Weight
82g
Thickness
6.6mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Viscaria Light
Butterfly Viscaria Light is a specialized, lighter version of the iconic Viscaria, designed for players who want its renowned performance without the heft. It expertly balances speed, control, and a soft touch, making it highly responsive for close-to-table offensive play. The construction combines sensitive wood veneers with Arylate Carbon to provide a larger sweet spot and reduced vibration, enhancing both attacking power and passive play capabilities. This blade is an excellent choice for offensive players who prioritize feeling, precision, and a dynamic playing experience that minimizes fatigue.
The construction is a 5-ply build featuring a 3-ply wood core (Kiri) sandwiched between two layers of Arylate Carbon fiber, which are then covered by outer Koto plies. This differs from the standard Viscaria's 5+2 build. The thicker outer Koto plies and strategic fiber placement aim to maintain speed while reducing the overall blade weight.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Viscaria Light delivers excellent speed, operating near the top of the OFF+ category. While lighter than the original, the thicker outer Koto plies help maintain significant offensive power. This makes the blade highly effective for fast-paced rallies and aggressive, decisive attacks, providing the pace needed for modern offensive play.
Despite its impressive speed, Viscaria Light offers a high level of control. The Arylate Carbon layers enhance stability and dampen vibration, allowing for precise ball placement and confident execution. This control is particularly noticeable during passive play, delicate blocks, and when trying to place shots with accuracy under pressure.
Players report a soft, communicative feel that allows you to sense the ball clearly on impact. This tactile feedback is a defining trait, beneficial for touch shots, spin generation, and overall control, setting it apart from harder, more composite-heavy blades.
This blade typically produces a medium-high throw angle, which is excellent for aggressive looping and powerful topspin attacks. The arc helps the ball clear the net with safety while maintaining offensive pressure, making it ideal for spin-oriented players.
The hybrid construction provides a satisfactory dwell time, enabling good spin generation on loops and serves. Our testing shows it offers a solid contact window, though some players familiar with pure wood blades might find it slightly shorter, a trade-off for the increased speed the construction targets.
Viscaria Light strikes a good balance between flexibility and stiffness. The hybrid build allows for effective power transfer and a solid hit, while retaining enough flex to aid in spin-based play and provide that desirable feeling of pocketing the ball.
Vibration is minimal, thanks to the effective damping from the Arylate Carbon layers. This results in a crisp, clean, and comfortable feel on impact, which enhances control and reduces sensory fatigue during long practice sessions or matches.
Butterfly maintains high manufacturing standards, and the Viscaria Light is generally a well-constructed blade. However, TTSensei experts note that the outer Koto layer can be somewhat prone to fraying or splintering when rubbers are removed, so careful handling during equipment changes is recommended to preserve its finish.
Technology
Viscaria Light incorporates Butterfly's Arylate Carbon (ALC) technology. This composite material blends Arylate fibers—known for lightness, flexibility, and shock absorption—with Carbon fibers that provide high elasticity and minimal energy loss. The goal is a blade with a larger sweet spot, significantly reduced vibration, and an enhanced balance of speed and control. Specifically for the Light version, the design reduces the number of wood plies while thickening the outer Koto layers and integrating ALC, achieving a lighter overall mass without sacrificing the core performance traits.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Viscaria
The original Viscaria is the direct predecessor, sharing the Arylate Carbon core performance. Viscaria Light is essentially a lighter iteration, offering a very similar feel and speed profile but with reduced mass, making it a prime alternative for players who love the Viscaria signature but seek less arm fatigue.
Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC.S
Often cited as a more controllable cousin within the Butterfly ALC family. While not a direct clone, it provides a similar hybrid feel with a greater emphasis on control, dwell time, and a slightly softer touch. This makes it a strong alternative for players who find the Viscaria Light a bit too fast or direct for their style.