Nittaku Acoustic Carbon

Used by sponsored Nittaku players, this blade is among the best. It’s incredibly fast due to the carbon fibers being positioned close to the outer ply. While this doesn’t affect my performance, it might have prevented more people from purchasing the blade if the carbon was positioned further down. Nevertheless, it remains a world-class blade.

The composite blade but with an all-wood feel. Very comfortable grip. Very fast speed, but controllable.

Notice: the outer plies “limba” are too soft. While removing the rubbers, this can be a problem.

I have used the following blades: Gergely Classic black tag, Amultart, Innerforce ZLC, Photino, Jun Mizutani ZLC (OLD), Jun Mizutani ZLC (NEW), and Timo Boll ZLC.

I initially believed that Butterfly blades were the best, but I realized I was mistaken after using the Nittaku Acoustic Carbon (NAC) blade. The NAC blade offers the perfect feel, control, and speed that I have been searching for.

The only downside to the NAC blade is its weight. However, this can be mitigated by using lightweight rubbers. I adore this blade and sold my Timo Boll ZLC as soon as I tried it because I had finally found the perfect one. I am currently using Tibhar MXS FH and MXP BH.

The NAC blade is a must-try and is significantly less expensive than any Butterfly ZLC blades.

Amazing control and a fantastic blade make for a nice combination with new hybrid tacky rubber. The blade is designed specifically for polyball play.

When I bought it, my first thought was that it would be too fast. Coming from a 5-ply all-wood blade, my surprise was that it is indeed fast, but not overly fast like hinoki/carbon blades. The speed is a bit higher than Tenor, but it has the same control. The touch is unbelievable. I paired it with Fastarc G1 & S1, and it has all the gears: dead when passive and explosive when a full swing is executed. The throw is medium, and it is very loud.

Having played with TBS, TBALC, Vega Pro, Viscaria, and some Donics, I must say that this blade is a keeper. It has the speed, control, and most importantly to me, the wood feeling and touch. If you find one with a large handle, just buy it.

An absolute gem! The blade feels balanced, has a large sweet spot, and can be very fast and consistent. It fits the quality of other Japanese made Nittaku blades.

The blade is not light. Mine sits near 90g, so careful selection of rubbers is a must if the weight of the racket is important to you.

Note, Nittaku is releasing a large handle version of it in late May 2014.

This blade offers exceptional control and consistency. While it may lack speed, it is an excellent choice for players who prioritize control. The Nittaku Acoustic Carbon blade provides a high level of precision and allows players to execute shots with greater accuracy. Its unique construction combines carbon fiber with wood to create a balanced and stable platform.

Bought at 86 grams, the handle is quite small, and it is head heavy. I have played with Chinese, hybrids, and euros rubbers. It worked best with Euro/Jap rubbers. It is somewhat linear in output and has a medium catapult that sometimes left me taking the slower shot in fear of an unknown catapult.

I got a ton of spin with hot and cold, but it was not consistent due to its bouncy nature and opponents’ shots. Blocking is good, loop driving is ok but nothing special. It is easy to counter, and serve receive wasn’t bad. However, it is head heavy and has an inconsistent bounce.

The quality control was something to be desired, one side’s ply was noticeably thinner than the other side to almost being as thin as the carbon under it. I would try the inner version or Barwell Fleet or any Gyo En before this one in my opinion.

I used Viscaria for 2 months before trying NAC. I found NAC to provide a better feel in my hand. There is a unique sensation I experience every time I use this blade. The handle is thinner but longer/taller than Viscaria, which I prefer.

Is NAC better than Viscaria? I don’t believe so, but I enjoy playing with NAC more. I find the speed to be satisfactory, not too fast. My friend uses Yinhe V14 Pro and finds it faster, but in terms of feel, NAC is more enjoyable and addictive to play with.

I tried this one with various short and medium pips on the backhand and a spinny rubber on the forehand but never found a combo that worked for me. The blade is of good quality, though.