Victas Koji Matsushita Defensive

This blade is an outstanding choice for modern defense. It provides excellent control on the racket when combined with OX grass and offensive rubber on the opposite side. The balance is emphasized, especially at full strength.

At a distance from the table, this blade showcases exceptional placement and safe chop returns. Its moderate weight (82g) prevents hand fatigue during gameplay. The handle’s thickness could be improved to offer a more secure grip, particularly when sweating. A slight grip track could alleviate this issue.

Despite its thin profile, this blade features high-quality workmanship. It delivers excellent value for money, making it one of the best blades for modern defense. Its control for defensive play is matched by its balance and power for counterattacks.

This blade is highly recommended for strong choppers who play away from the table. It enables you to counter strong topspins and still generate additional spin, without the fear of hitting too hard due to its slow speed and excellent control.

Furthermore, the blade’s thin and lightweight construction provides an exceptional feel during the contact between the rubber and the ball, enhancing your overall playing experience.

This is not a defensive blade. I would rate it ALL+ with a lot of control. It is very well made and perfectly finished. I especially recommend it for OX long pips; mine is 79 grams.

VKM Defensive, straight handle — 80g, 166×155.

I was expecting a super slow blade, but it’s not much slower than VKM. The feeling is initially surprising: thin and quite stiff racket, with some flex but still on the hard side for me. Chopping both wings is super comfortable and stable, as expected, as is the short game. I am also quite satisfied with topsins in general. In fact, there’s nothing wrong with this racket, except that I am not used to its feeling yet, coming from very soft touch and more flexible defensive blades. I will continue testing it for sure.

Update 2023.11: I moved to this blade from Stiga’s Defensive Pro. I really love VKM Defensive since it is even more stable at chopping without losing any offensive possibilities. I am now used to its feeling, which is perfectly balanced. Outer plies are pretty soft and give a flexible touch, but the core is stiff and hard, allowing endless topspins when needed. I have never felt that this blade lacked speed, whereas its stability and control are huge. Rubbers currently glued and definitely adopted are Curl P1V 0,5mm and V20 Double Exrta 2mm.

I tested it with Viper Soft 1.0 and Mizuno Q5 2.0. Chops are amazing. It is not too fast, so you can chop well. However, with an offensive rubber on the forehand, you can attack properly. Counterattacking away from the table is perfect. What I love is a high-speed and accurate backhand counterattack close to the table.

I also bought a Gewo Hype XT 50 1.9. It is half the price of the Mizuno, and for me, it is better for chopping and counterattacking. Blocks are as good as the Mizuno.