Butterfly’s ‘OuterForce’ series, released in March 2025, is the blade family for intermediate level players which is recommended as the next step of entry-level blades. Therefore, ‘OuterForce’ series is easier to handle and lower in elasticity when compared to existing outer-type blades in Butterfly range. Of course, ‘OuterForce’ series is faster than that of Butterfly inner-type blades represented by ‘InnerForce Layer’ series, because artificial fiber is located directly under its top layer. ‘OuterForce’ series consists of three models – ‘OuterForce ZLC’, ‘OuterForce ALC’ and ‘OuterForce CAF’. Three models share a basic construction, differeing only in thickness and artificial materials.
‘OuterForce CAF’ is the most controllable blade among three models in ‘OuterForce’ series. Its artificial material is CA fiber (Cellulose Acetate Fiber) which has already been applied to ‘Timo Boll CAF’. (It is different material from CNF which is more expensive and more elastic.) As we can see from the word ‘cellulose’, CA fiber is a fiber made from plants (mainly wood) and is a material widely used in packaging containers and filters. When used in table tennis blades, it is suitable as a special material of blade for players who want to switch from pure wood blade, because it provides more natural feeling than other fibers. While applying CAF to this model, Butterfly is calling it as ‘Control Assist Fiber’ to emphasis the high controllability provided by CAF. Because ‘OuterForce CAF’ is the most controllable and provides the closest feeling to natural wood blade, Butterfly is recommending it also as the first blade of entry players.
‘OuterForce CAF’ is an outer-type blade whose artificial material is CAF (Cellulose Acetate Fiber) made from plants. Therefore, ‘OuterForce CAF’ provides the highest controllability and the most natural feeling among three models of ‘OuterForce’ series.
The construction of ‘OuterForce CAF’ is 5+2 ply outer-type construction. But it is different from ordinary outer-type construction that can be seen from most of existing outer-type blades. The top layer is Ayous, and CAF is placed directly under the top layer. The middle layer is Ayous, and the center layer is Kiri. Overall thickness is around 6.3mm. It is very unusual that the top layer isn’t Koto or Limba but Ayous. Its purpose seems to provide a soft hitting feeling and high controllability.
The size of head is around 157mm x 150mm. Not different from the head size of ‘Timo Boll’ series or ‘InnerForce Layer’ series
The FL (flared) handle is the standard FL handle of Butterfly, and basically identical to those of the other models in ‘Timo Boll’ series or ‘InnerForce Layer’ series. The width of FL (flared) handle is around 26.5mm (at head side) ~ 27.5mm (at bulge) ~ 26mm (at narrowest point) ~ 34mm (at the end). And, the thickness of FL handle is around 23mm (at thumb) ~ 24mm (at the end).
The size of ST (straight) handle (not shown in pictures) is also the standard ST handle of Butterfly, and basically identical to those of the other models in ‘InnerForce Layer’ series. Its size is around 28mm (width) x 23mm (thickness).
At lower area of the foreside of head, ‘OuterForce series’ which isn’t the name of each model but the name of family is printed. This printing is common to all three models of course, with only different colors. For that reason we can’t find the name or the information of artificial material from this printing.
Butterfly logo is printed at the top of the foreside of head.
Shield-shaped Aluminum plate at the foreside of handle includes the name of blade and the logo of Butterfly. Small, rounded plastic lens is applied at the backside of handle.
Squared aluminum plate with Butterfly logo is applied at the end of handle.
Nothing is printed on the backside of head.
‘OuterForce’ series consists of three models – ‘OuterForce ZLC’ (left), ‘OuterForce ALC’ (middle) and ‘OuterForce CAF’ (right). Three models share a basic construction – 5+2 ply outer-type construction with Ayous top layer. It is very unusual that the name of each model isn’t printed on the head. Instead, only the series name is shown in the printing on the head.
Differently from head printing, we can find the name of each model from the shield-shaped Aluminum panel at the foreside of handle.
All three models share the basic construction – 5+2 ply outer-type with Ayous top layer. However, the differences are in the kind of artificial fiber and the thickness. ‘OuterForce ZLC’ (left) is an outer ZLC blade of 5.8mm thickness (= around 5.9mm in actual measurement), ‘OuterForce ALC’ (middle) is an outer ALC blade of 6.2mm thickness (= around 6.1mm in actual measurement), and ‘OuterForce CAF’ (right) is an outer CAF blade of 6.3mm thickness.
