I made a long and detailed review of the Harimoto Super ALC, including many pictures
I am back with another blade review! This time, I will review the Butterfly Harimoto Tomokazu Innerforce Super ALC, which is the successor of the regular Harimoto Innerforce ALC. This blade is used…
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Basic Facts:
The Harimoto Tomokazu Innerforce Super ALC (HSALC) is an oversized blade with a headsize of 158x152mm. It has the typical innerforce structure, which means that the carbon fiber is close to the core of the blade. The thickness is around 5.9mm, and the outer layer is Limba, while the middle layer is presumably Ayous. A major difference between the HSALC and other blades with that structure, such as DHS W968, XIOM AJH TMXi Pro, and the regular Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC, is that the core of the HSALC is actually Kiri. Kiri as a material for the core is typically found in Viscaria-type blades (outer- instead of inner carbon) that have Koto as the top layer. Therefore, it was interesting to see that Butterfly adjusted the construction in comparison to the regular Harimoto ALC version. Since Kiri is lighter than Ayous and also has a lower density, it is slightly less linear and powerful but helps reduce the overall weight of the blade.
Drive and Smash
During warmup, the HSALC feels quite fast and crisp. The feedback is definitely faster than my AJH TMXi Pro, and similar but slightly slower than a Viscaria. Even though both the HSALC and the AJH Pro feature a similar construction, the AJH Pro feels more “woody” and features more vibration. The feedback of the AJH Pro is more linear and much slower on low impact. The HSALC still offers great feedback though. It is not as numb or muted as a Viscaria, there are slight vibrations that make it easy to feel the ball, but it’s more crisp and aggressive than my AJH Pro. The HSALC likes to push the ball forward, so there is a natural catapult that helps on all shots. When using about 30% power, you will be able to feel the fiber pushing the ball towards your opponent. The catapult however is not unexpected or uncontrollable, but pleasant and assists on drives.
Also, due to the bigger headsize, all shots feel very stable and the feedback is excellent. I think that 158x152mm is really the perfect blade headsize, as it feels more controlled and stable than the regular 157x150mm (e.g. Viscaria) but is more nimble and better for transitions in comparison to 160x152mm (e.g. AJH Pro).
For smashing or flat hits and fast drives, the blade is really excellent. Since the Super ALC generates a lot of forward momentum, it is easy to finish points using a smash. The feeling of dwell on drives and smashes is also pleasant, especially in combination with Chinese rubbers such as Hurricane 3. This makes it very easy to control the trajectory and path of the ball.
Loop
The Harimoto Super ALC excels at looping. I had so much fun using this blade offensively, and for good reasons. First of all, the HSALC offers a very crisp feedback but also a high amount of dwell time, which provides a lot of confidence when looping. Second, the HSALC’s main feature is that loops tend to have a high and long arc that dips down towards the white line of the table. Especially on my forehand loops, I was able to keep adding power, but the ball just would not go out as long as I focused on spin generation. Interestingly, this stable, high, and long arc stayed consistent across low, medium, and high-power shots, giving me confidence when playing offensively. Furthermore, the blade is quite fast: the Super ALC kicks in quite early and drives the ball forward, so it’s easy to create a fast ball. The levels of spin were quite high, and spin creation was also easy.
I will say though that the quality of my loops were not on the highest level. For example, AJH Pro / W968 definitely offers more power and spin on high power shots. However, a lot more effort is needed to achieve this kind of quality. With the HSALC, you get the perfect mix of stability, speed and spin even on medium effort, since the catapult of the Super ALC is really assisting in the looping game. Therefore, the HSALC for me is the most comfortable blade that I have used for looping, as its less demanding and more stable and safe than AJH Pro / W968.
