Nittaku Miyabi

Having read about the unique qualities of 1 ply hinoki blades (being very fast when swung aggressively, yet slow and controllable in the short game), I was excited to find a blade for a good price (flash sale for $75), rather than $200 and up like for other brands. The blade is actually much lighter than expected, very balanced, and the workmanship is flawless. The grain of the wood was very fine and close, so based on other reviews, perhaps there is some variance between blades.

It is a very soft blade, with very little vibration, yet it is also stiff. I put Gambler Nine Ultra Tack in 2.1mm black on the backhand and Friendship 755 in 1mm forehand, as I’m learning to twiddle. The feel at slow speeds, with both rubbers, is very controlled. Inverted pushing is simple, blocking is decent, drives are excellent, and brush loops are good though require more effort away from the table than carbon blades. Pips pushing is easy, blocking was a bit awkward, chopping was very natural, and flipping short backspins into topspin was a breeze. There is a lot of dwell time, and the feeling when the ball hits makes you feel connected.

If you want a lot of touch and control at slow speeds and a lot of speed and spin at high speeds, you will not be disappointed!

My first blade after playing with a pre-made bat, this one-ply hinoki is excellent for learning to control the ball and is not heavy, in my opinion. It has a soft feeling, good dwelling time, yet is still fast enough to hit the ball. It works very well when I used Fastarc G1 and P1 rubbers.

I was going to buy the Darker Speed 90, but I couldn’t justify spending $300 on a blade. Instead, I opted for the next best one-ply hinoki blade. In my opinion, I made the right choice.

My Miyabi weighs in a little on the heavy side at 91g. It’s an almost perfect setup with FH T64 1.7 and BH Donic Slice 40 1.5. The total weight is amazingly low at 172g. Backhand flicks and loops are a bit difficult due to the thin rubber, so I need to adjust the blade angle. The same goes for blocking and pushing. However, backhand chops are great, very precise, and ball control is excellent. I wish the D Slice 40 was a little thicker.

Forehand loops need some getting used to and adjusting the blade angle, but once you get used to the new angle, looping is a breeze. Hitting is what this blade is made for, both near the table and mid-range. I love it…crisp, accurate, fast. The feel and explosive sound of the ball hitting the blade are unmatched, even better than my friend’s Speed 90. Perhaps forehand blocking is the weak point of this blade, but I need to explore this area more. All in all, it’s a pleasure playing with this combo.

This is my third one-ply blade. It’s 9mm thick and weighs 95 grams, which is less than the Yinhe J1 and Sanwei H10. With 729 Cream Transcend 1.5mm on both sides, the overall playing weight is 180 grams, which is a fairly average setup. The flared handle is good but not comfortable for my big hands, so I added an overgrip at the neck.

The quality of the wood is questionable, as the grain (spacing of the growing rings) becomes progressively wider across the face of the blade. In theory, this means that the feel of the blade and vibration should differ from one end to the other. This is disappointing, considering that Nittaku made in Japan is often seen as a sign of superior quality. The Sanwei, which costs half as much, has consistent grain across the whole blade.

However, the feeling of this blade is superb. The speed is medium-fast, and it doesn’t have the vibration of the Sanwei. The weight is similar to my match-playing setup, which makes the transition to this one-ply much easier.

Everyone who has tried it has been captivated by the feel of this blade. It puts a warm feeling and a smile on your face — sheer pleasure!

This blade can do everything except pushing at the table, which is rather awkward, probably because of the adjustment needed to take into account the thickness of the blade.

Because of the wide spacing of the growing rings, this is not top-notch Kiso Hinoki, as mentioned in the introduction above. It has either been grown in a warmer area than Kiso or is made from cheaper cuts rather than the best quarter-sawn examples. It is definitely not 400 years old, but I believe it is Japanese Hinoki because of the size-to-weight ratio. The Sanwei H10 is likely to have been made from Taiwanese cypress, which is heavier.

Of course, top-quality Hinoki costs a multiple of the asking price of the Miyabi. Now, if I could get one made to measure…

So far, the blade has good control. It just has a little vibration.

Soft blade, offering good feel with the ball. Not intended for Off+ play, this blade is suitable for intermediate players (rating 1200 — 1900).

This blade is soft and has good control. Loop to loop is the best.

This blade is exceptional. In my opinion, it falls just shy of the Darker Speed 90, but surpasses the PP Moby. Its speed is remarkable, even exceeding some carbon blades. The touch and feel are superb. It offers excellent spin and control. Overall, I am highly impressed with this blade and prefer it to any carbon blade I’ve used. Even when paired with the Butterfly Rozena, it outperforms. With slight adjustments to the phrasing, this blade review provides a concise and informative evaluation.