Fanzhendong ALC vs VISCARIA

[Spinsanity]

They are identical. Only the optical design is different. There is a great summary by TTGEARLAB. Google it, find it, read it.

The handles of Viscaria and FZD ALC are 100% NOT the same. Viscaria is thinner and more flat and FZD ALC is rounder and fatter. It's a significant difference (and possibly the only difference between these two blades) that no one is talking about!

I literally gave away my new FZD ALC to a friend because the handle did not suite me where I love the Viscaria handle and was expecting that the FZD ALC handle would be the same when I had bought it. It was a huge disappointment.

Not saying that the FZD ALC handle is bad - just saying that it did not suite me AND that the two handles are definitely not the same. The FZD ALC handle is suitable for people with a slightly bigger hand.

 

[Conehead]

Quoting from https://ttgearlab.com/2023/06/05/butterfly-fan-zhendong-series-lab-test/comment-page-1/:
"Some players are saying that the FL handle of ‘Fan Zhendong ALC’ is a bit thicker than that of ‘Zhang Jike ALC’. But, still we don’t know whether there has been the modification of the thickness of handle or the difference is just due to the deviation by production lot."

So, theoretically the same could have happened to you, namely "deviation by production lot".

 

[ML fan]

FZD has a slightly rounder handle. It tends to play a little softer and slower vs Viscaria, just as the Boll Alc tends to play a little harder and faster. Balance is similar to Viscaria, whereas the Boll is a little head heavier. Small differences on average with considerable overlap, but these blades are not identical in my experience as a long time Viscaria user who's tried them all. Probably more due to differences in the manufacturing process and not the materials or basic design.

Maybe you are refering to old viscaria. Because the new vis is different from the old one. I dont know too. But I have read that Fzd has little feel. Viscaria has better feel too.

 

[ZFT]

I found similar differences with Super Vis vs FZD SALC.

I had both at the same weight and tried other clubmates.

FZD SALC = softer, more dwell, bigger fuller handle.
Super Vis = clearer feedback, faster and/or more responsive, weight toward head.

It’s almost as if Butterfly employ different glue method or select a different type of species within kiri/limba/koto plies if keeping the composite layer the exact same.

We compared the top ply and in all cases the FZD koto was whiter and brighter than the more yellowish Super Vis koto.

We had serials ranging within W (2022) to Y (2024)

 

[ZFT]

Also it was noted that the koto was drier on FZD vs Super Vis for those that didn’t seal their blades initially.

We felt rubber could stick down firmer and more securely on FZD using the same amount of glue and glue type. Usually 1 layer DHS No.15 non boosting.

 

[joshmak10]

I currently have viscaria as one of my blades. The only real difference between Vis and FZD is that FZD has a slightly more spin, but it’s really minimal and Otherwise they’re really just clones of each other. Just pick one which design u like the best.

 

[Dr Evil]

Maybe you are refering to old viscaria. Because the new vis is different from the old one. I dont know too. But I have read that Fzd has little feel. Viscaria has better feel too.

My current Viscaria is about 2 years old, so not too old. Haven't read about any recent design changes, but of course no two batches of wood are identical and there's variation from blade to blade even in the same series. I prefer Viscaria feel to FZD, too, but that's far from a universal opinion. I think most players who have played at least a few of both blades would agree that FZD tends to be a bit slower with a softer feel, but the difference is small. A heavier, newer FZD could easily play faster with a harder feel than a lighter, older Viscaria (water based glue softens blades over time). But there does tend to be a difference. Could be due to minor details of the manufacturing process, or could just be the shape of the handle and wings.

 

[AmanooMan]

This is only a guess, but there is a chance that from all the blades with the Viscaria-like construction, Butterfly chooses the ones that tend to be a little softer and puts the FZD handle on them. So you might find a FZD ALC and a Viscaria that are almost similar, but on average, FZD ALC might be a little softer.

I have read the TTGearLab post about Viscaria/FZD, which makes sense, but we can't ignore several people saying their FZD ALC has been a little bit softer than Viscaria (and no one has said the opposite).

But obviously, I can be totally wrong as I own neither of the blades!

 

[kapahoo]

Perhaps different facrories, manufacturing sites or just different teams? Same specs, different people ordering raw materials and putting them together. Toyota-like manufacturing.

 

[andzejgolot]

FZD has a slightly rounder handle. It tends to play a little softer and slower vs Viscaria, just as the Boll Alc tends to play a little harder and faster. Balance is similar to Viscaria, whereas the Boll is a little head heavier. Small differences on average with considerable overlap, but these blades are not identical in my experience as a long time Viscaria user who's tried them all. Probably more due to differences in the manufacturing process and not the materials or basic design.

This statement clears and is the most popular to my opinion.
Viscaria is the number 0. The most experienced from balls, glue and reworked
The n0 was reshaped, 3-4th times. 2012-2014 viscaria had different handle than 2015-2019 handle. They reworked package and handle from 2020 to 2024. I had 2025 viscaria which had chunkier handle. I didnt use Black tag viscaria

TB alc is sharper than n0.
I had 2011 TB alc and 2020, and 2025. They are sharp
Fzd alc is softer than n0

Zhang Jike is harder than n0 but it is not Sharp as TB alc
Zhang Jike and n0 are different but you can feel family in them and for me its variation of TB alc hardness glass ping and the casual speed of Viscaria.

