Viscaria ALC vs Fan Zhendong ALC help me decide (Dignics 09C / 05 setup)

[struke]

Hi all,
Torn between the Viscaria ALC and the Fan Zhendong ALC for my next blade.
Setup: Dignics 09C on FH, Dignics 05 on BH.
From what I understand the two are nearly identical both Koto outer with ALC under the surface, kiri core, same 5+2 build with the FZD ALC usually described as a slightly stiffer, more “solid” modern Viscaria. For anyone who’s played both: is the difference actually noticeable in play, especially with a tacky, heavier FH rubber like 09C? And does either make the setup feel too head-heavy?
Also open to BH suggestions if something suits a 09C FH better than D05.
Thanks!

 

[Tyce]

Viscaria is not Limba, the composition is exactly the same.

The only time I have seen Viscaria to be presumed Limba was when I was trying to get chatgpt to compare some blades. You should really lay off the "AI".

 

[struke]

Viscaria is not Limba, the composition is exactly the same.

The only time I have seen Viscaria to be presumed Limba was when I was trying to get chatgpt to compare some blades. You should really lay off the "AI"

Yeah my bad, already fixed it. Real question though: with 09C on the FH would you go vis or fzd alc? And keep D05 on the BH or something faster?

 

[maxtor]

They are almost the same, just a bit different balance due to different handles

 

[Coolsta Connor]

FZD ALC is not stiffer, I have tried 5+ Viscaria + main a FZD ALC. FZD ALC is slightly stiffer and harder, whereas FZD is ever so slightly more balanced. They both use a koto outer ply and have the same composition. The major difference is the handle, the FZD ALC supports a more balanced grip on both wings and allows for backhand wrist flexibility, whereas Viscaria is more suited for forehand play. The Viscaria will only slightly feel a bit head heavy, but most concentration of weight is in the handle. It does not feel head heavy at all. The same can be said with FZD ALC although even more concentration in the handle. However, for most people they are virtually identical. If your backhand has enough skill I would recommend D09c on both sides, FH it is very balanced and BH requires large wrist acceleration, but if used correctly can be better than D05.

 

[steve888]

For me the FZD alc, has a touch more control in the short game and slightly better arc. I think the thicker handle gives it slightly more stability. You can use D09c, or G09c, or Battle 2 for BH. Forehand i use 1.9 D05 and briefly tried Rozena I also have used D09c 2.1.

 

[struke]

FZD ALC is not stiffer, I have tried 5+ Viscaria + main a FZD ALC. FZD ALC is slightly stiffer and harder, whereas FZD is ever so slightly more balanced. They both use a koto outer ply and have the same composition. The major difference is the handle, the FZD ALC supports a more balanced grip on both wings and allows for backhand wrist flexibility, whereas Viscaria is more suited for forehand play. The Viscaria will only slightly feel a bit head heavy, but most concentration of weight is in the handle. It does not feel head heavy at all. The same can be said with FZD ALC although even more concentration in the handle. However, for most people they are virtually identical. If your backhand has enough skill I would recommend D09c on both sides, FH it is very balanced and BH requires large wrist acceleration, but if used correctly can be better than D05.

Thanks, just to clarify did you mean the FZD ALC feels slightly stiffer/harder than the Viscaria, but also a bit more balanced because of the handle?


Also, for BH on the FZD ALC, would you say D05 is easier to activate than D09C? I’m looking for a fast BH with a high arc, not something that needs strong wrist acceleration every time.

 

[thisisit]

the difference between any one viscaria and any one fzd alc, is the same as the difference between any one viscaria and any other viscaria or any one fzd alc and any other fzd alc.

 

[Coolsta Connor]

Thanks, just to clarify did you mean the FZD ALC feels slightly stiffer/harder than the Viscaria, but also a bit more balanced because of the handle?


Also, for BH on the FZD ALC, would you say D05 is easier to activate than D09C? I’m looking for a fast BH with a high arc, not something that needs strong wrist acceleration every time.

The FZD ALC is ever so slightly more softer in terms of materials. Balance wise yes, its concentrated towards the handle. D05 will certainly meet those requirements for fast and high arc.

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

They are basically the same blade. The FZD has slightly wider handle and is balanced slightly more towards the handle. You should physically hold both and see which one is more comfortable for you

 

[KM1976]

The difference between Viscaria and FZD ALC is primarily the grip and hence the feel of the blade. If you have experience with outer ALC then the adjustment would be negligible. So you can pick anyone which you like most or are getting any deal of sorts. The best option would be to hold them in your hand and probably play with them for a while before buying but this may or may not be possible.
From your signature, I see you use Harimoto, which has Limba top ply. So the immediate idea which comes to my mind is that your first topspins with Koto outer blade will either clip the net or have something different as a result. So, there would be learning period involved. Do keep that in mind. Good luck!

 

[Tony Funk My Racket]

I have had many TB ALC, ZJK ALC, Viscarias and now a FZD ALC... and none of the blades had exactly the same weight and all played slightly different... and all of them had their individual feel evolve over time. If you want more "control" go for a blade that weighs around 85g. If you want more power go for a blade that's in the 90g range.

 

[GhostBackhand]

I have played a lot with both of these blades, and I can give you some insights as follows:

• Fan ALC: More stable (for example, when doing counter-hitting drills, the ball easily lands on a consistent spot), has a slightly lower arc, and features a larger handle (as an Asian with small hands, I don’t like this handle style at all). It offers better support for the forehand.
• Viscaria: Bouncier and less stable (if your technique isn't good enough during counter-hitting drills, the ball will scatter to different spots). It produces a higher arc, has a smaller handle, and provides excellent support for the backhand.

If you are at a high skill level, the difference is negligible apart from the handle size.

 

[Tyce]

So now the same property has been credited to both blades in the same thread already.
High arc, better backhand support, even "better for FH" has been said about both options.

I'd say the differences are minimal and it's all down to (grip) preference. Personally I think the Fzd grip is a better fit for me even if I don't necessarily like the feeling of the larger handle. It does help me with stability.

 

[struke]

Hi all,

Small update:

In the end I decided to buy the Butterfly Viscaria ALC.

I ordered it from Butterfly and asked for around 88g, with this setup:

FH: Dignics 09C 2.1
BH: Dignics 05 2.1

After reading the comments and thinking about it, I felt that the Viscaria is the safer long-term choice for me. The FZD ALC and Viscaria seem very close, almost the same blade in terms of construction, so I preferred to go with the classic and proven Viscaria.

Hopefully 88g will give me enough stability and power with Dignics 09C on the forehand, without making the racket too head-heavy.

Thanks again for all the help.
I’ll share my impressions once I get it and try it.

 

[NetProphet]

Yeah my bad, already fixed it. Real question though: with 09C on the FH would you go vis or fzd alc? And keep D05 on the BH or something faster?

They're the same so choose whichever you prefer.
D05 is an advanced rubber and requires real strength, good timing and proper technique to use it.
You'll have less dwell than with your Tomo Inner ALC.
Unless your breaking 2200 I don't think you need a new blade