Weight
105g
Thickness
5mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
160x155
Handles
FL
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Oversized
Balance
Head-Heavy
Goriki Danshi
Nittaku Goriki Danshi combines a large head size with a 7-ply all-walnut construction, delivering a unique blend of power and control for offensive play. Designed by Nittaku's equipment advisor Dr. Rokuro Sakuma, this blade offers a hard yet surprisingly soft feel, providing excellent stability for blocking and counter-attacks. Its 'Danshi' designation highlights its suitability for players seeking strong offensive capabilities, making it versatile for spin-focused and powerful driving styles. Crafted in Japan, it ensures high quality and durability for discerning players.
Goriki Danshi features a 7-ply construction made entirely of walnut wood. It is described as having three thick central walnut veneers and four thinner walnut veneers surrounding them, contributing to its speed and power. This all-walnut construction results in a blade that is relatively hard yet plays softly due to its construction and large size.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Goriki Danshi is considered an offensive blade with a respectable speed, improved over its predecessors. While not a speed demon like some carbon blades, its 7-ply walnut construction provides enough pace for aggressive play, including drives and smashes. It offers a good balance between speed and control, making it suitable for players who rely on well-timed attacks rather than pure power.
Goriki Danshi excels in control, particularly for a blade of its offensive classification. Its stability during blocks and counter-attacks is frequently highlighted, making it suitable for players who rely on precise placement and defensive maneuvers. The extended dwell time also aids in controlling incoming spin and executing controlled attacks.
Despite being made entirely of walnut, which is a harder wood, Goriki Danshi is described as having a relatively soft feel. This unique characteristic, combined with its large size, allows for a good dwell time and ample feedback, making it feel soft and allowing the ball to sink into the wood for spin generation.
The combination of speed, dwell time, and spin-oriented play suggests a medium to medium-high throw angle, suitable for looping and aggressive attacking shots.
Goriki Danshi offers a significant dwell time, which is crucial for generating heavy spin on serves and loops. This extended contact allows players to impart more rotation on the ball and provides a reassuring feeling of control during strokes, especially when executing spin-heavy attacks or dealing with incoming spin.
While Goriki Danshi is constructed from hard walnut wood, its 7-ply structure and large size contribute to a feel that is not overly flexible. It offers a stiff base for powerful shots and stable blocking, but the described soft feel suggests it's not excessively rigid, allowing for some ball sinking and spin generation.
The blade provides good feedback but might not transmit vibrations as intensely as some stiffer or smaller blades, offering a more dampened feel. This can result in a somewhat disengaged sensation during play.
Nittaku is renowned for its manufacturing quality, and the Goriki Danshi is no exception. The blade is consistently praised for its excellent build quality, premium materials, and meticulous Japanese craftsmanship. This results in a durable and aesthetically pleasing blade that performs consistently.
Technology
Nittaku Goriki Danshi is a testament to Nittaku's commitment to producing high-quality, specialized table tennis equipment. Designed in collaboration with Dr. Rokuro Sakuma, this blade utilizes a unique 7-ply all-walnut construction. This specific wood choice and layering – featuring thick central plies and thinner outer plies – are engineered to enhance speed and power while maintaining a controlled feel. The larger-than-average head size is a deliberate design choice, contributing to its unique playing characteristics, including an advanced center of gravity that further boosts drive power. Each blade is crafted in Japan, adhering to strict quality control standards.
Similar Blades
Nittaku Goriki Super Cut
Nittaku Goriki Super Cut is a closely related blade within the same Goriki series. While Goriki Danshi is an OFF-rated blade focused on offensive capabilities, the Super Cut is generally categorized as DEF/OFF-, featuring a thinner construction and a larger head size. The Super Cut is described as stiffer and harder, and slower than the Danshi, making it more suitable for defensive players and those using long pimples. Danshi, in contrast, offers more speed and power for offensive play.
Nittaku Goriki
The original Nittaku Goriki blade is the predecessor to Goriki Danshi. Our testing shows Goriki Danshi is faster and feels more solid than the original Goriki. The Danshi also features a slightly thicker and wider head. While the original Goriki may offer a slightly safer or slower feel, Danshi is engineered for increased offensive performance, making it a more aggressive option.