Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC vs Nittaku Acoustic Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC | Nittaku Acoustic Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.8/10 | 8.8/10 |
| feel | medium, high feel/dwell | Medium-hard outer carbon with surprising wood-like dwell and ball retention; crisp sound on contact |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL, ST (also Large Handle and Chinese Penhold variants available) |
| plies | 5W+2 Inner Arylate-Carbon | 7 plies — 5 wood + 2 FE carbon (Limba - FE Carbon - Limba - Tung - Limba - FE Carbon - Limba) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.9 | 5.5mm |
| weight_g | 86 | approx 90g |
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Both deliver OFF-class power with wood-like touch—a rare combination at the premium level. The Innerforce ALC feels bouncy at first and rewards a developed stroke; it’s lighter (86g) and versatile with medium-hard rubbers. The Acoustic Carbon is heavier (around 90g), delivers surprising dwell despite outer carbon construction, and works especially well with sticky rubbers on the forehand.
Choose the Innerforce ALC for a lighter blade and clearer inner-carbon feel. Pick the Acoustic Carbon if you want maximum wood-like feedback and plan to use tacky or sticky rubbers—its weight demands careful setup, but professionals like Ayane Morita trust it for excellent short-game precision and blocking stability.
FAQ
Which blade is heavier?
The Acoustic Carbon comes in around 90g, making it noticeably heavier than the Innerforce ALC at 86g, which affects swing weight and rubber pairing.
What’s the key feel difference?
Innerforce ALC has a bouncy first feel that becomes more consistent with technique; Acoustic Carbon delivers crisp, woody contact feel even with outer carbon, appealing to players who distrust carbon stiffness.
Which works better with sticky rubbers?
The Acoustic Carbon is renowned for compatibility with sticky and tacky rubbers and produces excellent topspin with them; the Innerforce ALC prefers medium-hard rubbers.