Weight
86g
Thickness
7mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Photino
Butterfly Photino delivers a high-performance offensive experience, blending speed, spin, and control for modern attacking players. Its unique construction pairs a thick Hinoki outer ply with proprietary ZL Fiber technology, creating a blade with enhanced dwell time and a surprisingly soft, wood-like feel. This combination provides the power and responsiveness of a composite blade while maintaining the touch and feedback players love. It excels in generating heavy topspin and thrives in fast rallies, offering consistent performance from close to the table to mid-distance. The Photino is a sophisticated choice for intermediate to advanced players seeking controlled aggression.
This 5-ply hybrid construction uses thick Hinoki outer plies for a soft touch and spin characteristics. These sandwich two layers of ZL Fiber, which provide hardness, lightness, and flexibility for enhanced speed and dwell time while reducing vibration. The Kiri wood core contributes to the blade's overall lightweight feel and responsiveness.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Photino is a genuinely fast blade, consistently rated at the high end of the scale. Its ZL Fiber composition and specific construction create a significant catapult effect for powerful shots. While firmly in the OFF+ category, it delivers this speed in a balanced, controllable manner that supports aggressive, all-out attacking play without feeling uncontrollably explosive.
For its high speed, Photino offers remarkable control. This is largely credited to its soft Hinoki top ply and the unique properties of ZL Fiber, which work together to provide precise ball feedback and placement. Players report a confident feel that makes the blade surprisingly manageable within its speed class, allowing for tactical shot-making even during fast rallies.
Photino provides a distinctive medium-soft feel, often described as reminiscent of a high-quality all-wood blade. This is primarily due to the thick Hinoki outer ply, which offers excellent ball feedback and dwell. The sensation is one of connectedness and touch, while the underlying ZL Fiber helps to stabilize and mute any excessive vibrations.
Photino produces a medium-high trajectory on loops and attacking shots. This arc is beneficial for consistently clearing the net and creating sharp, challenging angles for opponents, making it a strong asset for spin-oriented, offensive playstyles.
A standout feature, the blade's construction delivers noticeably prolonged dwell time. The combination of Hinoki and ZL Fiber allows the ball to stay on the racket face longer, giving players extra time to impart heavy spin and maintain control during powerful offensive strokes like loops and drives.
The ZL Fiber imparts a good degree of flexibility, making the blade feel lively and responsive without being overly stiff. This flex allows for a controlled power transfer and contributes significantly to spin generation. The overall sensation is one of a crisp, bouncy feel that aids in both offensive and touch shots.
Vibration is very effectively dampened, resulting in a muted and comfortable feel during play. The ZL Fiber layers within the blade structure absorb much of the shock from ball impact. This reduces player fatigue over long sessions and contributes to a sense of solid, clean contact with every shot.
Exemplifying Butterfly's renowned craftsmanship, the Photino is built with high-grade materials and precise construction. The use of proprietary ZL Fiber and selected woods like Hinoki and Kiri reflects a commitment to top-tier performance and long-term durability. The fit and finish are consistently excellent, meeting the expectations for a blade in this premium category.
Technology
Butterfly Photino centers on the proprietary ZL Fiber technology. This composite material is lighter, harder, and more flexible than traditional carbon fiber. This unique blend gives the blade a higher level of elasticity, enhancing dwell time and spin potential while reducing overall weight and vibration. Paired with a thick Hinoki outer ply—a hallmark of traditional Japanese blades—the technology creates a bridge between the soft touch of wood and the explosive performance of modern composites. It was developed to provide inherent power and spin, aligning with the modern game's demands.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Timo Boll ZLF
Another blade featuring ZL Fiber, the Timo Boll ZLF offers a different experience. It typically uses Koto outer plies, resulting in a slightly crisper and more direct bounce compared to the Photino's softer Hinoki touch. Both are excellent for spin and speed, but Photino generally provides more dwell time and a more connected, wood-like feel.
Butterfly Amultart
An older Butterfly composite blade also aimed at offensive players. Our testing shows the Photino is often perceived as slightly lighter and softer, offering better control with a similar speed profile. The Amultart, with its different composite layers, can feel more direct and linear in its power delivery compared to the Photino's more flexible and spin-oriented character.