Butterfly Peter Korbel Japan Version

Review Text:

Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade:

• Best blade I have played with so far.
• Excellent control, with good spin and speed.
• Paired with Yasaka Mark V 2.0, it creates a top-notch combination.
• Provides great feel and touch, allowing for exceptional topspins and effective blocking capabilities.
• The Japanese model exhibits superior craftsmanship and is compatible with a wide range of rubbers, particularly soft to medium rubbers.
• A classic all-wood rubber, it has been a favorite of mine for many years.
• After using the Butterfly A. Grubba, I upgraded to the Peter Korbel but believe this blade surpasses both in terms of feel and spin generation.

Review:
Simply stunning. The Made in Japan version of Butterfly 5-ply all-wood Korbel is a must-buy, unlike the European version. Its speed is exceptional and controllable, but it’s the sublime feeling that sets this blade apart. You accurately sense your shots, playing them with the desired speed and spin. I use Big Dipper on my forehand and Moon 12 Blue on my backhand. For UK residents, Nishoshi offers the best deal on this blade.

I am glad to see there is finally a separate Japanese version of this blade for reviews. During my time in table tennis, I have tried the following blades: BTY Korbel Japan, BTY Timo Boll ALC, and Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive. Although I cannot compare it to the Euro Korbel, I can compare it to the YEO mentioned above. The Korbel Japan seems to be more like an OFF- blade.

I paired my Japanese Korbel with Xiom Sigma II EU rubbers. This combination is quite fast and not suitable for beginners, but it allows for amazing looping. The blade itself is of great quality, but the sweet spot is not as large compared to the ALC or YEO (although the YEO is well-known for its larger sweet spot). It is also a bit heavier. From my experience, it would be best to pair it with Yasaka Rakza 7 or BTY Rozena rubbers.

Years ago, I chose the YEO as my main racket, and I am currently transitioning to the TB ALC. However, I still have my Korbel and occasionally use it for training or playing against less experienced players. I am still amazed by how good it feels. I believe it is suitable for a wide range of players, from beginners to professionals. The choice of rubbers will greatly affect the performance of the blade. The blade itself is nearly perfect, and I intend to keep it.

Simply a great blade. The Euro version is nowhere near the level of the JP version. The JP version is an upgrade on every department by 30%. It also sounds better on every shot.

Plenty of dwell time. This blade is an absolute must-have for an all-round+ player.

It’s very spinny when combined with a tacky or grippy rubber. For an intermediate player, this blade is a gem that’s hard to go wrong with.

I can play both offensively and defensively with this blade. I paired long pips OX on my backhand and a Chinese rubber on my forehand to achieve my desired weight. I recommend this blade for players who use long pips.

I had played the Butterfly Petr Korbel Europe version for years. However, at the persuasion of a fellow table tennis player, I switched from the Europe version to the Japan version.

The Japan version is heavier and faster than the Europe version. This is due to the different wood layering solution and thickness. My Japan version weighs 95 grams, while my Europe version weighs 88 grams. The Japan version offers faster play with similar ball detection, due to the aforementioned reasons.

The Japan version comes with a serial number. More importantly, the machining of the Japan version is of premium quality. The handle of the Japan version is wider and flatter compared to the Europe version. However, it still belongs to the blades with thinner handles, which is much more comfortable for me as a medium-handed player. In contrast, the handle of the Europe version is thinner and more convex.

I use Yasaka Rakza X (max version) on my forehand side and Yasaka Rakza 7 Soft (max version) on my backhand side, using five layers of Revolution Nr.3 glue. The Japan version is faster. On the Europa version, the same rubber was glued on both the forehand and backhand sides with the max version, using five coats of Revolution Nr.3 glue.

I am already quite a few years old, but I am a beginner in table tennis. I have tried several blades, and this one suited me best. I paired it with Tenergy 05 on FH and 64 on BH, both 2.1mm. Highly recommend! Thank you TT 11 for great service!

I pair it with Tibhar Evolution MX-P (backhand) and MX-S (forehand).
Backhand blocks and punches work like a charm with MX-P.
Lifting backspin seems much easier with MX-S.

Satisfied with the setup, but the handle is a bit too small for me. The handle of Butterfly Primorac is much better, at least for me.

It would be a great blade if only the sweet spot were not so small! I don’t know, perhaps I have received a faulty piece, but the sweet spot is smaller than on a regular Korbel. Unlike the regular Korbel, you better not hit the ball near the edges - the effect would be basically the same as if you hit the edge of the blade. Of course, it doesn’t happen often, but it can happen during a fast-paced game. While with the regular Korbel the ball often gets to the other side of the table, it just isn’t going to happen with Korbel Japan.

Other than that, it is an excellent blade indeed. Certain hard feel of a blade that isn’t really that hard overall, providing a bit better ball feedback than regular Korbel, with good flexibility and general dwell. Slightly faster than regular Korbel, also harder, flexier, ball trajectory can get slightly lower and longer.

One of the best 5-ply blades. It is for those who play with topspins, not for flat hitters. Recommended fast rubbers like Tenergy 19, because it has less power compared to carbon blades.

It is heavier than I expected.

Well, it is not a classic Butterfly blade for nothing. Quality and service are top notch. Superfast blades mean nothing if you don’t have proper skills, and these classic blades are made for creating a player with proper skill. I needed a time-consuming circle of different kinds of blades and rubber to finally realize and accept that. Well better ever than never. TT11 thanks for great service.

This base is quite stiff for a purely wooden one, comfortable to play with, better characteristics than the European version.

The product is amazing for the price I paid, exceptionally packed, and shipped earlier than promised.