Butterfly Timo Boll ALC vs Nittaku Violin: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll ALC | Nittaku Violin | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 9.0/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | medium | Soft, warm and flexible with long dwell, premium hand-crafted Japanese all-wood feedback |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL |
| plies | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon | 5-ply all wood (Kiri core with White Ash outer plies) |
| speed | OFF | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.3 |
| type | — | ALL+ |
| weight_g | 86 | 86 |
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The Timo Boll ALC is a balanced OFF arylate-carbon blade with class-leading spin on both wings, a large sweet spot and a solid, consistent feel that plays like one big sweet spot. The Nittaku Violin is a flexible 5-ply all-wood blade with a soft, warm feel and long dwell, prized for exceptional control and pinpoint placement, but slower than its billing suggests.
On style, the ALC is genuinely fast and OFF-rated, superb from mid-distance to away from the table and rewarding an active stroke, while the Violin favors close-to-mid all-round looping and is weaker at long-distance pace. The ALC gives little vibration feedback; the Violin offers warm, hand-crafted all-wood feedback and builds technique.
Pick the Timo Boll ALC, rated 9, if you are an attacking shakehand player with a developed stroke who wants balanced high-spin power and a large sweet spot. Pick the Violin if you prize control, feel and spin over raw speed and want a premium all-wood blade for precise close-to-mid play, including as a first custom blade leaving fast carbon.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Timo Boll ALC is faster, being genuinely fast and OFF-rated, while the Violin is rated ALL+ and slower than its billing suggests, weak at long-distance pace.
Which is better for control and developing players?
The Violin is the stronger control and technique-building blade, while the ALC gives little vibration feedback and suits players with a developed stroke.
What are the constructions?
The ALC is a 5-wood plus 2 arylate-carbon build, while the Violin is 5-ply all wood with a Kiri core and White Ash outer plies.
Which has the bigger sweet spot?
The Timo Boll ALC is noted for a large sweet spot where the whole face plays consistently, helping its class-leading spin.