Most players are of the view that a good blade not only eases your control over the game but also brings you closer to victory. As there are many companies who are making ping pong blades, landing on the best one might be a difficult task.
In this article, we have reviewed one of the most popular blades among professional players, Butterfly’s Timo Boll Spirit.
Named after the German player Timo Boll, this is a favorite among many famous players. It is one of Butterfly’s best-selling blades. Its construction allows players a great amount of speed without losing control over the table tennis ball and paddle.
This blade is ideal for looping style of play (which is mostly used by Europeans) and is suitable for combination bat attack and defense style of play. It features, a large sweet spot and a crispy feel. The blade is top quality; having a standard design, most suited to professional level of play.
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Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit Specifications
Our Rating: 4.5/5.0
Price: $$$
Made in: Japan
Class: OFF
Style: Attack (Handle: Flared, ideal for shake-hand grip)
Speed: 8.5
Control 8.4
Plies: 7 (5 wood and 2 Arylate-Carbon)
Weight: 87g (approximately)
Head Size: 101x24mm
Thickness: 5.7mm
Who is this Ping Pong Blade for?
If your main stroke is a loop, Timo Boll Spirit is going to be your best pick. The blade is perfect for top spinners as it provides powerful strikes and spins to the ball. We would also recommend this blade to any offensive type player, who is looking to put topspin on the table tennis ball.
Although this blade is suited more to the offensive style, some players have found it to be perfect for combination style: which means to mix defense and attack.
Therefore, all-round players can benefit with this blade as much as offensive strikers. Let’s delve deep into the blade’s construction and specifications to know what makes it so special.
Why Timo Boll Spirit? What to Expect?
Timo Boll Spirit is benchmark for other ALC blades such as Butterfly’s Viscaria, Zhang Jike ALC and Timo Boll ALC. It’s small size and light-weight lend it speed which is ideal for top spins. With the right rubber, it also provides an insanely fast power drive, ideal for offensive style.
Two plies of Arylate-Carbon give the blade speed, control and convenient vibrations. Arylate layers soften the blade by making it more flexible and decreasing destructively huge impact on the ball., allowing the player more control over the ball and execution of stable strikes.
One standalone feature of this blade is that it can not only be used for hardcore offensive strikes, but also to play a combination of both attack and defense. It is known to work great to mix attack and defense. Another useful aspect is that it is known to work with almost all different brands of rubbers.
Pros
Some players find Timo Boll Spirit irreplaceable and we agree (for the most part). In terms of speed, spin and control, this blade is unparalleled. Let’s what makes it so special.
Speed and Control
This blade offers a perfect combination of speed, spin and control, enabling the players to execute insane speed without losing control. A balance of speed and control also enables powerful counter play and controlled blocking.
Superior Construction
5 plies of wood and two plies of arylate-carbon make Timo Boll Spirit a perfectly balanced blade in terms of weight and speed. Its hand grip adjusts with almost all players easily and if not, a little grip tap does the trick. The blade also offers a balanced flexibility, coupled with the right amount of stiffness.
Its elite construction is perfect for both levels of combat: close to table and away from it. A balanced construction lends a good amount of control and speed. The blade’s wide area also allows impactful yet controlled strikes.
Price Range
Even though it’s a blade used for professional-level sport, with top-notch quality, Timo Boll Spirit has relatively lower price than its predecessor Viscaria or other ALC blades. So, if you are looking to up your game on a budget, this is one of the best options available.
Excellent Craftsmanship
Timo Boll Spirit has solid craftsmanship, able to sustain a lot of offensive hits. Due to its top-notch quality, it is not only perfect for tournaments, but can also withstand a lot of damage during hard training. Players have also reported zero splinters after multiple changes of rubber.
Cons
Although the blade offers divine control and powerful speed, some of these features might feel overwhelming to some players. Let’s discuss what could be problematic and if these cons can be solved.
Not for Beginners
If you are still learning, you must need some level of skill to fully harness the power of Timo Boll Spirit. This blade is going to raise your gaming experience but is not suitable for beginners.
As a newbie, you must look for simpler, less expensive for training. Once you have the necessary expertise, this kind of a blade becomes an ultimate need. Our advice is to choose a slower blade as a beginner and learn proper skills and techniques in order to generate and control speed and power.
Low Dwell time and Less Vibrations
The blade has low dwell time (according to some players) which might make it harder to execute perfect strikes, especially for intermediate players.
Vibrations through the paddle enable the player understand the execution of the short, and might be considered a key element of a good blade. Although this aspect is viewed differently by different players, Timo Boll Spirit’s low vibrations might be a problematic feature for some players.
Our Rating: 4.5/50
Timo Boll Spirit is a fantastic blade that has the potential to truly elevate your skill and technique. Some of its features are close to perfection and the cons can be circumvented.
We absolutely admire the insane amount of speed that one can generate with this blade, while maintaining divine control. If you have been playing ping pong for a long time and consider yourself intermediate to advanced player, this blade should be your top-pick.
Conclusion
Timo Boll Spirit is one of the most highly appreciated blades and is very popular among professional athletes. It is ideal for offensive to all-round players who are looking forwards to raise their gaming experience and athleticism.
In this article, we have given you a detailed insight into the blade’s specs; what makes it good for you, and whether it is worth all the hype. If you are a looper, and want to add powerful tospins to the ball, without losing control over it, Butterfly’s Timo Boll Spirit is just for you.
