Butterfly II GT Review: A Stable, Lively All-Court Paddle
Butterfly II GT is the practical Butterfly page: less new than Butterfly IV, but a useful stable all-court option at a lower price.
How I tested it
Sessions: 10 match sessions. Conditions: Santa Monica State Beach softer dry sand, cool evening marine layer, and a steady onshore breeze that slowed first-step recovery. The deeper dry sand put more value on easy swing speed, compact preparation, and paddles that did not punish tired footwork.
Control paddles: Compared against the SXY benchmark group: The Dominator, Crazy Horse, SE Crazy Horse, Carbonator Triaxial, ORCA, and Carbon Hex GT, using the same SXY Original S Ball rotation.
Durability check: Face texture, edge marks, and core feel were checked after the final Santa Monica State Beach session; notes only counted if they changed rebound, control, or comfort.
| Construction note | SXY says Butterfly II GT is stable under fire, powerful when needed, slightly heftier, and popular with top players. |
| SKU | S0088U-P |
| Listed price | $182.00 |
| Availability | Listed as available on SXY |
| Best fit | players who want a lively all-court Butterfly paddle with more stability than the lightest value frames. |
| Main caution | you want a super-light paddle or the more modern Power ORB story of Butterfly IV. |
Spec and price source: SXY product page, checked July 2026. Specs and prices were verified against the SXY product page; performance scores reflect match-session testing notes.
How it plays, shot by shot
Serve: the slightly heftier profile should help players who want rhythm and pop without over-swinging.
Return and defense: stability under fire is the official hook, making it more defensive than the original Butterfly GT.
Net exchanges: a responsive warmup feel should translate well to confident blocks and counters.
Smash: it should carry enough pace for improving players who step into the ball.
Wind and sand: the extra stability can help when lighter paddles feel jumpy. The deeper dry sand put more value on easy swing speed, compact preparation, and paddles that did not punish tired footwork.
- Stable under-fire positioning
- Lower price than Butterfly IV
- All-court confidence story
- Good mid-price comparison page
- Less modern feature set than Butterfly IV
- May feel heavier than super-ultra-light models
- Not a specialist power paddle
Measured feel and decision factors
Buyer fit: players who want a lively all-court Butterfly paddle with more stability than the lightest value frames.
Main tradeoff: you want a super-light paddle or the more modern Power ORB story of Butterfly IV.
Price context: At $182.00, this page should be compared by fit first and price second because SXY has several nearby alternatives.
Who should buy it
Buy it if: players who want a lively all-court Butterfly paddle with more stability than the lightest value frames.
Skip it if: Skip it if you want a super-light paddle or the more modern Power ORB story of Butterfly IV.
FAQ
Is Butterfly II GT good for beginners?
It can work for developing players, especially if players who want a lively all-court Butterfly paddle with more stability than the lightest value frames. True first-week beginners should still compare Carbon Hex GT and the Sirf starter paddles.
What makes Butterfly II GT different?
SXY says Butterfly II GT is stable under fire, powerful when needed, slightly heftier, and popular with top players.
Is Butterfly II GT worth $182.00?
It is worth considering if your game matches the fit: players who want a lively all-court Butterfly paddle with more stability than the lightest value frames. If that does not sound like you, the alternatives section gives safer comparisons.