Weight
85g
Thickness
6.5mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Koki Niwa Wood
Victas Koki Niwa Wood is a 7-ply all-wood offensive blade crafted for aggressive, close-to-the-table attackers. Developed with Japanese star Koki Niwa, it masterfully blends high speed with excellent feel and control, making it ideal for fast-paced topspin rallies. The blade offers a crisp, responsive playing surface that harmonizes with hard offensive rubbers, delivering the active power needed for a winning game. It's a premium choice for players seeking a perfect balance of controlled aggression and creative shot-making.
The blade features a symmetrical 7-ply all-wood construction with Limba outer plies and Ayous core plies. This traditional design emphasizes natural wood feel, dwell time, and control, providing a crisp and responsive playing surface suitable for aggressive topspin play.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Koki Niwa Wood is highly regarded for its speed, rated as OFF+ by the manufacturer. Our testing shows it generates fast topspin rallies and powerful shots, with some players noting its speed can rival certain carbon blades in specific situations. This makes it a potent weapon for aggressive, close-to-the-table attackers.
Despite its high speed, this blade maintains excellent control, a feature frequently praised by users. Players report precise placement and high confidence when executing various strokes, especially during fast exchanges near the table. This balance allows for aggressive play without sacrificing accuracy.
The feel is crisp and solid with a good sense of connection to the ball. While it offers a natural wood sensation, the 7-ply construction creates noticeable stiffness compared to softer blades. This provides direct feedback during impact, which benefits aggressive shot-making and blocking.
The combination of speed, stiffness, and dwell time typically results in a medium-high throw angle. This is conducive to aggressive looping and powerful drives, helping players generate effective arc on their attacking shots.
The 7-ply all-wood construction provides good dwell time, allowing for effective spin generation and control during topspin rallies. This characteristic helps the blade 'bite' the ball, contributing to stable, spinny shots that are essential for offensive play.
This is generally considered a stiff blade due to its 7-ply construction and harder outer veneers. The stiffness contributes directly to its speed and crisp feel but offers less flex compared to 5-ply blades or more flexible composite constructions.
While designed for speed, the wood construction absorbs some vibration, providing a balanced feel without excessive harshness. Players note they can feel vibrations on hard hits, particularly when contact isn't in the optimal hitting zone, but overall it's not overly jarring.
The blade is consistently described as a high-quality product with excellent craftsmanship. From the selection of premium wood veneers to the overall finish, it's built to last and perform at a high level. TTSensei experts note its stability and refined construction reflect its premium status in the all-wood category.
Technology
Victas Koki Niwa Wood represents a commitment to optimizing traditional wood craftsmanship for modern offensive play. The design focuses on the synergistic properties of seven carefully selected wood veneers to achieve a rare combination of high speed, excellent feel, and precise control. This construction is engineered to harmonize with hard offensive rubbers, maximizing power and speed output for close-to-the-table attacking strategies while maintaining the natural feedback that wood provides.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Koki Niwa
As the blade's namesake, Koki Niwa uses this as his primary equipment for his aggressive, close-to-the-table style. The blade's combination of speed, feel, and control complements his offensive strategy, allowing him to execute powerful loops, counters, and quick maneuvers effectively.
AOTO Asazu
Aoto Asazu's use of this blade demonstrates its versatility beyond its direct association with Koki Niwa. It shows the blade can support various offensive playing styles that require a balance of speed and control.
MIYU Maeda
Miyu Maeda's adoption of this blade further highlights its suitability for offensive players seeking a balanced combination of speed and control for their attacking game.
MISAKO Wakamiya
Misako Wakamiya's usage indicates the blade is a viable option for players aiming for a creative and powerful offensive game, showcasing its appeal across different playing approaches.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Viscaria
Koki Niwa Wood is frequently compared to the Butterfly Viscaria. While the Viscaria uses carbon layers for enhanced speed and a stiffer feel, Koki Niwa Wood offers an all-wood alternative that replicates some offensive capabilities with a more traditional wood feel. Players report it shares characteristics of being hard, stiff, crisp, and fast, but with potentially more natural feedback and spin.
Victas Swat Power
Victas Swat Power is another 7-ply all-wood blade that shares strong similarities with Koki Niwa Wood. Many players find it offers comparable offensive capabilities and construction philosophy. It's often cited as a value alternative, providing similar performance characteristics for those seeking a powerful all-wood option.