Victas Koki Niwa, the signature blade of Japanese table tennis player Koki Niwa, is a well-rounded blade that offers a combination of speed, control, consistency, and feel. With an overall rating of 9.1 out of 10 based on 8 user reviews, the Koki Niwa blade is a popular choice among players of various skill levels.
The blade is rated 9.2 for both speed and consistency, indicating that it provides excellent offensive capabilities while maintaining a high level of control. It is also rated 6.6 for stiffness and 6.9 for hardness, suggesting that it is a medium-stiff blade with a medium-hard feel. This combination provides a good balance between power and control, making it suitable for a wide range of playing styles.
The Koki Niwa blade is particularly known for its exceptional feel and responsiveness, allowing players to execute precise shots with great accuracy. Its high consistency rating of 9.2 indicates that players can rely on it to deliver consistent performance, even during intense rallies.
Overall, the Victas Koki Niwa blade is a versatile and high-performance blade that offers a combination of speed, control, consistency, and feel. It is a great choice for players looking for a well-rounded blade that can excel in various aspects of the game. Its popularity among players of different skill levels is a testament to its quality and effectiveness.
My setup consists of a Koki Niwa blade, a Fastarc G1 2.0mm rubber on the forehand (FH), and a V15 Extra Max rubber on the backhand (BH). The blade is offensive, fast, and stiff, but it lacks dynamism. Despite its speed, the level of control is amazing.
This blade truly shines with linear, medium/hard rubbers. For instance, Fastarc P1, T64, or Rakza 9 are too dynamic and cause you to lose the blade’s inherent qualities. Conversely, Fastarc G1, D09c, or Rakza X rubbers pair exceptionally well, offering a perfect balance between spin and power. While serving, backspin second balls, or passive shots aren’t its strengths, everything becomes possible once you become active on the ball. Backhand flicks are a breeze about 95% of the time (the V15 Extra helps). Forehand topspins are very versatile: slow, spinny topspins, controlled topspins, power counter topspins, and mid- to long-distance topspins are always predictable. Overall, it is one of the best versatile offensive blades I’ve played with.
Compared to the Acoustic Carbon Outer, the Niwa has less stiffness and speed. The Acoustic is better for flat hits and blocks, while the Niwa excels in ball placement and spin. When compared to the HL5, the HL5 is better for serving, a little faster, and has more spin potential. However, the Niwa offers more control. The HL5 is better suited for Chinese rubbers, while the Niwa pairs better with European and newer hybrid rubbers (e.g., Tibhar K3).
The greatest quality of this blade is its playfulness. It inspires you to extend rallies and experiment, as you feel confident using it.
Who is it for? Well, it all depends on the rubbers used. I believe it requires rubbers with a hardness greater than 45° and a linear response. Tensors like G1 or Rakza X will be perfect for experienced players, but a good old Donic Vario or other non-tensor rubbers will work well for a young player in progression or a less experienced player of average level. It is not well-suited to spin-oriented or all-around players, and it is too stiff for beginners.
Great blade. I like it much more than Viscaria. It is slightly stiff and a little hard, but not dead hard. It does not feel disconnected. It is great for today’s fast aggressive looping, blocking, chop blocking, and close to table play.
I agree with the Table Tennis 11 professional review about this blade. It is spinny and very enjoyable to play with. It plays well with harder rubber but also plays well with 43-degree rubbers.
After testing the Koki Niwa and Ma Long blades many times, I liked this one more. Even my partner at the club said that my shots became much more spiny and artistic compared to all the previous blades I used against him. This blade is one of the few that I will always keep.
There is enough control and speed for playing at a high level with different rubbers.
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ No spam or other useless stuff. We plan to send out some newsletters from time to time with the latest reviews and project updates. Feel free to unsubscribe at any time.