Weight
90g
Thickness
5.9mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
160x152
Handles
FL
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Head-Heavy
Blue Advance
Friendship 729 Blue Advance ALC is a hybrid offensive blade built for players who demand a powerful, spin-focused game. Its 5-wood plus 2 Arylate-Carbon construction delivers a crisp, medium-hard feel with excellent dwell time, making it ideal for heavy looping and mid-distance rallies. This blade offers a compelling balance of speed and control, providing the explosive power of carbon with the connected feedback of wood. It's a versatile choice for intermediate to advanced attackers seeking high performance without the premium price tag.
This 7-ply, 5-wood + 2-ALC construction uses Koto as the outer layer for crisp feedback. Two layers of Blue Arylate-Carbon are placed directly outside the core, sandwiched between Ayous wood plies, with a central Candlenut core. This configuration aims to provide a stiff, fast response from the ALC while maintaining the dwell and feel benefits of the wood composition.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Rated as an OFF+ blade, the Blue Advance ALC delivers high speed suitable for powerful drives and quick attacks. The Arylate-Carbon layers significantly boost its pace, placing it firmly in the fast offensive category. Our analysis shows it offers explosive power that can rival more expensive blades, making it a serious tool for players looking to dictate the tempo of a rally.
Despite its offensive nature, this blade maintains impressive control. The balanced construction allows for precise ball placement and effective looping, making it surprisingly manageable. Many players find it accessible even when transitioning to a faster setup, as it provides a confident feel for spin-oriented shots without becoming unpredictable.
The blade delivers a crisp, medium-hard feel on contact. It provides clear feedback without being overly stiff, offering a satisfying connection during strokes. This feel bridges the gap between pure wood softness and extreme carbon rigidity, giving players good dwell time and a confident sense of ball contact.
It produces a medium-high throw angle, ideal for creating high-arcing loops that dip aggressively onto the table. This characteristic supports spin-oriented offensive strategies, allowing players to generate heavy topspin and effective opening attacks against backspin.
Excellent dwell time is a standout feature, crucial for generating heavy spin. The construction allows players to keep the ball on the blade longer, facilitating loaded loops and topspin shots. While it may have slightly less dwell than some premium models, it offers a significant amount that enhances spin potential for offensive play.
Moderate flexibility allows for a balanced playing experience. The ALC layers provide underlying stiffness for power, while the wood plies introduce enough give for precise placement and comfortable looping motions. This combination supports both powerful drives and controlled, spin-oriented finesse shots.
Vibration characteristics are well-managed, providing enhanced dampening for a more comfortable playing experience. The blade transmits enough feedback to feel connected to your shots, but without excessive or harsh vibration. This balance contributes to a pleasant and confident feel during aggressive rallies.
Build quality is generally good for its price point, with a solid finish and clean construction. However, TTSensei experts note that some units may exhibit splintering, which is a point of consideration for discerning players. While it feels well-made in the hand and performs reliably, this potential inconsistency keeps the quality rating in the good but not excellent range.
Technology
The core technology is a 5-wood plus 2 Arylate-Carbon (ALC) construction. This hybrid design strategically places blue Arylate-Carbon fiber layers just outside the wood core, sandwiched between wood plies. The ALC enhances stiffness, increases sweet spot size, and boosts speed, while the selected wood layers—Koto outer, Ayous, and a Candlenut core—provide the dwell time and tactile feel necessary for spin generation. The 'Blue' designation refers to the specific ALC composite used, which contributes to its vibration dampening and crisp feedback profile.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Viscaria
Frequently cited as a performance analogue, the Viscaria shares the same 5-wood + 2 ALC construction philosophy and OFF+ offensive profile. Both blades excel at providing a balanced blend of speed, control, and feel for spin-oriented attacking play. The Blue Advance ALC aims to deliver similar characteristics, positioning itself as a more accessible option within this popular performance category.
Yinhe Pro 01
Another Chinese-made ALC blade often mentioned in the same conversation as a budget-friendly, high-performance alternative. Players comparing these models sometimes note differences in overall quality and feel. Both cater to offensive players seeking the benefits of Arylate-Carbon technology without the associated premium cost.