Difference between ZLF and ZLC

PringlesRingles wrote: What is the difference in for example the Timo Boll blades where one has ZLC and the other has ZLF? Also a off topic question. What is "Arylate" that some butterfly blades have?

MindTrip wrote: ZLC plays stiffer and slightly faster from my experience.

+1

Slightly harder too...

Arylate is another name for Vectran fiber.  It is very similar to Kevlar and aramid.  It's also used to make ropes, cable, sails, and in bicycle frames.

Btfly made a few blades at the start with just Arylate (most notably the Keyshot) but later found that a cross-weave with Arylate and Carbon (ALC) made the blade a little faster (but not generally too fast) and people liked it better.  Viscaria, Maze, Kong Linghui Special, Timo Boll Spirit and Timo Boll ALC are the classic ALC blades used by lots of pro players.  Another one was the Iolite, which was very thick and stiff.  The have been returning to this basic idea for decades now.  It depends on who they are sponsoring.  Now they have made versions for Freitas and Matsudaira.  The blades they make for each player have different handle shapes, and that is actually quite important.

All ALC blades have a relatively soft feel compared to what they would have with just carbon.  They can be soft, and yet stiff.  ALC tends to dampen out high frequency vibration, which some people like, and so feel very different from most all-wood blades.  

Zylon is another fiber originally introduced by Btfly now found in other blades.  A little different, but works in rather the same way as Arylate, but subtly different mechanical properties that at least some people like even better, but much more costly.  Generally a little faster and crisper feeling.  An early version was the Photino.  

Btfly has introduced blade series named after Timo Boll and Zhang Jike with all sorts of choices -- ALC, ZLF (just the zylon), ZLC (zylon carbon weave) super ZLC (more zylon in the weave), and a uniaxial carbon (hard, fast).  Lots of companies now have their own versions of these.  They have made zylon-containing blades for Jun Mitzutani and Liu Shiwen.  Another one that as out there for awhile was the Amultart (ZLC).

Comparing concretely TB ZLF and TB ZLC I could say TB ZLC is definitely faster and slightly softer while ZLF has more harder and muted feel, better for allround oriented players.
I feel myself much more safe to play with ZLF than ZLC.
Even Mizutani ZLC (elder version) with a weight of 86 grams is much more softer and speedy than TB ZLF same weight.
By the way, I could add some more information. I have Mizutani ZLC (elder version) 90 grams and that blade is pretty different than Mizutani ZLC 86 grams. More harder crisper feel for the blade with 90 grams. Maze blades I have had a lot. Each one is playing different. Last two blades I have 94grams and 90 grams are so different you can't say both blades are Maze. Impossible.
So, finally I could give an advice to the topic owner do not search a blade by some reviews or parameters, but to look (and test, if is possible) for a real blade to catch in hand.
Hope that post was useful.

slevin wrote: kolevtt wrote: Comparing concretely TB ZLF and TB ZLC I could say TB ZLC is definitely faster and slightly softer while ZLF has more harder and muted feel, better for allround oriented players. I respectfully disagree: TB-ZLC is harder than TB-ZLF for sure (purely IMHO, that is).

I believe you.
Back in 2008 I think someone gave me his TB ZLC with 05fx rubbers and that blade was extremely hard.
I am talking in general, but my experience with ZLF is connected only with hard blades.
Just by chance, probably.
Last year a friend bough new TB ZLF - much harder than any Mizutani or TB ZLC I had in my bag.
If you compare thicker ZLF blades versus thinner ZLC - possible ZLC would be harder.
P.S.
And... if I send you my ZLC "J" series 88 grams ST handle you will definitely forget the words posted in your last respectfully disagreed post.
Years ago some players couldn't believe that blade ZLC is ZLC. Also last year bought TB ZLC by another friend is more softer than my all Mizutani ZLC.
There is no logic, but this is a real truth.


Edited by kolevtt - 06/06/2016 at 6:10pm

For sure the rubber is going to have a big impact on how these things feel.

I am an ALC guy so my opinions about ZLF, ZLC, or sZLC feel should not be taken as very authoritative, except for sure the sZLC is pretty fast compared to what I'm used to.

I've hit with so many different ALC blades that I have pretty good idea what the normal range is for those, and there is a range, no two are exactly alike (as NL already pointed out in the post below this one).  So if you want to generalize, you need to have played with several samples of each.

PringlesRingles wrote: What is the difference in for example the Timo Boll blades where one has ZLC and the other has ZLF? Also a off topic question. What is "Arylate" that some butterfly blades have?