Butterfly Timo Boll W5

≈ 90 grams ≈ 1550 Hz

Blade description:

The Butterfly Timo Boll W5 is a top-tier all-wood table tennis blade designed for advanced players seeking precision and control without sacrificing speed. This blade features a composition of five carefully selected wood plies, offering a unique blend of speed and sensitivity that promotes an excellent touch for various playing styles. Weighing in at a medium range with a thickness of 5.8mm, it balances well in hand, contributing to its reputation as a precision instrument on the table.

In terms of playability, the Timo Boll W5 boasts an impressive speed rating of 8.5, complemented by a control rating of 9, making it an ideal choice for players who prioritize accuracy in their shots. It has a stiffness rating of 5.3 and a hardness of 5.5, providing a solid but not overly rigid feel that enhances shot feedback while minimizing excessive vibrations. The blade’s consistency rating of 9.3 further highlights its dependable performance across various strokes, particularly effective for looping, smashing, and driving. However, for optimal results, players are often recommended to pair it with suitable rubber options, such as Tenergy or Hurricaine III.

While the Timo Boll W5 is celebrated for its precision, some players who prefer a softer touch may find it a touch hard. Alternatives for those looking for a similar feel with a softer touch include models such as the Tibhar RedCypress. Overall, the Butterfly Timo Boll W5 successfully combines speed, control, and a refined feel, making it an excellent choice for players who aim to enhance their attacking game while maintaining excellent consistency and control.

Recent Reviews

#1 — April 2015

Fine blade from BTY with a nice feeling FL grip. It has a medium sweet spot, and with T05 provides more than enough speed and spin to gain the point. This blade felt like a precision instrument but is a bit head heavy with Tenergy.

#2 — February 2015

Great blade for precision play. Loops, smashes and drives are good and blocking is great. I play it with JOOLA Maxxx 500 on both sides. Very good. I can only recommend it to advanced players.

Joola MAXXX 500 was too hard for this blade and I switched to Bluefire JP1 and M3, then changed the M3 to Tibhar MX-P.

This is a modern type looping blade, quite stiff and the koto outer wood ply is a bit hard for me, but I can get used to it. This blade needs fast and short moves to generate aggressive and fast loops, and the loops become quite effective. Old style big arm swing loops are possible too but this blade does not like that, there isn’t that much dwell time for that type of stroke. If you love the tempo and the characteristics but want a little softer touch try Tibhar RedCypress.

#3 — May 2012

I have to disagree with the comment of not a loopers blade. I agree with the last comment, Dec 31st. This blade has great control and a ton of dwell time. I use T25FX on FH and T64 on backhand and have been using this blade for 6 months, just got my second one last month.