Butterfly Timo Boll ALC vs Stiga Carbonado 145: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll ALC | Stiga Carbonado 145 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 9.0/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | medium | stiff, direct and rather linear with a large sweet spot, but the very thin TeXtreme layers keep the vibration close to a 5-ply all-wood blade |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL/ST (also offered as Legend and penhold) |
| plies | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon | 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon (5+2 composite) with the carbon fibers laid at a 45 degree angle for torsional bendability |
| speed | OFF | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 86 | 85 |
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Both are carbon offensive blades, but they feel very different. The Timo Boll ALC is a balanced, medium-feeling OFF blade with class-leading spin, a large sweet spot and a solid, quiet contact. The Carbonado 145 is a stiff, direct OFF+ TeXtreme blade with strong mid-distance power and aggressive blocking, yet its very thin carbon layers keep the vibration close to a 5-ply all-wood blade.
Choose the Timo Boll ALC if you want a do-everything, high-spin main blade that stays forgiving and plays well from mid-distance to away from the table. It rewards a developed stroke and carries the higher rating.
Pick the Carbonado 145 if you want a stiffer, faster engine with communicative wood-like feedback for close-to-mid offense and hard, aggressive blocks on both wings. Its trade-offs are real: it is demanding for inconsistent players, gives lower loop spin than the softer Carbonado 45, and is now discontinued and hard to source new. The ALC is the safer all-round buy and easier to find; the Carbonado 145 is the more aggressive close-table weapon for those who can manage it.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Stiga Carbonado 145 is rated OFF+ and is the stiffer, faster engine, especially for close-to-mid power, while the Timo Boll ALC is a balanced OFF blade.
Which has more spin on loops?
The Timo Boll ALC offers class-leading spin on both wings. The Carbonado 145 generates less loop spin than even the softer Carbonado 45, leaning more toward speed and blocking.
Is the Carbonado 145 still available?
It is now discontinued and hard to source new, which makes the readily available Timo Boll ALC the more practical pick for most buyers.
Which is more forgiving for an inconsistent player?
The Timo Boll ALC, with its large sweet spot and balanced feel. The stiff Carbonado 145 is demanding and unforgiving for players still building consistency.