Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC vs Stiga Carbonado 45: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Stiga Carbonado 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.8/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | Crisp and direct with noticeable dwell on contact; slightly softer arc than Viscaria Super ALC | Moderately stiff with deep reverberating vibrations; more wood-like dwell than typical carbon blades; high throw angle |
| handle | Flared (FL), Straight (ST), Anatomic (AN) — notably thicker grip than Viscaria | Straight/Flared/Anatomic (coal-grey dyed wood) |
| plies | 5 wood plus 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — Koto / ALC / Limba / Kiri / Limba / ALC / Koto | 7-ply with TeXtreme carbon (5 wood + 2 carbon at 45-degree angle) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | approx 5.7mm | 5.7mm |
| weight_g | 87-92g typical | 85-91g |
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Fan Zhendong ALC (8.8) is a Viscaria-class outer-ALC blade with outstanding dwell and compatibility across rubber types. Stiga Carbonado 45 (8.4) is a carbon blade with wood-like feel, high throw angle aiding heavy topspin loops, excellent short game, and endorsement by top Chinese women’s national team players. Both offer OFF speed and comparable weights (87-92g vs. 85-91g).
Fan Zhendong ALC excels with versatile rubber pairing from tacky Chinese to European tensors; Carbonado 45 delivers wood-like vibration feedback and stability in blocking, though slower than typical carbon blades and demanding extra physical effort for mid-distance power. Fan Zhendong suits aggressive topspin-heavy loop players; Carbonado 45 appeals to advanced loop-dominant players prioritizing control, consistency, and close-to-table feeling. Carbonado 45’s high throw angle aids heavy loops; Fan Zhendong’s forgiving power and dwell suit broader play styles. Both demand clean technique, though Carbonado 45’s wood-like feel offers more communicative feedback.
FAQ
Which feels more like wood?
Stiga Carbonado 45 delivers wood-like feel with informative vibrations; Fan Zhendong ALC is crisp and direct with noticeable dwell.
Which is faster?
Both are OFF speed, but Carbonado 45 smashes lack pace compared to typical carbon blades, making it slower in practice.
Which aids topspin loops?
Carbonado 45’s high throw angle aids heavy topspin loops; Fan Zhendong ALC has a more balanced arc.
Which is more versatile?
Fan Zhendong ALC pairs well with a wide range of rubbers; Carbonado 45 is optimized for close-to-table loop play.