Weight
89g
Thickness
5.8mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
159x165
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Oversized
Balance
Balanced
Defense
Joola Chen Weixing Defender is a premier defensive blade crafted in collaboration with the legendary European defender Chen Weixing. It delivers exceptional control and feel, perfect for precise chopping and strategic placement. While defense is its core strength, it provides enough speed and flexibility for modern attacking shots like fast topspins. The unique construction features 'black-cloth' interlayers that enhance control and rigidity, while the oversized head creates a large sweet spot for superior consistency. This blade is a reliable tool for players seeking a sophisticated defensive game.
The blade features a symmetrical 7-ply construction. It starts with a soft Limba outer veneer for feel, followed by Koto for speed. Two 'black-cloth' fiber layers are placed around a central Kiri wood core, which is key for enhancing control, dampening vibration, and adding rigidity. The layers then mirror outwards with Koto and Limba again.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Joola Chen Weixing Defender operates at a medium-fast speed, rated around 7.5. While fundamentally a defensive tool, its construction allows for effective topspin and counter-attacking shots, making it more versatile than a purely defensive blade. This speed comes from the combination of outer wood layers and the strategically placed 'black-cloth' composite layers.
This blade is a masterclass in control. The soft wood veneers, 'black-cloth' layers, and oversized head work in concert to create a massive sweet spot and superb ball feedback. This allows for pinpoint accuracy on chops, blocks, pushes, and all defensive maneuvers.
The feel is medium-soft, characterized by a pleasant touch and excellent ball feedback crucial for defense. Soft Limba outer veneers and a Kiri core contribute to this sensation, while the 'black-cloth' layers add slight stiffness without creating a wooden or overly hard feel.
The throw angle is medium-high. This allows for a good arc on shots, which is advantageous for both defensive clears and offensive topspins. The blade's flex and construction help lift the ball with sufficient spin and trajectory.
It offers very good dwell time, estimated at 8.0. The soft veneers and inherent flexibility allow the ball to sink into the rubber and wood for a longer period. This extended contact is beneficial for generating heavy spin on chops and for executing controlled loops.
The blade provides good flexibility, rated at 7.5. This flex is essential for defensive play, allowing it to absorb an opponent's power on chops and contributes to the good dwell time for spin generation, while still maintaining enough structure for offensive shots.
Vibration is at a medium level, rated around 7.0. The 'black-cloth' composite layers are effective at absorbing and dampening vibrations, resulting in a more comfortable feel and a larger, more forgiving sweet spot. This controlled vibration aids stability during defensive strokes.
Our assessment places its quality at 8.5. It is generally regarded as a high-quality blade built with premium materials suitable for serious play. The construction is solid, though some isolated notes mention fragility with edge impacts. Overall, it represents good craftsmanship for its class.
Technology
Joola Chen Weixing Defender utilizes a 7-ply hybrid construction featuring specialized 'black-cloth' composite layers integrated between wood veneers. This technology enhances control, dampens vibration, and improves structural integrity. Soft Limba outer veneers provide excellent touch and feel, while a Kiri core offers stability. The design aims to create a blade that excels in defensive precision and consistency, while still retaining the capability for the fast topspin attacks that characterized Chen Weixing's game.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Chen Weixing
This blade was developed in direct collaboration with Chen Weixing, a highly respected European defensive specialist. He used this blade extensively during his professional career, which saw him ranked among the world's top defenders. The design directly reflects his playing style, emphasizing control, precision chopping, and the ability to launch effective topspin attacks from any distance.
Similar Blades
Stiga Defensive NCT
The Stiga Defensive NCT is a comparable blade often mentioned by players, offering good feel and control suitable for defensive play. Both provide excellent touch and stability for chopping and blocking. However, many players find the feel differs slightly, and the Joola Chen Weixing Defender is often considered to offer strong value in comparison.
Butterfly Joo Se Hyuk
The Butterfly Joo Se Hyuk is another blade designed for modern defensive play with input from a top defender. Both offer high control and good feel. A key difference is construction: the Joo Se Hyuk is a 5-ply all-wood blade, while the Chen Weixing Defender is a 7-ply hybrid, leading to subtle differences in speed, flex, and vibration.