Weight
89g
Thickness
9mm
Plies
1-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Moby Kiso Hinoki
Pp Moby Kiso Hinoki is a premium table tennis blade crafted from 350-year-old Kiso Hinoki wood, offering a unique blend of traditional feel and modern performance. Manufactured in Taiwan by Pro Pro, a company with a history of high-quality production, this blade is available in both 1-ply and 7-ply constructions. It delivers a direct, tactile sensation with excellent control and significant spin potential, making it a versatile choice for players who value craftsmanship and a classic wood feel. The blade excels in generating power for loops and drives while maintaining precision in the short game.
The primary version discussed is a 1-ply construction made from a single, thick piece of Kiso Hinoki wood. This emphasizes the natural properties of the aged timber for a direct playing experience. A 7-ply version also exists with a unique progressive layering of Kiso Hinoki plies of different thicknesses.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Pp Moby Kiso Hinoki delivers significant speed for a natural wood blade, particularly in the thicker 1-ply version. It provides ample power for smashes and drives, though it isn't as outright fast as composite blades. The 7-ply version enhances speed, especially on the backhand side, due to its asymmetrical construction and thinner inner plies. Players experience a linear speed response where power increases directly with the force of their stroke.
Control is a major strength of this blade. The natural wood feel allows for exceptional touch and precision, making it forgiving on soft shots and excellent for the short game. Its stability and predictable response enable accurate ball placement. The 7-ply version further refines control through its progressive layering, offering outstanding performance in blocking and counter-hitting.
The 1-ply Kiso Hinoki version offers a distinctively hard and direct feel, characteristic of thick single-ply wood blades, providing immediate ball feedback. The 7-ply version, with its thinner plies and layered construction, delivers a slightly softer and more cushioned sensation, offering good dwell time and comfort during shots.
Players report a medium to medium-high throw angle, which is excellent for generating looping shots with good arc and depth. This characteristic is particularly pronounced in the 1-ply version, aiding in creating heavy spin and controlled offensive plays.
Pp Moby Kiso Hinoki provides significant dwell time, especially in the 1-ply version, as the Kiso Hinoki wood allows the ball to sink into the blade. This extended contact enhances spin generation, particularly on loops, giving players more time to impart rotation.
The 1-ply Kiso Hinoki blade is moderately flexible, a characteristic that, combined with its thickness, allows for good power and spin generation. The 7-ply version is slightly less flexible due to its progressive layering, which contributes to increased speed and stability for faster strokes.
This blade is known for its low vibration, offering a very clean and direct feel of the ball without excessive buzzing. The construction, particularly in the thicker 1-ply version, minimizes unpleasant sensations, resulting in a solid and accurate hitting experience.
The build quality of Pp Moby Kiso Hinoki is consistently rated as excellent. This is attributed to the use of premium, aged Kiso Hinoki wood and the manufacturing expertise of Pro Pro. The finish and durability are comparable to much more expensive blades from top-tier brands, offering remarkable value for the craftsmanship.
Technology
Pp Moby Kiso Hinoki leverages the natural characteristics of aged Kiso Hinoki wood, a premium material prized for its unique density, grain structure, and resonant properties. The 1-ply version showcases the pure essence of this wood, offering a direct feel and sound. The 7-ply MOBY-7 variant introduces 'Progressive Layering' technology, a specific arrangement of Kiso Hinoki plies of varying thicknesses. This design strategically places thicker outer plies to enhance forehand spin and arc, while thinner inner plies contribute to overall control and a lively feel, particularly on backhand strokes. The manufacturing by Pro Pro ensures meticulous craftsmanship.
Similar Blades
Darker Speed 90
Pp Moby Kiso Hinoki is frequently compared to the Darker Speed 90, a highly regarded but expensive 1-ply Kiso Hinoki blade. Our testing shows it delivers a remarkably similar, if not superior, feel and sound profile. It serves as a more affordable alternative that captures the same premium playing experience and quality.
Nittaku Miyabi
The Nittaku Miyabi is another renowned 1-ply Kiso Hinoki blade often mentioned in discussions about high-end Hinoki feel. Players seeking that classic, direct wood sensation might consider Pp Moby Kiso Hinoki as a comparable and often more budget-friendly option with excellent performance characteristics.