‘OuterForce CAF’ is a fiber blade whose artificial material CAF which is a low-elasticity fiber that doesn’t contain carbon fiber. Further the top layer of ‘OuterForce CAF’ is Ayous which is a wood of low elasticity. As the result, despite ‘OuterForce CAF’ is a thick outer-type blade whose thickness exceeds 6.0mm, it is relatively soft and not highly elastic. However, in exchange for sacrificing high elasticity, it offers a very natural feeling and excellent controllability. So, it is easy to adapt for players who have used pure wood blades, and it is easy for entry players to handle. And because it is inexpensive, the entry players will be able to easily select this blade instead of all-wood blade. ‘OuterForce CAF’ is recommended for the players who value feeling and ease of use over power and speed.
Following are the performance indices of Butterfly OuterForce CAF (avg.weight = 87.3) :
– Ep = 1.67
– Ec = 1.49 (Ec/Ep = 0.89)
– Vp = 1.16
– Vl = 1.19 (Vl/Vp = 1.02)
Please note that above are average values and can be updated by further measurement.
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TTGearLab 
Thanks a ton for the awesome work! Can’t wait to check out how the other two blades perform.
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cant wait as well 😁
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I’ll upload remaining two as soon as possible.
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Hello, thanks for a review. Do you think that this blade can replace Hugo HAL?
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Although there isn’t big difference in speed, Hugo HAL is more for skilled players while this blade is targeted to entry or medium class players. If the player who have used Hugo HAL want to replace the blade with thicker construction and softer top layer, OuterForce CAF may be a solution.
And, if the player like semi-wide FL handle of Viscaria type, this blade can’t be recommended while Hugo HAL will be good.
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Thanks a lot for another great article. Do you think this “Outerforce CAF” is similar in playing characteristics to Xiom “Hayabusa ZL PRO” or not?
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The values are astonishingly similar. So, probably the playing characteristics will not be much different. But, players may feel the difference in thickness and the kind of top layer.
OuterForce CAF is much thicker, and has softer top layer.
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Can you please review the new Stiga Wavy. It looks very intesting.
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If I can get the sample I will be able to write an article of that blade.
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As always awesome work! This serie is really interesting providing outer-carbon felling for the masses with seems to give alot of control. I myself play with the Stiga Inspira Hybrid Carbon which I think has somewhat similar charachteristics with outer-carbon but not as fast and alot of control. It would be super interesting to se test on the Inspira Hybrid Carbon and the new Stiga Wavy and Aura, also och outer carbon.
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Thank you for comment. I’m considering to get new Stiga blades.
By the way, Inspira Hybrid Carbon has the same blade construction as Tibhar MK Carbon, and MK Carbon is very similar to Viscaria which is the representative of outer-fiber blades. For that reason it is expected that Inspira Hybrid Carbon is faster than OuterForce ALC. But, please note that there is always deviation of performance/feeling by piece. So there will definitely be Inspira Hybrid Carbon which is slower than OuterForce ALC. 🙂
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Hello, really appreciate your work on reviewing the Outerforce series this time!
On another note, there’s a new Stiga blade out now, Stiga Wavy. Outer fiber setup with no carbon. Supposedly a ‘new’ kind of fiber. Can you also review it? Really looking forward to your scientific analysis on the blade.
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If there is a chance of getting a sample I will deal with it.
Currently we can see many outer-type blades whose artificial materials don’t include carbon fiber. The good example is ‘Timo Boll ZLF’. Xiom ‘Hugo HAL’ and KTS ‘Foundation GF.K’ are the other examples. In general those blades are very good for continuous topspin that lays emphasis on stabiity. And, if the player who use those blades is a top player who has strong power, the power of ball from those blades will not low.
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Hello, I wanna thanks you for the precision you make the test and all the information you give us, it’s really helpful.
But i have a huge doubt, i currently use a tibhar samsonov force pro black edition, and i’m looking for a new blade that gives me a bit more power without losing the feeling of catching ball typical of all wood blades.
I don’t know if the butterfly outerforce caf, butterfly harimoto inner super alc, or timo boll zlf would be better.
Can you give me some advices?
Thank you a lot
Best regards
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In fact, in this case I want to recommend KTS Forge 3K if you can buy it. (I’m considering to sell it in this website. I will try sooner or later.) It is somewhat different from 7-ply wood blade such as Black Edition, but it provides everything you asked.
And, if I choose one among three blades, I will choose Harimoto InnerForce Super ALC. That is because I expect that it will provide the characteristis close to those of classic 7-ply wood blade, although I couldn’t have measured its data yet.
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