Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC vs DHS Hurricane Long 5: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | DHS Hurricane Long 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.6/10 |
| feel | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time | hard, powerful |
| handle | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria | FL/ST |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon |
| speed | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.7mm | 5.9 |
| weight_g | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) | 89 |
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The Lin Gaoyuan (8.7) excels at close-to-mid-distance topspin with a soft, flexible feel and a large sweet spot. The Hurricane Long 5 (8.6) is a heavyweight designed around Chinese tacky rubber, delivering a woody yet powerful, deep catapult that rewards looping and counter-looping from mid-distance.
Choose Lin Gaoyuan if you want a lighter, more universally pairable blade suitable for varied rubbers and distances. Choose Hurricane Long 5 if you loop with tacky rubber on the forehand, value a natural feel with carbon on hard hits, and are willing to trade some maneuverability for a deeper, higher-arc catapult.
FAQ
Which is better for close-to-table play?
Lin Gaoyuan’s lighter weight and soft feel excel at close-to-table topspin. Hurricane Long 5 is heavier and designed for mid-distance play; close attacks may feel sluggish.
What about control and blocking?
Lin Gaoyuan offers strong control for its OFF class. Hurricane Long 5 is famous for exceptional control on blocks and passive play due to its inner-carbon design.
Do they need specific rubbers?
Lin Gaoyuan pairs broadly. Hurricane Long 5 strongly favors tacky Chinese rubber on the forehand; non-tacky rubber users may not unlock its full potential.
How much heavier is Long 5?
Long 5 is around 89-93g versus Lin Gaoyuan’s 84-87g—noticeably heavier. This adds arc and dwell but demands more arm strength.