ZL-Carbon Flexibility in the Fan Zhendong Platform

The Butterfly Fan Zhendong ZLC swaps the ALC version’s Arylate-Carbon layers for ZL-Carbon fiber, boosting speed from 9.0/10 to 9.5/10 while dropping control from 7.5/10 to 7.0/10. At 86g, it is the lightest ZLC blade in Butterfly’s current lineup, 1g under the Zhang Jike ZLC ($270) and 4g under the Viscaria Super ALC ($270).

ZL-Carbon’s flexibility gives the Fan Zhendong ZLC a distinctive feel on topspin strokes. The blade bends slightly during the loading phase of a loop, stores energy, and releases it as the ball leaves the rubber. This catapult effect adds both speed and spin to full-arm loops from mid-distance. Close-to-table strokes like flicks and short pushes feel the extra bounce more acutely, requiring players to reduce wrist input compared to an ALC blade.

The $270 price point places this blade directly against the Zhang Jike ZLC and the Viscaria Super ALC. All three reach 9.5/10 speed. The Fan Zhendong ZLC offers the lightest weight of the group. The Zhang Jike ZLC shares the same ZLC technology at 1g heavier. The Viscaria Super ALC uses different fiber technology entirely, producing a stiffer, denser feel at 90g. Players choosing between these three should prioritize blade weight and flexibility preferences.

Transitioning from ALC to ZLC

Players upgrading from the Fan Zhendong ALC or any ALC blade (the Viscaria, Zhang Jike ALC, or Timo Boll ALC) will notice three immediate changes. First, drives travel faster without additional effort. Second, loops carry more arc and spin from the catapult effect. Third, short game control requires conscious adjustment because the blade’s higher bounce pushes returns toward half-long length.

Rubber selection helps manage the transition. Keeping the same forehand rubber while switching to a softer backhand rubber (Tenergy 80 or Rozena instead of Tenergy 05) reduces overall speed on the backhand side, where most players need more control. After 2-3 weeks of adaptation, players can upgrade the backhand rubber if the softer option feels limiting. This graduated approach prevents the frustration of losing match points to unforced errors during the adjustment period.