Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC vs Sanwei Fextra 7: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | Sanwei Fextra 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time | Medium, woody and well-damped with moderate vibration; controllable offensive feel close to a Stiga Clipper but a touch crisper and not quite as stiff |
| handle | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria | FL |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber | 7-ply all wood (Limba/Ayous) |
| speed | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.7mm | 6 |
| type | — | OFF- |
| weight_g | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) | 88 |
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The Lin Gaoyuan (8.7) is a premium Japanese soft-ALC blade with a large sweet spot, impressive spin, and OFF speed. The Fextra 7 (8.3) is a remarkable value: a 7-ply all-wood design offering excellent spin and control at a Viscaria-alternative price.
Choose Lin Gaoyuan if budget allows and you want the ultimate soft, forgiving carbon experience with Japanese build quality. Choose Fextra 7 if you want proven spin, a spinny all-wood feel, and outstanding value—and are comfortable with weight variability between units and a smaller sweet spot that demands centered contact.
FAQ
How much cheaper is Fextra 7?
Fextra 7 costs around 20-30 USD versus Lin Gaoyuan’s premium price. The value proposition is enormous if you accept its quirks.
Which has the better spin?
Both spin well. Lin Gaoyuan generates impressive spin across distances. Fextra 7 is very spinny for its price but less explosive in power loops.
What about consistency between units?
Lin Gaoyuan is quality-controlled. Fextra 7 weight varies from 84-94g between units, and availability is limited since the original is discontinued.
Which plays faster?
Lin Gaoyuan (OFF) is faster than Fextra 7 (OFF-). Fextra 7 feels slower; Lin Gaoyuan’s large sweet spot forgives off-center hits better.