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Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5
Blade description:
The Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 is a remarkable table tennis blade designed for players seeking a balance of speed, control, and responsiveness. With its unique construction, featuring a balsa core flanked by two carbon layers, the X5 stands out for providing excellent dwell time, allowing for improved looping and control, especially beneficial for offensive players. Despite its sturdy build, it maintains a lightweight profile, averaging around 70g, which enhances agility and reduces fatigue during extended play.
At 7mm thick, the Balsa Carbo X5 is considered relatively thick for a blade, yet its soft outer plies and carbon layering create a lively and flexible feel that is well-received among players of various skill levels. The blade exhibits moderate stiffness, rated at 4.7, complementing its control, which is praised for its precision during blocks and pushes. This standout combination of features makes it particularly effective for close-to-table play as well as mid-distance rallies.
Players seeking alternatives might consider other Butterfly models like the Timo Boll Spirit or Michael Maze, which are renowned for their speed and control yet may be less forgiving than the Balsa Carbo X5. Some users have reported challenges with consistency when playing at different paces, particularly when adjusting to various rubber combinations. Nevertheless, for those who prioritize touch and versatility in their game, the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 remains an excellent choice, perfect for players looking to enhance their attacking strategies while still benefiting from solid defensive capabilities.
Recent Reviews
#1 — April 2021
It’s a good blade if you are a beginner, but the price is high for a 3+2 blade. I was disappointed that the carbon in the blade doesn’t speed it up. It’s not as fast as some all-wood blades from STIGA, and the price is too high for a blade that lacks speed. On the positive side, the blade offers great control.
#2 — August 2019
Pretty good and really bad at the same time.
Feedback is horrible, like non-existent. Also found it too light. Tried it with softer rubbers like Bryce FX… never again. Tried it with pips, not so great. Tried with harder rubbers…, finally got it to work. The rest of the review will be based on harder rubbers to keep things fair.
The problem with this blade is that it feels inconsistent. It reacts differently to different types of speed. When you hit hard it acts fast, but when you hit it softly it feels slow. So far great… in theory. But then your opponent gives you a fast ball and you want to return with something soft. Suddenly it’s weird because you’re used to a slower feeling on those shots but the fast ball makes the blade feel faster. Or vice versa you push a slow ball to the end of the table and notice it’s damn hard to calculate how much power you need to put into the ball because it reacts so differently on every pace. Getting used to this is a nightmare that won’t end.
In general: Close to table it’s hard to keep a tight play when either you or the opponent really loves to switch up the tempo. Away from the table I find it hard to chop but easy to attack with. It really gives an extra kick when you hit hard. Feels lacking when spinning and the sweetspot is small. Blocking can be done passively. Drives and spin can also be somewhat deceptively with this blade. When you play a diagonal shot but don’t do through the complete motion it goes straight ahead…
#3 — February 2018
I used the blade for 4 months. However, it is very soft and weak, and I am not satisfied with it.