Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade (VS Timo Boll Review & Price)
Last Updated on November 10, 2023 by Sorin Petroj
Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC blade is the latest advancement among its fantastic products. It is an updated version of the Viscaria ALC Blade. Butterfly released this table tennis blade into the market on 1st March 2022.
It is the first blade equipped with super Arylate-Carbon (ALC) technology. Viscaria means ‘sticky’ in Latin. Viscaria blades are loved because of their feeling and clear vibration. The ALC layer is put near the outer layer, making it highly responsive and fast.
Butterfly brand is a renowned Japanese company worldwide for manufacturing table tennis equipment. It came into existence in 1950. This brand has sponsored many professional table tennis players who fancy Viscaria blades. An example is Fan Zhendong, a World Number 1 table tennis player.
Fan Zhendong uses a Viscaria blade with a Golden tag as his main blade. Another famous player with a Butterfly Viscaria blade is Zhang Jike, a Chinese athlete. He secured the fastest Grand Slam winner title with assistance from this blade.
In the females’ category, Chen Meng led the ranking for the women’s singles by winning a Gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games using a Viscaria blade with the Forehand DHS Hurricane 3 NEO Rubber.
The Super ALC blade is a faster version that is more rigid and has reduced vibration than the original Viscaria blade. This blade will give you numerous options from anywhere around the table. Let’s now glimpse at some of this blade’s exceptional features.
Comparison Between Viscaria ALC and Viscaria Super ALC Blade
Differences
The blade structure of Viscaria ALC consists of 5 layers of plywood and 2 layers of arylate carbon, whereas that of super ALC consists of 5 layers of plywood and 2 layers of super arylate carbon. The difference here is that the ALC layer is superior to the Super ALC blade.
Super ALC has more reaction and speed compared to the original blade. Compared to the Viscaria ALC blade, it also has reduced vibration, which has high vibration levels, just like its speed and reaction.
Their blade thicknesses vary by a small margin. The Super ALC blade has a thickness of 5.7 mm, while the Viscaria ALC blade’s thickness is 5.8 mm.
Similarities
Both have blade sizes of 157×150 mm and handles of similar sizes. They also have the exact Chinese Penhold blade measurements.
Viscaria vs. Timo Boll ALC vs. Primorac Carbon vs. Harimoto ALC Price Comparison Chart
Viscaria is a super arylate carbon blade compared to other blades from the chart. It is the first blade prototype after 10 years. Viscaria’s normal version has similar features as Timo Boll ALC, Primorac Carbon, and Harimoto ALC. All these are new blades, but the Super ALC has more power and reaction properties.
Also, it provides more speed and more fibers. This blade enables players to perform quick attacks and to have good flexibility. Timo Boll has been popular for many years, but Viscaria Super ALC is a brand-new blade and is the latest innovation from Butterfly’s famed R&D department.
Features of Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade
Butterfly has made it available in Flared handle and Straight handle types. Some of the outstanding features of this blade include:
- Viscaria Super ALC has a net weight of 89 grams
- It has a blade size of 157×150 mm
- Viscaria Super ALC Blade has a blade thickness of 5.7 mm
- It has 5-ply wood and 2 super ALC compounds
- FL Handle Size: 100×25 mm
- ST Handle Size: 100×23 mm
- Reaction = 121
- Vibration = 101
- It is made in Japan
Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade – Chinese Penhold
There is not much difference between the Super ALC blade and the Chinese Penhold. Chinese Penhold is just the Chinese version of the Super ALC blade.
Chinese Penhold consists of Butterfly’s traditional Viscaria, ideal blade size, koto outer ply, and balsa center ply. Below are the features of the Chinese Penhold:
- Viscaria Super ALC Chinese Penhold has a net weight of 86 grams
- It has a blade thickness of 5.7mm
- Viscaria Super ALC Blade has a blade size of 158x150mm
- It has 5-ply wood and 2 super ALC compounds
- CS Handle Size: 82x22mm
- Reaction: 121
- Vibration: 104
- Made in Japan
You can tell that there are no significant differences in their features other than the Chinese Penhold is lighter than the Super ALC blade. It has a higher vibration. The handle sizes also vary in these two blades.
Composition and Appearance of Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade
If you look at the original Viscaria blade and Super ALC, you will find that they are somewhat similar, even in feel. The reality is that there are a few things that differ. You may note them when playing with the blades.
Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC table tennis blade has a more gentle touch and a softer feeling on the hands than the original version. It is not so heavy and offers players absolute control during the game.
