Tibhar Stratus Power Defense

Preferred this to the Defplay Senso V3 as it is a stiffer blade, but otherwise quite similar. It has a large defensive head and is fairly lightweight. The handle is a bit short for large hands but quite thick. It had a nice balance with Mark V forehand for and 0x Grass D.Tecs backhand where spin reversal was excellent. I was using this happily for a while, but I wanted something slightly faster and found the Yasaka Sweden Guardian to fit the bill.

I factor into my rating the fantastic value this blade provides. It is one of the best cheaper defensive blades I’ve tried. If you are looking for a middle ground between the very stiff and fast (and HEAVY!) Joo Se Hyuk blade, and the flexy lightweight Defplay, this blade fits the bill.

I’ve tried both traditional defense (1.0 MM P1-R) as well as close to the table ox pips, and this blade can equally suite both styles. The handle was a little rough on my hand, but continuous play seemed to make it better.

This blade has enough put-away power when the opportunity presents itself, granted you pair it with a suitable forehand rubber.

This is not a typical defence blade. I found that it felt a bit stiff for comfortable chopping away from the table. However, it is great for blocking and hitting over the table.

The flared handle is very comfortable and it is one of the few blades that I didn’t have to sand off any sharp blade edges.

Excellent blade for modern defenders. I use it with SP Friendship 802 and LKT Pro XT. This combination isn’t fast, but gives a lot of control and unexpected spin. I can do everything with it: chop, block, top-spin at the table and far from the table. It’s very good for aggressive defenders.

To me, this is the best blade so far. It offers excellent control and dampening effect, making it ideal for blocking and chop-blocking at the table. I pair it with red Tibhar D.tecs 0x and Stiga chop and drive, as I rely on control and deception rather than raw power. While my forehand may not be particularly strong, the blade allows me to skid the ball off the table with my backhand, making it nearly impossible to return.

Despite being a defensive blade, it has a rather hard feel when hitting the ball. However, it provides fantastic control, ensuring that my shots land on the table almost every time. My opponents often mistake my shots for being long, only to find that they have landed on the table.

Update: I have recently switched to using Donic Barracuda on my forehand, which has proven to be an excellent choice.

Best blade I’ve ever played with. It fits perfectly to my ALL- style. With Tibhar Genius, it is powerful enough for a topspin game. I find this blade better than the famous Joo Se Hyuk.