Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC vs Stiga Carbonado 45: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | Stiga Carbonado 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time | Moderately stiff with deep reverberating vibrations; more wood-like dwell than typical carbon blades; high throw angle |
| handle | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria | Straight/Flared/Anatomic (coal-grey dyed wood) |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber | 7-ply with TeXtreme carbon (5 wood + 2 carbon at 45-degree angle) |
| speed | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.7mm | 5.7mm |
| weight_g | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) | 85-91g |
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Both are advanced carbon-hybrid blades, but they approach the problem from opposite angles. The Lin Gaoyuan ALC prioritizes soft, flexible feel and spin—its large head and arylate-carbon layers give wood-like dwell and an expansive sweet spot. The Stiga Carbonado 45 trades dwell for stiffness and high throw angle, delivering wood-like vibration clarity and blocking stability over pure spin generation.
The Lin Gaoyuan excels at topspin, serve, and sidespin work at close-to-mid distance, rewarding players with soft hands who control pace via stroke technique. The Carbonado 45 is slower than most carbon blades and requires extra physical effort for power shots, but it gives you unmatched short-game control, drop shots, and consistency. Both are rated OFF-class, but they feel and play very differently.
Choose the Lin Gaoyuan if you want maximum spin and feedback-rich attacking at medium distance. Choose the Carbonado 45 if you are a loop-dominant, spin-heavy player who plays close to the table and values short-game touch and blocking consistency over raw speed.
FAQ
Which is better for topspin loops?
The Lin Gaoyuan ALC. It has soft, flexible ALC feel and impressive spin generation. The Carbonado 45’s high throw helps loops but harder feel requires more precise technique.
Which is better for short-game and blocking?
The Stiga Carbonado 45—it is endorsed by top Chinese women’s national team players for its exceptional short game and wide sweet spot in blocking.
Which is faster and more powerful?
The Lin Gaoyuan ALC—it is softer and more offensive. The Carbonado 45 is slower than most carbon blades and requires extra physical effort for power shots from mid-distance.
Which has more dwell and feedback?
The Lin Gaoyuan—its soft ALC gives high dwell time and wood-like feel. The Carbonado 45 has deep reverberating vibrations but less dwell than the Lin Gaoyuan.
Which is better for penhold play?
The Stiga Carbonado 45 is well-suited to penhold style. The Lin Gaoyuan is better for shakehand players and those who value soft touch.