Weight
85g
Thickness
7.3mm
Plies
5-ply
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Custom
Balance
Balanced
Yinhe 985
Yinhe 985 is a Japanese penhold blade built for explosive, close-to-the-table offense. Its construction delivers a crisp, direct feel with minimal vibration, appealing to players who value natural wood feedback. Lightweight and fast, it supports quick wrist action and compact strokes, making it ideal for aggressive attackers who thrive on rapid rallies, sharp blocks, and powerful counters. This blade is a standout choice for intermediate penhold players developing a dynamic, front-court attacking game.
The blade is most commonly described as a 5-ply wood construction using Limba, Meranti, and Kiri. This structure is credited with creating its fast-attack characteristics and direct feel. Note that some user reports mention possible carbon layers, but the primary identified construction is this wood layup.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Yinhe 985 is consistently rated as a fast blade, designed for aggressive offensive play. This speed stems from its construction, which is optimized for quick, explosive shots at the close-to-the-table range. It enables powerful loops and rapid counters, making it a potent weapon for attackers who dictate the pace of rallies.
Control ratings for this blade show a interesting range. While its fast nature suggests a focus on power, experienced players report achieving high levels of control, particularly in serves and short game. The direct feel and low vibration contribute to precise touch, allowing skilled users to manage the blade's speed effectively with proper technique.
The Yinhe 985 delivers a firm, direct feel with crisp contact and minimal vibration. It's described as stiff but not brutally hard, allowing the ball to sink in slightly for touch. This creates a sharp, responsive feedback that many penhold players appreciate for its clarity and lack of mushiness.
While not explicitly stated, the blade's design for fast attack and looping suggests a medium to medium-high throw angle. This facilitates effective spin generation for offensive shots like loops and drives, helping players achieve good arc and penetration.
Given its stiff, fast-attack nature, dwell time is moderate. The blade allows the ball to sink in a bit, facilitating spin generation when proper technique is applied, but it's not designed for long, brushing contact. It favors a more direct, hitting style over extreme dwell.
Flexibility is low, aligning with descriptions of an extremely stiff feel. This stiffness contributes to the blade's speed and directness, providing a solid, stable platform for powerful drives and blocks without excessive bending or dwell.
Vibration is exceptionally low on this blade. Players note an almost complete absence of vibration, which contributes significantly to its stiff, direct character and sharp feedback. This distinguishes it from single-ply hinoki blades that typically have more pronounced vibration.
Yinhe has a long-standing reputation for producing reliable, well-made blades at accessible price points, and the 985 upholds this standard. Feedback from players consistently praises its build quality and performance for its cost, indicating good to excellent craftsmanship that delivers consistent results on the table.
Technology
Yinhe 985 is presented as a traditional blade emphasizing natural wood feedback, though some sources suggest a hybrid construction with carbon fiber. This potential blend aims to enhance speed and power while retaining wood-like feel. Manufactured in China, it reflects Yinhe's approach to delivering reliable performance at a competitive price. The design is optimized for Japanese penhold, focusing on lightweight construction for fast swings and touch play, supporting aggressive, close-to-the-table offensive strategies.
Similar Blades
Yinhe 983
The Yinhe 983 is a similar Japanese penhold blade from the same family, also designed for fast attack. Some players directly compare the two, with a notable preference often expressed for the 985, suggesting it may offer a more refined or preferred performance profile for certain attacking styles within this line.
Yinhe 986 / 987 / 988
These models are mentioned as being quite similar to the 985, with users noting few significant differences. They are also Japanese penhold blades from Yinhe geared toward offensive playstyles, making them logical alternatives for players exploring options within this specific category and brand.