Weight
95g
Thickness
8.2mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
163x135
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Custom
Balance
Balanced
Ryu Seung Min ZLC Japanese
Butterfly Ryu Seung Min ZLC Japanese is a premium table tennis blade crafted for Japanese penhold players who demand a sophisticated blend of speed, control, and tactile feedback. Developed in partnership with Olympic champion Ryu Seung Min, it integrates innovative ZL Carbon technology within a wood core to deliver enhanced elasticity, stability, and a responsive feel. This construction supports versatile offensive strategies, allowing for powerful loops and precise touch shots, making it a top choice for players seeking a dynamic and high-performance playing experience.
This blade features a 7-ply hybrid construction with two layers of ZL Carbon fiber sandwiched between five wood plies, including Hinoki outer layers. This combination aims to balance speed, elasticity, and control, enhancing ball dwell time and providing a powerful yet responsive hitting surface characteristic of modern high-performance blades.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Ryu Seung Min ZLC Japanese is engineered for exceptional speed, leveraging its OFF classification and ZL Carbon construction. The carbon layers provide a significant power advantage, facilitating explosive attacks and fast-paced rallies. Its lightweight yet robust build further enhances acceleration, making it ideal for players who rely on quick, forceful shots to dominate play.
While prioritizing speed, this blade offers a respectable level of control. The unique properties of ZL Carbon, combined with carefully selected wood layers, create a good feel for the ball and allow for accurate shot placement. This balance is effective for players who generate their own power but also need to execute controlled, tactical plays during matches.
Ryu Seung Min ZLC Japanese offers a direct and responsive feel due to the ZL Carbon layers, providing clear feedback on ball impact. While not overly stiff, the carbon composite leans toward a medium-hard sensation, allowing players to sense the ball effectively for spin-oriented shots and delicate touch play.
The combination of ZL Carbon and wood layers typically results in a medium-high throw angle, especially when paired with modern rubbers. This characteristic allows for penetrating loops with a good arc, making it effective for attacking play at varying distances from the table.
This blade provides good dwell time, allowing the ball to sink into the rubber and wood for enhanced spin generation. The ZL Carbon and wood plies create a stable hitting surface that grips the ball effectively, enabling players to impart significant spin on serves and strokes.
Ryu Seung Min ZLC Japanese is on the stiffer side due to the ZL Carbon layers, offering a solid base for powerful shots. While the wood plies provide some inherent flexibility, it is not considered highly flexible, which is typical for high-speed composite blades designed for aggressive play.
Vibration is moderate with this blade. The ZL Carbon layers provide stiffness and power, which can sometimes increase vibration, but the wood plies and Butterfly's construction techniques help dampen excessive feedback, resulting in a comfortable feel without sacrificing responsiveness.
Butterfly blades are renowned for exceptional craftsmanship, and Ryu Seung Min ZLC Japanese upholds this standard. Premium materials like ZL Carbon and Japanese Hinoki, along with meticulous construction, result in a durable, high-performing blade. Its consistent build and excellent stability reflect superior manufacturing, ensuring reliable performance over time.
Technology
Butterfly Ryu Seung Min ZLC Japanese incorporates Butterfly's advanced ZL Carbon technology, a unique composite material known for exceptional strength, elasticity, and lightweight properties. When integrated with wood plies, ZL Carbon enhances the blade's speed, sweet spot, and vibration characteristics. Developed in collaboration with Olympic champion Ryu Seung Min, this technology aims to provide offensive power and a sensitive feel, supporting a versatile and dynamic playing style optimized for high-level performance.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Ryu Seung Min
Ryu Seung Min, the 2004 Olympic Gold medalist, was instrumental in developing this blade. While he has used various Butterfly equipment, including the Ryu Seung Min G-Max, this ZLC variant embodies his preferred playing style. His game is characterized by exceptional footwork, powerful forehand attacks, and precise offensive play. This blade's combination of speed, spin, and control aligns perfectly with his dynamic and aggressive approach, enabling powerful loops and sustained pressure on opponents.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Kim Taek Soo
Butterfly Kim Taek Soo (KTS) is another highly regarded Japanese penhold blade, often seen as a predecessor or contemporary in Butterfly's premium offerings. Like Ryu Seung Min ZLC, KTS is known for excellent speed and spin capabilities suited for aggressive play. While KTS may have a slightly different feel and construction—often all-wood or a different composite layup—both blades target players seeking high-level performance. Those who enjoy the offensive prowess of RSM ZLC might find KTS offers a comparable, yet distinct, offensive experience.