The Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC is a highly sought-after table tennis blade by industry giant Butterfly. Known for their high-quality products and exquisite craftsmanship, they are leaders in table tennis products worldwide. Innovative materials have allowed Butterfly to stand out and rise to the top of its niche.
Used universally by table tennis professionals and passionate hobbyists, it shares the same name as table tennis star Zhang Jike, a two-time Olympic team champion. In this Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC review, we will dive into what makes the model different from others in its’ league, as well as what the benefits and potential setbacks may be.
Butterfly (also known as Tamasu Co., Ltd) was founded in 1950 by table tennis star Trusted Source Butterfly (table tennis equipment manufacturer) - Wikipedia Butterfly sponsors top players and coaches in different countries such as USA, Korea, Canada, Germany, Japan, Poland, and many more. en.wikipedia.org . Hikosuke was undeniably devoted to the sport and had many related achievements during his 100-year life, such as editing the very first issue of Table Tennis Report magazine. He even opened his own training center called the Butterfly Table Tennis Dojo, which many loved and attracted thousands of aspiring players.
Hikosuke was a man of excellence, and this certainly translated into his work. His legacy
lives on even years after his passing. The exceptional craftsmanship of Butterfly’s products is clear the moment one lays eyes on the box. Even the packaging itself is of discernable quality.
This layered carbon allows you to produce power while maintaining control at the same time.
The veneer used in the Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC is quite hard, especially when compared to the Jun Mizutani Super ZLC blade, which has a much more cushioned strike. Harder veneer grants the ability to execute a more direct hit. This minimizes the arc and causes the ball to travel more directly, in an almost straight line over the net. It also allows the player to have the control necessary to make the ball spin.
This blade is an extremely hard and rigid model. It has the highest reaction area of any blade on the market. It is used as an attack or offensive blade.
The Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC is ideal for players who have a fast and vigorous play style. It also fits for those who wish to add a boost of power to their strike.
There are three handle options, allowing players to customize the Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC to their liking. These include an anatomically inspired handle that bulges along the sides, allowing an airtight grip, a flared handle that is thinnest at the midway point, and a straight handle.
Reaction
Its revolutionary patent-protected Super ZL carbon fiber allows for a more stable energy transfer, giving the blade a larger contact sweet spot. This also favors a more stable weight distribution which helps with accuracy.
The hardness of the blade allows vibrations to travel efficiently. This gives the Butterfly Zhang Jike a high vibration rating of 111.
Being an offensive blade, it has a thickness of only 5.6mm. Thicker blades tend to be made with the intention of defending.
With 5 plies of wood and 2 plies of Super ZL carbon fibers, the original Butterfly Zhang Jike was the first blade to be made with this ground-breaking material. It is exclusive to Butterfly and what sets it apart from the competition.
This 5 ply/ 2 carbon ply blade comes in at 90gms with an hard outer veneer for protection against the edges chipping.
Depending on ambient temperature and humidity, the blade is a little on the heftier side at roughly 90 grams. Its’ head is the standard industry size of 157x150mm.
Despite the steep price tag, the Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC is worth every penny. It is a result of the culmination of generations of dedicated table tennis enthusiasts and product developers alike. At US$399.99, the state-of-the-art materials and techniques used to craft this blade provide customers with a superior offensive weapon.
When choosing rubber for this blade, it is recommended to opt either for a medium-hard or hard rubber such as the Tenergy 05 or the Tenergy 64. While soft blades can be combined with hard rubbers, hard blades shouldn’t be combined with soft rubbers. This will minimize the power of the shots and make control erratic.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| The blade is forgiving due to how a player can use almost any part of the head to make contact with the ball accurately. | Arcs just a little and is very direct, which might make it difficult for beginners to clear the net and get the trajectory they want while serving. |
| Experts can use this blade to execute any maneuvers that require high power and speed. | Price is high compared to models of similar caliber and capacity. |
| One of the most high-tech and advanced models on the market. |
Consumers have been extremely receptive to the Zhang Jike model since its’ release. A favorite amongst world-class competitors, Butterfly also helps keep the sport alive by sponsoring many new up-and-comers Trusted Source Meet Adriana Diaz, Puerto Rico's rising star in table tennis She made her Olympic debut in Rio at 15 years of age. In 2019 she broke into the world’s top-30. Now she’s at Lima 2019 Pan American Games. What next? olympics.com . Thank you and please share this Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC review with your network.
