Butterfly Maze Advance vs Butterfly Timo Boll W7: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Maze Advance | Butterfly Timo Boll W7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
| feel | soft, controlled, slightly stiff for an all-wood blade | Hard, stiff, direct |
| handle | FL | FL, ST |
| plies | 5W (all wood) | 7-ply all wood (Limba / Ayous / Kiri) |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 6.7 |
| weight_g | 85 | 94 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
The Butterfly Maze Advance (8.2 rating) is a lightweight five-ply all-wood blade at 85 grams designed for beginners and developing players. Its exceptional control consistency, soft touch, and coach-recommendation for first proper blades make it ideal for learning fundamentals. The 6.7mm thickness plays slightly stiff, but the affordable price around 66 USD and wide availability are strong practical advantages.
The Butterfly Timo Boll W7 (7.8 rating) is a seven-ply all-wood blade offering near-carbon OFF speed with huge sweet spot and crisp Limba feel. Its excellence at flat drives and smashes suits advanced offensive players, but stiff construction, lower loop spin, and high vibration make it unsuitable for beginners. Discontinuation causes sourcing challenges and premium pricing.
The Maze Advance is the clear choice for beginners and developing players seeking an affordable, accessible blade. The Timo Boll suits discontinuing flat-drive specialists willing to tolerate sourcing difficulty and hand vibration. They serve opposite skill levels and have little overlap.
FAQ
Why is the Maze Advance recommended for beginners?
Coaches recommend it for developing players because of its exceptional control consistency, low vibration, clean touch, and generous sweet spot that forgives errors.
Which blade is stiffer?
The Timo Boll W7 is significantly stiffer than the Maze Advance. Some users call the Maze stiffer than other five-ply blades, but it is still much softer than the Timo Boll.
Which blade is cheaper?
The Maze Advance at around 66 USD is substantially cheaper and readily available. The Timo Boll is discontinued and expensive.
Which blade is lighter?
The Maze Advance at 85 grams is lighter than the Timo Boll at 94 grams, improving maneuverability for developing players.