Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC vs Stiga Infinity VPS V: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | Stiga Infinity VPS V | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | stiff thin outer (Diamond Touch), medium-hard |
| handle | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber | 5W (all wood) |
| speed | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.7mm | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) | 88 |
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The Lin Gaoyuan (8.7) is a soft, flexible ALC blade with maximum dwell and a large sweet spot for advanced attackers. The Infinity VPS V (8.6) is a controllable 5-ply all-wood blade with many gears, excellent flex-dwell for brush looping, and strong near-and-far stability—but it is strictly control-first OFF, not a speed monster.
Choose Lin Gaoyuan if you want modern carbon speed with versatile rubber pairing and maximum dwell across distances. Choose Infinity VPS V if you’re a dynamic, spin-first looper who wants excellent control, many gears for varied play, and accept that you must seal the thin outer veneer.
FAQ
Which is faster?
Lin Gaoyuan is faster. Infinity VPS V is control-first and gives up power from far behind the table compared to carbon blades.
What about heavy brush looping?
Infinity VPS V excels here with flex and dwell rewarding heavy brush. Lin Gaoyuan also loops well but is more balanced across strokes.
What does VPS stand for?
Vibration Reducing Wood Structure. Combined with Diamond Touch construction, it gives a stiff outer with lively, consistent feedback.
Why seal the veneer?
Infinity VPS V ships with a thin outer veneer that needs sealing to prevent edge splintering and maximize durability.