Weight
85g
Thickness
6.8mm
Plies
7-ply
Handles
ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Hinoki Leo 7
Yasaka Hinoki Leo 7 is a 7-ply all-wood blade crafted from premium Japanese Hinoki cypress, offering a balanced blend of speed and control for versatile attacking play. Its construction provides a soft, lively feel with excellent dwell time, allowing for superior ball manipulation and spin generation. This blade excels in both aggressive looping and controlled short game play, making it a top choice for players who value a classic, direct connection with the ball.
The blade is constructed entirely from 7 layers of Hinoki wood, a Japanese cypress known for its lightweight, soft feel, and excellent vibration properties. This dense, symmetrical construction provides a solid feel and good speed while maintaining high dwell time and control.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Yasaka Hinoki Leo 7 is considered a fast blade, offering substantial speed for offensive play, particularly for looping and driving. Our testing shows its speed is nuanced and well-balanced with control, providing plenty of power when you need it without sacrificing touch. It delivers a dynamic response that supports aggressive play while remaining manageable.
This blade offers exceptional control, with players consistently praising its predictability and ease of use. The combination of Hinoki wood and 7 plies creates a stable platform for precise shot-making. Controllability in the short game is outstanding—serves, pushes, drops, and blocking all feel natural and responsive, giving you confidence in tight situations.
Hinoki wood provides a soft, engaging feel that allows players to sense the ball exceptionally well during contact. This creates a lively, tactile sensation that many players describe as more forgiving and connected compared to harder blades, enhancing touch and spin manipulation.
The combination of speed, dwell time, and flexibility typically produces a medium-high throw angle, which is excellent for generating heavy spin on loops. Some players may experience variations based on technique or rubber choice, but the blade naturally supports arcing, spin-focused attacks.
The 7-ply Hinoki construction creates excellent dwell time, allowing the ball to sink into the blade for extended contact. This characteristic is crucial for imparting heavy spin on loops and provides ample time for controlled shot placement, especially in the short game.
Yasaka Hinoki Leo 7 offers medium flexibility—it has enough stiffness for powerful drives and stable blocks, yet retains enough flex to excel in looping strokes. This balanced flex profile supports both controlled touch shots and aggressive offensive play without feeling overly rigid or too soft.
This blade delivers significant vibration that contributes to its lively feel and direct ball feedback. The vibration is smooth and informative, giving players a clear sense of contact quality. While some appreciate this energetic feedback, others who prefer a more dampened feel might need to adjust.
Yasaka Hinoki Leo 7 receives very high quality ratings, reflecting its premium Japanese Hinoki material and solid construction. The craftsmanship results in a durable blade that provides a consistent, high-quality playing experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the reliable performance it delivers over time.
Technology
Yasaka Hinoki Leo 7 showcases traditional Japanese craftsmanship through its use of 7 layers of premium Hinoki cypress wood. Hinoki is prized for its unique combination of lightness, strength, and resonant properties, which directly contribute to the blade's exceptional feel, dwell time, and controlled speed. The all-wood, 7-ply construction represents a classic approach that delivers a lively, dynamic playing experience focused on ball feedback and spin generation. Unlike composite blades, it offers a pure wooden feel that appeals to players seeking a direct, unmediated connection with the ball.
Similar Blades
Yasaka Hinoki Leo 11
Yasaka Hinoki Leo 11 is an 11-ply blade also made from Hinoki wood. TTSensei experts note it's generally faster and heavier than the Leo 7, offering more power for mid-to-long distance play. However, the increased ply count may reduce the delicate feel and short-game control that makes the 7-ply version so appealing to close-to-mid distance players.
Butterfly Jonyer H
Butterfly Jonyer H is a 5-ply all-wood blade often compared to the Yasaka Hinoki Leo 7. Players report the Jonyer H has a softer feel and plays more like an OFF- blade, while the Leo 7 is faster and more offensive. Both are excellent choices for players who appreciate traditional wooden blades with good feel, but the Leo 7 offers more power for aggressive looping.