Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC vs Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
| feel | Crisp and direct with noticeable dwell on contact; slightly softer arc than Viscaria Super ALC | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time |
| handle | Flared (FL), Straight (ST), Anatomic (AN) — notably thicker grip than Viscaria | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria |
| plies | 5 wood plus 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — Koto / ALC / Limba / Kiri / Limba / ALC / Koto | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber |
| speed | OFF | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) |
| thickness_mm | approx 5.7mm | 5.7mm |
| weight_g | 87-92g typical | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) |
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Choose Fan Zhendong ALC for crisp, direct Viscaria-class offensive performance with a thick handle ideal for large hands. Outstanding dwell and speed, proven by advanced players. Versatile with a wide rubber range and forgiving at full power.
Choose Lin Gaoyuan ALC if you want soft, flexible outer-ALC feel closer to wood than typical carbon, with an expansive sweet spot that minimizes errors. Strong control for an OFF blade and excellent spin on topspin, serve, and sidespin. Shorter anatomic handle and discontinued status make sourcing difficult, best for advanced players transitioning from wood.
FAQ
Which feels more like wood?
Lin Gaoyuan ALC is softer and closer to wood feel. Fan Zhendong is crisp and direct with carbon acceleration.
Which has a bigger sweet spot?
Lin Gaoyuan ALC offers a larger sweet spot. Fan Zhendong is precise but requires centered contact.
Which is currently available?
Fan Zhendong ALC is widely available. Lin Gaoyuan is discontinued and expensive.
Which is better for passive blocking?
Fan Zhendong ALC blocks well. Lin Gaoyuan flexible feel can make fast incoming topspin blocking tricky.