Butterfly Freitas ALC vs Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Freitas ALC | Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| feel | Medium-soft | stiff outer oak veneer, medium throw, solid dwell, consistent blocking |
| handle | Flared/Straight/Anatomic | Flared, Straight, Anatomic |
| plies | 5+2 arylate carbon (ALC) outer — Limba-ALC-Limba-Ayous-Limba-ALC-Limba | carbon composite (oak outer + carbon fleece CFNW inner, 5+2 layers) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 5.5-5.6 |
| weight_g | 88 | 87-90 |
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The Butterfly Freitas ALC represents premium European arylate-carbon engineering with exceptional dwell time and soft feedback. It rewards excellent technique with spin and control, making it ideal for advanced shakehand players committed to topspin-dominant styles.
Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon offers genuine carbon speed at an accessible price point, featuring a medium throw angle and a forgiving CFNW carbon fleece construction. It prioritizes blocking and near-table consistency over raw far-table power, making it excellent for club-level players transitioning to carbon.
Choose Freitas ALC for maximum dwell and premium feel. Select Sweden EK if you want your first carbon blade with reliable blocking performance and don’t want to pay Butterfly prices.
FAQ
Which is more forgiving for blocking?
Sweden EK Carbon is specifically engineered for excellent blocking with its stiff outer oak veneer and medium throw. Freitas ALC blocks well but isn’t its primary strength.
How much speed difference is there?
Both are OFF-rated. Freitas ALC reaches higher speeds at full pace, while Sweden EK feels slightly slower in real-world use—review comments suggest its manufacturer speed rating is optimistic.
Which handles soft rubbers better?
Sweden EK pairs excellently with softer rubbers like Rakza 7 Soft and Mark V, which complement its stiff outer layer. Freitas ALC is more versatile but doesn’t specifically favor soft rubbers.