Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC.S Chinese Penhold Blade

A thin, 5.5 mm Chinese-style penhold blade built for spin-focused play

This is a Chinese-style penhold blade with Inner Fiber® construction, combining 5 wood plies with 2 layers of Arylate Carbon. It's designed with a thin 5.5 mm blade thickness. Its reaction property of 10.1 and vibration property (a measure of vibration frequency — the higher the number, the firmer the feel) of 8.4 are both on the low side among the Chinese-style penhold blades we carry. It suits rallies built around spin.

Features

• Blade composition: 5 wood plies plus 2 layers of Arylate Carbon (Inner Fiber® construction).
• Blade thickness of 5.5 mm is on the thin side among the Chinese-style penhold blades we carry.
• Reaction property of 10.1 and vibration property of 8.4 indicate a softer feel on paper.
• Average weight 86 g, grip size 82×24×32 mm.
• Made in Japan; the back has a natural wood finish with no cork.

Recommended for

• Players who want to add spin to their returns close to the table
• Players who want a softer feel

Pros and things to consider

Pros

• The thinner blade thickness makes it easier to add spin.
• Vibration property of 8.4 is low among our Chinese-style penhold blades, indicating a softer feel on paper.
• Arylate Carbon gives it stable bounce.

Things to consider

• Because reaction property of 10.1 is modest, players seeking power alone may find it lacking.
• Because the blade is a thin 5.5 mm, it tends to produce less speed than a thicker blade.
• If you apply rubber to only one side, you'll need a sheet in a different color from the rubber on the back.

Specifications

Figures are the manufacturer's published values. Speed, spin, arc, sponge hardness, reaction property and vibration property are Butterfly's own indices.

FAQ

Q. What kind of grip is a Chinese-style penhold?

A. It's a blade with a short grip similar in shape to a shakehand grip, held the way you'd hold a pen. Rubber is applied to both sides, suiting a style of play that uses both faces of the blade.

Q. What are reaction property and vibration property?

A. Reaction property is a guide to how much bounce the blade has. Vibration property is a measure of vibration frequency — the higher the number, the firmer the feel and the less vibration transmitted to the hand. This blade is on the low side for both, among the Chinese-style penhold blades we carry.

Before you buy

• This item is ordered from our supplier after you place your order, then shipped from Japan.
• If it is out of stock at the manufacturer or supplier, delivery may take longer. If a restock is not expected, we may cancel your order. We will contact you by email in either case.
• Ships from Osaka, Japan by Japan Post. We ship this item to the United States, Australia and Brazil. Shipping fees are shown at checkout.
• United States: we prepay the US import duty. It is included in the shipping fee shown at checkout, so there is nothing to pay on delivery.
• Australia: no import duty or GST for orders of A$1,000 or less.
• Brazil: import taxes (about 93–100% of the order value including shipping) are paid by the recipient on delivery. Your CPF number is required for customs; we will ask for it by email after you order.
• Rubber is sold separately. Please also choose rubber, glue and edge tape.
• The average weight is a guide. Because the blade is made of wood, weight and grain vary from blade to blade.
• Images are for illustration. Colors may look different depending on your screen.
• Specifications and design may change without notice.