Butterfly Innerforce ZLC vs Stiga Allround Classic Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Innerforce ZLC | Stiga Allround Classic Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 |
| feel | Soft-medium; woody feel with ZLC carbon layers near the core | Medium stiffness, wood-like touch with carbon crispness, small vibration, large sweet spot |
| handle | AN / FL / ST | FL, ST, WRB |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 ZLC carbon (inner ZLC construction) | 5 wood + 2 carbon |
| speed | OFF | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 5.6 |
| weight_g | 84 | 81 |
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The Butterfly Innerforce ZLC and Stiga Allround Classic Carbon are both versatile blades, but targeted at vastly different skill levels. The ZLC is a premium inner-carbon blade for advanced offensive players. The Classic Carbon is a beginner-to-intermediate blade designed to retain the soft, wood-like touch of the all-wood original while adding modest carbon-based acceleration.
The ZLC delivers consistent OFF-class power and control across all distances and styles. The Classic Carbon is soft, forgiving, and ideal for technique development, with a wider sweet spot than the all-wood Classic but less power overall. The ZLC is lighter and more adaptable; the Classic Carbon weight varies significantly (73-91g reported). The ZLC is the clear choice for advanced play. The Classic Carbon is an excellent stepping stone for beginners and intermediate club players who want to transition from all-wood without jumping to fast carbon. Choose the ZLC for advanced, comprehensive performance. Choose the Classic Carbon for beginner learning with modest speed enhancement.
FAQ
Is the Classic Carbon faster than all-wood?
Yes, noticeably, but it retains the soft touch and control of the wood version.
Which blade is better for beginners?
The Stiga Allround Classic Carbon is explicitly designed for beginners. The ZLC requires prior technical skill.
How much weight variation is there?
The Classic Carbon is reported at 73-91g range, extreme variation. The ZLC is consistent at 84g.
Which blade pairs better with fast rubber?
The ZLC adapts equally to all rubbers. The Classic Carbon is optimized for non-tension rubbers.