Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC vs Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC | Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
| feel | medium, high feel/dwell | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria |
| plies | 5W+2 Inner Arylate-Carbon | 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 | 5.9 | 5.7mm |
| weight_g | 86 | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
The Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC (8.8 rating) bridges all-wood and carbon: inner-ALC construction delivers all-wood dwell and feel up close, then carbon kick on hard swings, with excellent control across all distances and a large stable sweet spot. The Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC (8.7 rating) is outer-ALC with soft, flexible feel closer to pure wood, an even larger head size for margin-of-error forgiveness, and impressive spin generation across all strokes. The Innerforce feels more responsive and bouncy (needing adaptation), suits medium-hard rubbers best; the Lin feels softer and more wood-like, suits a wider rubber range. Both are premium Butterfly offerings; the Innerforce offers better value and dwell sensation, the Lin offers larger head and versatility. Most players prefer the Innerforce’s control and feel.
FAQ
What makes inner-ALC different from outer-ALC feel?
Inner-ALC preserves all-wood dwell up close, then adds carbon catapult on hard swings. Outer-ALC (like the Lin) feels more direct and unified. The Innerforce’s bouncy first impression requires adaptation.
Which is more forgiving?
The Lin Gaoyuan ALC. Its larger head size and soft flexible feel minimize unforced errors. The Innerforce is more demanding but rewards technique better.
Which pairs best with which rubbers?
The Innerforce pairs best with medium-hard inverted rubbers for a balanced touch-power blend. The Lin works well across a wider range from Dignics to Andro softer options.