Weight
85g
Thickness
6.1mm
Plies
7-ply
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Yinhe W-1
Yinhe W-1, affectionately known as the 'Wood King,' is a table tennis blade crafted for offensive players who value control and spin above all. It masterfully blends the traditional, connected feel of wood with the stability of carbon, creating a perfect tool for mid-distance looping and sustained attacking rallies. Its thinner profile and inherent flexibility promote a higher ball arc and exceptional spin generation. While not the fastest blade on the market, the W-1 delivers a satisfying, tactile feel with clear vibration feedback, empowering players to control placement and execute precise shots with confidence. It's an outstanding choice for control-oriented attackers and strategic players, offering a noticeable performance upgrade from classic ALL+ blades without sacrificing playability.
The W-1 features a symmetrical 7-ply build. Outer Limba plies offer excellent grip and spin potential. Inside, thin carbon layers are sandwiched with Ayous and a central Kiri core. This structure blends speed and flexibility with a dampened feel, providing wood-like sensation with added stability and a slightly enlarged sweet spot, distinct from more rigid carbon blades.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
The W-1 delivers good offensive speed, ideal for mid-distance looping and fast attacks. While not an extreme OFF+ blade, it provides ample pace for players who rely on spin and placement. Our testing shows this speed enables powerful loops and aggressive shots, particularly when combined with faster rubbers, making it a reliable weapon for consistent attacking play without being uncontrollable.
Control is where the W-1 truly excels. Despite its offensive nature, it offers outstanding feel and precision, making it a dream for players who value consistency and placement. The blade's construction provides excellent dwell time, allowing for controlled spin generation and confident execution of shots, even close to the table. This high level of control makes it versatile, suiting everything from aggressive looping to more thoughtful, strategic play.
The W-1 strikes a perfect balance between the softness of wood and the crisp response of carbon. It provides decent vibration feedback—players can feel the ball well, which aids in spin generation and shot placement—without the harsh 'ping' sometimes associated with faster composite blades. This creates a more connected and confident feel than many all-wood blades.
The combination of flexibility and good dwell time typically results in a medium-high throw angle. This is highly beneficial for looping, as it helps the ball clear the net with a good arc and land deep on the table, making returns more difficult for opponents. This trajectory is ideal for aggressive topspin play.
The blade offers very good dwell time, which is crucial for generating heavy spin. This extended contact allows players to impart more rotation on the ball, leading to more effective serves, loops, and drives. Its flexible nature and wood-centric construction contribute significantly to this characteristic, making spin-oriented play from mid-distance particularly effective.
The W-1 possesses a good degree of flexibility, which directly contributes to its looping prowess and dwell time. This flexibility allows the blade to pocket the ball on impact, enabling greater spin generation. It also makes the blade more forgiving and easier to handle across a variety of shots, enhancing overall control.
Vibration on the W-1 is moderate and well-controlled. It provides enough tactile feedback to feel the ball's contact without being jarring or distracting. This characteristic is key to its 'Wood King' reputation, offering a natural wood sensation enhanced subtly by the carbon layers, helping players make micro-adjustments for optimal shot execution.
Players consistently praise the W-1 for its high build quality, especially given its price point. The blade exhibits excellent balance, solid construction, and a refined feel that rivals more expensive options. The finish suggests careful manufacturing and durability, living up to its 'Wood King' moniker by providing a satisfying, almost premium sensation in hand that belies its affordability.
Technology
Dubbed the 'Wood King,' the Yinhe W-1 utilizes a sophisticated 7-ply hybrid construction. It strategically places two thin carbon fiber layers within a core of five wood plies. This design philosophy aims to capture the natural feel, dwell, and spin potential of wood while integrating the stability, enlarged sweet spot, and responsive speed boost that carbon provides. The manufacturing likely involves carefully selected wood veneers and precise layering techniques to optimize the blade's performance, creating a tool that facilitates spin-heavy offensive play without the harshness sometimes found in outer-carbon blades.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Viscaria
The W-1 is often discussed alongside the Butterfly Viscaria due to shared construction principles. Both aim for a blend of speed, control, and spin through a composite structure. While the Viscaria offers higher speed and a more refined feel with premium materials, the W-1 provides a remarkably similar playing sensation—emphasizing control and wood-like touch—at a much more accessible price point, making it a fantastic value-oriented alternative.
Yinhe Pro-01
Within Yinhe's own lineup, the Pro-01 is a close relative, also aspiring to a Viscaria-like experience. The key difference lies in the carbon placement: the Pro-01 typically uses an outer Arylate-Carbon (ALC) construction, which generally leads to higher speed and a crisper feel but potentially less dwell time than the W-1. The W-1 focuses more on a natural wood feel with its inner carbon layers, while the Pro-01 leans toward a faster, more direct response. Both represent exceptional value for offensive players.