Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC
Blade description
The Zhang Jike ALC is a 3+2 construction composite blade featuring Arylate Carbon fibers. It is recognized for its sophisticated balance, offering a notably softer touch and increased dwell time compared to other popular ALC blades in the Butterfly lineup. While it provides ample top-end speed for offensive play, it is characterized by its high levels of control and a forgiving nature, making it accessible for a wide range of skill levels.
Playing Characteristics
- Feel and Stiffness: The blade offers a soft, solid feel with minimal vibration. Despite the presence of carbon, it is not overly stiff, providing a woody sensation that aids in creating high amounts of spin.
- Weight Distribution: It features a handle-biased weight distribution. This balance makes it versatile for use with various rubber combinations, allowing players to utilize heavier rubbers without making the setup feel head-heavy.
- Performance: The blade excels in versatility, performing effectively during close-to-the-table active blocking, mid-distance looping, and defensive maneuvers. The combination of its construction and weight distribution allows for quick head speed, which is particularly beneficial for technical shots like the backhand flick.
- Handle Design: The handle is generally noted for being slightly thicker and more comfortable than many standard alternatives, contributing to a secure grip and improved ergonomics during play.
Also Known As
- Chinese: 张继科ALC (slang: 张继科, ZJK-ALC, 蓝芳碳)
- Japanese: 張継科 ALC (slang: 張継科, ZJK-ALC)
- German: (slang: ZJK-ALC)
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Recent Reviews
#2 — December 2025
I’m an intermediate-level player with fairly good technique. I played competitively for a couple of years as a teenager back in the early 80s, then took the sport up again two years ago. When I started playing again, I began with the Butterfly Grubba blade and Rozena 2.1 on both sides. I found the setup somewhat slow and woolly. Then I switched to the Zhang Jike ALC blade, staying with Rozena 2.1 on both sides for half a year. This was noticeably faster and felt much crisper, something I particularly appreciated in flat shots and smashes, which became much more precise.
After half a season, I switched to Tenergy 05, which I’ve had for the past year. Playing with my first set of T05s at 2.1 mm (with T05 Hard on the forehand), I found I was making more mistakes, particularly in two areas: I was more often hitting my loops over the table, and I was more often fluffing pushes. I then switched to 1.9 mm T05 normal on both sides. This seems to have helped some with the pushes, but I still have a tendency to overhit loops. Overall, I think the setup is a little too fast and “bouncy” for me. This may be down to the blade, but the T05s, being harder than Rozena, are also not as forgiving of my technical imperfections.
Butterfly gives the ZJ the same speed and vibration stats as other ALC blades, but my ZJ blade is definitely faster than other ALCs I have tried (though the rubbers may not have been the same); this is also the view of other ALC users who have tried my blade.
Two more things: I chose the ZJ ALC because I don’t like the feeling of my fingers slipping on the handle badges, and the ZJ has relatively small badges. However, the ZJ ALC handle is narrower than most handles (at least in the straight handle version that I have), and a little too narrow for my liking—and I have small hands. Finally, I would have preferred a smoother handle.
#3 — August 2025
Great feeling and fantastic control. Plenty of speed, flexy, and nice feeling. Can’t find any negatives. Pairs great with dignics 09c on backhand and hurricane 3 national blue sponge on forehand.
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