This blade is designed for players who want to attack fast using high spins. The paddle’s grip makes it easy to swing quickly and comfortably, improving your performance.
The blade also has five layers of plywood and two layers of superarylate carbon, making its speed more effective and efficient. Its characteristic long (flared) handle gives it the best control. The fastest table tennis blades and better than Viscaria are reviewed in detail.
Details on the Technology (Arylate-Carbon) Used
Super Arylate-Carbon is an artificial fiber material that provides higher bounce while maintaining excellent flexibility for the blade. It consists of more woven fibers that give it this ideal bouncy feature. These are the main features of arylate carbon. The Super ALC blade is a harder variant of the original Viscaria ALC blade.
Something similar about this upgraded Viscaria blade and the original one is the essential components of the blade, such as the wood veneer structure, do not change. This blade that features a double super arylate-carbon has a notably increased blade reaction that does not increase the vibration compared to the Viscaria ALC blade.
This super blade has characteristics that suit many players, from intermediate to advanced/ professional table tennis players. It is especially recommended for Viscaria ALC or Timo Boll ALC players. These blades are fast, like super ALC, and require more speed on the ball.
EVOLUTION OF ARYLATE-CARBON
The reason behind the development of an artificial fiber material emerging from arylate carbon was many table tennis players had been asking for a blade with increased power that prevents losing the grip of the ALC blade. This could only be possible if the reaction property increased without increasing the vibration property of the blade.
Usually, it isn’t easy to maintain this factor because the higher the blade’s reaction, the higher the vibration is. Therefore, extensive research was conducted by Butterfly’s R&D department to try to disapprove of this property for several years.
Finally, Butterfly was able to come up with the perfect solution by developing an artificial fiber material for superarylate carbon. They ensured that they adjusted the ratio of arylate to carbon to maintain the blade’s flexibility and user-friendliness.
Viscaria super ALC blade was formed by combining the artificial fiber material with the wooden veneer structure. Although this blade has a high reaction, it has a lower vibration.
Best Rubber for Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade
For a player to skillfully perform well with a blade, they have to use it with the right rubber combinations. Not all rubbers can work well on a particular blade.
For example, many top-notch table tennis players who use Viscaria blades and Timo Boll ALC blades combine them with Tenergy 05 and Dignic 05 rubbers. Butterfly Tenergy and Dignics rubbers allow them to swiftly attack their opponents at near distances at the table.
Without a doubt, these rubbers would form a powerful combination with the Viscaria Super ALC blade, giving you high-performance levels. You will generate more powerful shots as the blade utilizes the rubbers’ quality characteristics.
Viscaria Super ALC blade equipped with Tenergy 05 Rubbers priced at $ 344.97
You can also use the Butterfly Rozena, a backhand rubber. However, it does not have the speed level as the Tenergy and Dignics series but will give you more control of the racket.
If you are a player who values high spin and rotation, you can go for Butterfly Dignics 09C rubber. This rubber’s tacky top sheet eases the generation of heavy top spins while the blade creates balls with higher speed due to its increased reaction.
We’re often asked if our rackets are assembled and ready to play. The answer is yes! When buying on Megaspin, you get VOC-free glue to assemble the racket, and they cut the rubber sheets using professional tools. They also add free-side tape that matches the blade.
You will get the package for your racket with padded material to avoid delivery damage. So you can unbox and start playing! We recommend Viscaria Super ALC with Dignics and Tenergy series rubbers if you’re looking for a specific setup. But ultimately, it’s up to you – experiment and find what works best.
How to Care for the Super arylate Carbon Blade?
Every athlete values the durability factor of their equipment. We all would like to purchase something that will serve us for the longest while. It calls for everyone to take responsive measures in taking care of their equipment so that it may last longer.
For the Viscaria super ALC blade, you can add soft grip tape to the blade to increase its grip. The function of the grip tape is to provide more grip and comfort to the player. And yes, it increases the racket’s lifespan.
The Viscaria Super ALC is made of an artificial fiber material that provides higher bounce while maintaining good flexibility. You can add side tape to the blade to extend the longevity of the racket.
The ratio of Arylate and carbon has been adjusted to maintain flexibility and ease of use. Weaving in more fibers enables a higher bounce than in conventional Arylate-Carbon rackets.
Pros and Cons of Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade
Here is a highlight of some of the advantages and disadvantages of this super blade:
Advantages
- It is a very high-speed
- Viscaria Super ALC can generate unbelievable spin
- It is very durable and has a softer touch
- Viscaria Super ALC portrays a good balance between speed, spin, and control.
