Half a Century of Outer Fiber Blades: Trends and a Big Rundown, Part 2
More Composite-Fiber Blades for Beginner and Intermediate Players
Top players use composite-fiber blades like ALC, ZLC and KLC — we know this. But years ago, those for beginner-to-intermediate players were mostly all-wood, or some no-carbon or thin-carbon fiber blades. In recent years, outer-type composite-fiber new products for beginner-to-intermediate players are increasing. On one hand, because of the plastic ball, blades need more support and pace-borrowing. On the other, beginner-to-intermediate players are a market too, and brands want to spend more effort developing it.
Last year, Butterfly released the OUTERFORCE series mainly targeting intermediate users. The face ply changed from koto and limba to lower-density ayous. It slightly suppresses the blade’s elasticity, further emphasizing ease of use. That is, it is not as springy as the Viscaria, Boll ZLC type, relatively easier to control. And Nittaku in July released the Nina Hayata T2, an outer ultra-thin carbon, also targeting intermediate users. It emphasizes moderate elasticity and ball-holding, with a lightweight design. Our Two-Ma-Talk’s “Yaonie” blade is green-aramid carbon on one side, blue-aramid carbon on the other. The green-aramid side is hard-springy, the blue-aramid side relatively softer, more ball-gripping, suited to players whose forehand or backhand technique needs more stability on one side.
No-Carbon Types
Coincidentally, Stiga’s Power Carbon is also this type. Lower price, outer type. This is an outer white super-fiber, actually no carbon. Though the speed is fairly fast, it controls well. Blades with fiber added but no carbon are increasing too. Elasticity is weaker than carbon blades, feel closer to all-wood, fairly soft, with easy spin. Generally lighter too, with decent pace-borrowing rebound. The blade still has decent elasticity. For example, the image below should correspond to CNF (Butterfly Revoldia CNF), orange aramid (Hugo HAL), CAF (Boll CAF) and ZLF (Liu Shiwen ZLF).
Mainstream Balanced Blades
Now the mainstream balanced outer composite-fiber blades’ first representative is Butterfly’s ALC series. The aramid-carbon weave has both soft ball-holding and good speed and elastic feedback. Outer ALC blades are fairly hot across makers. Outer ZLC is also common, with a striking feel harder than ALC. Besides, there are some outer KLC (like the Nittaku Hurricane King SPEED), outer green-aramid carbon (Andro VCO, Tibhar Alexis), and so on. Below are the more discussed balanced blades.
Fan Zhendong ALC: whether penhold or shakehand, sales top Japan’s charts, let alone domestically. It sold out for a while too. Performance we have discussed a lot. Xiaoyan: I have not played it. Structurally, like the Hurricane King SPEED, both outer KLC. But the face ply changed to koto. This one is generally light. GLADIAS AR: a new Victas product released last April. This AR emphasizes power, tough yet potent. From the structure it is clear: two outer aramid-carbon layers, the core not the kiri common in outer blades but an ayous core. This structure is actually what my Megalodon first-gen was years ago. And Pitchford’s ZX-Gear Out, though different fiber, is also outer, ayous core. Such blades, after firing, can also have a long arc, not lacking power. 36.5 ALX: this plays somewhat like the Lin Gaoyuan ALC, also a model of balanced blades. More details I reviewed before. Original True Carbon: thinner than ordinary outer ALC blades, also quite ball-holding and spin-adding. Inspiration hybrid carbon: high elasticity, high arc. Good ball-holding, with decent bottom power. Besides, there are many more. Most somewhat famous ones we have reviewed.