Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC Borussia Düsseldorf Limited Edition Review

2026 has brought a wave of new table tennis equipment, with blades such as the JOOLA Hugo Calderano ARY-C, Stiga Luma Hybrid Carbon, and Tibhar Darko Infinity Carbon attracting plenty of attention. We have already reviewed some of them, but arguably none has generated quite the same buzz as the Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC Borussia Düsseldorf Limited Edition, known among some players as the “Fan Zhendong Gold Label.”

Released in July as a limited edition, it quickly became a sought-after collector’s item. There were even reports of a fan willing to pay US$15,000 for one. That is an extraordinary amount for a table tennis blade, and it gives some sense of the excitement surrounding this release.

Once stock became available through our equipment distributors, we secured a blade for a thorough test on the table. With so much attention focused on its rarity and price, I wanted to find out what it could actually deliver in play. Is its greatest appeal as a collector’s piece, or does it offer something equally compelling in competition? To answer that, we needed to put it through its paces.

Structure and Feel

The blade I tested weighed around 88 grams and was approximately 5.64 mm thick. Its construction and the thickness of each layer looked much the same as the regular Fan Zhendong ALC, Viscaria, and Gold Label Viscaria. The outer plies looked similar in quality, and the core appeared well selected. Tapping the blade produced a slightly lower-pitched sound than the Viscaria, though the difference was small.

A regional Butterfly distributor told me that this edition uses higher-quality wood than the Gold Label Viscaria. Playing with it cannot prove that claim, but its noticeably more solid feel was consistent with that explanation.

To me, the regular Fan Zhendong ALC feels a little muted on contact, while the Viscaria feels crisper and harder. The Borussia Düsseldorf edition feels firmer still. It is hard and solid, with some springiness, but getting it to flex and release its full power takes more effort.

After using it, I switched to a K-code Viscaria with Dignics 09C. Suddenly, the Viscaria felt much easier to flex and get power out of. By comparison, it almost felt like an inner-carbon blade. That contrast made the limited edition’s higher power requirement particularly clear.

It reminded me of an older metal-tag Viscaria in terms of how much effort it took to bring out its full response. Once I put enough power into the shot, though, the limited edition felt springier, with a livelier rebound.

Short Game and Control Under Pressure

The short game was one of the blade’s biggest strengths for me. Once I got used to its response, keeping pushes short felt easy and reliable. Even with Tenergy 05 on the forehand, I could control the length confidently. With Dignics 09C, it became even easier.

The blade feels solid and responds predictably. On gentle touches, the ball does not spring off unexpectedly. Although it feels firm on harder shots, it still has a soft touch when playing short, which helps keep the ball under control.

It also handles powerful incoming shots very well. With the Butterfly Maharu Yoshimura Limited Edition or W968, I sometimes feel less confident when my opponent hits hard. The Viscaria usually feels more stable in those situations, and the Borussia Düsseldorf edition feels even more solid.

This is especially useful close to the table, where there is little time for a full swing. I could use my opponent’s speed, change the ball’s direction, or add power with a short stroke while staying in control. Blocking and turning defense into attack are two of this blade’s strongest qualities.

The Main Drawback: A Demanding Power Threshold

The biggest difficulty is getting the blade to respond fully. At low and medium impact, it remains stable and offers some ball hold. But when I tried to accelerate without applying enough concentrated force, the extra shot quality I expected did not always appear.

During my first session, I used Tenergy 05 on the forehand and Tenergy 80 on the backhand. With many other blades, roughly 60–70% of my effort is enough to access a strong rebound. With this one, the same effort produced stability but relatively little explosiveness.

At what felt like 80% effort or more, the response changed. The blade began to release much more speed, and my practice partner noticed that the ball was considerably faster than with the regular Fan Zhendong ALC or Viscaria. These percentages describe my own experience, but they illustrate the threshold clearly.

This creates a practical concern: a higher performance ceiling is only useful when you can reach it. If your normal stroke does not engage the blade sufficiently, you may produce better shots with the regular Fan Zhendong ALC.

I also found the backhand easier to unlock at times. My backhand movement was more compact and concentrated, which helped produce an explosive response. My larger, less refined forehand action did not always achieve the same result. Stroke efficiency mattered as much as effort.

What the Zhu Yuling Red Label 45 Comparison Reveals

A useful comparison is the standard Stiga Carbonado 45 and the version specially made for Zhu Yuling. The latter is also a Carbonado 45, identifiable by its red badge, as shown in the accompanying blade photo. I’ll refer to it as the “Zhu Yuling Red Label 45” throughout the rest of this review.

