Butterfly Garaydia ALC vs Nittaku Septear: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Garaydia ALC | Nittaku Septear | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 |
| control | — | — |
| feel | Crisp, hard and stiff with a direct, low-vibration touch and a notably low throw arc | Soft with high dwell time |
| handle | FL | Straight or Concave (flared) |
| plies | 5-ply total: 3 wood + 2 Arylate-Carbon (ALC) layers, with an outer carbon construction under a Japanese hinoki surface ply | 7-ply all wood (Kiso Hinoki) |
| speed | OFF | ALL+ |
| spin | — | — |
| thickness_mm | 6.9 | 6.7 |
| type | OFF | — |
| weight_g | 83 | 85 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
Butterfly Garaydia ALC and Nittaku Septear serve different tactical niches. Garaydia features outer arylate-carbon with soft hinoki surface ply, creating very low throw arc ideal for blocking, flicking, and counter-topspins. Crisp, stiff, almost vibration-free feel delivers outstanding close-table stability and control at 83 grams. Pairs well with Tenergy 05 and medium-hard tensors. However, low arc requires precise technique for maximum speed, extreme damping limits feedback, and discontinuation makes sourcing difficult.
Septear embraces all-round versatility through 7-ply kiso hinoki construction. Exceptional control and ball placement precision across all strokes—loops, blocks, pushes, flicks, smashes. Soft, responsive feel with high dwell supports developing technique, and premium Japanese craftsmanship ensures durability. However, it lacks explosive finishing power versus carbon blades, performs poorly with soft rubbers (requiring medium-hard to hard sponges), soft hinoki surface dents easily, and thin handle may discomfort larger-handed players.
FAQ
Which supports all-stroke versatility?
Septear is versatile across loops, blocks, pushes, flicks, and smashes. Garaydia specializes in blocking, flicking, and counter-topspin.
How do throw angles differ?
Garaydia has notably low throw arc for blocking. Septear has higher throw characteristic of all-round hinoki blades.
Which suits beginners better?
Septear is more forgiving with larger sweet spot supporting developing technique. Garaydia demands precise blocking technique.
What speed ratings do they have?
Garaydia is OFF-class. Septear is ALL+, making Garaydia faster for aggressive play.
Which is currently available?
Garaydia ALC is discontinued with difficult sourcing. Septear is current production from Nittaku.