Weight
87.5g
Thickness
5.7mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
158x152
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Harimoto Innerforce ZLC
Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ZLC is an offensive blade designed for players who demand a powerful yet controlled game. Developed with Tomokazu Harimoto, its innerfiber ZLC construction places carbon layers near the core, enhancing dwell time and creating a larger, more forgiving sweet spot. This design delivers a dynamic blend of speed and feedback, making it ideal for aggressive topspin players who need consistency in both powerful attacks and delicate touch shots. The blade offers a professional feel that supports advanced techniques and competitive play.
The blade uses a 7-ply construction with a 5-ply wood core. Two layers of Zylon Carbon (ZLC) are positioned as the second and sixth plies, sandwiching the core. This innerfiber layout is key to its playing characteristics, enhancing dwell time and feel while maintaining structural integrity for power.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Harimoto Innerforce ZLC is a high-speed offensive blade that generates significant pace, especially when paired with modern rubbers. The Zylon Carbon material contributes to a lively, powerful response, allowing players to execute fast attacks and counter-loops with ease. While some players note its speed feels manageable due to the inner construction, it firmly sits in the fast category, providing the explosive power needed for an attacking game.
Despite its offensive nature, this blade offers excellent control. The inner ZLC placement expands the sweet spot and improves ball feedback, allowing for precise guidance in short pushes, blocks, and during sustained rallies. Players report a confident feeling when placing shots, with the blade providing enough dwell time to shape spins and control the ball's trajectory effectively, even at high speeds.
The blade delivers a crisp, medium-hard feel with good dwell time. You get a satisfying, connected feedback during strokes, blending the direct response of ZLC with the ball-holding sensation of the innerfiber design. This allows players to feel the ball grip on powerful loops and during delicate touch shots near the net.
It produces a medium-high throw angle, ideal for offensive play. This trajectory helps players clear the net comfortably with topspin loops and drives, allowing for aggressive, arcing attacks that maintain pressure on opponents.
Dwell time is a standout feature, enhanced by the innerfiber construction. The ball stays on the racket surface slightly longer, facilitating greater spin generation and providing a more controlled, catapult-like effect. This is particularly beneficial for players who rely on brushing techniques for heavy topspin.
This is a relatively stiff blade. The ZLC layers and offensive design provide a direct, crisp power transfer with minimal flex. This stiffness contributes to its high speed and precise shot execution, favoring players who prefer a solid, immediate response over a flexible, looping arc.
Vibration is present but well-managed for an offensive carbon blade. The innerfiber design slightly dampens the feedback compared to outer carbon blades, resulting in a clear but not overly sharp sensation. Players receive informative feedback on shot quality without excessive harshness.
Crafted in Japan, the Harimoto Innerforce ZLC exhibits exceptional build quality. The blade is consistently praised for its durability, precise construction, and comfortable handle finish. It feels solid and reliable in hand, built to withstand the demands of intense training and competition. This level of craftsmanship ensures consistent performance and a premium feel that justifies its position in the high-end market.
Technology
The core technology is the Innerfiber ZLC construction. This involves placing Zylon Carbon layers closer to the blade's core rather than on the outer plies. This strategic placement is engineered to increase dwell time, create a larger sweet spot, and deliver a softer, more dynamic feedback. The goal is to merge the power and speed of carbon with enhanced control and a more connected feel, offering a balanced offensive tool for players who value both explosiveness and touch.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Tomokazu Harimoto
As the namesake of the blade, Tomokazu Harimoto's aggressive, dynamic style is the blueprint for its design. His game relies on powerful, fast topspin shots and relentless offensive pressure. The Innerforce ZLC, with its blend of high speed, controlled power, and enhanced feel from the inner carbon, supports his ability to generate heavy spin and place decisive attacks with precision.
Andrej Gacina
Croatian professional Andrej Gacina has used blades featuring ZLC technology that align with the performance profile of the Harimoto Innerforce ZLC. His powerful offensive style, built on strong forehand attacks and a solid backhand, benefits from the speed, spin, and controlled power such blades provide, enabling him to dominate rallies and finish points effectively.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Viscaria
Viscaria is a classic offensive blade that also uses ZLC, but typically in an outerfiber configuration. Compared to the Harimoto Innerforce ZLC, the Viscaria offers a crisper, more direct feel and potentially sharper power transfer. The Harimoto model provides a larger sweet spot and more dwell time due to its inner construction, making it more forgiving and often preferred by players who prioritize ball control and a connected feeling in the short game.
Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC
This alternative shares the same innerfiber philosophy and head size but uses Arylate Carbon (ALC) instead of ZLC. The ALC version is generally considered softer, offering more dwell time and a focus on spin and control. The ZLC version provides a noticeable increase in raw speed and power, making the choice between them a matter of prioritizing ultimate pace (ZLC) versus a spin-focused, softer touch (ALC).