OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I've been desperately looking for a defensive blade with carbon in it. Something faster than my Innershield, with a nicer feeling than my JSH.

I bought a VKMO... but it still feels decidedly wooden. magnuseffect then told me about the new VKM ZC - containing two layers of "Z Carbon" - which isn't available in the UK, or anywhere in EU from what I can see. I took the chance to order one from tt-japan.net and it arrived today.

Link to the Victas website here: https://www.victas.com/en_gb/products/b ... sushita-zc

Here are some pictures, and some comparisons to my VKMO:







The head size is identical to the VKMO, but the grip is definitely shorter! Probably by as much as 5mm.

I will have a chance to play with it on Thursday, so I'll post a review at some point after that.

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My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

It will be interesting to learn how stiff and hard it feels as well as the speed. The inner carbon layers plus softer outer plies may give it a good touch as well as more speed.

It is probably the hard mahogany outer plies on the VKMO you do not like , I for one preferring the core layers to give speed and soft outers for touch

If carbon defensive blade is the goal, then Nittaku Shake Defense is an option too (unless it's no longer made, out of stock at Tabletennis11). I used it for a while, but honestly can't tell how different it is from other blades and whether it matters much for my game .

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USATT: 1807 | League: 1887

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the new Matsushita blade. I used the special version for a couple tournaments and really loved it ( i retired it only after donking it on the table ). I totally agree with ChasFox about preferring a softer outer veneer for control. This is the main reason I've never felt comfortable with the VMO, but the special version is VERY different imo. It's quite cushioned yet spin insensitive. I've heard on Japanese youtuber video describe the new blade has even better control and perhaps slower than the special.

Interestingly the VKM special is marketed by Victas as an All blade and the KC as def blade.

The SC sound like what I am after but would need to cut it down to say standard butterfly size

I've posted a full review on Discord - feel free to join us: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

I'll post the same stuff on here in a few days

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

Well, said I would post an update... and then promptly forgot. Here goes though:

I recently bought the new (ish) carbon defensive blade from Victas called the Koji Matsushita ZC. I believe the ZC simply stands for the type of carbon it uses - "Zexion" carbon fibre.

Vitals

• RRP 200eu (available from tt-japan at around 150eu)
• Classification DEF
• Blade thickness 5.8mm
• 165mm x 155mm with grip 97mm x 24mm (for ST)
• Average weight 87g

Its head size is 100% identical to my VKMO. The handle on the VKM ZC feels way shorter though. It isn't, but because of the size of the "wings", your hand has less space. This makes the VKM ZC handle feel a bit short for my liking.

My setup

• VKM ZC with ST handle
• Butterfly Dignics 64 2.1 (red)
• Victas Curl P1V 1.5mm (black)
• My blade weight 85g

Feeling

• Slightly (not majorly - enjoyably so, in fact) head heavy with my rubbers (174g total)
• Feels very similar to my Butterfly Innershield blade, but faster and less hollow
• When you bounce the ball on the blade, it sounds a bit "tok" but when you loop the ball with any kind of speed there is a beautiful carbon "snik" to it
• Unlike the VKMO, I could really feel the pips. I found pushing much easier, presumably because blade has soft outer plies in comparison to VKMO's hard outer plies

Speed

• Advertised as DEF but it definitely isn't a DEF blade in terms of speed. I would say ALL at least
• Its throw angle is high. My D64 has a very low throw, but on this blade, it feels totally normal - e.g. medium
• Significantly more control than VKMO but not as fast
• Felt comfortable at every distance; never felt like I lacked power

Suitability
With this blade being quite flexible, and thin, similar to Innershield, I suspect it won't suit rubbers with a hard topsheet. Hurricane 3 on the Innershield felt rank, as did T05. T80, T80fx, T64 and D64 all felt nice on that - and I think it'll be the same with the VKM ZC.

I think T80 and VKM ZC might be the ultimate combination, but I'm happy with my D64.

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

THanks for the review dunc!


A lot of defensive blades these days are much faster than DEF when they're marked as such. I think when they define it as DEF, they're referring to the style, not the speed...which of course is quite confusing to buyers as the speed is probably the most important parameter.

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Exactly my thoughts Alex yeah.

Its speed is hard to define to be fair. It absorbs some energy when chopping and blocking. If you play a loop with low racket head speed, it won't be a fast loop. If you get some speed into the loop, the blade responds well.

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

excellent point! I can't usually tell much about a blade in terms of speed and control until I play with it-and that can be financially prohibitive. I have stayed away from "slow" carbon blades so far and stayed all wood, but that I am missing out on some blades that despite carbon would be very good for my game.