Weight
78.5g
Thickness
6.2mm
Plies
5-ply
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Battle Balsa
Yasaka Battle Balsa is a lightweight 5-ply offensive blade that masterfully blends a balsa wood core with Scandinavian pine. This unique construction delivers a crisp, responsive feel that enhances speed without sacrificing the touch needed for controlled play. Its soft outer layers provide excellent feedback in short game exchanges and blocking, while the overall design supports quick counter-attacks and confident offensive strokes. Crafted in Sweden, it's a standout choice for players seeking a fast yet manageable blade with a distinctive character.
This symmetrical 5-ply construction features a balsa wood core at its heart for unparalleled lightness and a unique feel. The core is flanked by two layers of Scandinavian pine, which enhance the blade's speed and structural response. The outer layers are a soft wood, contributing directly to the excellent touch and control experienced in short-game exchanges.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Battle Balsa is engineered to be faster than classic balsa blades, thanks to its reinforcement with Scandinavian pine. It offers good acceleration and is responsive to player input, making it effective for offensive drives and counters. While it provides solid pace, generating maximum power on heavy shots may require a fuller, faster swing, which is typical for blades in this category.
Despite its offensive intent, this blade receives consistent praise for its excellent control. The unique feel of the balsa core offers great feedback, which translates to precise ball placement, especially in the short game and during blocking. This high level of controllability allows players to execute a tactical, placement-oriented style with confidence.
The defining characteristic is the distinctive 'balsa feel'—a soft, crisp sensation that provides excellent touch and direct feedback on contact. This unique feel allows for a great connection with the ball, enhancing control and shot perception.
When paired with typical offensive rubbers, the Battle Balsa tends to produce a medium-high throw angle. This is advantageous for creating steep, arcing loops and effective attacking shots over the net.
The blade offers good dwell time for controlled looping and effective spin generation, benefiting from the balsa core's properties. However, as swing speed and power increase significantly, the dwell time can decrease, which some players note can make lifting very heavy underspin more challenging.
As a 5-ply all-wood construction with a balsa core, it offers a moderate degree of flexibility. This allows for good ball pocketing, which aids spin generation and control, while still maintaining enough stiffness for direct, powerful offensive drives.
The balsa wood core contributes to a lighter, crisper feel with a moderate level of vibration. It's not as dampened as denser wood blades, providing clear feedback without being overly harsh or uncomfortable during play.
Manufactured in Sweden, a country with a strong reputation for table tennis craftsmanship, the Battle Balsa is generally regarded as a well-made and reliable blade. Players report good material quality and solid construction, contributing to its durability and consistent performance over time.
Technology
Yasaka Battle Balsa utilizes a specialized 5-ply all-wood construction focused on minimizing weight and maximizing a unique playing sensation. The core is balsa wood, celebrated for its extreme lightness and distinctive tactile feedback. This core is reinforced with layers of Scandinavian pine, a wood selected for its balance of responsiveness and structural integrity, which elevates the blade's speed and stability. The outer layers are a soft wood, engineered to provide superior touch and control in short-play situations like pushes and blocks. This precise material synergy aims to create a blade that outperforms traditional balsa designs in speed while preserving the exceptional feel and controllability that players seek.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Maze Performance
Some players draw a comparison, noting both the Butterfly Maze Performance and the Yasaka Battle Balsa share a focus on being lightweight offensive options. This suggests they may cater to a similar player profile seeking speed without excessive heft, though their material compositions and exact feel will differ.