Yinhe Venus V-14

Bought this blade because V14 Pro was too fast and uncontrollable, causing me to overshoot the table often with medium-fast rubbers. On this blade, I placed Niitaku Sieger PK50, a rubber I did not expect to be so tacky. The speed of this setup is available when desired.

This blade is 20% slower than V14 Pro, providing more control and eliminating overshooting. It is medium-hard and slightly flexible, making it excellent for spin. Additionally, the ST handle is supremely comfortable for my longer-than-average fingers.

It’s easier to see the difference when you change your rubber. I have used this blade for some years and it’s perfect for me. Control, speed, spin. If I want to change something or develop new skills, I usually change the rubber.

I have ground and polished this blade to get a straight blade to hold on. It’s easy if you like a straight blade and it does not “destroy” the blade handle.

This is really not a bad blade. I have tried it with Palio AK47, DHS H3 Nat, and Tibhar MX-P rubbers, but my 30-year-old Donic Kevlar blade still plays better. Nevertheless, I will keep it as a second choice.

I recently bought this blade from aliexpress.com. I am using this blade with DHS PF4 on FH and Mercury II on BH. Since long, I had been researching on different blades and finally reached the decision to buy it. The composition of this blade koto-carbokev-ayous-kiri-ayous-carbokev-koto attracted me to try it.

Loops, blocks, long to mid distance play, chops, flicks everything I can do with this blade. It provides great control over placement specially you can place the ball as a counter attack. I tried down the line side spin serves and was 100% successful in winning the points. This blade provides excellent feedback and has huge sweet spot. Very professional blade. So far, I found no negative.

I must say this is a very very high quality blade indeed and is all about speed, CONTROL, CONTROL and TOTAL CONTROL.

As a seasoned Butterfly devotee with a keen interest in blade selection, I made my inaugural foray into the realm of Yinhe blades by opting for the Venus-14. This decision was heavily influenced by glowing reviews that placed it close in performance to my beloved Butterfly TBS and TB-ALC blades.

Upon equipping the Venus-14 with medium-hard rubbers, I discovered that it possessed playing characteristics akin to those of the TBS, albeit with a slightly heavier feel. This additional heft proved to be advantageous in close-range blocking at the table. Furthermore, the Venus-14’s budget-friendly price point (approximately one-third the cost of the TBS) is a highly appealing attribute.

While the Venus-14’s performance has impressed me, I eagerly await testing its durability to ascertain whether it can rival the legendary quality of Butterfly blades. I am optimistic that with careful maintenance, the Venus-14 will serve as a worthy and affordable alternative to my current favorites.

I stopped using this blade since I got a couple of combo sets from Paddle Palace. It seemed to me that the blade only works well with medium to hard rubbers. It worked OK with Yinhe’s cheap rubbers (i.e., Moon) but not great.

I switched back the other day just trying to put two Andro rubbers (Rasant and Duro) from Stiga Clipper Wood (not enough power but too much vibration on the Andro Carbon Off++). Now it’s totally a different story. I felt the spin feeling was grabbing, throwing, and curving away to the other side of the table! Simply Amazing.

Also, blocking is easier, just put up a wall (90 degrees) and all the topspins and kill shots bounced back themselves. I think Andro Rasant series rubber works well with this blade. They also seemed to be durable. So within $100, you can have a very reliable and power weapon!

Many will want to know how this compares with Butterfly Timo Boll ALC. I own both blades. The V14 is slightly faster than the ALC and has slightly less feedback/vibration. The ALC has better touch and generates more spin than the V14. They are about 80% identical. Currently, I am playing with the ALC.

The blade is very nice and it’s suitable for spin and smash. You will enjoy playing table tennis with it.

CLONE WARS! I was delighted to acquire this blade. I presented it to an official Butterfly importer and sportsman, who acknowledged its quality as a clone. Production variations or reviewer biases may account for negative reviews. I estimate its identity as 85-90%. Its slight vibration is attributable to its karbon+kevlar composition, compared to arylate carbon’s vibration absorption. The blade’s soft touch complements medium to hard rubbers. Looping is effortless, with speed exceeding the Timo Boll W5. Its precision and minimal vibration make it an exceptional blade. Lifting, pushing, and smashing are potent and controlled. I utilize Tibhar MX-P and Bluefire M2 on the backhand. The construction is commendable. I wholeheartedly recommend this blade, hoping recipients experience the same exceptional quality.

UPDATE! My love for this blade persists, and I continue to use the aforementioned rubbers. Unintentional crash tests revealed the ease of top veneer separation (limba), but the overall durability remains impressive. Handle size variations exist; my V16 had a slimmer FL handle, which I adjusted with sandpaper. This blade is compatible with modern attacking rubbers.

Update 2016 (1 year old) - The blade’s sealing ensures optimal performance. I only slightly modified the handle using sandpaper. Professional evaluations have been mixed, with some expressing reservations about the M2. However, its quality was universally acknowledged. If you’re not a rigid Butterfly enthusiast but seek a quality blade, consider this series.

