Butterfly Outerforce ALC Offensive Shakehand Blade

A blade with Arylate Carbon placed toward the outside, thick at 6.2 mm

The Outerforce ALC is an offensive shakehand blade with Outer Fiber construction. Its special material, 2 layers of Arylate Carbon, is placed toward the outside, and its blade thickness of 6.2 mm is on the thick side. Among Outer Fiber models, bounce is kept relatively modest, suiting intermediate players.

Features

• Blade composition: 5 wood plies plus 2 layers of Arylate Carbon (Outer Fiber construction).
• Outer Fiber construction places the special material toward the outside of the blade, closer to the surface.
• Blade thickness of 6.2 mm is on the thicker side even among the offensive shakehand blades we carry.
• Reaction property of 11.4 is around the middle, and vibration property of 10.4 is somewhat high.
• Average weight 85 g; grip available in 3 options: FL (Flared), AN (Anatomic), and ST (Straight).

Recommended for

• Players who want to try Outer Fiber construction starting from a lower-bounce model
• Players who prefer a solid feel from a thicker blade

Pros and things to consider

Pros

• The outside-placed special material tends to release the ball a little sooner.
• Despite a thick 6.2 mm blade, the average weight of 85 g is somewhat light.
• You can choose from 3 grips: FL, AN, and ST.

Things to consider

• Reaction property of 11.4 is around the middle, which may feel lacking to players who want strong bounce.
• Vibration property of 10.4 is a little above the median, indicating a somewhat firmer feel on paper.
• Because the blade is on the thicker side, switching from a thinner blade will change the feel.

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 is Outer Fiber construction?

A. It's a construction that places a special material such as carbon toward the outside of the blade, closer to the surface. This blade has 2 layers of Arylate Carbon placed toward the outside of a 5-ply wood blade.

Q. Which grip should I choose?

A. FL (Flared) widens toward the end, ST (Straight) is straight, and AN (Anatomic) is contoured with a bulge in the middle. Grip size is 100×25×34 mm for FL and AN, and 100×23×28 mm for ST. As a general rule, choose whichever shape feels most natural in your hand.

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.
• Rubbers are sold separately. Please also choose two rubbers, 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.