The backhand side was very pleasant too. The headsize of 158x152mm adds a lot of stability, and the feedback was crisp. It was quite easy to create high-arcing and spinny loops that my opponents struggled with. Since the Super ALC is assisting on shots, I can focus on spin generation, and the catapult of the blade will help to push the ball over in a nice and long arc. This can be felt especially on brush loops: you can catch the ball late and brush it nicely with the topsheet, and the ball still gets this high and stable arc that is threatening for the opponent. While more linear blades such as the AJH Pro / W968 can do the same, you need to create more of your own power to achieve a similar result. Overall, the quality of loops with the HSALC is just ‘good’, but not outstanding. In return, the blade delivers excellent control, making it easy to keep the ball on the table.
Counter-looping was also quite pleasant and effective. However, due to the longer and higher arc, some initial adjustment might be needed, as it’s possible to overshoot. With a clean and firm impact , you can send a fast rocket to your opponent that will be very tough to return.
Defensive Game
The HSALC definitely shines in the defensive game. One of Tomokazu Harimoto’s strength is his blocking game, as he likes to hold opponents off with his blocks for a while before he starts his counter attack. When blocking, the HSALC is one of the best blades I have ever used. Blocking is very safe and stable, but also vicious. It blocks similar to a Viscaria, meaning that even passive blocks are low and fast and pressure opponents. On top of that, you can feel the ball well due to the Limba outer layer, so the feedback is crisp and excellent. Even in official matches, I felt confident to just block my opponents loops and keep the ball in play for a long time, as the control was outstanding.
Active blocking was also a treat. Kick blocks and adding spin were particular strengths, and the ball came back fast and loaded with spin towards my opponents. Any kind of block variations, such as chop blocks or taking speed out of the ball, were easy to execute and effective. When observing official matches of Tomokazu Harimoto, we can often see how he actually pushes the ball down on blocks, which changes the spin and rhythm, making it hard for the opponent to continuously loop. I think the HSALC may be one of the best blades for the defensive game, as I feel safe in both active and passive blocking, not feeling pressured to take the initiative immediately. This makes the HSALC an excellent blade for all round play, enabling a variety of playing styles.
Transition and over-the-table
I liked the HSALC for serves, as the handle is comfortable and the spin generation was above average. On returns, I needed some initial adjustments. Due to the Super ALC, the blade can act bouncy at times, so patience and soft hands are needed. If you focus on creating spin on returns, for example when pushing or flicking, the HSALC’s performance was excellent. Aggressive returns especially worked well, since the HSALC creates this stable and high arc that rewards active play.
Also, since the blade is slightly oversized, transitions from forehand to backhand and vice-versa can be a bit slower. However, I did not experience any difficulties here, as I am used to oversized blades and adapting to them is just a matter of practice.
Closing Thoughts:
The Tomokazu Harimoto Super ALC is Butterfly’s first blade that features an inner-carbon composition in combination with the Super ALC special material. It is an excellent looping blade whose main strength is its stability. Loops with this blade are spinny and have a high and long arc. Furthermore, the blade is fast but controllable. The overall shot quality isn’t the absolute highest, but every type of stroke remains effective even at low to medium power. It supports all kinds of playstyles and can be considered a perfect modern blade for all round play. It also shines in defensive play, with one of its standout qualities being passive and active blocking. The HSALC would be too fast for beginners but is a good choice for intermediate and advanced players who feel confident to execute all basic strokes.
Another outstanding feature is the compatibility with hard Chinese rubbers. Chinese rubbers are slow, especially when the boosting effect has worn off. They need a blade that is quick and powerful enough to support offensive play. The HSALC has a natural catapult that pushes the ball forward, while providing excellent feedback and stability. When paired with the high dwell time that Chinese rubbers provide, the result is an excellent combination. Looping with Hurricane 3 + HSALC creates long and high arcs, and any type of offensive strokes will benefit from these characteristics. While the shot quality is not as high as other blades such as AJH Pro / W968, low-medium power shots feel safer and more rewarding. Overall, I believe that this blade is easier to use than Viscaria or W968 for intermediate players since its more versatile and stable. I would therefore recommend the Harimoto Super ALC to offensive players who loop on both wings and prefer to utilize a wide repertoire of shots rather than relying on an all-out attacking style. Also, I believe that players who favor Chinese or hybrid rubbers will find this blade to be a particularly rewarding option.
