Butterfly FZD ALC - first impressions.

[DukeGaGa]

has anyone tried fish scale FZD ALC?

“Fish scale” doesn’t really make a difference, other than it might look cool, which by the way is covered by rubbers all the time. 🤣

Mine just arrived yesterday, and both sides have large amounts of this “fish scale” pattern.

 

[DukeGaGa]

Tried it first time this afternoon at the club, and I like it a lot. It actually feels rather similar to the XIOM TMXi, but I like the handle shape a lot more on the FZD ALC. I tried it with H3 BS boosted but wasn’t very satisfied with the feel, so I switch to Victas TD and TR again, now it feels really good.

 

[Wrighty67]

That’s good to hear - looking forward to hearing more as you use it Duke

 

[SFF_lib]

So i played mine for 2 weeks now and yeah that is a good blade but to put my summary at the start, i would never spend so much money on any blade again. The differences (advantages) between a blade 50-70€ blade like Yinhe pro 01 or DHS TG 506x which have a viscaria structure too and FZD ALC are minor or even insignificant.

Clear advantages:
- The finish is way better than the one from DHS and slightly better than the Yinhe pro 01.
- Feedback is clearer
- Better vibrations, but still not that much that it is distracting
- These advantages give you slight better control with the blade

Slight disadvantage (more subjective thought):
- FZD ALC is not very crisp. I can confirm the longer dwell time which diminishes the linear feeling a little bit imo.

But again, this doesnt justify 100€ more unless it will never change its properties from the many upcoming gluing processes. We will see about that.
I will stick with it for now because i already have it and still like it, but the next blades will be clones again because i am not playing around 2k+ TTR, so these differences dont matter at all imo.

I've been playing W968 for a year. Love the massive power away from the table. The feeling close to table is muted. Built quality is not what you expect for a $300USD blade. Quite a few splints already despite protector.

I am considering FZD ALC in the future as many people say it is the softest Butterfly ALC.

What's your thought when playing power loop?

 

[Attitude]

I've been playing W968 for a year. Love the massive power away from the table. The feeling close to table is muted. Built quality is not what you expect for a $300USD blade. Quite a few splints already despite protector.

I am considering FZD ALC in the future as many people say it is the softest Butterfly ALC.

What's your thought when playing power loop?

Ok that is definitly sadge but kinda proves to me that there is no use to pay so much for such a blade as a "normal" person.

Anyway to answer your question: My fh definitly needs a bit more power from me than with my other alc compositions (H3 OS 39° one big layer of FTL). But that is actually a good thing because i can position my shots better now and have way more control over them.

My current problem is more to the backhand side right now, because i actually lack that exact control, which is probably more of a rubber and/or a problem of mine of how i use it. Topspins with my DHS Hurricane 8-80 (38°) go really wide and i cant really loop consistent, which annoys me. Gonna give it a go with my older Vega X soon i guess and see how that feels, because right now i have the feeling i have to change my technique completely.

 

[SFF_lib]

Ok that is definitly sadge but kinda proves to me that there is no use to pay so much for such a blade as a "normal" person.

Anyway to answer your question: My fh definitly needs a bit more power from me than with my other alc compositions (H3 OS 39° one big layer of FTL). But that is actually a good thing because i can position my shots better now and have way more control over them.

My current problem is more to the backhand side right now, because i actually lack that exact control, which is probably more of a rubber and/or a problem of mine of how i use it. Topspins with my DHS Hurricane 8-80 (38°) go really wide and i cant really loop consistent, which annoys me. Gonna give it a go with my older Vega X soon i guess and see how that feels, because right now i have the feeling i have to change my technique completely.

How do you compare HL5 and FZD ALC in terms of spin potential far from table?

 

[Attitude]

How do you compare HL5 and FZD ALC in terms of spin potential far from table?

Sorry cant compare those. Just played with Long 3 which has a different composition and therefore not comparable with Long 5.
Maybe some time in the future i will go with the cheaper fango carbon^^

 

[ArturS]

Is it easier to block or BH fast attack with viscaria or fzd alc?

 

[dingyibvs]

Is it easier to block or BH fast attack with viscaria or fzd alc?

A bit easier with Viscaria or ZJK ALC, which felt pretty much like the same blade to me in terms of ball quality. At least the ones I own (all 88-90 grams) are both stiffer and faster to me. My FZD ALC feels a lot flexier, but consequently loses a bit of crispness on the BH side. The advantage is a bit better arc in all attacking shots. It's also a lot easier to hit into the blade. The FZD has the same blade face as the Viscaria except the wings, which are narrower. The ZJK has the same wings as the FZD, but the shoulder areas just above the wings are a bit narrower than both the FZD and the Viscaria.

How do you compare HL5 and FZD ALC in terms of spin potential far from table?

You might have already tried them out, but the FZD ALC doesn't have the power of the any of the 968 versions. The 968s (I have the W and the Q, both official national versions around 89-90 grams) are harder to hit into the blade, but when you do there's tremendous flex and added power.

Sorry cant compare those. Just played with Long 3 which has a different composition and therefore not comparable with Long 5.
Maybe some time in the future i will go with the cheaper fango carbon^^

How are they feeling about these Viscaria variants and Viscaria clones these days? Like 506X vs. the Viscaria clones? My feeling about the FZD and Viscaria are fairly similar to yours. I feel the FZD is considerably flexier, but not as fast as the Viscaria or the ZJK. I wonder which one is the 506X more similar to?

 

[ttpb]

So you decide on one single experience. But since you "dont know how ppl can compare" i simply tell you:

First of all many of those copies have the exact same structure. The most differences here come from the handle and how the structure is assembled.

Second you just compare one of the cheapest vis clones out there. And as many ppl stated before, the v-14 pro is no real clone of the viscaria, because it plays significantly different. It is way more crisp (probably harder), has way less feedback and feel, it is faster and has a pretty bad finish. It splinters pretty fast and is overall not a durable blade.

But if you would compare it with a decent clone like the pro 01 (which has a pro version too which cost over a 100€, and the differences really not that big of a deal) or the 506x you would probably be able to see that these blades dont play different at all.
Imo if you buy blades between 60-100€ you get probably the best for your buck. The (probable) advantages from everything beyond that is insignificant, at least in terms of alc compositions. Zlf, cnf etc. Is smth completely different.

For reference: i played for several years with above mentioned clones and have my fzd alc currently in use for around 3 weeks.

Could you please compare Yinhe Pro 01 and DHS 506X? Thanks

 

[Attitude]

DHS 506x feels more crispier.
But the differences come mostly because of the different handle and balance. 506x is more headheavy and felt a bit awkward due to the thinner handle, but that is personal preference.
Pro 01 feels more controlled and more solid, which is why i sticked with it for quite long and always come back to it for now, when i test other blades^^

 

[steve888]

How does the FZD alc compare with Timo boll spirit - for speed, control and feel. Thanks

 

[amitmnagarwal]

How does the FZD alc compare with Timo boll spirit - for speed, control and feel. Thanks

I have both, and I felt more at ease with spirit.

Spirit is more softer and better feel ,

 

[steve888]

I have both, and I felt more at ease with spirit.

Spirit is more softer and better feel ,

So more control in the short game? Similar speed ??

 

[amitmnagarwal]

So more control in the short game? Similar speed ??

Speed I felt less, but feel wise and spin wise I felt more in spirit and grip is more comfortable to me and ability to switch FH to BH better

Having said that fzd also has good blade but for me , spirit is primary blade

 

[steve888]

Thanks , how does the TBS compare with Timo boll ALC and Viscaria then?