Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC vs Nittaku Acoustic: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | Nittaku Acoustic | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.7/10 |
| feel | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time | Crisp all-wood feel with a large sweet spot, long dwell and a signature acoustic sound |
| handle | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria | FL/ST |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber | 5-ply all wood (Limba outer veneers over a tung and ayous core) |
| speed | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.7mm | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) | 88 |
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Both rate 8.7. The Lin Gaoyuan is a soft-carbon blade offering a large sweet spot and impressive spin from distance. The Acoustic is a pure 5-ply all-wood design from Nittaku: exceptional control, a signature acoustic sound, and long dwell—yet with enough OFF- speed to finish points.
Choose Lin Gaoyuan if you want modern carbon performance, a forgiving large sweet spot, and compatibility across a wide rubber range. Choose Acoustic if you prioritize absolute control and feedback, prefer all-wood feel, and value Nittaku’s premium Japanese craftsmanship and the confidence of a proven, competition-tested design.
FAQ
Which is faster?
Lin Gaoyuan is OFF speed. Acoustic is OFF- but sufficient for an all-wood blade to finish loops from near and mid-distance.
Which gives better feedback?
Acoustic’s all-wood construction gives superior feedback and ball feel. Lin Gaoyuan, being carbon, is less communicative despite its soft ALC design.
What about the sweet spot?
Lin Gaoyuan’s is larger and more forgiving. Acoustic’s is large but behaves more like a traditional all-wood blade—requires good contact for best results.
Which pairs better with rubbers?
Lin Gaoyuan pairs broadly. Acoustic flatters both European and tacky Chinese rubbers, though European rubbers are traditional pairing.