Weight
89g
Thickness
8.5mm
Plies
1-ply
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Kiso Hinoki
Juic Kiso Hinoki is a premium single-ply blade crafted from authentic Kiso Hinoki wood, offering a unique blend of speed, control, and organic feel. It provides a direct connection to the ball, enabling nuanced touch for short game finesse and explosive power on aggressive drives and loops when initiated with a forward stroke. The natural resonance of the wood delivers a distinct sound and sensation, making it a favorite for players who appreciate traditional, wood-based offensive weapons that reward active play and technical skill.
This blade is constructed from a single, thick piece of Kiso Hinoki wood, a dense and resonant material known for its unique speed-to-feel ratio, offering a pure and direct playing sensation.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Juic Kiso Hinoki is widely regarded as a very fast blade, particularly when initiating shots. While it offers controlled speed on slower exchanges, it excels at generating significant power on fast topspins and drives, making it a potent weapon for offensive play.
While rated lower in control compared to its speed, the blade offers good control in passive play and soft touches. Its control becomes more pronounced when paired with specific rubbers that complement its inherent speed, requiring careful rubber selection for optimal performance.
Players describe a superb, medium-soft touch. The direct feel of the single-ply construction allows for excellent feedback on ball contact, enhancing touch and precise placement during play.
Single-ply Hinoki blades, especially thicker ones, tend to produce a medium-high to high throw angle, which can be beneficial for looping and clearing the net with spin, aiding offensive topspin play.
Single-ply Hinoki blades, particularly thicker ones like this, generally offer good dwell time when brushing the ball for spin, allowing for effective interaction with the rubber to generate spin.
Single-ply Hinoki blades are typically moderately flexible, offering a balance between stiffness for power and flexibility for touch and spin. The 8.5mm thickness likely contributes to a more direct, less flexible feel than thinner blades.
While single-ply Hinoki can transmit vibrations, players report a comfortable vibration and a direct feel, suggesting it is not excessive and contributes positively to the blade's overall feedback.
As a single-ply Kiso Hinoki blade, the construction is straightforward yet the quality of the wood is paramount. Players report excellent feel and direct feedback, indicating a high-quality build typical of premium Hinoki blades, with craftsmanship focused on the resonant properties of the wood.
Technology
The primary technology in Juic Kiso Hinoki is its construction from a single, carefully selected piece of authentic Japanese Kiso Hinoki wood. Kiso Hinoki is a premium Japanese cypress species, prized for its resonant properties, excellent feel, and unique ability to offer both control on soft shots and significant power on aggressive strokes. The aging and density of the wood are critical factors, providing a distinct sound and tactile feedback that many players find superior to composite or multi-ply blades, creating a direct and organic playing experience.
Similar Blades
Darker Tanpan
Both Juic Kiso Hinoki and Darker Tanpan are highly regarded single-ply Hinoki blades, often compared for their feel and performance characteristics. Players discuss them as alternatives when considering the unique properties of Kiso Hinoki wood, with subtle differences in thickness and feel potentially influencing personal preference.
Darker Speed 90
Darker Speed 90 is another premium single-ply Hinoki blade frequently mentioned alongside Juic Kiso Hinoki. Both blades are known for their speed and feel, and players often consider them when seeking a high-performance Hinoki blade. However, the Darker Speed 90 has reportedly been discontinued due to material shortages.