Weight
86g
Thickness
5.75mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Head-Heavy
Timo Boll ALC
Butterfly Timo Boll ALC is a premier offensive blade developed with legendary player Timo Boll. This 7-ply hybrid expertly layers five woods with two Arylate-Carbon (ALC) fibers, creating a perfect synergy of carbon speed and wood feel. It delivers powerful attacking shots while maintaining remarkable control and spin generation, making it a top choice for intermediate to professional players. The ALC construction provides a large sweet spot and a crisp, stable feel that supports dynamic and precise play across all strokes.
This 5-wood + 2 Arylate-Carbon (ALC) construction is a hallmark of high-performance Butterfly blades. The outer Koto layers provide a hard surface for speed and spin, while the inner Limba and Kiri layers offer flexibility and feel. The ALC fibers, placed between the wood plies, are key to enhancing speed and power without sacrificing dwell time and vibration dampening, creating a large sweet spot and a crisp yet controlled feel.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Timo Boll ALC delivers excellent offensive speed, ideal for fast topspin rallies, powerful counter-loops, and decisive finishing shots. While not the absolute fastest blade available, its speed is potent and exceptionally well-balanced, allowing for aggressive play without feeling uncontrollable. The ALC layers provide a significant boost compared to all-wood blades, creating a responsive and dynamic hitting experience.
Despite its high speed, Timo Boll ALC is praised for its exceptional control. The ALC material effectively dampens vibrations, resulting in a stable and predictable feel on contact. This stability allows players to execute precise shots, engage in solid blocking, and maintain consistency even during the fastest exchanges, making it a reliable partner in both attack and defense.
The blade offers a crisp and relatively hard feeling due to the ALC layers and Koto outer plies, yet it retains a lively, connected sensation compared to stiffer carbon blades. This provides a solid connection to the ball, enabling precise shot execution and effective spin generation.
Timo Boll ALC typically produces a medium to high throw angle. This is advantageous for lifting backspin balls with heavy topspin and for executing powerful, arcing loop shots over the net.
Timo Boll ALC provides ample dwell time, allowing players to hold the ball on the rubber for a perceptible moment. This characteristic is crucial for imparting heavy spin, executing controlled loops, and performing delicate touch shots with great effectiveness.
The blade offers a medium level of flexibility. While the ALC and outer wood layers provide stiffness for speed, the internal wood construction allows for a degree of flex. This aids in dwell time and spin production, particularly beneficial for looping strokes.
Vibration is notably low. The Arylate-Carbon layers are specifically engineered to absorb shock, contributing to a very stable and comfortable feel during play. This enhances control and can help reduce player fatigue over long sessions.
Butterfly's renowned craftsmanship is fully evident in the Timo Boll ALC. The blade features precise construction, a flawless smooth finish, and durable, premium materials. Players consistently report a high-quality feel in the hand and notable longevity, making it a dependable and worthwhile investment for serious players.
Technology
Butterfly Timo Boll ALC utilizes Arylate-Carbon (ALC) fiber technology, a composite material woven between wood plies. This technology is central to the blade's performance. Arylate increases flexibility, elasticity, and vibration dampening, which contributes to dwell time and control. Carbon enhances stiffness, speed, and power. The strategic placement of ALC layers under the Koto outer plies in an 'outer fiber' construction allows for a crisp feel, a large sweet spot, and direct power transfer. This fusion creates a blade that is fast and powerful, yet offers superior feel and spin compared to traditional carbon blades.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Timo Boll
Timo Boll, the blade's namesake and a multiple European champion, uses this as his personal blade. Developed in collaboration with Butterfly technicians, it was designed to offer increased speed while retaining his signature heavy topspin strokes. Its balance of speed, spin, and control perfectly complements his dynamic, aggressive, and spin-oriented playing style, enabling powerful loops and consistent attacks.
Jonathan Groth
Jonathan Groth, a prominent Danish professional, uses the Timo Boll ALC. Its blend of speed, spin, and control aligns well with his aggressive, modern offensive style. The blade enables him to generate significant spin on serves and attacks while providing the stability and responsiveness needed for powerful counter-attacks and precise placement.
Hiroto Shinozuka
Hiroto Shinozuka, a Japanese professional, also utilizes the Timo Boll ALC. Its versatile offensive capabilities suit his dynamic playing style, allowing effective transitions between spinny loops and fast drives. The ALC technology provides necessary speed for aggression, while the blade's dwell time and control ensure the precision and spin generation crucial for his all-around offensive game.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Viscaria
Butterfly Viscaria shares a similar ALC construction and is a frequent comparison, as Timo Boll used the Viscaria before his signature model. Both blades offer excellent speed and spin. Our testing shows the Viscaria might feel slightly faster and crisper, with nuanced differences in dwell time, making it a close alternative for players seeking a similar offensive profile with subtle variations in feel.
Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit
Timo Boll Spirit is the earlier 5-ply all-wood model Timo Boll used. It offers a softer feel and more dwell time, emphasizing control and spin for a different style. The Timo Boll ALC, being faster and stiffer due to ALC, serves as a more aggressive evolution, appealing to players seeking more direct power and a modern composite response.