Weight
92g
Thickness
6.1mm
Plies
5-ply
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Cryptate
Butterfly Cryptate is a 5-ply all-wood blade that delivers a balanced blend of control and offensive power. It provides a softer, more forgiving feel compared to many modern composite blades, offering excellent dwell time and comfortable feedback. This makes it a superb choice for developing players honing their technique, as well as experienced players who value a classic wood feel with enough power for consistent attacking shots. Its traditional construction emphasizes a natural touch, supporting a nuanced and controlled game.
The blade is built with a symmetrical 5-ply all-wood construction. This standard layout—outer wood, inner wood, core wood, inner wood, outer wood—is designed to create a balanced feel that blends speed from the outer plies with control and stability from the core.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Butterfly Cryptate is rated as a moderately fast blade. Our testing shows it can generate significant pace for offensive plays, making it suitable for players who want to transition from controlled rallies to powerful attacks without sacrificing too much feel.
This blade offers very good control, providing a reliable feel for precise placement and delicate touch shots. Players report it gives them confidence in their short game and when executing controlled loops, making it a dependable choice for all-round offensive play.
Butterfly Cryptate delivers a medium-hard feel with a distinct crispness. While some players describe a cushioned sensation on contact, the underlying structure is quite stiff, offering direct and clear feedback on every shot.
The blade produces a medium throw angle. This makes it versatile and predictable, suitable for a wide variety of shots including loops, drives, and blocks without requiring extreme adjustments to your stroke technique.
The blade provides a medium-high dwell time. This characteristic allows for excellent ball grip and spin generation, helping players impart heavy rotation on loops and serves with a comfortable, controlled sensation.
This is a very stiff blade with low flexibility. This stiffness contributes to its speed and direct power transfer, making it better suited for direct hitting and fast counter-attacks rather than highly flexible, whip-like strokes.
Vibration is at a medium level. The stiff construction provides a direct and informative feel upon impact, transmitting clear feedback without being overly harsh or numb, which aids in shot sensing.
The Cryptate demonstrates good to very good build quality. It is well-constructed, offering durability and a satisfying, consistent playing experience that matches its position in the market.
Technology
Butterfly Cryptate utilizes a traditional 5-ply all-wood construction. This classic technique involves bonding five thin layers of wood to create a unified blade. Favored for its natural feel and predictable performance, this design provides a harmonious balance of control and inherent speed. It avoids the altered feedback of composite materials, delivering a pure wood sensation that many players prefer for developing touch and consistent offensive play.
Similar Blades
Timo Boll W7
The Timo Boll W7 is often mentioned as a close relative. Players report the Cryptate offers a similar playing character but with a bit more control and a slightly more forgiving feel, making it a great alternative for those who find the W7 a touch too direct or fast.