Weight
84.5g
Thickness
6mm
Plies
3-ply
Head Size
165x160
Handles
ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Oversized
Balance
Balanced
Yanagi Alpha
TSP Yanagi Alpha is a defensive table tennis blade built for players who value control, stability, and precise placement. Its three-ply willow construction delivers a soft feel and a generous sweet spot, perfect for executing chops and defensive maneuvers. While engineered for defense, it provides enough inherent power for offensive actions when paired with modern rubbers. The blade excels at absorbing and redirecting powerful shots, offering a reliable and comfortable platform for classic defenders and hardbat enthusiasts, with excellent maneuverability and minimal vibration.
A simple three-ply construction using willow wood throughout. This design is fundamental to the blade's soft feel, flexibility, and ability to absorb strong incoming shots—key characteristics for a defensive tool. The construction typically features a thicker center ply with thinner outer layers to enhance control and dwell time.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Yanagi Alpha is characterized by a slow speed profile, ideal for defensive play as it allows for precise chops and controlled rallies. While not built for outright pace, it can generate decent power for finishing points when you pair it with faster rubbers on the forehand side.
This blade offers exceptional control, a defining trait for defensive equipment. Its design prioritizes stability and accuracy, enabling players to execute a wide range of defensive strokes—including chops, pushes, and blocks—with tremendous confidence and consistency.
Yanagi Alpha delivers a distinctly soft feel thanks to its three-ply willow construction. This softness enhances dwell time and provides a comfortable, connected sensation with the ball, aiding in precise defensive shots and absorbing powerful attacks without jarring feedback.
Yanagi Alpha produces a relatively low to medium-low throw angle. This is beneficial for defensive play, as it keeps the ball's trajectory flatter and more controlled, making it harder for opponents to launch effective attacks.
The soft nature and all-wood composition contribute to a longer dwell time. This allows the ball to sink into the blade, providing greater spin potential on defensive strokes and superior control for precise placement.
Yanagi Alpha possesses a moderate level of flexibility. This flex contributes to the dwell time and overall feel, allowing for controlled defensive strokes and also aiding in generating useful spin for offensive shots when needed.
Our testing shows the blade has very low vibration. This is a significant advantage for defenders, as it minimizes shock and allows for better feel and consistency during long rallies against powerful incoming shots.
Based on player feedback and the purposeful use of willow wood for impact absorption, the Yanagi Alpha's quality is perceived as very good for a defensive blade. The construction is stable and designed for durability, standing up well to the demands of defensive play.
Technology
TSP Yanagi Alpha utilizes a straightforward three-ply construction focused on natural wood properties. The primary material is willow wood, chosen for its excellent ability to absorb impact and provide a soft, comfortable feel. The 'Alpha' designation suggests an enhanced version, likely relating to its refined balance of defensive stability with accessible offensive capability, distinguishing it within the Yanagi model line. The design emphasizes classic defensive play, relying on pure wood characteristics rather than advanced composite materials.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Matsushita Pro Model
Yanagi Alpha is frequently compared to the Butterfly Matsushita Pro Model. Both are highly regarded defensive blades, noted for their superb stability, control, and suitability for chopping. Players report very similar feel and performance characteristics, with only slight noted differences in wood color and outer layer thickness.
TSP Yanagi Shot
TSP Yanagi Shot is a related blade also designed for defensive play. While Yanagi Alpha is a focused 3-ply blade, the Yanagi Shot is a 5-ply construction with willow outer layers that aims to provide more offensive power while retaining chopping control. This makes Yanagi Alpha the more dedicated defensive option of the two.