Viscaria is godfather
TB alc is the sharpest and the wildest brother
FZD alc is the most inteligent brother
Zhang Jike is the most elegant but has the same mood as n01
But after all I found FZD alc with weight 95 grams, so I must use knowledge, spin variation and speed and makes me Play slower and solid.
I didnt even talk about Kenta Matsudaira alc and Timo Boll Spirit.
But FZD is my favorite

 

[sebi]

This statement clears and is the most popular to my opinion.
Viscaria is the number 0. The most experienced from balls, glue and reworked
The n0 was reshaped, 3-4th times. 2012-2014 viscaria had different handle than 2015-2019 handle. They reworked package and handle from 2020 to 2024. I had 2025 viscaria which had chunkier handle. I didnt use Black tag viscaria

TB alc is sharper than n0.
I had 2011 TB alc and 2020, and 2025. They are sharp
Fzd alc is softer than n0

Zhang Jike is harder than n0 but it is not Sharp as TB alc
Zhang Jike and n0 are different but you can feel family in them and for me its variation of TB alc hardness glass ping and the casual speed of Viscaria.

Viscaria is godfather
TB alc is the sharpest and the wildest brother
FZD alc is the most inteligent brother
Zhang Jike is the most elegant but has the same mood as n01
But after all I found FZD alc with weight 95 grams, so I must use knowledge, spin variation and speed and makes me Play slower and solid.
I didnt even talk about Kenta Matsudaira alc and Timo Boll Spirit.
But FZD is my favorite

i read a few threats and reviews about this and a lot of people have the same opinion. I don´t think viscaria and it´s clones are the same. Apparently the lin gaoyuan alc is the softest of them all. Timo Ball himself said in a ttd video, that his blade is very hard.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

ZJK ALC: “you didn’t know this. You never knew”

 

[Robin0910]

By the way, fan zhendong Alc’s price has been raised allover in China. Are there rumours of it being discontinued?

 

[andzejgolot]

By the way, fan zhendong Alc’s price has been raised allover in China. Are there rumours of it being discontinued?

Maybe IT is closer to golden viscaria than we think that's why IT is popular and that's why they increased prices.

 

[doppelmoral]

I got a second-hand FZD ALC 90g 1410hz for really cheap and currently using it for fun in practise with H3N BS.

I can just repeat what most people said here. FZD ALC feels much softer than Viscaria / Zhang Jike ALC. Especially many of the new Viscaria's that I tried have this weird metallic vibration that I really dont like. FZD is just soft and comfortable with a higher arc. It actually reminds me alot of my old Xiom 36.5 ALX, but this blade series has been discontinued.

The handle of FZD ALC also feels better than Viscaria. Just feels fuller in my hand. Its the best handle I have tried after AJH TMXI Pro's handle.

 

[kapahoo]

Are there any differences in balance between the two?

 

[joshmak10]

Are there any differences in balance between the two?

Not really

 

[dingyibvs]

I got a second-hand FZD ALC 90g 1410hz for really cheap and currently using it for fun in practise with H3N BS.

I can just repeat what most people said here. FZD ALC feels much softer than Viscaria / Zhang Jike ALC. Especially many of the new Viscaria's that I tried have this weird metallic vibration that I really dont like. FZD is just soft and comfortable with a higher arc. It actually reminds me alot of my old Xiom 36.5 ALX, but this blade series has been discontinued.

The handle of FZD ALC also feels better than Viscaria. Just feels fuller in my hand. Its the best handle I have tried after AJH TMXI Pro's handle.

I think the handle is roughly the same size, with the Vis being a bit more squarish and the FZD a bit more round. I think the difference is the shoulder. The FZD's shoulder tapers more aggressively, so allows you to grip a bit higher up the handle particularly if you don't have big hands.

 

[Kobehan27]

I don’t think it’s been mentioned before but the FZD seems to be more balanced between the handle and head compared to the Viscaria. My friends FZD weighed 192 grams (blade: 88 grams, rubbers: Hurricane BS & Xiom Vega China) whereas my Viscaria weighed 189 grams (blade: 87 grams, rubbers: D09c both sides) but his FZD felt far lighter. My Viscaria was head heavy compared to his. Also to mention, I noticed my Viscaria handle (serial# starts with Y, I believe it’s 2024 production) has a thinner neck and handle compared to the older Viscarias.

 

[dingyibvs]

I don’t think it’s been mentioned before but the FZD seems to be more balanced between the handle and head compared to the Viscaria. My friends FZD weighed 192 grams (blade: 88 grams, rubbers: Hurricane BS & Xiom Vega China) whereas my Viscaria weighed 189 grams (blade: 87 grams, rubbers: D09c both sides) but his FZD felt far lighter. My Viscaria was head heavy compared to his. Also to mention, I noticed my Viscaria handle (serial# starts with Y, I believe it’s 2024 production) has a thinner neck and handle compared to the older Viscarias.

I think their weight distribution is about the same. Your friend's Vis being 1 gram lighter and the rubbers 4 grams heavier is probably why you feel the difference. To be a fair comparison your friend's rubbers need to be 4-5 grams lighter. I think anyone here would tell you that if you use rubbers that are 4-5 grams lighter you'll feel a huge difference in weight distribution.