Butterfly Harimoto Tomokazu Innerforce ALC vs Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Harimoto Tomokazu Innerforce ALC | Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 |
| feel | soft, grippy, wood-like with carbon activation on full swings | Medium and offensive with notable flex and long dwell, crisp but forgiving for a carbon blade |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL / ST / AN |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 ALC (Arylate-Carbon inner fiber) | 5 wood plies plus 2 arylate-carbon outer layers (5W and 2 ALC) |
| speed | OFF- | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.9 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 88 | 87 |
Butterfly Harimoto Tomokazu Innerforce ALC
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These two blades share the same arylate-carbon family but differ in where the fiber lives and how fast they play. The Harimoto Innerforce ALC sets its ALC beneath two wood plies, so contact feels soft, woody and grippy, dampening vibration and rewarding spin-loaded opening loops with a high arc and long dwell. It stays in the OFF- range, prizing control and touch over pace and only waking the carbon on full, committed swings. The Timo Boll Spirit places its arylate-carbon as outer layers, reaching genuine OFF speed while keeping a soft, communicative feel and exceptional dwell that makes heavy, controllable topspin easy. It is the more versatile all-rounder — looping, counter-hitting, blocking and combination play all rate highly — and it has aged into a two-decade benchmark.
Who each suits
Choose the Harimoto Innerforce ALC if you are a spin-dominant, close-to-table looper who wants the woodiest possible feel and the largest dwell, accepting lower speed. Choose the Timo Boll Spirit if you want one offensive blade that does everything with real OFF pace yet still forgives blocks and touch shots.
The pick
The Timo Boll Spirit (9.0) is the broader, faster pick for an attacking all-court game. Take the Harimoto only if you actively want a slower, spin-first feel close to the table.
FAQ
Which is easier for learning to loop?
Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit offers more help due to sponge characteristics.
Which offers the best value?
Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit delivers better value. Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit combines affordability with strong performance.
Which rubber maintains its grip longer?
Both have different longevity patterns handles wear better. Check specific playing conditions in detailed reviews.