Weight
76g
Thickness
4.6mm
Plies
3-ply
Head Size
161.5x156
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Oversized
Balance
Balanced
Defence
Lion Defence is a classic defensive table tennis blade engineered for players who prioritize control and precision. Its lightweight, flexible three-ply all-wood design offers exceptional feel and responsiveness, ideal for traditional defensive techniques like chopping and controlled blocking. The slightly enlarged head size enhances control and soft touch, facilitating effective spin reversal and placement. While not built for aggressive counter-attacks, it excels in close-to-the-table play with a low bounce and superb control, particularly when paired with long pips or anti-spin rubbers. The construction maximizes damping and minimizes vibration, creating a stable platform for defensive play.
Lion Defence features a three-ply construction. The standard version uses soft Ayous wood throughout, with a special gluing technique for stability. The Pro version replaces the Ayous outer veneers with Spruce, which provides more spin reversal and disruptive effect, as well as increased robustness, though at the cost of slightly more weight and price. The core veneer is Ayous.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Lion Defence is characterized by its extremely low speed, making it ideal for pure defensive play. It is designed to dampen incoming attacks effectively, providing very little speed on offensive shots, which are possible but with significant cutbacks. This makes it unsuitable for modern offensive-defensive styles.
Control is the standout feature of Lion Defence. Its design prioritizes maximum control for defensive maneuvers such as chopping and blocking. The blade's soft touch and damping properties allow for exceptional placement and spin reversal, crucial for players using long pimples or anti-spin rubbers.
The three-ply all-wood construction, particularly with soft Ayous and Spruce, provides a soft and flexible feel. This contributes to the blade's excellent damping capabilities and gives players a good sense of the ball upon contact, which is vital for precise defensive placement and spin reversal.
The focus on control and damping suggests a medium-low to medium throw angle. This is beneficial for defensive players as it helps keep the ball low over the net during chops and blocks, making it harder for the opponent to attack.
The flexible and soft nature of Lion Defence, combined with its three-ply construction, allows for a longer dwell time on the ball. This extended contact time is crucial for defensive players to generate heavy spin on chops and to control the ball's trajectory precisely during blocks and pushes.
The blade's construction from soft woods like Ayous and Spruce, along with its thin profile, contributes to its high degree of flexibility. This characteristic is beneficial for defensive play, enabling players to absorb pace, generate spin effectively, and achieve a good feel for the ball.
Lion Defence is designed to offer strong damping in passive play, significantly reducing vibration. This allows defensive players to feel the ball clearly while minimizing disruptive feedback, enabling them to execute precise defensive shots with confidence.
Lion Defence is constructed with a focus on durability for defensive play, employing a special gluing technique to enhance stability and prevent premature breakage. While not explicitly rated by expert sites, user feedback implies satisfactory build quality for its intended purpose.
Technology
Lion Defence blade is characterized by its simple, yet effective three-ply all-wood construction. A key aspect of its design is a special gluing technique employed to enhance the wood's stability and reduce elasticity, preventing it from being too prone to breakage. The Lion Defence Pro model introduces spruce outer veneers, replacing the Ayous used in the original. This change is intended to improve spin reversal and disruptive effects, while also increasing the blade's robustness. The overall construction is focused on maximizing damping and providing a soft touch for precise control in defensive play.
Similar Blades
STIGA Tube Defence
TTSensei experts note that Lion Defence is a clone of the STIGA Tube Defence. This suggests very similar playing characteristics, focusing on extreme control, slow speed, and excellent damping for defensive players. Players seeking Lion Defence's properties might consider STIGA Tube Defence as a comparable alternative.
Donic Defplay Senso
Many players find Donic Defplay Senso to be a comparable defensive blade. It is known for its softness, high control, and high throw angle, which are characteristics shared by Lion Defence, making it a potential alternative for defensive players looking for a similar feel and control.