Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC vs Stiga Clipper Wood: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC | Stiga Clipper Wood | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | medium-hard but flexible, crisp carbon with long dwell | solid, medium-stiff, hard fast all-wood with a big sweetspot |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL/ST/AN/PEN |
| plies | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon (5 wood plies with 2 Arylate-Carbon layers) | 7W (all wood) - limba outer plies over an ayous core, no carbon or synthetic layers |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 6.3 |
| weight_g | 88 | 90 |
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Both blades are rated OFF, but the route to power differs. The Zhang Jike ALC uses Arylate-Carbon for a crisp, flexible feel with long dwell and excellent away-from-table looping. The Stiga Clipper Wood is a 7-ply all-wood blade with a big sweet spot, rock-solid blocking and outstanding short-game touch, where the player supplies the power.
Go with the Zhang Jike if you want carbon speed, easy counterlooping from distance and a lighter blade near 88 grams. Go with the Clipper Wood if you prize a huge sweet spot, confidence-building control and a classic all-wood feel, and you are happy to pair it with faster European or Japanese rubbers to unlock its pace.
Two practical notes: the Clipper Wood runs heavy near 90 grams and can cause fatigue over long sessions, and Stiga blades have a known splintering tendency, so many owners seal it. The Clipper also offers a penhold handle, which the Zhang Jike does not. Ratings are 8.7 versus 8.4.
FAQ
Which has the bigger sweet spot?
The Stiga Clipper Wood, with a big sweet spot that builds confidence and rock-solid blocking. The Zhang Jike’s sweet spot is smaller than even Butterfly’s own ZLC and Super ZLC versions.
Is the Clipper Wood really OFF+?
Its real-world speed sits in OFF rather than the OFF+ its reputation suggests, so it asks the player to generate power and can feel slow in the passive short game.
Does either come in a penhold handle?
The Clipper Wood is offered in FL, ST, AN and PEN. The Zhang Jike ALC comes in FL, ST and AN only.