Victas Koji Matsushita

Construction and Build

This is an all-wood defensive blade featuring a willow core. It is crafted with a focus on high-quality finish and premium materials. Due to the enlarged head size typical of defensive blades, the overall balance of the setup tends to be head-heavy, especially when paired with thicker sponges. Users with larger hands may find the handle to be relatively short and slim.

Playing Characteristics

This blade offers a distinctively soft yet solid feel, characterized by significant dwell time and high flexibility. These properties allow for the generation of heavy spin when chopping from mid-to-long distance, providing players with exceptional control for defensive maneuvers. The blade is highly responsive, acting as a natural extension of the player’s hand to facilitate precise ball placement.

Performance and Versatility

While categorized as a defensive tool, the blade possesses surprising offensive potential when paired with appropriate rubbers. It enables an active style of play, allowing users to transition effectively from chopping to counter-looping or counter-hitting. Because of its increased dwell time, players may need to adjust their impact angles to prevent launching the ball too high, but this same characteristic ensures that attacking does not require excessive caution. It is well-suited for a modern defensive game that integrates both spin-heavy chops and topspin attacks.