Butterfly Timo Boll CAF

Composite/carbon 16 reviews

Blade description:

The Butterfly Timo Boll CAF is a versatile table tennis blade celebrated for its unique blend of control and speed, making it an ideal choice for intermediate to advanced players. This blade features a hybrid composition of three wooden layers and two carbon layers, offering a feel that strikes a balance between traditional wood and modern composite materials. Weighing in at 82 grams, it is on the lighter side, enhancing maneuverability while maintaining enough heft for powerful strokes. The blade’s thickness and five-ply construction contribute to a stiffness rating of 4.9, allowing for improved ball placement and effective looping capabilities.

Flexibility is one of the standout attributes of the Timo Boll CAF. Players notice its exceptional dwell time, which is particularly advantageous during extensive looping and spin play. The blade exhibits great control, enabling users to lift backspin and execute fast loops with remarkable ease. Players appreciate the consistent feel across different shot types, whether executing a soft touch near the table or generating explosive power from the backcourt. While it may not match the outright speed of more aggressive carbon blades, like the Timo Boll ALC, its lower spin sensitivity offers a good degree of safety in challenging situations.

In terms of alternatives, those seeking a blend of control and speed might consider options like the Butterfly Viscaria or the Lin Gaoyuan ALC, which are often praised for their high quality and performance. Overall, the Timo Boll CAF offers a balanced approach that many find well-suited to their playing style, especially for those transitioning from all-wood blades to composite designs.

Recent Reviews

#1 — April 2023

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.

#2 — March 2023

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.

#3 — August 2021

The blade displays significant inconsistencies in characteristics. Despite glowing reviews and initial skepticism towards negative ones, I found the blade to be unforgiving despite Boll’s claim that it offers “the best control in the market.”

My TB CAF blade lacks dwell, a large sweet spot, and adequate vibration damping. It falls between all-wood and composite blades, but in my opinion, it combines their worst qualities rather than their best.

Butterfly seems to have aimed to produce a blade with lower manufacturing costs than their ALC models, but it is still priced over $100. The Garaydia ZLC, purchased simultaneously at more than double the price, provides superior control and ease of play. Its exceptional quality justifies the expense despite being a BTY blade, known for its high price relative to market value.