Best Rubbers for Fan Zhendong ALC

[Deep74]

I think they’re very similar, possibly the FZD feels a little more control and the handle gives it a chunkier feel to me. I like both.

How is the handle of FZD compared to Viscaria. The chunkier handle of Viscaria was only reason it was a slight put off for me and I chose LGY and tbh can’t complain about way LGY plays hence I have 2.

I was curious as my sons needs an upgrade from Innerforce alc to an outer alc so was thinking either LGY which I already know or FZD alc for him. I’m not sure handle would bother him.

 

[Deep74]

I think they’re very similar, possibly the FZD feels a little more control and the handle gives it a chunkier feel to me. I like both.

does FZD feel softer with more dwell than LGY?

 

[SFF_lib]

does FZD feel softer with more dwell than LGY?

That’s what I’ve heard from Chinese reviewers

 

[Wrighty67]

does FZD feel softer with more dwell than LGY?

Yes, a little

 

[Wrighty67]

How is the handle of FZD compared to Viscaria. The chunkier handle of Viscaria was only reason it was a slight put off for me and I chose LGY and tbh can’t complain about way LGY plays hence I have 2.

I was curious as my sons needs an upgrade from Innerforce alc to an outer alc so was thinking either LGY which I already know or FZD alc for him. I’m not sure handle would bother him.

Similar- if you like LGY you’d like FZD

 

[BobFL]

That’s what I’ve heard from Chinese reviewers

American tester confirms
First hand experience. 😎

 

[BobFL]

How is the handle of FZD compared to Viscaria. The chunkier handle of Viscaria was only reason it was a slight put off for me and I chose LGY and tbh can’t complain about way LGY plays hence I have 2.

I was curious as my sons needs an upgrade from Innerforce alc to an outer alc so was thinking either LGY which I already know or FZD alc for him. I’m not sure handle would bother him.

I sold the Vis because of the handle. It was super uncomfortable for me.
FZDALC FL is just perfect for me.

 

[NextLevel]

FZD ALC has the softest feel among all the Butterfly outer ALC blades. It’s even softer than LGY ALC.

So FZD ALC is great for loopers. That might explain why FZD uses more FH these days.

People are really overthinking this. Wood is a living thing but if you tested the blades side by side, most of your preference will be in the handle design and not in the blade per se

 

[SFF_lib]

People are really overthinking this. Wood is a living thing but if you tested the blades side by side, most of your preference will be in the handle design and not in the blade per se

I agree with that. However you can't argue that fine workmanship Butterfly has demonstrated - same composition with noticeable difference in feel.

 

[NextLevel]

I agree with that. However you can't argue that fine workmanship Butterfly has demonstrated - same composition with noticeable feel.

I am not disputing their workmanship, I am disputing all these claims about the blades playing differently when they are just the same blade with slightly different handles (which is important, but not enough to make them play as differently as you all are making out). If you have bought multiple versions of one blade, you will see that making claims about how a blade plays on a sample of one can be pretty bold. Blades are similar and different enough that a specific Fan Zhendong ALC can be more similar to a specific Viscaria than to another specific Fan Zhendong ALC. Or a Boll ALC. And all will be far more similar than different from a Freitas ALC.

Yet people will make out that the blades are different beasts. it is often the specific blade and not some general property. One can measure frequencies and aee the ranges before saying there is some difference one is objectively seeing.

 

[Deep74]

Similar- if you like LGY you’d like FZD

Is FZD faster than LGYALC? much difference in playing characteristics.

I got my son one but he uses different rubbers to me so I can’t try his and come to opinion and don’t want to paste my rubbers on and disrupt his set up either. So either I ask those that have used both LGY and FZD with same rubbers or I just go get one and test for myself regardless 😂

 

[Wrighty67]

Is FZD faster than LGYALC? much difference in playing characteristics.

I got my son one but he uses different rubbers to me so I can’t try his and come to opinion and don’t want to paste my rubbers on and disrupt his set up either. So either I ask those that have used both LGY and FZD with same rubbers or I just go get one and test for myself regardless 😂

I thought we had covered this already in the thread but in my opinion LGY is a little faster and crisper than FZD - this applies only to the blades I own so only a small sample size.

Not much difference between the two in playing characteristics.

 

[jammmail]

I thought we had covered this already in the thread but in my opinion LGY is a little faster and crisper than FZD - this applies only to the blades I own so only a small sample size.

Not much difference between the two in playing characteristics.

Have you tried the Super Viscaria Wrighty?

 

[Wrighty67]

Have you tried the Super Viscaria Wrighty?

No - I think it would be a little bit too lively for me!

 

[SFF_lib]

I am not disputing their workmanship, I am disputing all these claims about the blades playing differently when they are just the same blade with slightly different handles (which is important, but not enough to make them play as differently as you all are making out). If you have bought multiple versions of one blade, you will see that making claims about how a blade plays on a sample of one can be pretty bold. Blades are similar and different enough that a specific Fan Zhendong ALC can be more similar to a specific Viscaria than to another specific Fan Zhendong ALC. Or a Boll ALC. And all will be far more similar than different from a Freitas ALC.

Yet people will make out that the blades are different beasts. it is often the specific blade and not some general property. One can measure frequencies and aee the ranges before saying there is some difference one is objectively seeing.

