Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC vs DHS Hurricane 301: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC | DHS Hurricane 301 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.6/10 |
| feel | medium-hard but flexible, crisp carbon with long dwell | medium-hard, crisp, direct inner arylate-carbon with deep dwell on power shots |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL |
| plies | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon (5 wood plies with 2 Arylate-Carbon layers) | 5W+2 Aramid-Carbon (Koto outer, Ayous middle and core, inner Arylate-Carbon) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 88 | 90 |
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These are close cousins in concept, both 5.8 mm inner arylate-carbon loopers with long dwell, but they ask very different things of your wallet and your hand. The Zhang Jike ALC offers a soft, flexible carbon feel with the safety net of three handle shapes (FL, ST, AN) and stronger overall control relative to other ALC and ZLC blades. The Hurricane 301 lands around a third of the price of premium inner-ALC blades and is only FL.
Feel is the real fork in the road. The Butterfly stays plush and forgiving, while the 301 runs harder thanks to its Koto outer ply, giving a crisp, direct hit that rewards close-to-table topspin and digs deep on power loops. The 301 is also wider in gear range, touch-controllable up to OFF+, but its Koto top splinters on rubber changes and the sharp index-finger feel divides players used to softer Limba.
Buy the Zhang Jike ALC if you want a refined, flexible feel, handle choice, and proven control, and the premium does not scare you. Buy the 301 if you are forehand-dominant, attack close to the table, and want most of that inner-ALC magic for far less, accepting that you should seal the surface.
FAQ
Which one is better value?
The Hurricane 301 by a wide margin. It is often cited at around one third the price of premium inner-ALC blades while still delivering long dwell and a wide control range, whereas the Zhang Jike ALC carries a premium ALC price.
Do they feel the same to play?
No. The Zhang Jike ALC is soft and flexible with a plush carbon feel, while the 301 is harder and more direct because of its Koto outer ply, giving a crisp hit that rewards close-to-table topspin.
Can I pair either with a tacky Chinese forehand rubber?
Yes. The Zhang Jike ALC pairs well with both tensor and tacky Chinese rubbers, and the lightweight 301, at around 90 grams, also works with tacky Chinese or fast Euro and Japanese rubbers.
Any setup caveats with the 301?
Seal or sand the surface, since the hard Koto top can splinter when you change rubbers. The handle can also feel slippery if you sweat heavily.