Butterfly Primorac vs Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Primorac | Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 9.0/10 |
| feel | medium, classic all-wood, long dwell and high control | Medium and offensive with notable flex and long dwell, crisp but forgiving for a carbon blade |
| handle | FL/ST | FL / ST / AN |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — Limba/Limba/Ayous/Limba/Limba | 5 wood plies plus 2 arylate-carbon outer layers (5W and 2 ALC) |
| speed | OFF- | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 85 | 87 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
The Primorac is a classic 5-ply all-wood blade with excellent control, long dwell and outstanding build quality, forgiving enough to serve as a first serious or control-first blade across many styles. The Timo Boll Spirit is an ALC carbon blade rated OFF, with long dwell for heavy topspin, a softer and more forgiving feel than the Viscaria, and very good blocking and counterplay.
Choose the Primorac if you value feel, dwell and spin over outright speed and want a durable, forgiving all-wood classic. Step up to the Timo Boll Spirit if you are an intermediate-to-advanced attacker who wants carbon-driven looping with a soft touch, which earns it a 9 here.
The Primorac is OFF- and can feel underpowered with the modern plastic ball, while the thinner 5.7mm Spirit’s genuine OFF speed can run away from weaker technique. The Spirit also commands a premium price over plainer offensive blades.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Timo Boll Spirit. It is an OFF ALC carbon blade, while the Primorac is an OFF- all-wood blade with more limited top-end speed.
Which is better for a control-first player?
The Primorac, with its long dwell, high control and forgiving all-wood feel, suits control-first all-rounders and developing attackers best.
Does the Timo Boll Spirit keep a soft feel despite the carbon?
Yes. It uses outer ALC layers but keeps a softer, more forgiving feel than the stiffer Viscaria, with long dwell for controllable topspin.