Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC vs Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.0/10 |
| feel | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time | stiff outer oak veneer, medium throw, solid dwell, consistent blocking |
| handle | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria | Flared, Straight, Anatomic |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber | carbon composite (oak outer + carbon fleece CFNW inner, 5+2 layers) |
| speed | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.7mm | 5.5-5.6 |
| weight_g | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) | 87-90 |
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The Lin Gaoyuan ALC is a premium, discontinued blade built for advanced attackers who want carbon offense with wood-like dwell and spin feedback. Its soft, flexible ALC construction and large head deliver an expansive sweet spot and impressive spin generation on topspin, serve, and sidespin. The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon is a more straightforward, accessible entry-level carbon blade with stiff oak veneer, excellent blocking stability, and consistent near-table play at a lower price point.
The Lin Gaoyuan excels at close-to-mid-distance topspin and counter-topspin work, rewarding soft hands and technique-driven pace control. The Sweden EK Carbon prioritizes blocking and consistency over spin, with early ball release that makes heavy topspin harder to produce but ideal for quick transitions and club-level all-round attack. The Lin Gaoyuan is harder to source and more expensive; the Sweden EK Carbon is easier to find and offers genuine carbon speed at a more accessible price.
Choose the Lin Gaoyuan if you are an advanced player who values spin generation and soft feel over outright speed, and you can source one. Choose the Sweden EK Carbon if you want your first genuine carbon blade with safe blocking, consistency, and value.
FAQ
Which is better for spin generation?
The Lin Gaoyuan ALC—its soft, flexible ALC feel delivers impressive spin on topspin, serve, and sidespin. The Sweden EK Carbon’s early ball release makes heavy topspin harder to produce.
Which is faster overall?
The Lin Gaoyuan ALC is rated OFF-class and slightly faster. The Sweden EK Carbon is also OFF-class but slightly lower speed with overstated manufacturer rating in real-world feel.
Which is better for blocking and near-table play?
The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon—it excels at blocking and near-table consistency with wide, comfortable handle and forgiving CFNW carbon fleece for larger sweet spot.
Which has better value and availability?
The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon is more affordable, easier to find, and made at Yasaka’s Tranås factory. The Lin Gaoyuan is discontinued, expensive to source, and harder to verify authenticity.
Which is better for beginners making their first move to carbon?
The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon—it is an accessible entry-level carbon blade. The Lin Gaoyuan is too advanced and expensive for beginners.