Butterfly Liu Shiwen
Blade description:
The Butterfly Liu Shiwen is a high-performance composite blade featuring a 3+2 construction with ZL Fiber (ZLF) layers. It is widely recognized for offering the speed and consistency of a composite blade while maintaining a distinct, natural “woody” feel. The blade is characterized by high flexibility and significant dwell time, which facilitates the generation of heavy topspin and allows for precise trajectory adjustments.
Playing Characteristics
- Feel and Feedback: Despite the presence of ZLF, the blade lacks the typical stiffness or harsh vibration associated with many carbon blades. It provides a soft, intuitive touch that excels in the short game, drop shots, and controlled blocks.
- Speed and Power: While it performs with an OFF- to OFF level of speed, it is highly linear. It remains manageable during touch play close to the table but becomes explosive when engaging the ZLF layers for mid-distance looping and powerful drives.
- Spin and Dwell: The high dwell time makes it a specialized tool for aggressive loopers. It is particularly effective at spinning up heavy backspin and executing consistent, high-arc opening loops.
- Construction: The blade is generally lightweight, though the final balance depends heavily on the weight of the rubbers used. Because of its flexible nature, it is frequently paired with medium-to-hard sponge rubbers to maximize energy transfer and avoid excessive vibration.
Physical Design
- Handles: The blade is available in flared (FL) and straight (ST) handle versions. The FL handle is often described as slim or “Chinese style,” which may limit wrist maneuverability for some players. The ST handle version features a wider connection point, which provides a slightly stiffer feel and increased stability.
- Consistency: The blade is noted for high manufacturing quality and a large sweet spot, ensuring predictable performance. Users should be aware that significant weight variations can occur between individual units, which may influence the overall balance and head-heaviness of the setup.
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Recent Reviews
#1 — May 2022
The Butterfly Timo Boll ALC blade is a high-quality blade that is perfect for intermediate and advanced players. It is made from five layers of wood, with two layers of limba on the outside and three layers of ayous in the middle. The blade is designed to provide a good balance of power and control. It has a medium-hard feel and a slightly concave handle.
The Butterfly Timo Boll ALC blade is a great choice for players who want a blade that will give them the power and control they need to improve their game. The blade is also very durable and will last for many years.
Here are some of the features of the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC blade:
* Made from five layers of wood * Two layers of limba on the outside and three layers of ayous in the middle * Medium-hard feel * Slightly concave handle * Great choice for intermediate and advanced players * Durable and will last for many years
Here are some of the pros and cons of the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC blade:
Pros:
* Good balance of power and control * Durable * Great choice for intermediate and advanced players
Cons:
* Slightly expensive (130$, not 430$)
#2 — December 2021
The Nittaku Acoustic Carbon blade is a 5-ply all-wood blade with two layers of carbon fiber. It is a relatively new blade in the Nittaku lineup, but is has already gained popularity among players of all levels. The blade is made from high-quality wood and carbon fiber and is designed to provide a good balance of power, control, and spin. The Acoustic Carbon blade is a good choice for players who want a blade that will give them good all-around performance and is recommended for use by intermediate to advanced players.
The Yinhe N-11S blade is a 7-ply all-wood blade that is made from limba, ayous, and kiri wood. It is a fast blade that is designed to provide good power and control. The N-11S blade is a good choice for players who want a blade that will give them good all-around performance and is recommended for use by intermediate to advanced players.
The Stiga Clipper Wood blade is a 5-ply all-wood blade that is made from limba, ayous, and spruce wood. It is a medium-fast blade that is designed to provide good power and control. The Clipper Wood blade is a good choice for players who want a blade that will give them good all-around performance and is recommended for use by intermediate to advanced players.
The Butterfly Zhang Jike ZLC blade is a 7-ply all-wood blade that is made from limba, ayous, and kiri wood. It is a fast blade that is designed to provide good power and control. The Zhang Jike ZLC blade is a good choice for players who want a blade that will give them good all-around performance and is recommended for use by intermediate to advanced players.
The Donic Waldner Senso V1 blade is a 7-ply all-wood blade that is made from limba, ayous, and kiri wood. It is a medium-fast blade that is designed to provide good power and control. The Waldner Senso V1 blade is a good choice for players who want a blade that will give them good all-around performance and is recommended for use by intermediate to advanced players.
#3 — August 2019
This is a very good blade with high speed and control. I am playing with Tenergy 05 MAX. It matches for all game types and gives a great sense.
This blade was also used by Adrian Crişan, a Romanian national table tennis team member.
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