Weight
85g
Thickness
5.6mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
158x152
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Liu Shiwen ZLF
Butterfly Liu Shiwen ZLF is a celebrated offensive blade designed for the fast, close-to-the-table attacking style of its namesake. It integrates Butterfly's ZL Fiber within an inner construction, creating a remarkably lightweight and responsive feel. This design delivers a superb blend of speed and control, characterized by a soft, woody touch and a crisp surface. It excels at powerful loops, smashes, and quick counter-attacks, while its generous dwell time allows for heavy spin generation, making it a top choice for aggressive, spin-focused players.
This 7-ply construction features an inner ZL Fiber layer sandwiched between Limba and Ayous wood. This design creates a blade that is both lightweight and powerful, with the ZL Fiber providing bounce and responsiveness while the wood plies offer a soft feel and enhanced dwell time for spin.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Liu Shiwen ZLF is engineered for fast-paced, aggressive play. The ZL Fiber technology provides excellent acceleration, enabling powerful drives and rapid attacks from close to the table. While its speed ceiling may be slightly below the most extreme carbon blades, it delivers more than enough pace for most offensive strategies, especially when paired with dynamic rubbers.
Despite its speed, this blade offers impressive control thanks to its soft feel and extended dwell time. This combination allows for precise ball placement, stable blocking, and significant spin generation. Players find it provides a consistent and predictable response, making it manageable for a wide range of offensive shots.
It delivers a distinctive soft, woody feel that provides excellent feedback and touch, particularly in short-game exchanges. The inner ZL Fiber adds a subtle crispness, creating a balanced and comfortable sensation that is both responsive and forgiving.
The combination of ZL Fiber and wood produces a medium-high throw angle. This helps in clearing the net with aggressive loops and drives, providing a consistent arc for attacking shots while maintaining good control.
The inner fiber construction with wood plies promotes a longer dwell time, allowing the ball to sink into the racket face. This enables players to impart heavy spin and offers greater control during passive strokes like blocks and pushes.
Noticeable flex is a key characteristic, aided by the wood construction and ZL Fiber. This flexibility enhances dwell time and spin generation, allowing players to 'grab' the ball effectively. It supports a dynamic, spin-oriented game from close to mid-distance.
The blade provides a lively, moderate level of vibration. It avoids the harshness of stiffer composites, offering good tactile feedback without being jarring, which helps players feel connected to their shots.
Butterfly's reputation for premium craftsmanship is fully realized in the Liu Shiwen ZLF. It features top-tier materials, precise construction, and an excellent finish, resulting in a durable and aesthetically pleasing blade. The attention to detail, including decorative elements on some versions, underscores its high-quality build.
Technology
Butterfly Liu Shiwen ZLF utilizes Innerforce Layer technology, where ZL Fiber is positioned near the core of the blade rather than on the outer plies. This design preserves a soft, woody feel akin to traditional all-wood blades while still delivering the enhanced speed, lightness, and responsiveness of composite materials. ZL Fiber is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio, contributing to the blade's light feel and excellent elasticity. This construction is ideal for offensive players who rely on a blend of spin and controlled power.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Liu Shiwen
This blade is named after and developed in collaboration with the legendary Chinese player Liu Shiwen. It is engineered to match her aggressive, close-to-the-table, and spin-dominant style. The blade provides the speed, control, and dwell time necessary for her dynamic looping and rapid attacking game.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Innerforce ZLF
Butterfly Innerforce ZLF shares an almost identical construction and playing character with the Liu Shiwen ZLF. Both utilize Innerforce Layer technology with ZL Fiber, offering a very similar blend of speed, control, and soft feel. For players seeking the characteristics of the Liu Shiwen ZLF, the Innerforce ZLF serves as a direct and comparable alternative.
Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC (Old)
The older Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC offers comparable playing characteristics, particularly in control and dwell time. While it uses Arylate-Carbon (ALC) fiber instead of ZL Fiber, both are inner fiber constructions that provide a similar feel—neither overly stiff, with good feedback for spin-oriented players.