Yinhe 980

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.

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.

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.

I got this blade as an alternative or backup to my DefPlay Senso that has excessive vibrations. This 980 blade is a modern, oversized ALL+/OFF- 5-ply wood blade. Despite being oversized, it is not a classic DEF blade because it can generate a lot of speed. I managed to find one with a straight handle and weighing only 80 grams, which increased to 82 grams after sealing it. It closely resembles the JSH blade but offers slightly less speed with greater control and is significantly lighter.

I paired it with TSP Curl P1R on the backhand and Yasaka Rakza7 Soft on the forehand, and it instantly became my favorite setup. It excels at looping, even from mid-distance, and is exceptional at chopping and blocking, providing excellent feedback. I am amazed that a $25 blade can perform so well for a modern defender, relegating my DefPlay to the role of a backup bat. If you engage in more than just chopping and blocking and use your forehand to attack and score points, this blade is worth considering.

Amazing control, decent speed. Fh XIOM VEGA JAPAN is a killer, bh 729-802-40.

Oversized All+/Off- blade, hard and stiff, a good cheap alternative to JSH and VKMO.

This blade offers good value for money. I recommend it for beginners who are learning to use long pimple rubber. The vibration is very noticeable, so I use a rubber grip to reduce it. This blade is well-suited for any kind of long pips. However, the material used in the blade can lead to inconsistent shots, and the speed is relatively slow.

A very serious def+ blade.

Solid, stable, no vibrations.

It performs really well.

Excellent defensive blade for long pips and hitters. The hard and stiff composition enhances consistency and precision placement. Moreover, the blade offers great value for its price point.

Excellent blade for blocks and hits. Very effective with long pimples.

Speed is more ALL+ than DEF.

Great quality for a low price, as usual with Yinhe. Could be a Joo See Hyuk alternative for players looking for more control and stiffness in blocking and hitting games.