Help to Choose a Carbon Blade ( Preferrably Butterfly)

[ayush_vrma]

Hello TTD Fam,

I have been playing table tennis for about 7-8 years now. After using a 5-ply all wood blade for nearly 6 years. I wanted to switch to carbon. (For it's merits and demerits).

Blade I use: Butterfly Hadraw VK
Rubber FH: Rozena 2.1
Rubber BH : Rakza 7 2.0

I was looking through outer ALC blades, Checked Viscaria, somehow didn't like it maybe coz of of the handle, the numbness and softer . Tried TB ALC was better. I am more inclined to get the TB ALC blade, but dunno what weight to buy for balance ( I do not like head heavy setups).

 

[ripctt2]

All the ALC (outer-alc btw) blades in the butterfly lineup are essentially the same blade. It's just that there are some differences in the blade and some tiny differences in the consturction that only apply to top pro players. If you check the butterfly website, butterfly-global.com you can find all the blades there. Find a design you like, check the specs of handle and weight, get it and forget about it. If you ever feel like the handle is too big, sand it slightly. If it's a bit small, consider some grip tape to make it wider. You can also find viscaria clones, their handles might be different but i dont have first-hand experience e.g. yinhe y14 pro

 

[ayush_vrma]

All the ALC (outer-alc btw) blades in the butterfly lineup are essentially the same blade. It's just that there are some differences in the blade and some tiny differences in the consturction that only apply to top pro players. If you check the butterfly website, butterfly-global.com you can find all the blades there. Find a design you like, check the specs of handle and weight, get it and forget about it. If you ever feel like the handle is too big, sand it slightly. If it's a bit small, consider some grip tape to make it wider. You can also find viscaria clones, their handles might be different but i dont have first-hand experience e.g. yinhe y14 pro

I have checked, I did but a viscaria too, it didn't work out for me due to muted feel and a bit i don't know feeling. tried TB ALC was better, but need lightweight so it doesn't make the blade heavy. I gpt options from the seller as 82, 84, 86 on lightweight rest they have heavy.... I like to feel the ball, do not like muted feel as coming from an all wood blade.

 

[sebi]

All the ALC (outer-alc btw) blades in the butterfly lineup are essentially the same blade. It's just that there are some differences in the blade and some tiny differences in the consturction that only apply to top pro players. If you check the butterfly website, butterfly-global.com you can find all the blades there. Find a design you like, check the specs of handle and weight, get it and forget about it. If you ever feel like the handle is too big, sand it slightly. If it's a bit small, consider some grip tape to make it wider. You can also find viscaria clones, their handles might be different but i dont have first-hand experience e.g. yinhe y14 pro

No they feel different. The small changes add up. It might not be different like a all wood to a carbon blade but different.

 

[Dr Evil]

The TB is the head-heaviest and hardest of Butterfly's Viscaria-like ALC blades. If you want something that isn't as head heavy, but has a harder feel than Viscaria (and with a different handle shape), you might consider an outer ZLC blade like the FZD.

 

[NetProphet]

I have checked, I did but a viscaria too, it didn't work out for me due to muted feel and a bit i don't know feeling. tried TB ALC was better, but need lightweight so it doesn't make the blade heavy. I gpt options from the seller as 82, 84, 86 on lightweight rest they have heavy.... I like to feel the ball, do not like muted feel as coming from an all wood blade.

If you must feel the ball more but want a bit more 'pop' than most 5 ply woids then an inner ALC might be the way to go.
What do you actually want from the blade that you currently don't have?
I like the inner ALC a lot.

 

[Denso]

Perhaps you should also consider the Outerforce ALC as a lightweight alternative.

 

[ayush_vrma]

I had a viscaria at 85 grams but kinda sold it. I was thinking of TB ALC at 84 or 86 grams so that it isn't head heavy. I dunno how ZLC plays as I have never used it.

I am more than satisfied with 5-ply all wood but I plan on shifting to carbon to upgrade my game as it's been 6 years on this ply.

