Yinhe 970 XX-K

It’s an… ok OFF- blade, kind of « baby Viscaria » as it is the same feel but way slower, and with way more control. It’s really not that fast, paired with H3Ns you’ll have to really work to get powerful attacks, even with boosted tacky rubbers, it’s an ideal blade for young players and developing ones who play an offensive/aggressive style though.

This blade is characterized by its flexibility. It pairs well with hard rubber, such as Hurricane on the forehand and ESN rubber on the backhand. The blade produces minimal vibration, offers a medium dwell time, and provides a crisp hitting sensation.

5+2 Kevlar-carbon…

Great blade! It’s flexible and perfect for generating spin. When paired with medium-stiff rubber, it allows for a varied, powerful, and controlled game.

The blade weighs 90.5 grams. The build quality and finish are good, and the blade appears to be sealed out of the box. However, the edges are sharp, which was surprising, and require sanding. The handle is relatively small and slim, potentially feeling too small for larger hands. In terms of overall quality, the Yinhe Pro 05 exhibits a higher standard, with a better handle and smoother edges.

I used Bloom Power rubbers with a 47° and 45° sponge.

My first impressions were that I needed to swing quite hard and fast to penetrate the 47° sponge with these rubbers. I engaged the 45° sponge more easily, but I still expected more speed from the blade, considering the effort required for each shot. Currently, I intend to use it as a training blade to develop faster strokes and a whip-like motion.

The blade provides good feedback through sound and vibration, although I personally don’t appreciate the vibration. The control is good, and the blade feels light enough to facilitate faster strokes. However, it doesn’t immediately convey a sense of readily available power.

My initial conclusions are that this blade will likely perform better with hybrid rubbers and isn’t as compatible with classic tacky rubbers. I don’t currently prefer this blade over the Yinhe Pro 05, despite the latter being a “provincial” level blade and the 970 XXK being considered a professional-level option. While I acknowledge that I need to improve my own skills to unlock the 970 XXK’s full potential, I will stick with the Pro 05 for now.