Weight
87.5g
Thickness
4.9mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
158x151
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Grubba Carbon
Butterfly Grubba Carbon bridges the gap between all-wood control and carbon fiber power, designed for all-round offensive players. It offers an enlarged sweet spot and a unique feel, making it suitable for strategies from ALL+ to OFF-. While incorporating carbon for enhanced performance, it retains a high degree of control, providing a versatile option for players looking to transition into or optimize their offensive game without sacrificing feel. This blade is recognized for its balanced characteristics, allowing for effective topspin, blocking, and smashing.
Grubba Carbon features a traditional 3+2 ply construction, with woven carbon fiber sandwiched between outer wood layers and a central Ayous core. This design aims to provide the enhanced sweet spot and power of carbon while maintaining the feel and control associated with classic multi-ply blades. The horizontal grain orientation of the center Ayous layer is noted as unique.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
The speed rating of Butterfly Grubba Carbon is generally considered to be in the ALL+ to OFF- range. While it incorporates carbon, it's not as fast as many modern carbon blades. It offers good speed for controlled offensive play and is considered faster than pure wood ALL+ blades, but players report it lacks explosive power away from the table.
Control is a standout feature of Grubba Carbon, with players frequently praising its large sweet spot and predictable ball feedback. It allows for precise placement and is well-suited for blocking and all-round play. Many players find it has the feel and control of an ALL blade with enough speed for offensive setups.
Grubba Carbon offers a feel that is often described as direct and predictable. While it has carbon, it's not as stiff or hard as some other carbon blades, providing a more nuanced feel with good ball feedback. Players note it can feel stiff and somewhat hard, especially with harder rubbers.
While not explicitly rated, the combination of control and offensive capability suggests a medium to medium-high throw angle, allowing for effective topspin and driving shots.
Limited explicit ratings for dwell time are available, but its balanced nature and good control suggest a medium dwell time, allowing for good spin generation with appropriate rubbers.
Being a carbon-infused blade, Grubba Carbon is generally stiffer than an all-wood blade, rated as medium-stiff to stiff. Its thin construction might contribute to less elasticity compared to thicker composite blades.
Vibration is noted as present but not excessive, contributing to the blade's feel and feedback. Some users mention noticeable vibration during blocking, while others describe it as having good feedback.
The build quality of Butterfly Grubba Carbon is generally regarded as good. While specific details on manufacturing processes are typical for Butterfly, this blade's construction is solid for a hybrid blade from its era. Some users mention that older versions of Butterfly blades were perceived to have better quality.
Technology
Butterfly Grubba Carbon is built using a traditional 3+2 ply construction, incorporating woven carbon fiber. This hybrid design aims to enhance the sweet spot and power typically associated with carbon blades, while retaining a significant level of control and feel. The carbon layers are strategically placed between the wood plies, not on the outermost surface, contributing to a more controlled power output. This construction method was common in the late 1990s and early 2000s, offering players an accessible entry into the world of composite blades.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Andrzej Grubba
Andrzej Grubba, a renowned Polish all-round player of the 1980s, tested and lent his name to this blade. Although he was most active before the widespread adoption of carbon technology in its current form, the blade was developed with his all-round playing style in mind. It's designed to embody his preference for control, an enlarged sweet spot, and a versatile game that could transition between offensive and defensive play. The blade was conceptualized to offer his signature style enhanced by modern materials.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Primorac Carbon
Butterfly Primorac Carbon is often seen as a comparable alternative, also offering a blend of wood and carbon for an all-round offensive game. While specific performance differences would require direct comparison, both blades aim to provide increased power and a larger sweet spot over traditional all-wood blades, catering to players who seek a more offensive capability without sacrificing too much control.
Stiga Allround Classic
While Stiga Allround Classic is an all-wood blade, it is sometimes mentioned as a benchmark for control and feel in the all-round category. Players who find Grubba Carbon to be too stiff or fast might consider the Allround Classic for its superior ball feeling and dwell time, though it would offer less inherent speed and power. Conversely, players seeking more speed than the Allround Classic might opt for Grubba Carbon.