiony sensation that lets players feel the ball hugging the surface throughout the stroke. This soft touch characteristic of Kiso Hinoki enhances spin generation and provides exceptional feedback while maintaining the power needed for offensive play.
The combination of extended dwell time and spin-friendly characteristics produces arcs that clear the net comfortably while maintaining aggressive trajectory. This makes it particularly effective for looping and topspin-oriented attacking play.
Kiso Hinoki's composition creates extended ball contact time, allowing players to guide the ball through the entire stroke arc. This prolonged dwell time is perfect for generating heavy topspin and provides superior control over ball trajectory and placement.
The thick Hinoki construction provides inherent stiffness that transforms into elastic energy storage during powerful strokes. On gentle shots it feels firm and direct, while aggressive impacts engage the wood's natural catapult effect for explosive power generation.
Players experience remarkably clean impact feedback with minimal vibration transmission. This clean feel enhances the connection between player and ball, providing direct feedback without distracting oscillations that can affect stroke consistency.
The craftsmanship on Darker Speed 90 sets industry standards, with each blade representing meticulous selection of premium Kiso Hinoki. The wood quality rivals that used in traditional Japanese sacred structures, and Darker's processing techniques ensure uniform performance across the entire blade surface. This attention to detail results in what many consider a masterpiece of table tennis equipment manufacturing.
Technology
Darker Speed 90's technology centers on premium Kiso Hinoki selection and processing. Darker sources wood comparable to that used in sacred Japanese structures, focusing on fine grain patterns that optimize energy storage. Their speed processing technique ensures uniform blade characteristics that widen the sweet spot and prevent performance inconsistencies. This meticulous approach to a single natural material creates the blade's unique combination of soft touch, extended dwell time, minimal vibration, and explosive power—all derived from wood's natural properties rather than artificial composites.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Ryu Seung Min
While famously associated with Butterfly Cypress blades, Ryu Seung Min's championship-winning style exemplifies the single-ply Hinoki philosophy that the Darker Speed 90 embodies. His aggressive close-to-the-table looping and explosive smashing game benefited tremendously from the power and spin characteristics that thick Hinoki blades provide, demonstrating the playing style this blade supports.
Kim Taek Soo
As another Korean penhold legend, Kim Taek Soo utilized single-ply Hinoki blades that share the Darker Speed 90's core characteristics. His game emphasized explosive forehand attacks and quick drives that leveraged the dynamic response and high dwell time of premium Hinoki construction, showcasing the blade's suitability for aggressive offensive playstyles.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Cypress-S / Cypress-G Max
Butterfly's Cypress series represents the closest competitors to the Darker Speed 90, sharing the same single-ply Kiso Hinoki construction and Japanese Penhold orientation. Players often compare subtle differences in wood quality, thickness variations, and head shape preferences between these premium offerings, with each providing that distinctive Hinoki feel combined with offensive power.
Nittaku Miyabi
Nittaku Miyabi offers another single-ply Hinoki alternative with similar 9mm thickness and Japanese Penhold design. Some players perceive the Miyabi as having a slightly softer feel while maintaining the characteristic blend of control and speed that defines premium Hinoki blades. It provides an excellent option for players seeking the single-ply experience with subtle performance variations.