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Review: Harimoto Innerforce ALC

Author: Roman Žydyk

Testing the Butterfly Harimoto Innerforce ALC: A Comprehensive Review.

As the name suggests, this blade features Innerfiber technology. This means that the artificial fibers are not placed directly under the outer veneer—as seen in blades like the Viscaria or Timo Boll ALC—but are instead positioned under the second layer, closer to the core.

Butterfly first introduced the Innerforce series in 2010 with six models: AL, ALC, ZL, ZLC, ULC, and T5000. At that time, the ZLC and ZLF models featured a head size of 152x158 mm, while the others maintained the classic 150x157 mm dimensions.

In 2014, the series received an upgrade, adding "Layer" to the name. All these updated blades adopted the standard head size of 150x157 mm. Structurally, they were meant to be identical. However, one difference I noticed from catalog photos is the varying thickness of the individual veneers; it appears that the older versions had a thicker core.

Currently, the market only carries the "Layer" versions in the following models: ALC and ALC.S (Arylate-Carbon), ZLC (Zylon-Carbon), and the pure ZLF (Zylon). Aside from the offensive Innerforce models, Butterfly also catered to defensive players with the Innershield ZLF.

What is the manufacturer trying to tell us with this series/technology? Some players love wood—specifically, all-wood blades. Others prefer carbon and that distinct carbon feel. And then there is the "middle ground"—those who want neither, or both, or something in between, or perhaps they aren't quite sure yet. Another objective is to offer all-wood players a smoother transition to carbon blades.

Because the carbon is placed further from the surface, it only activates during more powerful strokes compared to "classic" outer-carbon constructions. This means that during passive shots, the blade remains "calm" with the touch of an all-wood blade, while during active play, it picks up speed thanks to the "inner" carbon. Just as a side note: Ma Long also uses a blade with carbon placed closer to the core. This is how I imagine the target audience for these blades. Let’s move on.

The blade I want to write about is named after the young Japanese talent, Tomokazu Harimoto. The first mention of Harimoto’s equipment on Butterfly’s official (Thai) website dates back to 2015, when he was 12 years old. At the time, he reportedly played with the softer Tenergy 64 and 64FX. As he matured, he moved to harder versions: Tenergy 05FX, 80, and finally, his current setup of Tenergy 05 and Dignics 05.

Information regarding his blade history is a bit less clear. Harimoto allegedly played with the Fukuhara Ai Pro ZLF for a while, then switched to a personal version of a Butterfly ALC blade with a Zhang Jike ALC handle. Finally, after testing 30 different prototypes, the blade bearing his name was born. At just 15 years old (!)...

Currently, Harimoto holds the No. 4 spot in the ITTF World Rankings (as of May 2019). Interestingly, Butterfly has also signed Harimoto’s 10-year-old sister, Miwa Harimoto, who is currently ranked 31st in the ITTF U15 girls' category. P.S. This is the same Miwa Harimoto who finished 2nd in the Cadet category at this February's Czech Junior & Cadet Open in Hodonín.

Now, let’s look at the blade itself and the official specs provided by the manufacturer. The Harimoto Innerforce ALC was introduced alongside Dignics 05 in the winter of 2018 and hit our market in mid-April 2019 at a price of 3,990 CZK. The blade is available in the three classic handle shapes: FL, ST, and AN.

Technical Specifications:

• Reaction (Speed): 10.7

• Vibration: 9.2

• Head Size: 152 x 158 mm

• Blade Thickness: 6.0 mm

• Layers: 5 wood + 2 ALC

• Weight: ~ 88g

• Made in: Japan

Structurally, this is the same wood composition as the Innerforce Layer ALC—meaning Limba-Limba-ALC-Ayous-ALC-Limba-Limba. The difference lies in the larger head dimensions (the same, by the way, as the Petr Korbel OFF or Liu Shiwen ZLF), which results in a larger sweet spot, a different vibration profile, design, handle shape, and price.

