Weight
85g
Thickness
6.55mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
158x150
Handles
FL
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Kirin K2
Loki Kirin K2 is a 5-ply all-wood blade designed for beginners and intermediate players seeking a balanced, forgiving platform. Its construction with Kiri and Ayous wood delivers a soft, comfortable feel with excellent touch, making it ideal for developing consistent strokes. This blade offers a perfect harmony of control and manageable speed, providing enough offensive capability for growth while ensuring stability for all-round play. Its standout feature is the exceptional value, offering premium playing characteristics at an accessible price point that belies its quality.
The construction is a symmetrical 5-ply build with Kiri wood on the outer and inner layers, sandwiching a core of Ayous wood. This Kiri-Ayous-Kiri sequence is designed to provide a good balance of flexibility for dwell time and a stable core for consistent rebound, all contributing to its controlled, all-round character.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Kirin K2 operates in the medium speed range, perfectly suited for all-round and developing offensive play. It provides enough pace for effective attacks and counter-hits without being overwhelming, ensuring the speed remains manageable and well-paired with its high control. This balance makes it forgiving for players working on their technique, allowing them to focus on stroke development rather than battling an overly fast blade.
Control is where the Kirin K2 truly excels, offering exceptional precision and feel that beginners will appreciate. The soft wood composition and significant dwell time allow for delicate ball manipulation and accurate placement. Players report an easy, confident touch on blocks, pushes, and opening loops, making it simpler to learn and execute a wide variety of strokes with consistency.
Kirin K2 delivers a distinctly soft and comfortable feel upon contact. This cushioning effect enhances touch and feedback, allowing players to sense the ball deeply for better spin generation and controlled shots. It's a feel that inspires confidence, especially for touch play and learning strokes.
The blade typically produces a medium-high throw angle, which is ideal for spin-oriented play. This helps in creating good arc and depth on loops and topspin shots, allowing players to clear the net comfortably and land the ball deep on the table.
Dwell time is a major strength, rated as long. The soft, flexible wood construction lets the ball sink into the blade, giving players more time to impart spin and direct the ball. This is particularly beneficial for developing consistent looping technique and controlling the arc of your shots.
The blade is quite flexible, thanks to its Kiri and Ayous wood layers. This flexibility enlarges the sweet spot, adds to the dwell time, and creates a catapult effect that aids in generating spin and arc, making it easier to execute effective loops and controlled drives.
Vibration levels are moderate, providing clear, informative feedback without being harsh or numb. The wood construction transmits a satisfying sense of contact that helps players judge their strokes without overwhelming the hand, contributing to the overall good feel.
For its remarkably low price, the Kirin K2 exhibits very good build quality. The blade feels solid and well-constructed, with a finish that doesn't look or feel cheap. Minor points like handle finishing can vary, but the core craftsmanship—ply selection, glueing, and overall integrity—is consistently praised, offering a premium experience that far exceeds its cost bracket.
Technology
Loki Kirin K2 technology centers on a value-optimized, classic 5-ply all-wood construction. It uses selected layers of Kiri and Ayous wood, chosen specifically for their contribution to a soft feel, high dwell time, and balanced flex. This traditional approach prioritizes control and a forgiving nature, creating an ideal learning platform. The manufacturing process focuses on delivering consistent performance and a surprisingly premium finish at a budget price point, proving that effective table tennis technology doesn't require exotic materials to be highly playable.
Similar Blades
Loki Kirin K3
Often discussed alongside the K2, the Kirin K3 is a very similar blade known for comparable build quality and value. TTSensei experts note it tends to play slightly harder and more directly than the K2, potentially offering a touch more speed for players who want a similar feel but a firmer response. Both represent excellent entry points.
Yinhe N10/N11
These Yinhe models exist in the same budget beginner blade category. While direct comparisons to the K2 are less common, players report that other blades in the Kirin series were preferred over these Yinhe models for their superior feel, suggesting the K2 likely offers a more refined playing experience in a similar price range.