Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC vs Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| feel | Crisp and direct with noticeable dwell on contact; slightly softer arc than Viscaria Super ALC | stiff outer oak veneer, medium throw, solid dwell, consistent blocking |
| handle | Flared (FL), Straight (ST), Anatomic (AN) — notably thicker grip than Viscaria | Flared, Straight, Anatomic |
| plies | 5 wood plus 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — Koto / ALC / Limba / Kiri / Limba / ALC / Koto | carbon composite (oak outer + carbon fleece CFNW inner, 5+2 layers) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | approx 5.7mm | 5.5-5.6 |
| weight_g | 87-92g typical | 87-90 |
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Fan Zhendong ALC (8.8) is a Viscaria-class outer-ALC blade with outstanding dwell, thick handle for larger hands, and rubber compatibility from tacky Chinese to European high-tension. Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon (8.0) is a Swedish-made carbon blade with genuine carbon speed, excellent blocking and near-table consistency, forgiving CFNW carbon fleece, and medium throw angle suiting broad rubber pairing. Both are OFF speed, but serve different skill tiers and playstyles.
Fan Zhendong ALC targets intermediate-to-advanced players playing topspin-heavy loops; Yasaka EK Carbon targets club and intermediate players making their first carbon move or prioritizing blocking and all-round consistency. Fan Zhendong offers premium build quality and proven offensive performance; Yasaka delivers accessible carbon performance. Yasaka’s early ball release makes heavy topspin harder to produce; Fan Zhendong’s catapult dwell rewards aggressive looping. Fan Zhendong suits players upgrading to premium offensive blades; Yasaka suits club players seeking blocking stability and consistency at lower cost.
FAQ
Which is better for beginners moving to carbon?
Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon is accessible for intermediate players; Fan Zhendong ALC requires intermediate-to-advanced technique.
Which is faster?
Both are OFF speed, though Yasaka’s early ball release feels slightly slower for heavy topspin.
Which is better for blocking?
Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon excels at blocking with forgiving carbon fleece and consistency; Fan Zhendong ALC blocks capably but is less specialized.
Which costs less?
Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon is more affordable; Fan Zhendong ALC is premium-priced.