Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC vs Stiga Emerald VPS V: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC | Stiga Emerald VPS V | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | medium-hard but flexible, crisp carbon with long dwell | Stiff, hard outer surface with medium throw angle and large sweet spot |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | Flared (FL), also available in ST and Chinese pen |
| plies | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon (5 wood plies with 2 Arylate-Carbon layers) | 5-ply all wood (Ebenholz/dark outer, VPS-treated middle veneers) |
| speed | OFF | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 6.2 |
| weight_g | 88 | 98 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC is a soft, flexible OFF-class carbon with long dwell and excellent looping characteristics, designed for away-from-table offensive play with spin generation. Stiga Emerald VPS V is a stiff pure all-wood blade delivering OFF+ speed with Green Ebenholz stability and large sweet spot, optimized for flat-trajectory counter-looping at mid to long distance.
Zhang Jike suits loopers who want spin-friendly carbon with dwell and looping prowess; Emerald is for aggressive intermediate to competitive attackers confident in consistent technique, prioritizing counter-looping speed over spin-first dwell.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
Emerald VPS V (OFF+) is faster than Zhang Jike (OFF), delivering more pace on flat drives.
Which is better for heavy looping?
Zhang Jike excels with long dwell time; Emerald is stiffer and less suited to heavy topspin loops.
Forgiveness and sweet spot?
Emerald has a large sweet spot but is less forgiving on weak strokes; Zhang Jike is more forgiving overall.
Which feels more like wood?
Emerald is pure all-wood with natural wood feedback; Zhang Jike is carbon with a soft, non-stiff feel but still composite.
Weight and maneuverability?
Zhang Jike at 88g is slightly lighter than Emerald at 98g; Emerald head-heavy design requires arm conditioning.