Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC vs Butterfly Garaydia ALC: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Butterfly Garaydia ALC | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| control | — | — |
| feel | Crisp and direct with noticeable dwell on contact; slightly softer arc than Viscaria Super ALC | Crisp, hard and stiff with a direct, low-vibration touch and a notably low throw arc |
| handle | Flared (FL), Straight (ST), Anatomic (AN) — notably thicker grip than Viscaria | FL |
| plies | 5 wood plus 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — Koto / ALC / Limba / Kiri / Limba / ALC / Koto | 5-ply total: 3 wood + 2 Arylate-Carbon (ALC) layers, with an outer carbon construction under a Japanese hinoki surface ply |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| spin | — | — |
| thickness_mm | approx 5.7mm | 6.9 |
| type | — | OFF |
| weight_g | 87-92g typical | 83 |
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Choose Fan Zhendong ALC if you have large hands, play aggressive topspin-heavy loops, and want proven Viscaria-class offensive performance with a forgiving, thick handle. Excellent dwell and compatibility with tacky Chinese or European rubbers. Sharp edges require sandpaper out of the box.
Choose Garaydia ALC if you play close-to-mid-distance blocking, flicking, and counter-topspin with stiff, direct feel. Very low throw arc demands precise technique and favors medium-hard tensor rubbers. Discontinued, so sourcing is difficult; suited to advanced players who thrive on high control over far-distance power.
FAQ
Which has a better handle for large hands?
Fan Zhendong ALC has a notably thicker, more comfortable handle. Garaydia FL is standard thickness.
Which works at long distance?
Fan Zhendong ALC is versatile across distances. Garaydia low arc requires strong footwork and form away from the table.
Which is available to buy?
Fan Zhendong ALC is widely available. Garaydia is discontinued and hard to source.
Which provides more feedback?
Garaydia is crisp, stiff, and low-vibration. Fan Zhendong is crisp but with more dwell and feel.