says
Spin and more spin.
says
Spin and more spin.
Well-Known Member
Super Moderator
Okay, I got to hit with a Butterfly Innerforce ZLF last night. I have to say, it was amazing. Some of you have heard me say that I like all wood blades and am not such a big fan of carbon blades because of the lack of feeling from them. This blade is probably the best blade I have ever felt. I have tried the ZLC blades and I do not like them. the Timo Boll ZLF feels okay but it lacks a certain pop and loses power away from the table. It feels good but is missing something. The Photino I did not like. It felt almost mushy and too springy.
I think I know why this is: the Photino is Hinoki-Zylon-Kiri-Zylon-Hinoki
I don't think combining a soft springy wood like Hinoki with the soft springy Zylon seemed like too much of that effect, and the Kiri core was not enough to help it.
I think the Timo Boll ZLF has this construction: Koto-Zylon-Limba-Kiri-Limba-Zylon-Koto
I think the Kiri core is not enough because of the slower Limba plies on either side of it inside the Zylon even though the fast Koto outer ply is nice.
But the Innerforce ZLF actually seemed and felt perfect to me. It has a ton of dwell time so you get a lot of spin and it is great for looping and short game touch. But it has a ton of power so you are not losing speed to get that extra touch and dwell time. The racket holds the ball on it for long enough for you to adjust while spinning the ball. Very cool. And it has great feeling. The thing I have not liked about the ZLC blades that I have felt is that you don't get the feeling and then end up feeling like it is not enough dwell time because I cannot feel the ball on the surface well enough.
This is what I think the construction for the Innerforce ZLF is: Limba-Limba-Zylon-Ayous-Limba-Limba [Edit: should read: Limba-Limba-Zylon-Ayous-Zylon-Limba-Limba]
Same construction as a Primorac or a Korbel but with the Zylon added under the Limba. So the Limba gives you a lot of dwell time for extra spin and control with touch stuff, the Zylon makes it springy and have snap and does not interfere with you feeling the ball, and the Ayous inner ply is fast enough to give it that extra pop you need for when you take a full swing and rip the ball.
This is the first blade I have felt that is actually better than an all wood blade. The one drawback, the price tag. In my opinion $185.00 USD is a lot of money for a little piece of wood. But Butterfly seems to have gotten something very very right with this blade.
Since everyone feels things differently not everyone will agree with me on this. And I know that my favorite blades are all combinations of Limba and Ayous. Those woods, in combination feel better than anything else to me. The only exception to that is one of those really nice one ply Hinoki blades like the Darker Speed 90. They feel great but the drawback to them is that: 1) they can split since it is only one ply, so they are very delicate, 2) they are too heavy since they have to be thick, 3) they are a little too thick for serving shakehand (9mm is a very thick blade most multi-ply blades are between 5.5-7mm). 4) they are expensive ($150.00 USD and then a huge shipping fee). But when you hit with one, they feel amazing for doing drills and grooving your strokes.
All that said, if money were no object, I would run out right now and get myself a Butterfly Innerforce ZLF.
I think I know why this is: the Photino is Hinoki-Zylon-Kiri-Zylon-Hinoki
I don't think combining a soft springy wood like Hinoki with the soft springy Zylon seemed like too much of that effect, and the Kiri core was not enough to help it.
I think the Timo Boll ZLF has this construction: Koto-Zylon-Limba-Kiri-Limba-Zylon-Koto
I think the Kiri core is not enough because of the slower Limba plies on either side of it inside the Zylon even though the fast Koto outer ply is nice.
But the Innerforce ZLF actually seemed and felt perfect to me. It has a ton of dwell time so you get a lot of spin and it is great for looping and short game touch. But it has a ton of power so you are not losing speed to get that extra touch and dwell time. The racket holds the ball on it for long enough for you to adjust while spinning the ball. Very cool. And it has great feeling. The thing I have not liked about the ZLC blades that I have felt is that you don't get the feeling and then end up feeling like it is not enough dwell time because I cannot feel the ball on the surface well enough.
This is what I think the construction for the Innerforce ZLF is: Limba-Limba-Zylon-Ayous-Limba-Limba [Edit: should read: Limba-Limba-Zylon-Ayous-Zylon-Limba-Limba]
Same construction as a Primorac or a Korbel but with the Zylon added under the Limba. So the Limba gives you a lot of dwell time for extra spin and control with touch stuff, the Zylon makes it springy and have snap and does not interfere with you feeling the ball, and the Ayous inner ply is fast enough to give it that extra pop you need for when you take a full swing and rip the ball.
This is the first blade I have felt that is actually better than an all wood blade. The one drawback, the price tag. In my opinion $185.00 USD is a lot of money for a little piece of wood. But Butterfly seems to have gotten something very very right with this blade.
Since everyone feels things differently not everyone will agree with me on this. And I know that my favorite blades are all combinations of Limba and Ayous. Those woods, in combination feel better than anything else to me. The only exception to that is one of those really nice one ply Hinoki blades like the Darker Speed 90. They feel great but the drawback to them is that: 1) they can split since it is only one ply, so they are very delicate, 2) they are too heavy since they have to be thick, 3) they are a little too thick for serving shakehand (9mm is a very thick blade most multi-ply blades are between 5.5-7mm). 4) they are expensive ($150.00 USD and then a huge shipping fee). But when you hit with one, they feel amazing for doing drills and grooving your strokes.
All that said, if money were no object, I would run out right now and get myself a Butterfly Innerforce ZLF.
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