Weight
86g
Thickness
7.1mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Garaydia ZLC
Butterfly Garaydia ZLC is a high-performance offensive blade designed for aggressive, close-to-table play. Introduced in 2015, its unique 5-ply construction combines three wood veneers with two Zylon-Carbon (ZLC) fiber layers. This design delivers a potent blend of speed and control, with the ZLC fibers providing stability and a lower ball trajectory for powerful attacks. It offers excellent feel, allowing players to grip the ball effectively while generating significant spin. The well-balanced construction suits players who rely on both powerful shots and precise placement, opening up a wide range of offensive possibilities.
The blade features a 5-ply construction with outer Hinoki layers for a soft feel, a Balsa core for lightness and speed, and two Zylon-Carbon (ZLC) fiber layers integrated between the wood plies. This arrangement aims to provide stability, speed, and spin while maintaining a good feel for the ball.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Garaydia ZLC is characterized by its high speed, evident from its OFF class. The ZLC fibers contribute significantly to its rebound effect, allowing for powerful shots and quick attacks. While fast, it is not considered extreme, offering a good balance that allows for controlled offensive play.
Despite its high speed, Garaydia ZLC is praised for its remarkable control. Our testing shows its ability to balance speed with precision, making it effective even in close-to-table situations. The soft feel from the outer Hinoki plies and the ZLC integration allow players to feel the ball and maintain accuracy during aggressive strokes.
Garaydia ZLC offers a unique feel, described as soft yet powerful. The outer Hinoki plies contribute to a softer touch, allowing players to feel the ball well and generate spin. While the ZLC layers add stiffness, the overall sensation is not hard, providing a comfortable and responsive playing experience, especially for blocking and looping.
Garaydia ZLC is noted for producing a relatively low trajectory on its shots, which is advantageous for offensive players aiming for aggressive, direct attacks that are harder for opponents to return. This low arc helps in maintaining a consistent, attacking pressure.
Garaydia ZLC provides a good amount of dwell time, which is crucial for imparting heavy spin. This allows players to 'grip' the ball and generate high-rotation shots. The dwell time is notable for a carbon-infused blade, contributing to its spin-friendly nature.
While ZLC blades are generally stiffer, Garaydia ZLC is described as having enough flexibility to allow for significant spin generation. This balance prevents it from feeling overly stiff or robotic, contributing to its nuanced feel.
The blade is characterized by very low vibration. This is often attributed to the combination of the wood plies and the ZLC fiber placement, which absorbs much of the shock. This low vibration contributes to a clean feel and allows players to focus on executing their shots.
Garaydia ZLC is consistently lauded for its exceptional build quality and premium feel. Players report its smooth finish, aesthetic appeal, and overall meticulous craftsmanship, indicative of Butterfly's high manufacturing standards.
Technology
Butterfly Garaydia ZLC incorporates Zylon-Carbon (ZLC) fiber technology, a composite material known for its lightness, strength, and flexibility. In this blade, these ZLC fibers are strategically placed to enhance stability during powerful attacks and contribute to a lower ball trajectory. This construction, combined with a 3-ply wood veneer (including an outer Hinoki layer and a Balsa core), aims to provide a superior balance of speed, spin, and control. The Japanese craftsmanship ensures a high level of quality and performance, making it a premium choice for offensive players.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Fan Zhendong
Fan Zhendong has been associated with Butterfly blades throughout his career. While specific blade usage can change, he has been known to use blades from Butterfly's high-performance range, often featuring carbon or composite materials, which the Garaydia ZLC represents. His powerful, all-around offensive style, characterized by aggressive topspin attacks and solid defense, aligns with the capabilities of a blade like the Garaydia ZLC, which offers both speed and control for dynamic play.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Amultart
Butterfly Amultart is frequently cited as being very similar to the Garaydia ZLC in terms of feel, performance, and playing characteristics. Both blades feature ZLC construction and are praised for their excellent spin, control, and offensive capabilities. Many players have found the Amultart to be a direct replacement for the Garaydia ZLC, noting a very close resemblance in how they handle the ball and generate spin and power.
Butterfly Innerforce Layer ZLC
Innerforce Layer ZLC, another Butterfly blade with ZLC technology, shares some similarities in its high-end performance and spin-generating abilities. While the Innerforce series is an 'innerfiber' construction (meaning the composite layers are closer to the core), it still offers the benefits of ZLC, such as speed and a good feel. This makes it a potential alternative for players seeking a ZLC blade with potentially a slightly different feel due to its inner construction.