Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC vs DHS Hurricane 301: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | DHS Hurricane 301 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.8/10 | 8.6/10 |
| feel | Crisp and direct with noticeable dwell on contact; slightly softer arc than Viscaria Super ALC | medium-hard, crisp, direct inner arylate-carbon with deep dwell on power shots |
| 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 | 5W+2 Aramid-Carbon (Koto outer, Ayous middle and core, inner Arylate-Carbon) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | approx 5.7mm | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 87-92g typical | 90 |
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Fan Zhendong (8.8, ~USD 200+) is a world-class outer-ALC blade for serious attackers; DHS Hurricane 301 (8.6, ~USD 60-80) punches well above its price with inner arylate-carbon and a hard Koto top. Both are OFF speed and spin-friendly, but serve entirely different budgets.
Fan Zhendong offers Viscaria-class comfort and forgiving power—thicker handle, outer-ALC control, and proven pedigree. Hurricane 301 delivers surprising control for an inner-carbon blade at one-third the cost, excelling on third-ball attacks and against backspin. Fan Zhendong forgives sloppy tempo; 301 rewards crisp, close-to-table strokes and requires careful rubber choice (tacky Chinese preferred, not European tensor).
Beginner-intermediate loopers on tight budgets should try Hurricane 301; advancing players seeking long-term consistency and hand comfort should invest in Fan Zhendong.
FAQ
Can I pair Hurricane 301 with European rubbers?
Yes, but inner-carbon pairs best with tacky Chinese and Japanese rubbers. Fan Zhendong works across both rubber families.
Is Hurricane 301 reliable long-term?
Yes, but it splinters when changing rubbers, so seal the surface. Fan Zhendong requires no maintenance.
Should I upgrade from 301 to Fan Zhendong?
If you loop-driven at 1400+ USATT rating and want comfort and forgiveness, yes. Otherwise, 301 grows with you through intermediate play.