Yinhe 980
Blade description:
This is an oversized 5-ply all-wood blade designed primarily for defensive and modern defensive play. With a blade head measuring 165×155 mm and a thickness of 6.2 mm, it offers a large sweet spot and a stable, controlled platform suitable for players who prioritize placement and tactical variation over raw speed.
Performance Characteristics
- Speed and Feel: The blade occupies the high-end of the defensive category, often described as playing like an ALL+ or OFF- blade. While some users report a soft, flexible feel with noticeable vibration, others experience it as a stiff and solid blade. This variation in user experience suggests it provides distinct feedback for delicate touch play.
- Playing Style: It is highly effective for chopping, blocking, and hitting. The oversized head facilitates precise placement, making it a reliable choice for players utilizing long pimples on the backhand to create difficult, disruptive trajectories for opponents.
- Offensive Capabilities: Despite its defensive focus, the blade remains capable of effective, spin-heavy looping. It is particularly well-suited for controlled, spin-loaded loops rather than pure power-driving, rewarding players who focus on technique and tactical setup. It serves as an accessible, budget-friendly alternative for those looking for a blade that balances defensive stability with enough offensive potential to transition into counter-attacking play.
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Recent Reviews
#1 — July 2022
I have been using this blade with long pips (Dawei 388D-1) and Palio Hadou 40-42 playing modern defense. I enjoyed playing with this blade for the most part. I would’ve enjoyed it even more if there were 1.8-2.0mm options for Palio Hadou instead of 2.15-2.20 which made it a little bit uncontrollable for me. The shots would go longer than I intended.
The combination with the pips was pretty good. I had a lot of funky balls that were heading in one direction and when they landed they completely changed direction, which was confusing for my opponent.
The blade isn’t fast, but it’s not super slow either. It’s a little bit too soft for my taste.
The FL handle is pretty comfortable for my bigger-than-average hands.
#2 — July 2020
As a newcomer to table tennis with three years and 1500 hours of experience, I found the Galaxy 980 blade paired with Tenergy 05 FX and Friendship 729 Super FX.
The blade boasts an impressive absence of vibrations, providing a smooth playing experience. It features a large sweet spot, ensuring consistent contact with the ball.
Initially, transitioning from an offensive carbon blade to this slower blade proved challenging. However, after two hours of practice, my loops began to clear the net. Drives displayed excellent precision, albeit lacking the speed and power of a carbon blade.
Loops were particularly impressive, generating heavy spin and precise placement. Even gentle loops were executed effortlessly, eliminating unforced errors. “Power” loops were achievable, albeit slower than with a carbon blade but with enhanced spin and kick.
The blade’s spin capabilities were evident in hook-loops, where side spin rendered the ball unreachable for opponents. Flicks were executed with ease.
Although I have no experience with chops, I found the Galaxy 980 to be an enjoyable and slow blade, ideal for developing technique. At a mere $20, it offers exceptional value for money.
#3 — July 2019
The blade is neither stiff nor vibration-free. It is soft, with pronounced vibrations and sensible flex.
The blade has a large head measuring 165×155 mm and a thickness of 6.2 mm.
It is a typical defensive blade, but it is rather fast for its ALL category.
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