FZD has a thicker and chunkier handle I believe.

 

[steve888]

If you want one of the most controlled outer alc blade - the butterfly outer force alc, it's inbetween a innerforce and outer force blade for speed. Great control.

A little slower than viscaria and timo boll but has more control and good feeling if you use to all wood blade. Steve

 

[GhostBackhand]

Could you describe your playing style a bit? I’ve used many blades from Butterfly, and I feel that each one suits a different playing style.

 

[Tyce]

I had a viscaria at 85 grams but kinda sold it. I was thinking of TB ALC at 84 or 86 grams so that it isn't head heavy. I dunno how ZLC plays as I have never used it.

I am more than satisfied with 5-ply all wood but I plan on shifting to carbon to upgrade my game as it's been 6 years on this ply.

FZD has a thicker and chunkier handle I believe.

Carbon is not an upgrade, it's a different path. People can play their whole life on 5ply wood and get great levels of play with it.

Don't let the high price and fancy graphics fool you. If you prefer the wood feeling, just stick to wood.

 

[NDH]

All the ALC (outer-alc btw) blades in the butterfly lineup are essentially the same blade. It's just that there are some differences in the blade and some tiny differences in the consturction that only apply to top pro players.

No they feel different. The small changes add up. It might not be different like a all wood to a carbon blade but different.

I feel like both of these answers can be correct, and relevant to the OP depending on their ability to feel the differences.

Firstly, after 25 years of experience, I firmly believe that *most* people will not experience *meaningful* differences between the array of Butterfly ALC blades (the outer carbon, like TB ALC, Viscaria, FZD ALC etc).

There is likely to be just as much difference between five versions of the same blade (due to weight, balance etc) than there is 5 different "named" blades.

Most small differences can only really be felt when playing side by side with the other option.

If I gave someone the exact same set up one day with a TB ALC, and the following day the Viscaria.... Someone who has been playing for 6 to 7 years would *unlikely* be able to tell the difference.

Alternating side by side? Maybe - But again, having 2 TB ALC's side by side COULD feel slightly different.

Carbon is not an upgrade, it's a different path. People can play their whole life on 5ply wood and get great levels of play with it.

Worth noting OP.

What are you hoping to achieve by switching to a carbon blade?

I like to feel the ball, do not like muted feel as coming from an all wood blade.

I think (from the very little information we have), an Innerforce ALC blade would be a good option.

I don't know why you sold your Viscaria, but for me, the Innerforce provides the best of both worlds.

 

[ayush_vrma]

Here is a detailed description

Hadraw VK has koto outer plies. I dunno the exact composition.

I brought a 85 grams Viscaria had to wait a lot for it to be available.

Tried it , first up handle was too thick as I was coming from a thin handle.

I tried it on the table , it kinda felt hollow. The balance was very very nice so nice that I couldn't feel anything in the head and that made my shots go haywire.

As if my spins had no power.

I sold that blade, but later realized. I play with Hadraw VK ( 82-83 grams)..

Have Rozena 2.1 on it and Rakza 2.0 on the other.

This is a head heavy setups as I can feel the wait in the head. Like when keep the blade swaing in hand the blade tilts to the head a lot.

I also tried TB ALC of one my teammates. I don't know what weight it is

But One side was Tenergy 64 other was fastarc C-1 tried FH

Was good to spin, the moment speed increased the carbon kicked in and bam the shot went super fast and that's when I realized the hardness of the blade

Butterfly Hadraw Blade that I have is kinda hard to , it gives very good solid blocking responses in my game.



TB ALC I have options to get it for 82,84, 86 grams or the normal 90 grams.

Which one do you suggest will not be head heavy (properly balanced)

And have no issues with power?!?!

 

[ripctt2]

No they feel different. The small changes add up. It might not be different like a all wood to a carbon blade but different.

as in the composition is oing to be the same. ive never personally tried all of them butfrom the composition, theres not going to be much difference