question: Why is ZLC "Reaction" rating lower than ALC despite being faster?

[arashfarshadi]

Hi everyone, I have a question that’s been on my mind: aren't Butterfly ZLC blades supposed to be faster than ALC ones? So why does Butterfly list a lower "reaction" rating for ZLC blades—for example, 11.7 compared to 11.8? Does anyone know the reason for this?

 

[Tyce]

They're not slower or faster, but different. Usually ZLC variants are made thinner though

 

[mvibritannia]

All other things being equal, the difference between ZLC and ALC is a bit more complex than that.

You have to differentiate speed at low swing speed impact and high swing speed impact.

At slow swing speed impact ZLC is usually faster, the natural rebound is more pronounced.

However at higher swing speed ALC is more powerful and faster.

The sweet spot of ZLC is usually larger.

This has a lot of implications in the benefits and drawbacks of using ZLC vs ALC.

The best way to really feel the difference is testing two blades with similar wood layers, construction, but one with ZLC and the other one with ALC.

Freitas ALC vs Mizutani ZLC
Innerforce ALC vs Innerforce ZLC
...

 

[Tyce]

All other things being equal, the difference between ZLC and ALC is a bit more complex than that.

You have to differentiate speed at low swing speed impact and high swing speed impact.

At slow swing speed impact ZLC is usually faster, the natural rebound is more pronounced.

However at higher swing speed ALC is more powerful and faster.

The sweet spot of ZLC is usually larger.

This has a lot of implications in the benefits and drawbacks of using ZLC vs ALC.

The best way to really feel the difference is testing two blades with similar wood layers, construction, but one with ZLC and the other one with ALC.

Freitas ALC vs Mizutani ZLC
Innerforce ALC vs Innerforce ZLC
...

Innerforce Layer ZLC is 0.2mm thinner than ALC
Timo Boll ZLC is 0.3mm thinner than Timo Boll ALC.
Looeelooee has a video explaining it pretty well.