Butterfly Freitas ALC vs Sanwei V5 Pro: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Freitas ALC | Sanwei V5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| feel | Medium-soft | hard, fast, crisp all-wood with strong vibration and a high-pitched ping |
| handle | Flared/Straight/Anatomic | FL/ST |
| plies | 5+2 arylate carbon (ALC) outer — Limba-ALC-Limba-Ayous-Limba-ALC-Limba | 7W (all wood) — ash outer plies over an ayous core |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 6.3 |
| weight_g | 88 | 90 |
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Freitas (OFF-rated carbon, 5.7mm, 88g) and V5 Pro (OFF-rated all-wood, 6.3mm, 90g) both deliver speed, but through completely different means. Freitas leverages carbon engineering for consistent, soft-feel power delivery. V5 Pro achieves pace through its hard ash surface and fast wood composition, rewarding clean contact with crisp, lively feedback.
Freitas suits loopers seeking dwell and control within pace delivery. V5 Pro is the purist’s all-wood choice: faster than traditional all-wood options, demanding solid technique but offering satisfying natural feedback. Both are OFF-rated, but Freitas feels softer and more forgiving; V5 Pro is harder and more punishing on off-center hits. V5 Pro shines with its large sweet spot and high-pitched ash feedback; Freitas excels at dwell-rich looping. For developing players, Freitas is safer; for confident attackers, V5 Pro’s all-wood character and exceptional value are compelling.
FAQ
Why does V5 Pro play faster than its OFF rating suggests?
Ash outer plies and wood composition naturally transfer swing energy efficiently. The high-pitched ash impact sound signals crisp, lively response. Freitas’ softer carbon feel translates pace more gradually, making V5 Pro feel subjectively faster despite equal OFF ratings.
Which blade is more forgiving for imperfect technique?
Freitas, decisively. Its soft dwell and outer-carbon construction forgive slightly off-center contacts. V5 Pro demands cleaner technique; loose swings will sail long or miss the sweet spot.
Do either of these blades work well with soft rubbers?
Freitas: yes, across the board. V5 Pro: preferably no. V5 Pro needs medium to hard rubbers to balance its liveliness. Soft rubbers will feel mushy and lose the blade’s crispness.