Weight
85g
Thickness
6.4mm
Plies
7-ply
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
701
Tulpe 701 is a 7-ply all-wood blade designed for players who demand a versatile blend of speed and control. Developed with input from top global players, it aims to be an ideal tool for an all-round plus style, excelling in both offensive and defensive situations. Its construction combines fine wood selection with high-tech manufacturing to deliver a stable, precise feel. This blade offers a stiffer response that provides excellent power transfer and placement, making it a strong choice for intermediate to advanced players seeking a balanced, high-performance option.
The 7-ply all-wood construction creates a stiffer blade with more dwell time than typical 5-ply options. This layered structure provides a good balance of power and control, making it suitable for versatile all-round play where players need both offensive capability and defensive stability.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Tulpe 701 delivers significant pace for an all-wood blade, rating highly for offensive capability. It generates powerful speed suitable for fast attacks and sustained rallies, allowing players to put pressure on opponents. The stiffness from its 7-ply construction contributes to this efficient power transfer, making it feel quicker than many traditional wood blades while maintaining a predictable response.
Control is a particular strength of this blade, offering excellent maneuverability and precision. Players report confident placement during both aggressive shots and delicate touches, thanks to its stable feel. This high level of control makes it forgiving and effective for players who mix offensive and defensive play, allowing for accurate ball placement even at higher speeds.
Tulpe 701 offers a distinctly stiff and firm feel in hand, characteristic of 7-ply wood construction. This creates a solid, direct connection with the ball that provides excellent power transfer but less of the soft, cushioned feedback found in thinner blades. Players will notice a crisp, responsive touch that works well for driving strokes.
The blade produces a medium-high throw angle that works particularly well for attacking strokes like loops and drives. This trajectory helps clear the net comfortably while allowing players to generate good arc and depth on their shots, making it effective for both topspin rallies and opening attacks.
As a 7-ply all-wood blade, it provides good dwell time that allows for effective spin generation on loops, serves, and brush strokes. The wood layers work together to hold the ball slightly longer than stiffer composite blades, giving players more time to impart rotation while maintaining the speed needed for attacking play.
Tulpe 701 is rated as stiff, with minimal flex during play. This stiffness comes from its 7-ply construction and contributes directly to its speed and power characteristics. While it doesn't offer the catapult effect of more flexible blades, it provides a consistent, predictable response that many players appreciate for control-oriented play.
The blade transmits a moderate amount of vibration upon contact, providing clear tactile feedback about shot quality. This isn't the completely dampened feel some players prefer, but it helps experienced players sense exactly how they're striking the ball. The vibration level is typical for wood blades of this construction.
Tulpe 701 is well-constructed using fine woods and modern manufacturing techniques, resulting in good durability and consistent performance. The blade feels solid and reliable in hand, with clean finishing that belies its accessible price point. While not in the ultra-premium category, it offers superior quality for players seeking reliable equipment without excessive cost.
Technology
Tulpe 701 was developed by TUTTLE with insights gathered from the playing styles of top international players. The technology focuses on blending carefully selected fine woods with advanced manufacturing techniques to create what's marketed as an 'ideal blade.' This approach aims to balance powerful speed with high control in a single package. The 7-ply all-wood structure is central to achieving this balance, providing the stiffness for power while the wood composition ensures good feel and dwell time for control and spin.
Similar Blades
Kokutaku Tulpe T-703
The Kokutaku Tulpe T-703 is a 5-ply all-wood blade from the same series, offering a different feel with potentially higher speed ratings. With fewer plies, it likely provides more flexibility and a different vibration profile while maintaining the Tulpe focus on balancing offensive and defensive capabilities. Players might choose this for a slightly faster, more direct response.
Other Tuttle Blades
As a blade developed by TUTTLE, the Tulpe 701 shares characteristics with other blades from this brand known for offering good value and balanced performance. Exploring Tuttle's lineup can reveal options with different ply counts, compositions, or feel characteristics while maintaining a similar philosophy of versatile, player-focused design.