Butterfly Primorac vs Nittaku Acoustic Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Primorac | Nittaku Acoustic Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.8/10 |
| feel | medium, classic all-wood, long dwell and high control | Medium-hard outer carbon with surprising wood-like dwell and ball retention; crisp sound on contact |
| handle | FL/ST | FL, ST (also Large Handle and Chinese Penhold variants available) |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — Limba/Limba/Ayous/Limba/Limba | 7 plies — 5 wood + 2 FE carbon (Limba - FE Carbon - Limba - Tung - Limba - FE Carbon - Limba) |
| speed | OFF- | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.5mm |
| weight_g | 85 | approx 90g |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
Butterfly Primorac (8.3) is the all-wood purist’s choice—excellent control, long dwell, outstanding build quality, and durability. However, many intermediate and advanced players eventually outgrow its limited top-end speed when facing modern plastic-ball play.
Nittaku Acoustic Carbon (8.8, the highest-rated blade in this matchup) retains unmistakable wood-like dwell despite outer carbon construction. It delivers comparable speed to other top-tier carbon blades (TBALC level), exceptional short-game precision, and outstanding compatibility with sticky rubbers. The 7-ply structure (5 wood plus 2 FE carbon) balances speed and control brilliantly. The main trade-off is weight (around 90g, demanding careful rubber selection) and a steep learning curve—the bounce can feel unruly until technique adapts.
Stay with Primorac if dwell and all-wood purity are non-negotiable, or if you’re content building indefinitely at intermediate level. Switch to Acoustic if you want to step up to advanced offensive play without sacrificing the wood-like touch you’ve built your game around. Acoustic Carbon is the premium progression blade.
FAQ
Does Acoustic Carbon really feel like wood?
Surprisingly yes. The FE carbon construction and 5-wood core preserve wood-like dwell and feel. It’s not pure wood, but intermediate all-wood players adapt quickly.
Is Acoustic Carbon worth the weight penalty (90g)?
For advancing players, yes. The extra weight comes with exceptional speed and control balance. Pair it with a slightly lighter rubber to manage swing weight. Primorac users will need adjustment time.
How much faster is Acoustic Carbon in real play?
Noticeably faster at mid to far distance—comparable to premium carbon blades. Close to the table, both feel similar due to Acoustic’s preserved dwell, but off-table Acoustic accelerates more.
Which is better for sticky rubbers on forehand?
Acoustic Carbon. It explicitly has ‘outstanding compatibility with sticky and tacky rubbers.’ Primorac also works, but Acoustic’s stiffer carbon construction suits sticky topsheets better.