UPDATE! (autumn 2016): I remain loyal to this blade, even after testing numerous others. I currently use a Waldner WC '89 blade with MX-P replaced by M1 on the forehand. Its performance continues to excel. If financial constraints are a concern, clones are an excellent value, offering 80-90% identity at a fraction of the cost.

Have been playing with this blade for over a year now and it was definitely one of the best blades I ever used. You get a good feel of the ball in every loop you play. Would recommend for advanced players. 10/10.

Reviewing the penhold version of this blade, I found it to be an excellent choice. It offers a great balance between speed and control, allowing for versatile playstyles.

When I used Tibhar Aurus Soft on the forehand and Nittaku Fastarc C-1 on the backhand, the blade provided exceptional control for close-to-the-table touch shots. However, when playing away from the table, it delivered ample power and speed.

During looping, I could feel the rubber and blade gripping the ball effectively. Blocks also felt solid and reliable. The blade imparted significant spin on serves, giving me a good feel for the ball’s trajectory.

The combination of the blade and rubbers also handled serve receiving well, allowing me to counter and control incoming spin effectively. It also enabled me to lift underspin shots.

I particularly appreciated the handle design, as its size was just right for my hand. Unlike the larger penhold handles from Stiga, this one provided a comfortable and secure grip.

While the blade exhibited some vibration, it remained within acceptable limits. Overall, it was a minor compromise for the blade’s excellent performance.

Really great carbon blade. It’s like a TBS. It has a big sweet spot.

The blade is great. The only downside is a bit of vibration. I don’t know why, but I feel it has noticeably more vibrations than any other blades that are more expensive. The good thing is that it doesn’t affect it too much. For the price, it’s an A+ blade, and I would recommend it.

I feel terrible for not trying this blade before. I bought many blades to find the right one for me this year. I fell in love with this blade the first time I hit with it. When paired with Vega Pro and Europe, you’ll find that this blade can serve you in many styles.

This blade evokes the play and feel of a Table Tennis Separator (TBS) blade. Though I do not own a TBS, I have had the opportunity to play with one belonging to a friend.

One remarkable feature of this blade is its ability to generate a crisp and satisfying sound upon impact. This acoustic quality is so distinctive that even my wife could perceive the difference. It’s important to note that this sound is not solely due to the use of tacky rubbers.

The affordability of this blade makes it an excellent value for its performance. I intend to keep one of these blades as a gold standard reference point, due to its exceptional qualities.

Last comment is incorrect. This high-value blade produces a lot of spin. It won’t give heavy tops like some well-known hardwoods, but it provides quick and spinny tops with fast ESN rubbers or the Tenergy family. The blade is also very controllable, even with long pimples (Grass DTec). I love this blade. I’ll have to see if the V16 is as good as this one.

Nothing like a TBS in feel and throw. Far too soft for a good clone, hardly any feel at all. Only works with very hard rubbers. Throw is nothing like a TBS. This is too linear while the genuine TBS throw has a lot more arc. It also doesn’t generate as much spin or power. Control is not excellent.

Although I did find hitting to be quite good.

Overall, looks like a TBS but doesn’t play like one at all. Not worth the money.

So, this is the new Spirit clone for the K-4? I can’t say for sure as I’ve never played a Spirit. However, this is a good blade, not just for its price. It’s particularly suited for players with a varied play style. It’s a good looping blade due to its relative thinness, but it’s not as flexible as a typical looper’s blade. Slower, spinny loops still work well and, for me, sharper than with more typical looping blades. This is because it isn’t bouncy on low impact. Same goes for serves, with appropriate rubber of course. On the forehand, I had Globe Taiyoon Gold, a not-too-heavy, slightly tacky Chinese rubber on a somewhat lively sponge. On the backhand, I had CTT Hero, a bit softer and between grippy and tacky. These rubbers worked well on this blade (at first try) because they allowed me to play slow, spinny loops as well as all the other strokes. I enjoyed stability, precision, and quickness for hitting, flicks, and punch blocks. All-out loops are really spinny, fast, and powerful. That’s when it shows its colors as a thinner looper’s blade and more springy/flexible. For short games, it also behaves somewhat like Chinese rubbers. It’s not too springy on slow impact strokes for such a thin blade. On slow, spinny loops from the opponent, I appreciated the ability to hit through the spin with hard counters or blocks. There, it had more control than any five-ply wooden blade. With faster, more springy rubbers, I suppose it becomes a more offensive weapon, and you need a tiptoe technique as well as regular training to play a varied/flexible game. For those who prefer a one-dimensional game and have no further idea about table tennis (no offense), there are better blades out there.

Looping feels so good with this blade! It offers much more feel than my previous two blades. I can feel the blade bend when I loop the ball. This gives me so much confidence to attack because the blade offers amazing control. With my other setup, I would be too afraid of making a mistake, allowing my opponents to take the offense.