- It can perform well during short play
- Butterfly improved the reaction property
- It’s an all-around blade. It can be subjected to a variety of play types, such as attacking (looping, smashing, flicking)
- Has a good feel on the hand/feedback
- It is suitable for playing at any distance from the table
Disadvantages
- It is costly
- The Super ALC is slightly head-heavy
Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade Price
With as much as $269.99, you can be an owner of the Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC blade. This price can be expensive for some, while others might find it pocket-friendly. If you feel this blade tends to your gaming needs, go ahead and purchase it.
Its high-quality features and characteristics will give you good value for your money. Rest assured that you won’t regret buying this blade. This blade will increase your skill set and technique for all types of play.
You can get Viscaria Super ALC and the Chinese Penhold from Megaspin. Ensure you visit their online store to purchase one for yourself. You can also recommend these blades to your friends and family members who want to improve their skills.
Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade – Verified Customer Review
“A very nice blade. I use inverted (I have tried Dignics 05, Xiom Omega V Asia, and MXP 50) on one side and long pips on the other. I did not like the original Viscaria because I feel it’s slow, and I’ve hit with the Viscaria Golden, which I think is fast, but it’s not spinny enough (or my technique isn’t good enough) and way too expensive for the way it plays).
The Viscaria SALC feels perfect in the middle between the LYJ SZLC and Viscaria. I like the JZK SZLC (used for 4 years – a little too fast/hard) and LYJ SZLC (used this last 12 months). It has spin as well as speed, and I feel I can drive shots with good variation selectively and with good control.
Chopping is better with the LYJ SZLC (it keeps the ball flat), but long pips play better with the Viscaria SALC (I think mainly because the throw is higher, so the ball is more disruptive). Blocks and chop blocks are also quite good against drives from US 2000-2300 level players. Just ordered a second one as a backup.”
Top Players using Viscaria Super ALC
Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade – FAQs
1. How do I know if the blade I’ve purchased is original?
To distinguish between the real Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC blade and a fake one, you need to look at its serial number, usually written on the product. It should be a series of 11 digits containing a mixture of letters and numbers. Each Butterfly product’s serial number is unique.
Also, it’s good for you to note that the first letter of the serial number includes the year of fabrication. It would help if you looked for the product’s tag because the original Butterfly products made before 2009 come in black tags, while products made afterward come with a silver tag.
Send the serial number to Butterfly by emailing them here or contacting them on their official social media pages.
2. Why is Viscaria super alc so popular?
The Viscaria table tennis blade is widely popular because it meets the initial demands for a blade. The normal Viscaria feels it is there but with even more power.
This makes the blade extremely fast and provides good control over the ball. Zhang Jike, who won the Grand Slam in only 445 days, became famous because of this Record. He used Viscaria, then. Today, the most expensive table tennis blade is the Zhang Jike Super ZLC.
The new Viscaria Super ALC took about ten years, from the prototype to the launch of this new product, but these players’ impressions indicate that the blade has been successful.
3. Is Viscaria Super ALC too fast?
For intermediate to advanced-level players, the answer is no. But for beginners, it might be too fast. When combined with dignics and Energy series rubbers, the blade is fast.
However, you can maintain flexibility with this blade and produce even more power. The arylate carbon butterfly offers better control for blocks and counter spins. So, if you’re an intermediate or advanced player looking for a powerful but flexible blade, the Viscaria Super ALC might be the right choice for you.
4. Which alc blade has the most control?
If you’re looking for the blade with the most control, it’s tough to beat the Timo Boll ALC. This blade is used by many top players for a good reason. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used for a wide range of shots. It’s also relatively light, making it easy to maneuver.
If you’re looking for even more power, you might want to try the Viscaria Super ALC. This blade is a bit heavier, but it’s also significantly faster. As a result, it’s ideal for players looking to hit the ball with more speed and spin. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which blade is right for your game.
Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC Blade – Final Thoughts
This article provides an overview of the Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC blade and Chinese Penhold, listing their features and more insight. You can also comfortably tell the difference between the original Viscaria blade and the upgraded version.
All thanks to Butterfly for hearing the plea of many players and supplying them with a blade that fulfills and surpasses all their expectations.
The blade is equipped with super arylate carbon and is recommended for intermediate to advanced-level players. This brand-new blade is intended for dynamic spin play and more power during the table tennis game.
The Butterfly Viscaria Super ALC table tennis blade quickly gains a following among top players. This new model has better features than the original Viscaria and promises to give you an edge over your competition.
If you’re looking for a new blade that can take your game to the next level, try this blade and leave the impressions below.
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