Weight
72.5g
Thickness
9.7mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
156x152
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Balsa Plus 8.5 SR
TSP Balsa Plus 8.5 SR is a uniquely constructed offensive blade built for high-pressure attacking play. Its defining feature is a thick 8.5mm horizontally cut balsa wood core, which delivers a soft, springy feel. This core is reinforced with two layers of fiberglass, creating a blade that offers explosive speed while maintaining a surprisingly large sweet spot for enhanced control. Known for its extreme lightness, it promotes faster arm movements and enables powerful strokes with less effort, making it ideal for players who rely on high-speed attacks, aggressive blocks, and flat, fast topspins.
The blade features a thick, horizontally cut balsa core (8.5mm) sandwiched between two layers of fiberglass and two outer wood plies. This construction is designed to maximize speed and create a large sweet spot while maintaining a light weight and a soft, springy feel characteristic of balsa wood. The fiberglass layers contribute to stability and a more uniform ball bounce.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
TSP Balsa Plus 8.5 SR is an extremely fast blade, consistently rated as OFF+. The thick balsa core combined with fiberglass layers generates explosive power, making it ideal for all-out attacking play. This high speed allows for flat, fast topspins and aggressive blocks that can overwhelm opponents.
While known for its high speed, the blade offers a surprising amount of control. The large sweet spot, attributed to the balsa core and fiberglass, helps in managing fast shots and executing controlled blocks. However, this level of control can be challenging for beginners due to the blade's inherent speed and potentially dampened feedback.
The horizontally cut balsa core provides a very soft and springy feel. This unique characteristic contributes to a distinct touch on the ball, offering a cushioned sensation even during powerful shots.
The combination of a thick balsa core and the blade's overall speed suggests a medium-high throw angle. This is beneficial for generating steep, penetrating topspin shots that clear the net effectively.
The soft and springy nature of the balsa core suggests a medium-to-long dwell time. This allows for good ball pocketing and spin generation, especially when paired with appropriate rubbers.
The balsa core provides a degree of flexibility, contributing to the soft feel and dwell time. However, the fiberglass layers add significant stiffness, creating a blade that is fast yet retains some flex for spin generation.
The combination of balsa wood and fiberglass layers is designed to minimize vibration. This results in a precise, clean bounce with minimal jarring feedback, contributing to a more comfortable playing experience and better ball control.
TSP blades are noted for their quality and durability. The Balsa Plus 8.5 SR, with its unique construction, is considered a high-quality offensive blade built to last and provide consistent performance over time.
Technology
TSP Balsa Plus 8.5 SR features TSP's patented 'intelligent' core technology. The heart of this blade is its thick balsa wood core, uniquely cut horizontally so the wood grain rings run parallel to the blade face. This patented construction, combined with elastic fiberglass layers, is engineered to provide an exceptionally soft, springy feel, a large sweet spot, and a precise, vibration-free ball bounce. The design aims to deliver high speed and aggressive play without sacrificing control and tactile feedback.
Similar Blades
Yinhe (Galaxy) T-11s
Players report the Yinhe T-11s as an incredibly fast blade similar to the Balsa 8.5. Some find the T-11s to be more direct and controlled while offering comparable speed, making it a potential alternative for players seeking extreme speed with a different tactile response.