Butterfly Photino Light
Blade description:
This blade is an ultra-lightweight composite model, categorized as an OFF+ offensive weapon. Its construction features a 3+2 composite setup, which provides a high speed threshold that exceeds several common high-end composite blades while maintaining a soft, wood-like feel. Despite its minimal mass, the blade generates significant power and features a large, forgiving sweet spot, making it capable of both delicate touch play and high-speed put-aways.
Playing Characteristics
- Feel and Feedback: The blade is noted for its soft, vibration-rich feedback. This distinct sensation provides tactile information during contact, which aids in controlled blocking and precise placement.
- Dwell and Spin: It offers a high throw angle and impressive ball dwell time, facilitating heavy spin production during loops and counter-looping exchanges.
- Stability: While the blade is inherently fast, it remains stable across various technical aspects, including service, pushing, and chopping. Users often find that pairing the blade with soft or medium-soft rubber types optimizes control and mitigates the raw pace of the frame.
- Weight and Balance: Due to its extremely low weight—typically in the 70–75 gram range—the center of gravity can become head-heavy when paired with heavier professional rubbers. While this impacts the overall balance, players generally find it easy to maneuver once adjusted to the lighter handle feel.
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Recent Reviews
#1 — June 2021
This blade is exceptionally powerful despite its light weight, making it a formidable choice. When paired with Tibhar Evolution MX-S Max on both sides, it offers a superb balance of touch, speed, and spin. Blocking and precise ball placement become effortless with this combination.
The blade itself weighs a mere 74 grams, and the addition of MX-S Max on both sides brings the total weight to 180 grams. This weight distribution provides excellent maneuverability and control. The power of the blade is evident when needed, offering a decisive advantage during rallies.
The flared handle fits snugly in the hand, ensuring comfort and stability. Its distinctive color scheme sets the blade apart, giving it a unique and eye-catching aesthetic. This blade seamlessly complements my collection, and I am fortunate to have acquired one before their availability dwindles.
The Photino Light is related to the regular Photino but is considerably lighter. It shares a similar soft touch with my Donic Waldner WC89 OFF blade, a personal favorite that I highly regard as my all-time preferred blade.
#2 — January 2015
Excellent control (feather light) - no matter the distance or speed. Speed canon even with medium-soft rubbers, providing an effortless spin and pace. The head-heavy composition, when paired with Tenergy rubbers, creates an optimal balance. My experience with the Genius Sound (forehand) and Sinus Sound (backhand) rubbers proved seamless. Serving, looping, blocking, and smashing were executed with ease, making this blade a versatile and exceptional choice.
#3 — November 2014
It’s an off+ blade, faster than a Boll ZLC or MJ ZLC. The feeling is soft, even more so than the original Photino. Its ultra light weight will please many players.
The sweet spot is large, just like the original Photino, which is quite surprising since my Photino Light is only 71 grams.
Tested with T64frex 1.7 on both backhand and forehand, the throw angle is high, dwell time is amazing, and the feeling and control are unmatched for this level of speed.
Just like the original Photino, this blade is a beauty. It’s the best ultra light weight off+ blade ever made.
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