Katsura core properties

Very limited information around, it seems it has many different names and varieties too. It will be very interesting to see if anyone has used it or are aware of its properties. I've been looking at candlenut as a possible core but again, finding information on it is difficult. Sorry I can't help but I am keen to find out too!

Try to find a wood with similar characteristics (density, hardness etc..)

Just looking at a few sites it seems there is a high diversity between the properties, so you have to find reviews about the specific blades. Sorry I couldn't help you. You can experiment with it, or find other more common 1ply blades.

langel said:

Well, I asked this question because I recently discovered that the core of Xiom Vega Tour /as well as the new Feel ZXIII/ is Katsura. I find the Tour amazingly precize in everything from AR to aggressive OFF at any distance with great feel of the touch. Maybe Xiom have found a not very popular, but very well working compostion formula. So I was curious what's special in this Katsura, or the result is just a matter of composition synergy, or both.

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Do you have info on its typical Janka hardness and elastic modulus?

Apparently much of the characteristics depends upon how much time the lumber is permitted to dry. I've read it can be considered soft or hard.

The wood is grown in Japan, where it is difficult to regenerate, and China, where it could be anything. I use to buy herbs from China until lab results revealed what kind of substances were being found in the herbs. Unless Xiom actually puts the claim on its packaging or website then no one knows what's the composition.

I have owned a Yasaka Katsura W75 for a year now. The internet is lack for this blade information for I would like to give my comments of this blade.
I am using Nittaku Fastarc G1 for my forehand with this blade.
Many people compare Katsura wood and hinoki wood. To be honest, I also owned a Nittaku Miyabi Blade also stick G1 for my forehand side and used a year.
For the feeling, Katsura is much stiffer than Miyabi. I could feel using Katsura blade the ball leaves the blade very quickly, ball speed is also very fast. Miyabi has a much softer feeling and touch, ball speed slightly slower.
I enjoy using Katsura for 3rd ball attack, as the serve speed is fast and very easy to push back bad receives.
There main problems of using Katsura is lack of consistency. Katsura is more suitable for short game than looping since the ball leaves the blade too fast.
I heard some blog said that Katsura is for short pips. Using shorts pips can make the blade even faster and hit flatter balls, but I think the forgiveness would be decreased.

I would recommended Katsura for players who like 3rd or 5th ball attack and try to end the game quickly. Katsura is great choice. But you also need to note that Katsura feeling is much harder than Hinoki. Completely different. I suggest you go to Table Tennis shop like the Japan ones to try the feeing of the blade.