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My latest Butterfly Blade (bought it last week)

After a long thoughts (maybe for about a year of choosing my next blade) I've decided to buy Marcos Freitas ALC.. My other options were: Tiago A ZLC, Kenta M, Viscaria.

The conclusion is that I am satisfied with this great Marcos Freitas.. and yes it's quite the same with my M.Maze that I used in 2011 to 2016..

At First, I fell in love when I saw the box, and the Blade inside. I will say that Butterfly has a good development in the product and packaging designs. Its truly mark up the class of the products nowadays..

At the store, I asked the shop assistant to open several products, and my choice end to Marcos Freitas ALC. I asked him to open 4 Marcos Freitas ALC, and I chose the one that has a nice top layers.. It has those small vertical patterns, (I don't know what those patterns named).. I felt I am comfortable with the one that I chose so yeah although its a quite expensive one, but I ll try..

Sample of Price Comparison of Butterfly in my country
TB ALC 160
Viscaria 140
Kenta 160
Marcos 200
Zhang Jike 210
Tiago 250

I am using my rubbers removed from my TB ALC, they are Tenergy 05 for my Forehand and T80 for my Backhand. My review will be based on my comparison of my TB ALC and Marcos Freitas with the exact same Rubbers.

Marcos Freitas ALC >< Timo Boll ALC
Feel: It has not so stiff feel >< Felt Stiffer
Speed in drives: It is slower, the ball lands in the center during warm up >< it is faster, the ball lands more to the end lines
Vibration: felt more vibration feel >< felt less vibration
Spin Producing: It produces more spin >< very Spinny
Service: Easier to make short and low serves >< A good blade for brushing contact
Receive: Easier to have short returns >< must be careful in receive, may give higher ball and opponent attacks
FH Top Spin Loops: the ball lands more on the table Somehow the ball goes like diving down towards the end line >< a good medium-high throw, it is best to brush the ball from table to net height, gives a nice arc, play well from 2 3 4 steps from the table
Very Suitable for close to table, most of my attacks lands on table >< Suitable for mid and away from table, it has more speed, power shots from close to table may make the ball fly off sometimes
Less incoming spin sensitive >< More incoming spin sensitive
Blocking and counter topspin is my game, my blocks and counter are safer lands on the table, gives my opponent that surprised faces >< Good for blocking, it returns with a good low arc and sharper balls to the opponent.

My Conclusion for my play:
I is good to have T 05 for both sides for my Marcos Freitas ALC *suitable for hard sponge/rubbers
I is better for me to use T 80 for both sides for my Timo Boll ALC *suitable for softer sponge/rubbers

Their main differences are the speed and feel.

Both has good control, good design.

I am using Marcos Freitas ALC as my main Blade since it gives higher possibility of the ball lands on the table for my play.
I am using Timo Boll ALC with my previous Tibhar Evolution ELS and FXS rubbers, I like this setup too..

Have fun!

One of a good blade from Butterfly

I used M.Maze ALC from 2011 to 2016.. It was a very fun blade to play with..

I tried different rubber combinations.. My faves were with T05 for its speed and loops.. DHS Skyline 3 in the forehand is very well for looping and short received, its more difficult to block speed incoming balls since a passive block will resulted the ball goes to the net, it needs an active shot with Chinese tacky rubbers...

It was suitable for hard sponges rubber as well as medium ones, maybe because of the softer outer layer that gives more dwell time and control.. Tried Stiga Boost TC and TS with it but seemed too soft.

A well play blade for close table attacks, service receive, short push, blocks, loops form 3 4 steps away from table, and I like the handle, its kinda different with my TB ALC, felt a bit bigger

My Biggest regret was I sold it to a friend, now I wanted it back, nowhere to find a new one since its being discontinued..

But then, I just bought Marcos Freitas last week because Marcos have been using M.Maze ALC for 10 years and now having his own blade with the same construction, but Freitas personal design..

See you in MF Review..

I bought my first TBALC in 2009 after I played with Primorac Carbon and Schlager Carbon, played with TB ALC until mid 2011, moved to Sardius, Gergely, and stick with M.Maze ALC in the end of 2011 until 2016. Come Back to TB ALC in mid 2015, 2016 changed with TB ZLC and Viscaria.. and in 2017 ended up with only TB ALC. It is the Third TB ALC I bought, it has quite consistent production through the years, mine now with that pearl at the back handle (The two Previous were the original kind of shield emblem / plate).

I have put a lot of different kinds of rubbers onto this blade for FH and BH, surpisingly it always have good speed, good spin. My Best Setup for this are T05, T80, Evolution ELS and FXS.. those are the best rubbers for this blade in my opinion and trials. Not too heavy and balanced weight with these rubbers.

Chinese Rubbers like Hurricane 350, 8 are good with Forehand but it needs more power and stamina to play.. Chinese rubbers fits better with M.Maze ALC in my opinion, felt softer.

Very good in attacking with loop from both wings, close, and mid distance from table, great in blocking passive or even active, the ball lands short or deep table depends on the opponents attack and my hand. Good also for lobbing from far from table.

The balance of speed and spin TB ALC produced during my shots are my favorite compared to other Butterfly Blades I have owned and used.

TB ZLC has more speed and power but great control with higher throw angle, this suits for mid-far from table loop and Chinese Rubbers are suitable for it. My position mostly close to the table so TB ALC fits better.
Viscaria has a bigger handle, and more weight in the handle. Has quicker rebound, so it is fast but not that spinny, worked well with Bryce Highspeed.

TB ALC is not too fast and hard as Tamca Sardius, Gergely, Primorac..

This is good in serving and receiving for short balls.

I will suggest it for players for has good transitions for attack and defence, play close to mid distance, focus on spin, prefer to hit the ball when it drops to the net or table height with this blade, it has great arc and lands near the lines..

So, try it out

2020 Updates:
I use it with Dignics 05 for FH and Tenergy 80 For BH. I loveee this setup.. more psinn, more accurate..