Weight
90g
Thickness
5.5mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Mima Ito Carbon
Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon is an offensive table tennis blade created in partnership with Japanese star Mima Ito. It builds upon the acclaimed Nittaku Acoustic Carbon platform, sharing its core construction while featuring a unique graphic design and signature chosen by Ito. Engineered for attacking players, it incorporates FE Carbon layers near the surface to enhance power and elasticity, delivering a dynamic yet controlled playing experience. The blade offers a precise blend of speed and feel, wrapped in premium Japanese craftsmanship, making it a sought-after choice for players seeking high-performance gear with a personal touch.
The 5+2 ply construction features Limba outer plies for a softer touch, sandwiching two layers of FE Carbon fiber. These softer carbon layers are placed directly beneath the outer wood. A Tung wood layer forms the core. This configuration is designed to offer the enhanced elasticity and power of carbon blades while providing a surprisingly deep ball-holding feel and a slightly softer sensation than typical outer-carbon designs.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Mima Ito Carbon is a fast blade, with its FE Carbon layers providing high elasticity and significant power output. It delivers a powerful response, particularly on strong hits and smashes, placing it firmly in the mid-fast to fast category. This makes it ideally suited for players whose game relies on aggressive attacks and powerful offensive shots.
Despite its offensive speed, this blade maintains a very high level of control. The Limba top layers and specific properties of the FE Carbon allow for a deep ball-holding feeling and clear feedback. Players find it easy to execute precise shots like serves, pushes, and blocks without compromising on power, making it a well-rounded offensive tool.
Mima Ito Carbon offers a balanced feel between a stiff carbon blade and a softer wood blade. While fundamentally stiff, the Limba top plies and FE Carbon construction provide a deeper ball hold and a sensation that is more forgiving and flexible than many traditional outer-carbon blades, resulting in responsive yet comfortable feedback.
The blend of FE Carbon and Limba plies produces a medium-high throw angle. This is advantageous for creating powerful, arcing topspin shots that clear the net with a good safety margin while maintaining an aggressive, challenging trajectory for opponents.
The blade provides good dwell time, effectively gripping the ball to generate significant spin. The combination of Limba and FE Carbon creates a 'deep hold' characteristic, allowing the ball to sink into the blade upon impact. This gives players more time for spin generation, especially on powerful strokes.
It strikes a balance between stiffness and flexibility. The carbon layers provide structural stiffness for power, while the wood plies, particularly Limba, allow enough flex for good ball feel and control. This moderate flexibility contributes to the blade's ability to hug the ball deeply and create effective spin.
Vibration is well-managed, offering a controlled level of feedback. There is a slight resonance on contact, which is not distracting and can even serve as a subtle tactile cue. This controlled vibration prevents any negative impact on the overall feel and precision of shots.
Mima Ito Carbon showcases excellent build quality, a hallmark of Japanese manufacturing. It uses premium-grade materials with a top-notch finish. The attention to detail, from the unique grip design to the seamless integration of carbon layers, reflects high production standards. This ensures the blade is durable and provides a consistent, reliable playing experience over time.
Technology
Nittaku Mima Ito Carbon incorporates FE Carbon, a specially developed woven carbon fiber that is softer and more flexible than conventional carbon. This material is placed directly under the outer Limba wood plies in a 5+2 construction. The design aims to deliver the power and elasticity of carbon while reducing the harshness often associated with it. The result is a blade with enhanced speed, a deeper ball-holding characteristic, and a more comfortable, responsive feel. The unique graphic design and Mima Ito's signature add a personalized, collectible element.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Mima Ito
Mima Ito, a top Japanese professional and Olympic champion, uses the blade that bears her name. Designed specifically for her and based on her long-time preference for the Nittaku Acoustic Carbon, this version retains the core specifications but features personalized grip design and graphics chosen by Ito. She utilizes it for its offensive power, excellent control, and unique feel, which perfectly complements her aggressive style, including her signature short-pips backhand play.
Similar Blades
Nittaku Acoustic Carbon
Mima Ito Carbon is essentially a visually distinct version of the Nittaku Acoustic Carbon. They share identical core specifications, including ply construction, materials, and dimensions. The primary differences are the updated graphics and personalized grip design on the Ito version, making their performance characteristics virtually interchangeable.
Butterfly Mizutani Jun ZLC
While using different materials (ZLC vs. FE Carbon), the Mizutani Jun ZLC is often compared for its similar offensive profile. Both are outer-ply carbon constructions designed for aggressive play, offering high elasticity and good ball feedback. Players report the Mizutani Jun ZLC provides a slightly different feel due to its Zylon-Carbon composite, but it remains a strong alternative for those seeking speed, spin, and control in one package.