Regarding the design, the man himself—Tomokazu—had the final say. Blue is his favorite color, while gold symbolizes his hunger for victory and his goal of being "top." The arrow is derived from a part of his surname, and the number three represents the goal of being the best as a family (his father/coach, his sister, and Tomokazu himself).

Subjective Impressions and Observations

In the following lines, I will primarily compare this blade to its "older brother," the Innerforce Layer ALC (85g version), or other similar models. I tested the blade mainly with Dignics 05 and Tenergy 05 rubbers (playing level: regional/district league).

Design As mentioned above, Tomokazu played a significant role in the visual side of the blade. The box corresponds to the premium category of the product and is color-coordinated with the blade itself. The material is slightly different from standard Innerforce boxes—more like solid cardboard and harder. The shape remains the same.

Design Harimoto Innerforce ALC vs. Innerforce Layer ALC

Craftsmanship

Aside from the un-sanded edges—which is something I’ve honestly had to do with almost every blade I've owned—the craftsmanship is at an excellent level, as is typical for Butterfly blades in this price range. Everything is precise; nothing protrudes, nothing is misaligned, and there are no rough spots.

Handle The handle shape is different from other Innerforce blades. It reminds me more of the one on the Zhang Jike series (which is no surprise, considering Harimoto used that blade previously).

Personally, I have to say this handle doesn't suit me. I have rather small hands, and after every session, I ended up with a callus under my middle finger. I tried sanding the handle down slightly, but even that didn't help. Other solutions could be using a grip tape, a plaster, a glove, a different handle shape, or simply a different hand! :)

Balance My blade (FL) weighed 93g, while other available pieces were FL 97g, AN 94g, and ST 90g. The weight is therefore above average. I was initially worried about how the weight would affect the overall feel, but even after gluing on Dignics 05 and Tenergy 05 Hard—bringing the total racket weight to 199g (I usually play with around 185g)—the extra grams were noticeable, but not overwhelming. It felt solid, yet I wouldn't say it was significantly head-heavy; the balance felt just right, right in the middle. Thumbs up.

Speed The manufacturer rates the speed the same as the Innerforce Layer ALC (10.7). For comparison, other values are: Primorac 9.7, Korbel 10.6, Viscaria 11.8, and Primorac Carbon 12.5. In play, the Harimoto felt faster than the standard IF Layer ALC. I attribute this to the higher weight (an 8g difference compared to the classic version). Overall, it is indeed faster than a Primorac or Korbel, but definitely slower than a Viscaria.

Dwell Time Medium.

Touch and Feel Due to the larger dimensions, the blade has slightly more vibration than the classic version and is more flexible—meaning it offers a bit more catapult effect. The overall feel is medium. It’s not soft like a Primorac Carbon with Hinoki or all-wood blades, but it's not as hard as Koto-Carbon blades either. Thanks to the 93g weight, the blade felt very solid, with no "hollow" or "paper-like" feel. It reminded me of the old Michael Maze ALC at 91g.

Summary The Harimoto Innerforce ALC is a very well-made blade, though it’s fair to say it represents more of a minor upgrade to the classic Layer version. On the other hand, in our market, it only costs about 200 CZK more than the classic (interestingly, abroad the difference is around $80!).

In my opinion, it pairs very well with medium to hard rubbers, exactly like Dignics or Tenergy. Softer rubbers might make the overall setup feel too "bouncy" or catapult-heavy. Before purchasing, I would highly recommend trying it out in person to see if the handle fits your hand.

Who is this blade for?

• Players currently using all-wood blades who want to add more power.

• All-wood players who are afraid of switching to "sharp" carbon blades like the Viscaria.

• Carbon players looking for something more secure with a greater "wood feel."

• Active players who stay close to the table.

• Players who prefer an active return of serve.

• Players who like the Zhang Jike handle but don't like standard Innerforce handles.

I’ll wrap it up here. Thank you for reading, and perhaps see you again next time. I would like to thank the official Butterfly representative, STEN Marketing, and their e-shop vsenastolnitenis.cz for making this review possible, and Karel Malík for the information regarding the older Innerforce versions.

Roman Žydyk