Weight
85g
Thickness
5.6mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
158x151
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Zen Off 7
Sunflex Zen Off 7 merges classic wood craftsmanship with the demands of modern offensive play. Its seven-ply all-wood construction uses hard ebony outer veneers to deliver crisp, powerful shots, while Ayous inner layers provide the ball feedback and control needed for spin variations. This blade offers a dynamic balance of speed and touch, making it a compelling choice for intermediate to advanced attackers who play from the mid-distance and value a direct, responsive feel.
The seven-ply stack pairs hard ebony outer layers with Ayous for the five inner plies. This design uses the ebony for speed and a crisp hitting surface, while the Ayous core provides structural balance, a pleasant feel, and the dwell necessary for control and spin generation.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Zen Off 7 delivers very high speed, a key feature for modern attacking play. The hard ebony outer veneers and seven-ply construction provide excellent power and acceleration, allowing for aggressive shots from various distances. This makes it ideal for players who want to dictate the pace of the rally with forceful drives and loops.
Despite its offensive nature, Zen Off 7 maintains a strong level of control. The balanced construction provides good ball feedback and a sensitive feel, allowing for precise placement and manageable defensive play. Players find it offers a surprising degree of touch for a blade with this much speed.
The feel is crisp and direct, characteristic of ebony outer plies, but it avoids feeling overly stiff or dead. It provides clear feedback on touch shots, which is crucial for executing spin variations and maintaining a good connection with the ball during aggressive play.
The blade's offensive character and hard outer plies contribute to a medium-high throw angle. This facilitates powerful looping and attacking shots, helping to generate good arc and depth on topspin strokes.
The seven-ply all-wood construction provides a medium dwell time. This allows for adequate ball contact to generate spin on loops and serves, while still prioritizing the direct, fast response needed for powerful offensive strokes.
This is a stiff blade. The hard ebony outer veneers and the seven-layer construction create a firm, direct hitting platform optimized for speed and power, with minimal flex for catapult effect.
Zen Off 7 offers a moderate level of vibration and feedback. It produces a crisp, clear sensation on contact, providing players with good tactile information without being excessively dampened or overly harsh.
Zen Off 7 is a well-made blade featuring high-quality materials like ebony and a clean construction. The fit and finish contribute to a solid, durable feel and a consistent playing experience that meets the expectations for a performance-oriented offensive blade.
Technology
Zen Off 7's technology is rooted in a sophisticated all-wood, seven-ply construction engineered for the plastic ball. The key innovation is the strategic use of high-quality ebony for the outer veneers. Ebony is an exceptionally dense, hard wood that provides the blade with its core speed and penetrating power. Sunflex balances this hardness with multiple layers of Ayous wood in the inner and core sections. Ayous is lighter and offers more dwell, which tempers the blade's feel, adds control, and ensures good ball feedback for spin play. This pure wood synergy focuses on material selection and layering to create a fast yet controllable offensive tool without relying on composite fibers.
Similar Blades
Stiga Ebony Series (e.g., Stiga Ebenholz NCT V)
For players drawn to the hard, fast feel of ebony, blades from the Stiga Ebony series are a natural comparison. Models like the Ebenholz NCT V also feature ebony outer plies and are renowned for their offensive speed and power, offering a similar high-performance, all-wood experience.
Sunflex Zen Off 5
Within the same family, Sunflex Zen Off 5 presents a slightly different option. As a five-ply offensive blade with a Mansonia/Koto/Awan composition, it offers a crisp feel with potentially more control and a focus on close-to-the-table play. It's a great alternative for players who want the Zen series quality but prefer a slightly less powerful, more controlled offensive blade.