Weight
82.5g
Thickness
6.4mm
Plies
7-ply
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Custom
Balance
Handle-Heavy
Yinhe 986
Yinhe 986 is a hybrid Japanese penhold blade built for aggressive, close-to-the-table offense. Its 5+2 ply construction with carbon layers delivers high speed and a large sweet spot, making it ideal for drives, counter-hits, and quick attacks. The blade feels lightweight and direct, offering excellent maneuverability for players who rely on fast reactions and powerful strikes. It successfully blends the stiffness of carbon with the inherent feel of wood, creating a responsive tool for offensive-minded penhold players.
The 5+2 construction features seven total layers: five wood plies and two carbon fiber layers. This hybrid structure places carbon layers internally to enhance stiffness and speed while maintaining a degree of wood-like flexibility and feel, ultimately creating a larger, more powerful sweet spot.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Yinhe 986 is a genuinely fast blade. The carbon fiber layers create a stiff, powerful hitting surface that excels in fast attacks and loops. This speed makes it particularly effective for aggressive, close-to-the-table play where quick, powerful strikes are essential.
For an offensive blade, the 986 offers a very respectable level of control. It provides good command for drives and counter-attacks, making it manageable for an attacking style. Players report it handles well for offensive maneuvers, though the focus on speed means the finest touch for distant looping can require more skill.
The carbon layers impart a stiffer, more direct feel with noticeably reduced vibration. This creates a harder, crisper sensation on contact, which players seeking a clean, unfiltered feedback often appreciate, though it differs from the softer, more dampened feel of all-wood blades.
The combination of speed and stiffness produces a medium-high throw angle. This facilitates aggressive shots with a good arc, making it effective for powerful loops and drives that clear the net with confidence.
The blade offers a medium dwell time. While its carbon construction prioritizes speed, there is sufficient contact time to generate effective spin on serves and drives, especially when paired with appropriate rubbers that complement its characteristics.
This is a relatively stiff blade. The carbon plies limit flex, contributing directly to its high speed and immediate power transfer. This stiffness means it relies less on blade bending for spin, favoring instead a more direct hitting approach.
Vibration is significantly dampened by the carbon layers. Players feel little feedback through the handle, resulting in a muted, solid sensation. This characteristic supports a fast and direct playing style for those who prefer less tactile distraction.
Yinhe 986 delivers good quality and playability that impress considering its affordable price point. The construction is reliable, and it performs consistently, living up to the brand's reputation for producing cost-effective yet capable equipment for players at various levels.
Technology
Yinhe 986 utilizes a '5+2' hybrid construction, integrating two carbon fiber layers with five wood plies. This design is engineered to amplify speed and power by increasing stiffness and expanding the sweet spot. The strategic placement of carbon optimizes energy transfer from player to ball, enabling faster serves, drives, and smashes. The technology aims to deliver superior offensive performance for close-to-the-table aggressive play by merging the explosive responsiveness of carbon with the foundational feel of wood.
Similar Blades
Yinhe 987
Yinhe 987 is a 'Korea style' Japanese penhold blade often compared to the 986. It features a 5-ply all-wood construction, is thicker (around 8.5mm), and is described as more balanced and steady. While still fast and offensive, it may be better suited for a strong forehand attack game, whereas the carbon-infused 986 is generally faster and more focused on penhold backhand techniques.
Yinhe 988
Yinhe 988 is another carbon Japanese penhold blade designed for fast attack, making it a direct comparable option to the 986. Players report the 986, 987, and 988 share similar offensive profiles with variations in feel and balance. The 988 offers a comparable speedy, loop-oriented experience for those seeking an alternative within the same family of performance blades.