Plies
7-ply
Head Size
165x155
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Oversized
Balance
Balanced
Defensive Pro
Stiga Defensive Pro is engineered for elite defensive players seeking precision and strategic finesse. Developed with top defenders like Masato Shiono, it offers exceptional control for seamless transitions from passive blocks to sudden counterattacks. The enlarged head size provides a larger sweet spot, enhancing stability and forgiveness. This construction balances defensive capabilities with offensive potential, making it a potent weapon for modern choppers who integrate powerful strokes into their game.
Stiga Defensive Pro features a symmetrical 7-ply construction. It starts with an outer layer of Limba wood, followed by a carbon fiber layer, then three core layers of Ayous wood, another carbon layer, and finishes with Limba again. This combination aims to provide the dwell time and feel of wood with the increased sweet spot and stability of carbon.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Stiga Defensive Pro is rated as a defensive blade with offensive characteristics. It offers sufficient speed for counter-attacks, especially when closer to the table, but its primary focus remains control. Players report it provides enough power for offensive shots without requiring extremely fast rubbers. Compared to some pure defensive blades, it's noted to be faster, but it doesn't match the speed category of dedicated offensive blades.
Control is the standout feature of the Stiga Defensive Pro. It offers exceptional stability and precision, ideal for players who rely on accurate chops, blocks, and placement. The blade provides a high level of feedback, allowing you to feel the ball and make precise adjustments, which is crucial for modern defensive play. This makes it a reliable tool for strategic shot-making.
The feel of Stiga Defensive Pro is often described as medium-soft to soft, with a significant wood-like sensation despite the carbon layers. It provides a comfortable touch and good feedback, allowing for delicate play such as drop shots and precise placement. Many note it feels less stiff than expected for a carbon-composite blade, offering a pleasant, responsive connection.
Stiga Defensive Pro tends to produce a medium to medium-high throw angle, particularly when used for looping or drives. This higher trajectory can be beneficial for clearing the net with safety and for generating spin. For defensive shots like chops, the angle is more controlled and lower, offering versatility in shot selection.
Stiga Defensive Pro is praised for its extended dwell time, a key characteristic for defensive players. This longer contact allows for maximum spin generation on chops and provides ample time to control and place shots accurately. It facilitates effective spin manipulation and is beneficial for looping from mid to long distances, giving you more command over the ball.
Stiga Defensive Pro offers a medium level of flexibility. This balance allows for effective defensive strokes like chops while also providing enough rigidity for controlled offensive shots. The carbon layers contribute to a slightly stiffer feel compared to pure wood blades, but it retains enough flex for a comfortable and versatile playing experience across different strokes.
Vibration on the Stiga Defensive Pro is generally perceived as medium. It transmits enough feedback for ball control without being excessively harsh. Some players report a bit more vibration than traditional all-wood blades, but it's considered well-managed and contributes to the blade's feel without becoming distracting during play.
Stiga Defensive Pro is generally regarded as a high-quality blade. Its construction, often associated with Swedish craftsmanship, contributes to a solid feel and durability. Players appreciate the consistent performance and good tactile feedback, indicative of quality materials and manufacturing. The finish and overall build support reliable long-term use.
Technology
Stiga Defensive Pro incorporates two thin carbon layers within its 7-ply construction. This inner carbon technology aims to enhance the sweet spot and stability of the blade without significantly compromising the wood-like feel and control crucial for defensive play. The blade also features an enlarged head size, increasing the playing surface for better defensive coverage and stability, making it a modern tool for strategic players.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Masato Shiono
Stiga Defensive Pro was developed in close collaboration with Japanese defensive specialist Masato Shiono. His input was instrumental in refining the blade's characteristics to suit a modern defensive style that incorporates offensive threats. Shiono's expertise as a world-class chopper and counter-attacker informed the blade's balance of control, dwell time, and offensive capability, making it an ideal tool for his dynamic defensive game.
Similar Blades
Stiga Defensive Classic
Stiga Defensive Classic is often compared to the Defensive Pro. While both are defensive blades, the Classic is described as having a softer feel and more emphasis on pure control and chopping, whereas the Pro offers a bit more rigidity and offensive potential due to its carbon layers. Players might choose the Classic for maximum control and a more traditional feel, while the Pro is for those who want to mix in more aggressive offensive strokes.
Yasaka Guardian
Yasaka Guardian is a defensive blade sometimes mentioned in comparisons. Many players find the Guardian to be a slower blade than the Pro, with a different feel. Defensive Pro is often seen as having more offensive capabilities and a larger sweet spot compared to the Guardian, which is praised for its exceptional control in purely defensive scenarios.