The Zhu Yuling version uses selected harder, denser wood. Its outer plies and core appear darker and more yellow, and its playing response is firmer, with quicker ball release and stronger support when punching or borrowing incoming power on the backhand. Some players even find it closer in feel to a Carbonado 90 than a standard 45.

However, that firmer response also demands more concentrated input. Close to the table, when there is little time or space to apply power, it does not automatically produce a more threatening ball than the standard Carbonado 45. Farther back, with room for a complete stroke, its extra power becomes more apparent.

The Borussia Düsseldorf edition follows a similar pattern. Against the same practice partner, my mid-distance loops with the regular Fan Zhendong ALC were relatively easy to defend. With the limited edition, stepping back and committing to a full stroke produced a clear increase in speed. Under those conditions, it felt like an extra gear was available.

Backhand Rigidity and Forehand Flex

This blade shows how stiffness and flex affect the forehand and backhand differently. Stiffness means the blade resists bending when the ball hits it, giving a firm, stable response. Flex describes how the blade bends slightly under impact and springs back. In my experience, a stiffer blade often works well for short backhand strokes, while a blade that flexes more easily can make forehand looping feel more natural.

The Viscaria and W968 are useful examples. The Viscaria feels stiffer, which helps with backhand blocks and quick attacks. On the forehand, it asks for a compact stroke with well-timed acceleration. The W968 flexes more noticeably, making it easier to feel the blade holding the ball and helping create spin and a safe arc over the net.

The Borussia Düsseldorf edition feels even stiffer than the Viscaria. This works particularly well on the backhand, where short, focused strokes can produce plenty of speed. It stays solid when blocking hard shots and makes it easy to use the opponent’s pace to counterattack.

On the forehand, getting the blade to flex takes more effort. With enough power and a suitable rubber, it delivers strong, stable shots. If you struggle to get that response, however, repeated forehand loops can feel tiring.

Rubber Pairing

Rubber choice makes a substantial difference to how accessible this blade feels.

On my second session, I replaced the forehand Tenergy 05 with Dignics 09C. The setup immediately felt more comfortable, and continuous looping became more reliable. The extra ball hold helped me maintain control without needing to engage the blade fully on every shot.

With Tenergy 05, I needed a well-balanced combination of impact and brushing. When I compressed the rubber but did not sufficiently engage the blade underneath, I became very aware of the blade’s hardness. Dignics 09C gave me more holding sensation in that situation, making the forehand easier to manage.

Hurricane 3 deserves more consideration. Unless sufficiently boosted, its relatively limited rebound and tendency to produce a shorter ball could make this pairing physically demanding. It may recall the old metal-tag Viscaria and Hurricane combination: capable, but tiring, with a strong need for compact, concentrated strokes to drive the ball forward.

There has also been positive feedback on Z03 as a forehand pairing, although that is separate from the combinations I tested here. My clearest finding was that Dignics 09C made the blade easier for me to use than Tenergy 05.

Who Is This Blade For?

I think this blade is best suited to experienced players who can generate power with compact, efficient strokes. Its reliable short game, solid backhand, and stability when blocking powerful shots make it a good fit for players who like to turn defense into attack.

It also performs well away from the table, where there is more room for a full swing. If you can put enough power into the shot, the extra speed becomes clear, and the blade still feels solid and stable.

For many amateur players, the regular Fan Zhendong ALC or Viscaria may be easier to use well. This limited edition takes more effort to get the best out of, especially on the forehand. If you cannot bring out its extra power consistently, you may play better with the regular versions.

Some Final Thoughts

The Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC Borussia Düsseldorf Limited Edition impressed me most with its solidity, short-game control, and ability to withstand pressure. Its backhand response is particularly convincing, and with enough concentrated power, it delivers a clear increase in speed.

Its main drawback is how much it asks of the player. I could feel the potential, but accessing it consistently took effort and a suitable rubber pairing. Changing to Dignics 09C made a meaningful difference to my forehand comfort.

For me, the deciding factor is whether your normal strokes can bring out that extra performance. If they can, this blade has a lot to offer. If they cannot, the regular Fan Zhendong ALC or Viscaria may give you better results with less effort.

Personally, though, I would be reluctant to use such an expensive blade for everyday training or matches. I’d much rather give it a place in my display cabinet and treasure it as a work of art.