Butterfly Timo Boll CAF

I’m amazed how different the same blade and rubbers can feel on a good day versus a bad day. I’m also amazed how easy it is to blame the equipment on some of our own flaws in the game. This makes it so hard to actually give an accurate review unless you’ve played for over 15 years and really know yourself. There are too many beginners in here giving conflicting feedback on otherwise good equipment.

This blade is great if you’re an amateur level. Pros wouldn’t use this. It’s too slow. Not aggressive enough. Amateurs are not beginners. They can play hard and fast rallies. This blade can easily do this. Even against carbon blades. Some of my best match wins were with this blade. It can do it all and I feel in control. I can feel the ball. My opponent uses this blade too and I often don’t see the ball coming. It’s that fast. Will I keep the blade? Sure…. but I am also using the Donic original carbon blade. Same price. It’s faster. And I think my technique has evolved enough for me to feel I can control it just as well as this blade…. somewhat. I’m still using this against certain opponents and get better results with it than with the carbon blade as it sometimes goes way too fast for me. Still.

Now I am thinking that its price is the weakest point. There are a lot of good blades out there for this price. I haven’t tried any of them but I spend a lot of time reading these reviews and it seems to me the chances of finding an all-wood blade similar or better than this is a high probability. I bought this not knowing the market very well long ago. I tried my friend’s blades for short periods of time over the years and I’m convinced your money can go a long way for a $100 blade.

Very nice blade. It has great control, especially forhand loops which are very consistent. It also provides excellent control in the passive game, making it very easy to block with. The speed is alright; it’s definitely not a slow blade by any means, but it’s not the fastest either. It generates very good spin. While it feels a bit hard on the short touches, it has an awesome dwell time when looping.

I started training three times a week a year ago, so I’m not that advanced, but I look to improve as fast as I can. I think it’s the right blade for that purpose, which is why my coach said I should buy it. Fun fact: during my first training session with the blade, I won against a player a league above me that I had never won against before. So all in all, it’s a great blade for intermediate offensive players.

By the way, I use Joola Rhyzen CMD rubbers on both sides.

This blade is unique, excelling when paired with rubbers that provide sufficient dwell time. Constructed with a 3W+2C ply composition (rather than the typical 5W+2C), it features a thicker central ply compared to blades of similar thickness. This construction results in a relatively stiff blade with higher catapult, shorter dwell time, and a low throw angle. Despite having a speed comparable to other Butterfly ALC blades, the CAF differs in these specific characteristics, leading to polarized opinions among players.

When combined with Tenergy 80FX (backhand) and Rakza Z (forehand), the blade performs exceptionally well. However, it struggled when paired with Dignics 05 and Tenergy 80 due to insufficient dwell time. The blade offers excellent touch and minimal vibration during table play, while providing sufficient power (accompanied by some vibration) for aggressive looping. It excels in executing hard, spinny forehand loops down the line thanks to its combination with hybrid rubber, generating shots that are both fast and low. The blade provides good control and speed for close-to-the-table attacking. It requires compact strokes and timely hitting, making it less suitable for players who prefer mid-distance or long-distance play.