Weight
86g
Thickness
6.05mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
159x150
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Yinhe Venus V-13
Yinhe Venus V-13 is a hybrid offensive blade built for aggressive, close-to-table play. Introduced around 2010, it updates the K-3 model with a 3+2 CarboKev fiber construction, making it thicker, lighter, and faster. This design balances speed and control, offering a versatile platform for powerful loops and controlled blocks. The blade provides a direct feel with a good sweet spot, making it a strong choice for intermediate to advanced players seeking modern performance.
The 3+2 construction features outer Koto wood layers for crispness and responsiveness, sandwiching an Ayous wood core for flexibility. Between the wood plies are CarboKev fibers—a composite of vertical carbon and horizontal Kevlar. This hybrid layup aims to provide carbon-like speed and stiffness while retaining a less harsh feel and offering good dwell time for spin and control.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Venus V-13 is positioned as an offensive blade, noted for being faster than its predecessor. It delivers good speed potential for aggressive close-to-table attacks and effective looping. The CarboKev layers contribute to this speed without creating an overly stiff or harsh impact, making it suitable for players looking to enhance their attacking game.
Despite its offensive capabilities, Venus V-13 maintains a high level of control. The blend of wood and CarboKev fibers provides a balanced feel and good feedback, allowing for controlled blocks and precise placement. This versatility makes it effective for players who combine attacking shots with defensive maneuvers, offering confidence in various situations.
CarboKev composite layers provide a responsive and direct feel, often described as capturing the sweet spot of carbon but with less harshness. This medium-hard character offers good ball feedback during powerful shots while retaining some dampening for touch play, creating a balanced sensory experience.
The combination of wood and composite materials, along with its offensive orientation, results in a medium-high throw angle. This characteristic is beneficial for looping and clearing the net with topspin shots, supporting an aggressive playing style.
Players report excellent dwell time, allowing the ball to sink into the surface for spin generation. This extended contact is crucial for creating heavy topspin, especially when paired with modern, fast rubbers, enhancing the blade's offensive capabilities.
As an offensive hybrid blade, Venus V-13 is relatively stiff for power transfer, but the wood plies and CarboKev composition introduce a degree of flex. This places it in the medium flexibility range—not overly stiff like some pure carbon blades—allowing for effective spin generation alongside its power.
The hybrid construction, particularly the inclusion of Kevlar, dampens vibrations compared to pure carbon blades. It provides good feedback without being excessively harsh, offering a moderate level that aids in control and overall feel during play.
Yinhe is known for offering good value, and the Venus V-13 reflects this with solid build quality. While detailed assessments are limited, the consistent mention of its CarboKev construction and overall positive reception suggest a well-made product. It delivers a premium blade feel for its price point, meeting expectations for reliable performance.
Technology
Yinhe Venus V-13 utilizes a 3+2 CarboKev construction, a hybrid technology layering synthetic fibers between wood plies. The vertical fibers are carbon, and the horizontal fibers are Kevlar. This combination enhances stiffness and speed, typical of carbon composites, while mitigating the harsh feel of pure carbon. Kevlar adds elasticity and vibration dampening, resulting in a more controlled and comfortable experience for spin-oriented shots. Outer Koto wood layers contribute a crisp feel and responsiveness, creating a balanced performance profile.
Similar Blades
Yinhe Venus V-12
Yinhe Venus V-12 is a direct alternative, noted as 6mm thick compared to the V-13's 6.5mm. Some players prefer the V-12's feel, finding the V-13 has a more muted ball sensation. Both blades share similar composite layers and are designed for offensive play, offering slight variations in thickness and tactile feedback.
Yinhe Venus V-14 PRO
Yinhe Venus V-14 PRO is another option within the Venus series, featuring a hybrid construction like the V-13. It is also marketed as an offensive blade suitable for looping and spin with control. While specific construction differences aren't detailed, both represent similar high-performance offerings in Yinhe's offensive blade range, catering to players seeking modern hybrid characteristics.