Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC vs Nittaku Violin: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | Nittaku Violin | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time | Soft, warm and flexible with long dwell, premium hand-crafted Japanese all-wood feedback |
| handle | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria | FL |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber | 5-ply all wood (Kiri core with White Ash outer plies) |
| speed | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.7mm | 5.3 |
| type | — | ALL+ |
| weight_g | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) | 86 |
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The Lin Gaoyuan (8.7) is a fast, soft-carbon blade for advanced attackers seeking a large sweet spot and spin generation across distances. The Violin (8.4) is a hand-crafted, all-wood control blade: warm, soft, and flexible, prized for looping and close-to-mid-distance play but frankly slower than its ALL- billing.
Choose Lin Gaoyuan if you want modern carbon speed, forgiving misses, and versatile rubber pairing. Choose Violin if you prize premium Japanese craftsmanship, feedback-rich control, and long-dwell looping—and if you accept that you supply the pace with solid technique and hard or tacky rubber choices.
FAQ
Why is Violin slower than expected?
Despite an ALL- rating, Violin plays slower than advertised. Its premium appeal is control, spin, and touch—not raw long-distance speed.
Which is better for distance shots?
Lin Gaoyuan by a wide margin. Violin struggles at distance; it shines close-to-mid table. Choose Lin Gaoyuan if you loop from far away.
What kind of player suits Violin?
Developing players wanting a premium blade that teaches touch and spin, and intermediate loopers who play close-to-mid distance. Not for pace-first attackers.
How does the price compare?
Violin is premium but the price is questioned versus cheaper options. Lin Gaoyuan is expensive as well but feels like a finished, market-standard ALC option.