I see your point. I've not had such a chance to try multiple of the same blade.

 

[NextLevel]

I see your point. I've not had such a chance to try multiple of the same blade.

I have 3 Mazunovs, 2 Innerforce T5000s, have had 4 Korbels at one time, had 2 Boll T5000, had two Stiga Carbonados which were like fraternal twins of different sexes, had a Carbonado 145 that played slower than a Carbonado 45 etc. I have often bought blades to have backup setups and realized that there was always one I preferred or which played slightly differently (or in the case of the Carbonado 190s, very differently).

Wood is a living thing (part of the reason why Butterfly seems to be lobbying hard to let blades be made without it). Just that by itself can produce things of different weight that are designed to be roughly the same.

 

[jammmail]

I have 3 Mazunovs, 2 Innerforce T5000s, have had 4 Korbels at one time, had 2 Boll T5000, had two Stiga Carbonados which were like fraternal twins of different sexes, had a Carbonado 145 that played slower than a Carbonado 45 etc. I have often bought blades to have backup setups and realized that there was always one I preferred or which played slightly differently (or in the case of the Carbonado 190s, very differently).

Wood is a living thing (part of the reason why Butterfly seems to be lobbying hard to let blades be made without it). Just that by itself can produce things of different weight that are designed to be roughly the same.

I totally get your point @NextLevel – but most people aren't going to be able to afford multiples or to try lots of the same blade.

 

[NextLevel]

I totally get your point @NextLevel – but most people aren't going to be able to afford multiples or to try lots of the same blade.

Well, it depends on what country you are in, but most people I know somehow or someway have access to someone or something that allows them to test blades. And table tennis is a sport that allows most people who are in a tech career in the US to EJ a lot. I get that my giving my specific example could sound embarrassingly boastful or give people the wrong impression about what I do, but I make the point to say that experiences can convey a certain impression and my blade/rubber collection is not special amongst the people I hang out with. But not being able to conduct sampling experiments should make you a bit more careful about making strong comments about things that don't have a wide range of data. And wasting money on equipment over a period of 12 years has in my opinion taught me a lot of things. Mazunovs are also fairly cheap all wood blades.

One of the most hilarious videos I recently watched was a TT11 review of various sticky rubbers. Now note that most/all of these reviewers are 2300+ (even if they don't communicate that). What made the video funny to me is how it shows that many reviews are subjective and unless you know how similar your feeling is to the reviewer, you really can't come to the same conclusions and that it isn't completely about playing level sometimes.

 

[jammmail]

Well, it depends on what country you are in, but most people I know somehow or someway have access to someone or something that allows them to test blades. And table tennis is a sport that allows most people who are in a tech career in the US to EJ a lot. I get that my giving my specific example could sound embarrassingly boastful or give people the wrong impression about what I do, but I make the point to say that experiences can convey a certain impression and my blade/rubber collection is not special amongst the people I hang out with. But not being able to conduct sampling experiments should make you a bit more careful about making strong comments about things that don't have a wide range of data. And wasting money on equipment over a period of 12 years has in my opinion taught me a lot of things. Mazunovs are also fairly cheap all wood blades.

One of the most hilarious videos I recently watched was a TT11 review of various sticky rubbers. Now note that most/all of these reviewers are 2300+ (even if they don't communicate that). What made the video funny to me is how it shows that many reviews are subjective and unless you know how similar your feeling is to the reviewer, you really can't come to the same conclusions and that it isn't completely about playing level sometimes.

I did say I agreed with you but its a lot easier to test one blade than multiples of the same one, thats all I meant.

But yeah the TT11 guys really hate on Butterfly in that review - which compared with most peoples (and mine of that particular rubber) doesn't make any sense. But I imagine they made that video to sell the other rubbers rather than 09C. So motive always needs to be factored in.

At the end of the day - its upto you to see if it works for you at that particular time. I dont take someones review as gospel - but I do find it interesting to shortlist and narrow down my search.
After trying out the products and watching lots of Dan and Toms reviews I can work out what I might like and what I wont from there new ones.
On paper the Harimoto ALC was exactly what i (thought) I wanted - and after their review I ended up picking one up second hand. It was the opposite, I didn't like it at all. It might just have been a strange version in someway. But I might like it more now if i tried it again as your technique changes and evolves.

 

[hclnnkhg]

I did say I agreed with you but its a lot easier to test one blade than multiples of the same one, thats all I meant.

But yeah the TT11 guys really hate on Butterfly in that review - which compared with most peoples (and mine of that particular rubber) doesn't make any sense. But I imagine they made that video to sell the other rubbers rather than 09C. So motive always needs to be factored in.

At the end of the day - its upto you to see if it works for you at that particular time. I dont take someones review as gospel - but I do find it interesting to shortlist and narrow down my search.
After trying out the products and watching lots of Dan and Toms reviews I can work out what I might like and what I wont from there new ones.
On paper the Harimoto ALC was exactly what i (thought) I wanted - and after their review I ended up picking one up second hand. It was the opposite, I didn't like it at all. It might just have been a strange version in someway. But I might like it more now if i tried it again as your technique changes and evolves.

I think the TT11 guys generally prefer a more controllable rubber over a really powerful rubber. If my memory serves me correctly there is another review where most testers prefer tibhar aurus over MXP.