Butterfly Kenta Matsudaira ALC

Weight: 88g
FH rubber: Stiga Genesis M (max =2.2mm)
BH rubber: Ten 05 fx (max)
Layers: 5 woods + 2 ALC

Total weight : 181g (quite heavy to me, prefer 176g)

Exterior
Outer veneer looks like white limba to me, some say ayous (quite similar to the outer wood of butterfly Apolonia Tiago)

This website provides composition material of blades (http://ttbdb.stervinou.net/liste.php)
Most likely, butterfly prefer limba as outer veneer. For the core veneer, i have no idea about it, maybe it is kiri wood.

Backhand
Topspin - I really like about the backhand with tenergy 05 fx, although the sense of ball is not good compare to stiga airoc s, but BH with ten 05 fx, i can flick or push the ball with topspin very easily. Usually opponent serve the ball with sidespin to my bh side, in this case, counter flick topspin do help alots. The ball is low arc , fast in speed, with high spin. Of course, precision angle and much more practise will do.

Sidespin - Well, I did try out sidespin flick wtih tenergy fx 05. The result is fascinating. Again, kenta with tenergey, , the ball flies with slightly curve trajectory and low arc, reach over the table with much speed and spin, this gives my opponent hard time to counter it. In this case, i conclude kenta with ten fx 05 is a really nice combination.

Blocking - Good blocking comes with little sense of ball (vibration) when hitting the blade.

Summary of BH - I must say kenta with ten 05 fx is an offensive BH play. If most of time, you score with BH offensive play, then you might love this combination. Well, extra effort like BH training is necessary for players to achieve accuracy and precision when perform backhand flick with top and side spin attack. Usually, you will observe that opponents have hard time to counter back due to low arc unless that person's response is really good in this case.

Forehand
Topspin - Well, apparently i have chosen stiga genesis M 2.2m as my forehand. I have some complaints about this rubber with my FH. The reason is chinese rubbers usually come with slightly greater weight than european rubber. I measure the genesis M with a weight machine, and it indicates that its weight is 48g after cut. I would prefer 44g instead. Moreover, the hardness of rubbers approximately 47 degree. I have hard time to punch the ball into rubber and sponge to generate spin due to hardness. Even genesis with soft version, the hardness is 45 degree. If you own a strength forehand arm, you might like this rubber. You can generate high speed and spin when smashing the ball whereby opponent find hard to block the ball due to high spin. Usually the ball will bounce of from blade with high arc. Somehow, kenta induces the speed more while stiga genesis induces spin more. This what i can conclude so far.

Summary of FH - try to match a slightly less hardness with high gripping rubber. Recommend 44g after cut. I would recommend ten 05 or ten 64 for forehand rubber.

Near distance:
Depend on the rubber that u chose, so far near play is still well for me.

Mid and Far distance:
This blade suitable for mid and far distance play if you can match the rubber very well. Stiga Genesis M suite well with this condition. Smash and looping really fun and enjoy with kenta alc. It gives pressure on your opponent when looping due to much amount of spin and spin. My opponent's comment that kenta always push the ball very high speed, he must response very fast to block my ball, but he usually step 1 or 2 step behind to intercept my fast loop.

Service
Apparently, stiga genesis m is not good for service because of the high arc and altitude with bouncy surface. In contrast, ten 05 fx is good for service. I can serve with low arc and altitude. I do really like ten 05 fx in this case.

Dwell time
Dwell time is much less compare to nittaku barwell fleet. This blade is not really compromise for high dwell time. For players who prefer greater dwell time, nittaku barwell fleet(G1) or innerforce ZLC series.

Overall Summary
Overall, kenta alc is a worth of buying. Compare to ZJK ZLC, kenta alc is not over price and reasonable. Worth to own this blade.

Hi all,

This is my review of the kenta blade, i hope this shall answers some of your questions and concerns.

Kenta Blade

Weight: 92gr
FH rubber: Hurricane 3, 39 Degree
BH rubber: Ten 05 fx

Total weight: 190 gr

Benchmark against

Viscaria (old tag)

Weight: 91gr
FH Rubber: Hurricane 3, 39 Degree
BH rubber: Ten 05 fx

Total Weight: 191 gr

The build:
- The blade outer layers are very nice, aged woods, i was told they were Ayous. The rest is almost similar with the Vis.
- The handle is very tiny, feels hollow in your hand. Looks very nice indeed.

The play:
- Forehand counter hits: Extremely fast (30% faster than the Viscaria), and super low arc. Balls constantly hit top of the net for counter hitting. I had to adjust my technique to keep the ball stable.
- Forehand loops against top spin: Extremely easy, super low arc. No matter how much spin you get, you will be able to add more to it in return. For mid, and far table counter loops, this blade clearly is a winner compared to Vis, even HL3, or Clipper CR.
- Forehand loops against back spin: very easy. You can brush with ease, and the ball already on the other side of the table. However, it's difficult to produce high spinny balls due to its low arc. This blade is best for loop killing the back spin ball. Placement is very easy as well.
- Forehand block: Amazing control and placement regardless of incoming top spin level.
- Forehand short touch/push: low arc, extremely good control even with this fast blade. pretty amazing.

Forehand conclusion: Off++ (IMHO), low dwell time, shaky (vibrates alot, maybe due to the handle construction), i do not get enough feedback from the blade. I used to loop with my wrist loose for a whip lash effect, with this blade, i have to lock in my wrist to get stable shots. It's more suitable for FH looper. This blade is best for near, mid, and far table counter loops. Especially, you can easily loop the ball under the table, where you can hide your ball contact (this is the best feature i've experience so far). It allows me to do incredible shots with various spin. Cons: in regards to spin, i would categorize this blade as "Spin returner", while the Vis is more of "Spin negator and producer" (you eliminate the incoming spin, and generate your own spin). This blade gives me a feeling of uncertainty in regards to spin, which i dislike. Also, when you smash, the ball wobble!

- Backhand counter hits: too fast, lack of control, you feel like there is no dwell time at all.
- Backhand topspin: with ease, spinny, but you don't know exactly where the ball's gonna land.
- Backhand on table opening: Crazy spin when you get the ball on the other side, fast, low arc & super spinny, however, it's not consistent. And you can't do slow opening shots.
- Backhand loop vs. back spin: super easy, fast and low arc, but once again, lack of control.
- Backhand blocking: Perfect! regardless of spin, you can always put the ball on the other side with very low arc.

BH Conclusion: Off++, hard to control, perfect for blocking. Backhand opening with lots of spin and speed, but once again, not much control.

Conclusion:
Spin: Kenta > Vis
Speed: Kenta > Vis
Touch: Kenta < Vis
Control: Kenta < Vis

Recommendation:

Suitable for 1 wing looper, back hand blocker. Would not recommend for players who do not have basic strokes down. It doens't suit for explosiveness type of play. Maybe, it works with European players.

IMHO, if you want to play this blade, change the handle.

Cheers.