Read up on Butterfly Timo Boll ALC reviews, and you’ll find that it has gotten quite an impressive collection of positive feedback from buyers all around the globe. Often described as “one giant sweet spot”, it’s easy to see how this not-so-reasonably priced blade was able to establish such a strong reputation in the market. Plus the fact that it has Timo Boll’s name slapped on it, this blade was a guaranteed winner from the start.
Of course, it’s not the cheapest blade, so anyone thinking of buying it should think of whether or not it’s the right choice before settling on a purchase. Are you one of the thousands of interested buyers looking into getting your hands on this premium professional blade from Butterfly? Know the facts first by reading our Butterfly Timo Boll ALC review to find out if it really is the one for you.
The Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Anatomy
This utlra lightweight Butterfly blade is made up of 5 different layers of material, namely arylate carbon, koto, limba, and kiri. This intuitive combination of woods and carbon is what gives the TBALC its impressive performance, allowing the perfect balance of speed, control, stiffness, hardness, and consistency, which we’ll talk more about later.
What really makes it stand-out among other blades is the arylate carbon layer which changes the way the TBALC performs all together. The lightweight material improves stability, softens the feel of the blade, and helps players achieve versatile spin play that’s perfect for offensive playing styles.
Another reason why we love the TBALC is that it comes in a variety of grip styles. The blade is offered with a flared, straight, and anatomical handle, so no matter your preference, you can be sure you’ll find the right grip to suit your style and comfort.
Ratings for the Timo Ball ALC Blade
Speed rating: ★★★★
This factor refers to the speed that the blade can impart on a ping pong ball in play. The higher the speed rating, the faster the velocity of the ball upon impact with the specific blade in question. While it doesn’t have the highest speed rating of the other Butterfly blades, like the ZLC, it really isn’t disappointing either. For most professional players, the TBALC’s speed rating is definitely more than enough to sustain high speed, offensive, tournament play.
Most of the blade’s speed comes from its hard and stiff layers. If anything, the arylate carbon actually dampens the velocity since it offers a rubbery feel that’s more intended for spin and control. Even then, the speed isn’t too severely impeded, and the TBALC can still work well for high flying aggressive games.
Control rating:★★★★
It’s generally accepted knowledge in the table tennis industry that speed and control are indirectly proportional. What does that mean? Simply put, the higher the speed rating, the lower the control rating - and vice versa. What’s nice about the TBALC is that despite having a speed rating of 4 out of 5, the design still maintains a pretty impressive control rating of 4 out of 5 as well. How does it do this?
Well, we mainly owe our thanks to the arylate carbon inserts that are fitted between each ply of wood. These layers help soften the blade, and add a touch of responsiveness that slightly cradles the ball upon impact to reduce speed and lengthen dwell. This split second difference means an experienced player can get a better feel of the ball before launching it back towards the opponent.
Stiffness rating:★★
When it comes to blades, stiffness pertains to the ability of a blade to resist vibration. The stiffer a blade, the faster it is. But that doesn’t mean that vibrations are necessarily a bad thing. For instance, in the hands of a professional or an advanced player, vibrations can be taken as feedback. This helps players learn more about their stroke, so they can calibrate their future hits for more accurate outcomes.
The TBALC comes with a stiffness rating of just 2 out of 5, and determining whether that’s a bad thing ultimately depends on what you prefer. Some users find vibrations to be distracting, while others prefer low stiffness because it helps them learn better. Most professionals prefer quite a bit of feedback because it’s how they determine whether or not they were able to properly execute a shot before it even lands on the opponent’s court.
Hardness rating:★★★
Don’t confuse hardness for stiffness - these are two completely different factors. Unlike stiffness which pertains to a blade’s ability to reduce vibrations, hardness talks of the actual feel of the material on the surface of the blade. Is it hard or flexible? Does it move and bend upon impact? Does it cushion the landing of the ball against it or does it just slap the ball back without any time in between?
There’s an upside and a downside to a blade that’s at maximum hardness. On the plus side, these blades generate far better speed because the momentum of the ball is maximized and none of the energy is absorbed or dampened upon impact. On the other hand, these blades also tend to sacrifice spin. A blade that’s too hard will not allow a ball to dwell on its surface. Without that slight pause, a player won’t have the opportunity to impart spin on the ball after being hit.
Consistency rating: ★★★★★
Do two different blades of the same brand and model perform the same way? This became a concern among buyers some time in the past because some of the newer brands in the market had fault quality control methods that meant some of their blades performed better than others. Obviously, for a game of precision like table tennis, this was a major issue especially if the blades in question were previously approved for tournament use by the ITTF.
Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be a problem with the Butterfly brand. Being one of the best table tennis equipment companies on the market, Butterfly is known for its world standard designs, made to meet precise specifications under close and strict manufacture monitoring. Each TBALC performs as promised, and exactly the same with all others from the same line-up.
Who is the Timo Boll ALC Blade For?
It comes as no surprise that Timo Boll himself has actually used the Timo Boll ALC Blade once or twice for tournament play. With its impressive speed and control, the blade can generate explosively powerful hits that don’t take a toll on ball behavior and predictability. It’s fast, fairly hard, and not so stiff, so it does impart quite a bit of spin on top of lending superior velocity to a ball in play.
No doubt, all of these features come together to create a very formidable piece of table tennis equipment, but it won’t work for everyone. Intermediate players and even advanced players who feel like they need to improve or learn more might not find the TBALC all too user friendly. Based on everything we’ve found, the Timo Ball ALC would be best leveraged by a professional player or an advanced player who’s confident in his skills.
Pros of the Timo Boll ALC
l Superb speed that’s ideal for players with offensive play styles.
l Impressive control despite the fact that it’s a pretty fast, which is rare in a carbon blade.
l Durable construction makes use of five different materials, assembled to the highest of standards.
l Flexible construction was designed for versatile spin play that can be very challenging to play against, giving you the upper hand against both an offensive and defensive opponent.
l Neutral hardness rating allows the ideal marriage of speed and control.
Cons of the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC
l Pretty expensive for a blade, despite its brand and the athlete behind it.
l Confusing to get accustomed to, even for some professional players.
l Low stiffness may give rise to highly palpable feedback vibrations which could be distracting for some players.
Bottom Line
Our Butterfly Timo Boll ALC review took all the factors into consideration, and we’ve come to find that it’s definitely a worthy investment for players with the right level of skill and expertise. This explosive offensive blade boasts superior speed, yet somehow manages to maintain a high level of control which isn’t typical with carbon blades.
Regardless of how the brand was able to achieve such an ideal marriage, we’re stunned with the TBALC’s performance, and highly recommend it to professional players who want to experience what it feels to command a playing surface right off the bat.