Butterfly Franziska Innerforce ZLC
Blade description
The Franziska Innerforce ZLC is a composite blade featuring a 5+2 construction, utilizing Zylon-Carbon fibers placed closer to the core. This design provides a soft, flexible feel that prioritizes touch and dwell time, allowing the blade to “grab” the ball effectively. While it maintains a stable and controlled performance, it offers an OFF- to OFF playing speed that rewards precise technique and aggressive stroke mechanics.
Playing Characteristics
- Feel and Dwell: The blade is characterized by a soft, flexible sensation upon impact. This inner-fiber composition produces a noticeable “trampoline effect,” which helps in generating significant spin and deep, high-trajectory loops.
- Versatility: Designed for a balanced, all-around attacking game, the blade excels in versatile exchanges. It is particularly noted for high stability during blocking, countering, and close-to-the-table play, though it remains capable of powerful offensive loops when paired with appropriate rubber.
- Tactical Control: Because of its dwell time and flex, the short game and placement-oriented shots are highly controllable. However, the blade demands good footwork and proper positioning, as it requires active, confident strokes to prevent shots from feeling unresponsive or “dead.”
Setup and Usage
- Rubber Pairing: Due to the soft and flexible nature of the blade, it is widely recommended to use harder, tensioned rubbers to maximize speed and prevent the setup from feeling too slow. Softer rubbers may lead to a lack of liveliness and reduced offensive punch.
- Skill Level: While marketed as a premium, professional-grade tool, its high level of control makes it accessible to those who value tactical placement and spin over raw, explosive speed. It is best suited for players who have developed consistent, repeatable strokes and are looking for a stable, high-spin platform.
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Recent Reviews
#1 — October 2025
Mine weighed around 84 gm. Bought after trying friend’s Apolonia blade.
Being innerforce it gives good control until the zlc activates. But once zlc is activated it gives good power and hard feeling. Hitting topspin is good and easy, but counters lack crispness. Blocking is difficult if zlc is activated.
It didn’t suit me because without zlc activation, it was too soft, and once zlc activates it gives a very hard feeling.
Would definitely recommend hard rubbers. Dignics 09c fh and vega x bh suited best for me on this. However, I switched to Timo Boll now and sold this one.
FL handle is more flared than Timo Boll, i.e., a little bit thin where the hand grips.
#2 — September 2025
This has the best feeling/control of any carbon blade I’ve ever used, and quite possibly compares to any wood blade as well. (Viscaria, long 5, long 3, sweden extra, vyzaryz trinity, nobilis, DHS 301, Lin jun yu super zlc, victas swat, donic true inner carbon, harimoto innerforce zlc, harimoto alc, timo boll alc, timo boll zlf, septear, cybershape carbon, cybershape wood, tibhar dynamic jc, victas hino-carbon, donic defplay senso, waldner carbon v1, just to name a few and probably 20 more). There is a reason this has a 9.6 rating for control. I’d say it’s still faster than any wood blade I’ve used. It’s not a rocket ship like the Lin Yun Ju, and is slightly slower than say the harimoto, which is similar in build, but it’s also not a complete noodle. I’ve never been able to put more spin on a ball than with this blade, wood or carbon, despite not having max sponges (2.1 mm hurricane h40, and a 1.9mm dignics 09c). Going to swap them for 2.15mm and 2.1mm respectively. Really has some kick though when you put some power into your shots. I’m 6'3” and 230 though, so if you need more speed, perhaps look into an outer carbon blade and hybrid FH/tensor BH. I promise you however if you get this blade you won’t be upset. I know “it just magically lands on the table” is the common theme on their boards, but the control really is absurd. 10/10 blade.
#3 — November 2024
All about this blade is 10/10. Truly beautiful for offensive players.
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