Butterfly Korbel vs Butterfly Timo Boll ALC: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Korbel | Butterfly Timo Boll ALC | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 9.0/10 |
| feel | medium, soft and flexible all-wood with long dwell | medium |
| handle | FL/ST | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — limba-limba-ayous-limba-limba | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon |
| speed | OFF- | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 88 | 86 |
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This is a classic developmental versus finished-product matchup. The Korbel is a flexible 5-ply all-wood blade with long dwell, high throw and outstanding control, ideal for learning to loop and feel the ball before stepping up to carbon. The Timo Boll ALC is a faster arylate-carbon blade with a near-ideal balance of spin, speed and control, a large sweet spot and a solid feel where the whole face plays like one big sweet spot.
The trade-off is feedback versus performance. The Korbel gives plenty of vibration and forgiveness, which helps you build strokes, but you supply the power for far-table attack. The Timo Boll ALC gives little vibration feedback and rewards an active, technically sound stroke, so it suits attacking shakehand players who already have a developed swing. Learners and control-first players should take the Korbel; players ready for a balanced, high-spin main blade should pay up for the Timo Boll ALC.
FAQ
Which should a beginner buy?
The Korbel. It is a forgiving, high-feel all-wood blade made for learning to loop and develop feeling. The Timo Boll ALC gives little vibration feedback and is less suited to players still developing technique.
Which is faster?
The Timo Boll ALC. It is a genuinely fast OFF-rated arylate-carbon blade, while the Korbel is a medium-speed OFF-minus all-wood blade where you supply your own pace.
Is the Timo Boll ALC worth the premium price?
If you have a developed, active stroke and want a balanced, high-spin main blade with a large sweet spot, yes. If you are still building technique, the cheaper Korbel will serve you better first.