Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC Blade Review: The Softest ALC That Packs Real Power

By UltraSpin · 2026-06-10 · blade

This is Lin Gaoyuan’s signature blade, and Lin sits among the most decorated players on the Chinese Men’s National Team. It runs on Butterfly’s arylate-carbon (ALC) fiber, with a 7-ply layout of 5 wood plies and 2 inner ALC layers — Butterfly’s pitch is high resilience and a balance of speed and control. The Viscaria and Timo Boll ALC are stiffer. The Lin Gaoyuan ALC, by most accounts, is the softest blade in Butterfly’s outer-koto ALC family, and that softness is the whole point: it suits players who want feedback through the handle and controlled aggression rather than raw gear-level pace.

Performance

The soft, wood-like feel is what separates it from other ALC blades the moment you hit a ball. The inner arylate-carbon layers add speed and a crisp exit without the harsh stiffness of an outer-carbon design. Revspin reviewers score it 9.2 for speed and 8.6 for control out of 10, with stiffness at just 4.5 — one of the lowest in this speed class. Lower stiffness means longer dwell on contact, so you get more time to angle and direct the ball.

Topspin rallies are where it earns its keep. Several Bladerubber reviewers note a catapult that only switches on under full strokes, so the blade pays off committed swings and gives nothing back to passive brushes. Spin rates near the top across every source — serves, third-ball attacks, and sidespin loops all feed off the longer dwell. Back up to medium-to-long distance and it opens up completely; despite the official OFF rating, several advanced players say it plays at OFF+ in a real match.

Close to the table, the large head and flexible feel buy you margin on counter-topspin and fast block exchanges. The catch shows up on passive blocks against heavy incoming topspin: the flex can throw the ball off at trajectories you did not plan, so you have to mind your angles. A common fix is a slightly softer backhand rubber, like Dignics 05 at 1.9mm instead of 2.1mm.

Weight lands at roughly 83 to 87 grams per unit. For an OFF carbon blade that is on the light side, which buys faster wrist acceleration near the table and less fatigue over a long session. The Harimoto ALC runs a touch heavier, so the Lin Gaoyuan ALC feels more agile in fast exchanges. Butterfly’s Reaction value of 118 and Vibration value of 103 put it in the mid-fast range with moderate feedback — enough to read the contact clearly, without the buzz of stiffer designs.

It takes a wide spread of rubbers. Players have run it with Dignics 05, Dignics 09C, Fastarc G1, Tenergy 05, Tenergy 05fx, Andro Rasanter R42, and the Xiom Jekyll and Hyde lines. Want more gear-level speed? Go harder on both sides. Want a controlled, feel-first setup? Softer or mid-tension rubbers suit it better. One Bladerubber reviewer pairs Tenergy 05fx for a thin, controlled game and Tenergy 05 when the plan is to attack faster.

What Reviewers Agree (and Disagree) On

Across Revspin, Bladerubber, and Reddit the reception is strongly positive, and the blade carries a Revspin overall score of 8.9 out of 10 from 36 ratings. Most experienced players rank it among the finest blades they have owned, and they keep coming back to the same thing: soft feel paired with real offensive power. The Viscaria comparison surfaces over and over. The prevailing read is that the Lin Gaoyuan ALC is softer and easier to control while matching or beating the Viscaria for power when you play it aggressively. Control is where opinion splits. A handful of European club-level players on Revspin rate it poorly against slower options, but most advanced players score it high. The second debate is speed against that OFF rating: some find it slower than an OFF blade should be at moderate stroke speeds, others clock it at OFF+ under full power. Technique and rubber choice settle the argument. One point nobody contests — this is not a blade for beginners or developing intermediates.

Who Should Buy It

This one is for advanced players who want arylate-carbon power and a flatter arc without giving up the feedback of a pure wood blade. It rewards close-to-mid-distance attackers who generate heavy topspin and lean on technique. Come down from a good 5-ply wood blade and the adjustment is small. Skip it if you are a beginner, a casual player, or on a tight budget — it sits at a premium price and is now discontinued. Already on a Viscaria or Timo Boll ALC and curious about something softer and a bit more control-leaning? The Lin Gaoyuan ALC is a worthwhile move in that direction.

FAQ

How does the Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC compare to the Viscaria?

Both run the same 5-wood-plus-2-ALC build with koto outer layers, but the Lin Gaoyuan ALC feels softer and more flexible. Most reviewers say the LGY ALC gives more control and longer dwell than the Viscaria while matching or beating it for power under full technique. The Viscaria is stiffer and pays off direct, flatter hitting; the LGY ALC leans toward looping and spin-heavy play.

Is the Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC suitable for intermediate players?

Most reviewers reserve it for advanced players with solid stroke technique. Its speed and sensitivity overwhelm intermediates, especially under fast rubbers. A few say strong intermediates willing to adjust can handle it, but beginners should stay away.

What rubbers pair best with the Lin Gaoyuan ALC?

Advanced players run Dignics 05 or Tenergy 05 on the forehand and softer sheets like Tenergy 05fx, Fastarc G1, or Dignics 09C on the backhand. For a more controlled setup, Andro Rasanter R42 also draws praise. Stay off the fastest high-tension rubbers such as Evolution MXP unless you play at expert level.

Is the Lin Gaoyuan ALC still in production?

No. Butterfly has discontinued it. Used and new-old-stock copies still turn up on the secondary market, but supply is thin and prices often sit above the original retail. Several Reddit users mention how hard it is to land a second copy at a fair price.

What handle styles were available for the Lin Gaoyuan ALC?

Butterfly offered it in Flared (FL), Anatomic (AN), and Straight (ST) shakehand handles. Reviewers keep flagging that the anatomic handle runs shorter than you would expect, so measure carefully before you pick if handle length matters to your grip.

What is the official speed rating of the Lin Gaoyuan ALC?

Butterfly classifies it as OFF (Offensive). Its Reaction index of 118 puts it in the mid-fast end of the OFF category. Add full power strokes and fast rubbers in a real game, and many players say it plays at an effective OFF or OFF+ level.