Weight
88.5g
Thickness
5.9mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
160x152
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Rosewood 5
Friendship 729 Rosewood 5 is a 5-ply all-wood offensive blade designed for players who demand a crisp feel and a powerful, controlled attack. Its premium rosewood outer layers deliver a direct, snappy impact and excellent spin potential, while the inner spruce and ayous core provides the dwell time and flexibility needed for heavy looping. This construction creates a stable, responsive platform ideal for aggressive topspin play from the short to middle court, offering a clear blend of speed and precision for intermediate to advanced attackers.
This symmetrical 5-ply construction uses rosewood for the outer plies to provide a crisp feel and spin potential. The inner spruce and ayous layers contribute to the blade's overall flexibility, dwell time, and solid feel, creating a balanced and responsive offensive platform.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Rosewood 5 is a high-speed blade, consistently rated around 9.0. This speed stems from its 5-ply construction and wood selection, facilitating fast attacks and powerful finishing shots. It's designed for players who want to end points quickly with aggressive strokes from both wings.
Despite its high speed, Rosewood 5 maintains excellent control. This balance is achieved through its all-wood construction and specific layer arrangement, which provides good feel and precision. You can execute controlled loops and accurate placements even during rapid exchanges.
The feel is crisp and direct, with a clear hand sensation. Rosewood top plies contribute a hard strike, while the underlying spruce and ayous layers provide enough flexibility for the ball to sink in, creating a responsive, snappy impact without being overly stiff.
The combination of speed and dwell time typically produces a medium-high throw angle. This is beneficial for executing powerful, arcing topspin shots that dip aggressively over the net, making it effective for loop-driven play.
The 5-ply all-wood construction, particularly the spruce and ayous inner layers, provides a good amount of dwell time. This allows players to effectively grip the ball for spin generation, which is essential for controlled looping and heavy topspin shots.
The blade strikes a good balance between flexibility and stiffness. The rosewood outer plies provide crispness, while the 5-ply structure allows enough flex to generate power and spin, especially for looping strokes. It is not overly rigid, permitting a good range of motion.
As a 5-ply all-wood blade, it delivers medium vibration levels. The construction allows for sufficient feedback to the hand to aid ball feeling, without being excessive or uncomfortable during sustained play.
The quality of Rosewood 5 is generally considered good for its price point. The use of rosewood for the outer plies indicates decent craftsmanship, though our community notes that build quality can sometimes vary. For an all-wood offensive blade, it offers reliable and consistent performance.
Technology
Friendship 729 Rosewood 5 employs a traditional 5-ply all-wood construction where the technology lies in the strategic selection and arrangement of wood veneers. Using premium rosewood for the outer layers imparts a crisp, direct feel and enhances speed and spin potential. The inner layers of spruce and ayous are chosen to provide the necessary flexibility, dwell time, and overall stability. This method focuses on harmonizing the natural properties of each wood to create a balanced, high-performance blade optimized for offensive play.
Similar Blades
Yasaka Goiabao 5
Yasaka Goiabao 5 is a frequently mentioned comparable alternative. Both are 5-ply all-wood offensive blades with hard top plies focused on crispness and speed. Many players find the Goiabao 5 offers a similar playing experience at a more accessible price point, making it a popular choice for those seeking the Rosewood 5's characteristics.
Stiga Rosewood XPS
Stiga Rosewood XPS, while likely a different composite construction, shares the characteristic of using rosewood as a surface material. This can translate to a similar feel or spin potential, though the XPS version is typically faster and stiffer due to advanced technology. It represents a higher-end alternative that shares the rosewood aesthetic and potential for good spin generation.