Wood or Plastic?

[Dr_Chow]

Do any of you think that a plastic kendama any good? I am starting a business, and I am choosing between plastic and wood. There are pros and cons to both, and so I was just wondering what you guys thought.

[The Void]

Aesthetically, wood wins for me every time.

[daniel.patten.73]

As a standard "go-to," I'll always grab a light-weight and reasonably durable hardwood.

[shalafi]

Actually for aesthetics, plastic (or 3D printed) kendamas have some appeal for being different. I mean, because they are rare and special, but again, so are some special woods.

Overall, for playability wood always wins for me.

As a curiosity, plastic kendamas are interesting from the collector point of view. For having only one kendama or an everyday kendama, I'd always go for wood.

[Tsurushi]

Wooden kendamas all the way, be it for casual jams or competition (in fact, only wooden kendamas are allowed for competition and grading, so picking plastic would be tantamount to staying away from competitive play).

[the milky oolong]

I have only played with one plastic kendama, which was Thorkild's light-up ken which he brought to Berlin for a show. Just not my thing in terms of feel. I'm sure there's a market for them out there, though, and the manufacture possibilities are sure to be very different. Do you play Kendama much, [user]Dr_Chow[/user]? Do you think plastic kens are any good?