Butterfly ZJK Review

It has been a long time I haven't played with Butterfly Blade. I prefer 5 ply blades with nice feel and vibration with good control.
The other reason I don't use Butterfly blade because it doesn't suit H3 very well...
But When I saw Butterfly ZJK at Tokyo TT Shop, I couldn't resist to buy it (either it plays well or not).
It has a nice big FL handle, and the handle design makes me want to buy

Blade: ZJK 90 Gr
FH Rubber: H3 National 2.2 tuned with 1 layer of Dianchi
BH Rubber: T64 2.1 mm

I've tried to play with ZJK for 2 sessions and 1 session with coach. So I made a comparison between ZJK and Violin/Acoustic that I use most often.

I have to say it out perform Violin/Acoustic in all department like passive block, punch block, slow loop, powerloop, smash.
Violin/Acoustic only have better control and better feel, that's all.
But the feel of ZJK isn't that far behind, it's not as vibrate as Acoustic, but it has a nice, sufficient feel.

H3 National on ZJK vs Violin/Acoustic:

My forehand loop is rarely score an ace when I use all wood, my loop is still can be blocked but it goes off table. With ZJK I can make my opponent not even know where my loop lands.
This is very important for me that I will sacrifice a bit of feel of all wood blades.
The Arylate Carbon can give a strong catapult effect when needed if you loop it hard, but on short game it gives you a nice control as an all wood.

T64 on ZJK vs on Violin/Acoustic

I never like T64 on either Violin/Acoustic, it lacks of speed/kick and lack of spin. But I remember ZJK himself use T64 on his Viscaria, so I have to try how good this rubber on ZJK and now I know why!!!
It's just much better than on all wood blades that I've tried. It has more speed, more kick and better spin on ZJK.
I still have to adjust to block a powerful loop with ZJK, but it's just a matter of time.
It's not as sensitive compared to T05 and it's better for power loop too.
Opening loop I have to use my wrist more than T05.

My Opponent comment about my setup change

One of my friend who plays with me regularly every week. He said my loop is much more difficult to block, when I tell him I change my blade, he said no wonder!!!
He is a good blocker, when I loop it with all wood blade cross court to his FH side, he can just close block it relatively easy, now he's difficult doing the same thing.

Conclusion

I have to admit and take my words back that Butterfly isn't a good company to make a good blades. I always proud of owning Nittaku, because they make one of the best all wood blade in the market now. Table Tennis is a game which need scoring a confincing winner, with all wood blade I only can enjoy the feel when hitting the ball but rarely easy to score a powerful winner, with Butterfly ZJK I can still use the same technique as all wood blade, but the result of the loop is much more destructive than all wood blades.
It's the time for me to move to composite blades, It's a joyful feel when I score a winner which is not even my opponent can touch the ball to block it.










Edited by peter79 - 04/02/2012 at 11:42pm

Originally posted by mikepong how bout service returns and push? does it have nice control too?

It's not as good as violin/acoustic, but the difference isn't that great.

cotdt, slightly thicker

Originally posted by jonyer1980 Nice review, but you should have bought a new camera instead of another blade :P

I'm using my camera phone
I'll use DSLR to take a better photo, doesn't expect to review it today, so the picture is for temporary only

Well I've tried maze with H3, too much dwell time....
I'm using H3, I feel it's not lack of gear, better control compare to TB ALC...
I agree it isn't as easy to control compare to all wood blades, but it's worth it...

 ZJK is classified as OFF- on the butterflyonline.com website. BTY catalog it is listed as OFF. TBS flared is a true OFF while I find TBS ST. faster due to more mass in the handle. Each blade is different so find the one that suits you. I prefer the feel of all wood and think it is better for mid level tournament players. Playing with TBS felt I was disconnected from the ball.

New Picture uploaded...
T64 eventhough it's not sensitive from incoming spin, it's very bouncy.
Now I put Roxon 500 pro on BH, let's see how it plays tonight.

Originally posted by arxidiavol Can you compare ZJK and TB ALC, Spirit ?

If I still remember correctly, ZJK feels softer. TB ALC and Spirit feels crispier.
The different between the blades is in the center ply.
I've compared ZJK and TBS, ZJK center ply is a fraction thicker...

Originally posted by sa01 when I used timo boll spirit I used regular sriver in the bh and it was enough. good power and good control. in fh I used tuned h3. tuned h3 + tbs is too good to be true. the only problem of tbs is that you have to be very accurate in your shots, it doesn't forgive mistakes, specially during blocks.

Yeah I must commit to loop, once I'm not sure then the result is poor.

Sriver? do you use speed glue or just normal glue?
Has anyone tried to boost Sriver with Dian Chi?

sriver max is heavy. and max in the bh brings lack of touch for most people. 

the sriver fx 1,9 speedglued is very good. i did it always before the glue ban. now i do not speedglue.

Edited by ejmaster - 04/04/2012 at 10:39am

Originally posted by peter79 Sriver fx will be too soft on ZJK, I'm thinking to try Sriver L 1.9 mm....

Try xiom vega pro,N tell me if you don't like it(1,8MM)

Originally posted by peter79 Originally posted by bros Originally posted by peter79 Sriver fx will be too soft on ZJK, I'm thinking to try Sriver L 1.9 mm.... Try xiom vega pro,N tell me if you don't like it(1,8MM) Wow, you use 1,8 mm not 2,0 mm?Isn't it too thin?

For BH is enough to me, let the arylate carbon work on it, 2.0mm feel less dwell time to
me.

Try tenergy 64 fx it is very good as a backhand rubber all the power but yet controllable

Already tested Roxon 500 pro 2.0 on Backhand, it's much better than T64!!!
With T64 If I block against slow speed but spiny loops, it often doesn't cross the net.
And if I block against fast speed loops it often goes out table because of the bounciness of the sponge.
I almost gave up using ZJK because my BH which is one of my weapon doesn't feel confident enough, my strong FH loops winning points not enough for me to cover even more backhand error, most of them blocking, counter loop and smash, it really doesn't feel solid enough for me.

Luckily I have another try with Roxon 500 pro not maximum but 2.0 mm, it's better for blocking, open loop also easy and I think 2.0 mm is already fast pairing with ZJK.

My Forehand loop really shine today, Most of my loop when the ball is easy to kill, gives no time for my friend to react at all, sometimes will slower all wood blades, even it's easy ball to kill, the ball still come back.

It's a very promising blade, I thought I will go back to Acoustic/Violin again