Weight
85g
Thickness
5.85mm
Plies
5-ply
Handles
FL
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Yinhe Earth E-4
Yinhe Earth E-4 is a 5-ply all-wood offensive blade designed for players who value control and feel. It excels at mid-distance looping, offering a forgiving and responsive platform that enhances spin generation. The balanced construction provides clear feedback and a comfortable touch, making it an excellent choice for developing players looking to refine their attacking technique without sacrificing precision.
The blade uses a symmetrical 5-ply construction. It features Ash outer plies for a crisp feel, Koto middle plies for stability and rebound, and a Kiri wood core. This all-wood layup is renowned for providing excellent dwell time and a responsive, communicative feel crucial for spin and control.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Rated around 7.5, the Earth E-4 offers solid offensive speed suitable for attacking play. It provides enough power for strong loops and drives but is noted to be slightly slower than some other OFF blades, placing its speed in the ALL+ to OFF- range. This well-balanced pace makes it ideal for players who rely on spin and tactical placement rather than overwhelming force.
Control is the standout feature of this blade, consistently rated very high. It provides exceptional feedback with minimal unwanted vibration, giving players a distinct and pleasant feel for the ball. This high level of control allows for precise shot placement and makes it a forgiving and effective blade for honing technique and developing consistency.
Feel is this blade's greatest strength, offering a soft, pleasant, and highly communicative feedback. The contact sensation is clean and distinct, allowing players to feel the ball sink into the wood, which greatly enhances touch shots and looping confidence.
The combination of wood composition, flexibility, and dwell time produces a medium-high throw angle. This trajectory is beneficial for executing effective topspin loops that arc over the net and dip sharply onto the opponent's side.
The flexible, all-wood construction provides ample dwell time, allowing the ball to stay on the racket face longer. This extended contact is crucial for effectively brushing the ball and generating heavy spin, making it a standout feature for loop-oriented play.
The blade exhibits a good degree of flexibility, characteristic of its 5-ply wood build. This flex aids in absorbing impact, contributes to the excellent dwell time, and helps in loading the ball with spin during looping strokes.
Vibration is minimal and well-controlled, contributing to the blade's clean feel. Players report a distinct lack of harsh or jarring feedback, which enhances the sense of control and makes it comfortable for extended play sessions.
The Earth E-4 boasts very good build quality for its price point. Our testing shows precise craftsmanship, a comfortable handle, and a solid construction that avoids harsh vibrations. It's often regarded as a high-fidelity interpretation of more expensive classic blades, indicating careful attention to manufacturing detail and material selection.
Technology
Yinhe Earth E-4 embodies traditional blade craftsmanship through its 5-ply all-wood construction. This technology leverages the natural properties of carefully selected and layered woods—like Ash, Koto, and Kiri—to optimize performance. By forgoing synthetic fibers, the design prioritizes a pure wood feel, delivering exceptional dwell time for spin generation and clear, nuanced feedback for precise shot-making. It's a classic approach that rewards touch and technique, making it a favorite for players who value a direct connection to the ball.
Similar Blades
Nittaku Violin
The Earth E-4 is widely regarded as a close and more affordable alternative to the Nittaku Violin. Both share a similar 5-ply all-wood construction and are celebrated for their superb feel, control, and looping prowess. While performance is remarkably close, players sometimes note slight differences in weight or thickness between the two.
Victas Euro Feeling Off-
As another blade often compared to the Nittaku Violin profile, the Victas Euro Feeling Off- serves as a potential alternative. It shares the emphasis on feel and controlled offensive play, making it another option for players attracted to the Earth E-4's classic wood characteristics.