Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC vs Stiga Rosewood NCT V: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Stiga Rosewood NCT V | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| feel | Crisp and direct with noticeable dwell on contact; slightly softer arc than Viscaria Super ALC | stiff hard feel with organic touch; NCT surface treatment |
| handle | Flared (FL), Straight (ST), Anatomic (AN) — notably thicker grip than Viscaria | flared / anatomic / straight |
| plies | 5 wood plus 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — Koto / ALC / Limba / Kiri / Limba / ALC / Koto | 5-ply all wood (rosewood outer) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | approx 5.7mm | 6.2 |
| weight_g | 87-92g typical | approx 82-86 |
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Fan Zhendong ALC (8.8) is a Viscaria-class outer-ALC blade excelling at topspin-heavy loops and versatile rubber pairing. Stiga Rosewood NCT V (8.5) is a pure all-wood blade at OFF speed with exceptional short game, fast flicks, and communicative organic feel, though optimal for penhold grip and demanding precise loose-wrist looping technique. Both are OFF speed but appeal to markedly different playstyles.
Fan Zhendong ALC suits intermediate-to-advanced shakehand players with aggressive topspin-heavy loops and compatibility across Chinese and European rubbers. Rosewood NCT V suits penhold and shakehand short-game specialists who want pure wood feel and fast counterattacks at close-to-table. Fan Zhendong’s dwell and forgiveness suit broader play; Rosewood NCT V’s stiff hard feel and communicative feedback are unforgiving for beginners but reward precise technique. Rosewood NCT V is discontinued; Fan Zhendong is current. Choose Fan Zhendong for modern balanced offensive play; Rosewood NCT V for classic Chinese-style close-to-table aggression.
FAQ
Which suits penhold grip better?
Stiga Rosewood NCT V is optimal for penhold; Fan Zhendong ALC is shakehand-oriented.
Which is better for short game?
Rosewood NCT V excels at short game, flicks, and soft returns; Fan Zhendong ALC is capable but less specialized.
Which is more forgiving?
Fan Zhendong ALC is forgiving at full power; Rosewood NCT V’s stiff feel is unforgiving for beginners.
Which is still available?
Fan Zhendong ALC is current production; Rosewood NCT V is discontinued.