Butterfly Iolite Neo

Speed rubbers with hard sponges are not suitable. Tacky rubbers are also not recommended.

After testing this blade with so many rubbers, I was initially disappointed with it. However, I eventually found the rubber that suits this special blade: Calibra Tour M.

The combination of this blade and rubber is amazing. The Tour M is so linear that it even makes the iolite Neo (a balsa core blade) play more linearly. And once this ultra-fast blade becomes more linear, it has everything an attacker could dream of: a neutral throw, absolute power, amazing dwell time, incredible spin, great consistency, and a light weight. It becomes so easy to generate powerful topspins with this setup.

The only issue is finding a second blade like this, as it is very hard to come by in 2015.

I think the blade has a very soft feel. Although this totally irritated me in the beginning,

It is very light; still very fast and not stiff like the usual carbon blade.

I have kept it because I like the soft feeling and will try to use it again.

It is definitely faster than Innerforce ULC, ZLC, ZLF, and Gergely alpha.

Maybe a little slower than Schlager Carbon Off+.

My set up with these blades: FH - Stiga Sriver G2fx and Yasaka New Era.

Topspin - This is the most explosive area of this blade. A power blade.

Feel - This is the grey area of this blade. Because of its speed, it feels like the ball just catapults and bounces back without the feel and dwell time.

Blocking - You need more time drilling to get used to this blade.

Smashing - Great for this category.

For offensive-minded players and those always on the lookout for an offense opportunity, then definitely this blade is for you.

Practicality wise, it costs less than the arylate carbon of other Butterfly brand blades.

I once tried Iolite for about 20 minutes, Iolite Neo’s predecessor. The blade is heavy at about 94 grams. Iolite Neo is much lightweight and more updated in design.

Review text:

It’s the best rubber I have ever used. I was using a Joola Panther and I was uncomfortable. Now I use the Iolite Neo and it’s a huge difference. Now I can loop the ball better with my backhand and I can attack better. It’s a GREAT BLADE and worth every penny. (Sorry for my bad English).

Excellent blade. I was looking for something faster than TBS, but a little lighter with a softer feel. The Iolite Neo has all of the above. It is very consistent. You get the added speed with no loss in control. Looping is wonderful because it has a soft feeling. Blocking is also good due to the hinoki outer plies. Pushing and flicking are effortless. It is slightly head heavy, but this is what gives you the speed you need. I am surprised more people don’t use it. It is relatively new, and they have upgraded the handle so the blade is very comfortable. An A+ blade that flies under the radar of more popular blades.

Extremely fast, but one of the best looping blades available if paired with the right rubber. Extremely hard to keep balls on the table with too fast of a rubber.

This blade closely resembles the Iolite but offers enhanced control and a marginal increase in speed. The consistency it provides sets it apart, and the blade exhibits a notably hard feel. I am highly impressed with Butterfly’s recent blade releases, and the Iolite Neo is a worthy continuation of this innovative era.