Weight
87g
Thickness
5.8mm
Plies
7-ply
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Head-Heavy
Yinhe Venus V-11
Yinhe Venus V-11 is a hybrid blade built for aggressive offensive play, combining 5 wood plies with 2 CarboKev layers. This construction delivers the power and sweet spot of carbon while providing a smoother, less harsh feel. Introduced around 2010, it's designed in the style of Japanese looping blades, excelling in powerful serves, fast attacks, and consistent topspin rallies. It's an excellent choice for intermediate to advanced players seeking an offensive weapon that maintains a surprising degree of control.
The blade features a 7-ply construction with a 5-ply wood core augmented by two integrated CarboKev layers. This hybrid design aims to combine the stiffness and speed of carbon fiber with the flexibility and damping properties of Kevlar, all within a wooden frame. The goal is to offer a larger sweet spot and more forgiving feedback compared to blades with carbon directly on the outer plies.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Venus V-11 is a very fast blade designed for offensive play. This high speed rating indicates it's built to generate significant pace for powerful attacks and aggressive loops from mid to far distance, allowing players to dictate the tempo of rallies.
Despite its impressive speed, Venus V-11 maintains exceptional control. The CarboKev layers and wood construction create an effective balance, enabling players to place shots with high accuracy even during rapid exchanges. This precision is a key asset for offensive-minded players.
The CarboKev layers provide a feel that is firm and responsive, yet less harsh and stiff than pure carbon blades. This results in a balanced, forgiving feedback that is solid enough for powerful shots while retaining sufficient dwell time for controlled touch play.
Venus V-11 produces a medium-high throw angle, which facilitates powerful, deep attacking shots and heavy topspin loops. This trajectory is well-suited for players who rely on aggressive, lifting strokes.
Players report a medium to medium-long dwell time, which contributes to good ball grip during serves and loops. This characteristic supports the blade's high spin potential and smooth looping style.
The combination of wood and CarboKev creates a moderately flexible blade. This balance provides enough stiffness for direct power while allowing sufficient flex for spin generation and a connected feel on the ball.
The blade offers a controlled level of vibration. The CarboKev composite is noted for providing a less harsh feel than pure carbon, resulting in comfortable feedback that isn't excessively stiff or numb during play.
Venus V-11 is recognized for its excellent construction and material quality. Crafted as a successor to previous models in a respected lineage, it demonstrates good attention to detail and reliable manufacturing standards typical of performance-oriented blades.
Technology
Yinhe Venus V-11 utilizes a unique 'CarboKev' composite material. Each layer combines carbon fibers running vertically with Kevlar fibers running horizontally. This innovative arrangement harnesses carbon's benefits—like a larger sweet spot and increased power—while Kevlar's properties mitigate the typical stiffness and harshness. The result is a blade that feels fast and powerful yet offers a more resilient, controlled, and forgiving playing experience, particularly beneficial for looping techniques.
Similar Blades
Yinhe Venus V-12
Yinhe Venus V-12 serves as a slower, more controlled sibling to the V-11. It shares the same CarboKev construction and looping blade philosophy but is tuned for players who find the V-11's speed a bit overwhelming. The V-12 is an excellent alternative for those seeking a similar feel and technology with a greater emphasis on control and consistency.