Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC
Updated
Overview
Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC takes the outer-ALC formula that made the Viscaria a worldwide reference and reissues it under Fan Zhendong's name. In the words of our butterfly gallery, it is a Viscaria-structure outer ALC — the Arylate-Carbon on the outer side of the blade, firing early and easily.
Where it steps forward is presentation and a slightly modernised character aimed at the two-wing game Fan Zhendong plays: the blade responds fast from the first contact, and once you commit weight through the ball it delivers the crisp, high-output rebound that outer-fibre players look for. It is one of the flagship pairs our structure guide holds up as the model of "high output at low effort".
Specifications
| Spec | Fan Zhendong ALC |
|---|---|
| Construction | 5-ply wood + 2 Arylate-Carbon, outer ALC (Koto / ALC / Limba / Kiri core) |
| Blade size | 157 × 150 mm |
| Thickness | 5.8 mm |
| Reaction | 11.8 |
| Vibration | 10.3 |
Butterfly's official catalogue figures for a typical piece. Reaction and Vibration are Butterfly's own index numbers rather than a 1–10 rating — higher Reaction means a livelier rebound, higher Vibration a crisper, more talkative feel.
Feel & character
Because the fibre sits close to the surface, response starts at very low effort: blocks, flicks and backhand drives come out lively with short strokes. The blade is firm under the hand yet keeps enough flex to carry topspin on a full swing — an outer-ALC temperament, direct and immediate rather than dwell-heavy. See outer vs inner fibre for how that compares with inner blades.
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Fan Zhendong ALC vs Viscaria & Zhang Jike ALC
If you are weighing the Fan Zhendong ALC against its best-known siblings — the Viscaria and the Zhang Jike ALC — the honest headline is that they are close cousins: the same outer-ALC blueprint on the same wood core.
| Fan Zhendong ALC | Viscaria | Zhang Jike ALC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 5-ply wood + 2 outer ALC (Koto) | 5-ply wood + 2 outer ALC (Koto) | 5-ply wood + 2 outer ALC (Koto) |
| Blade size | 157 × 150 mm | 157 × 150 mm | 157 × 150 mm |
| Thickness | 5.8 mm | 5.7 mm | 5.8 mm |
| Community character | slightly softer, extra spin & control | the crisp reference | softest, most spin-friendly arc |
Look down the table and the Fan Zhendong ALC is, on paper, a Viscaria: Butterfly lists the same construction and the same 157 × 150 mm head. The differences players actually report are small and subtle — the FZD ALC tends to feel a touch softer in the short game and a little more solid under the hand than a Viscaria, while the Zhang Jike ALC is the softest-spinning of the three. In practice one individual blade varies more from another of the same model than the labels differ, so choose between them on feel and available stock rather than expecting a dramatic change of character. If you want the deeper, dwell-heavy side of the family instead, step to an inner-fibre blade — see outer vs inner fibre.
For rubbers, the Dignics and Tenergy lines are the natural partners — Fan Zhendong himself plays the Dignics 09C. Clean high-tension sheets such as Dignics 05 or Tenergy 05 keep the blade's direct, immediate feel; switch the forehand to a semi-tacky sheet like Dignics 09C when you want extra bite on serve and opening loops. The family logic is explained in Why Play Tenergy Before Dignics?.
Ordering
For the latest price on this blade, see the Blades price list. We offer worldwide shipping — see How to Order.
Related
Outer vs Inner Fibre · How to Choose a Blade: All-Wood, Outer & Inner Fibre · Butterfly blades gallery
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