Butterfly Timo Boll ALC vs Stiga Carbonado 45: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll ALC | Stiga Carbonado 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 9.0/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | medium | Moderately stiff with deep reverberating vibrations; more wood-like dwell than typical carbon blades; high throw angle |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | Straight/Flared/Anatomic (coal-grey dyed wood) |
| plies | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon | 7-ply with TeXtreme carbon (5 wood + 2 carbon at 45-degree angle) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.7mm |
| weight_g | 86 | 85-91g |
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Both are OFF-speed carbon blades for advanced players, but they embody different philosophies. The Timo Boll ALC (9.0) is Butterfly’s masterwork of balanced spin, speed, and control with a large sweet spot and long dwell — equally effective for elite blockers and all-out attackers. The Stiga Carbonado 45 (8.4) prioritizes wood-like feel with informative vibrations and is optimized for loop-dominant, spin-heavy game styles, especially close to the table.
The ALC is genuinely fast (OFF) and offers class-leading spin on both wings; it is proven across styles. The Carbonado is also OFF-rated but notably slower in practice — smashes lack pace and mid-distance power requires extra physical effort. The Carbonado excels in short game, drop shots, and serve control, delivering excellent stability in blocking and a high throw angle that aids topspin loops. Both have wide sweet spots, but the ALC’s solid feel without hollow vibration is different from the Carbonado’s deep, reverberating wood-like vibrations. Weight-wise, both are balanced around 85-91g. The Carbonado’s outer limba ply can be fragile with aggressive glues. For players prioritizing balanced attack and defense, the ALC wins; for spin-heavy, close-to-table loopers who crave organic feel, the Carbonado is superlative. The ALC is current; the Carbonado is endorsed by top Chinese players.
FAQ
Which is faster?
Both are OFF speed, but the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC plays faster in real game. The Stiga Carbonado 45 is slower; smashes lack pace and mid-distance power requires more effort.
Which spins more?
The ALC delivers class-leading spin on both wings. The Carbonado’s high throw angle and spin-heavy design are excellent for looping but spin ceiling is lower overall.
Which feels more like wood?
The Stiga Carbonado 45 has wood-like feel with clearly felt, informative vibrations. The ALC has solid, consistent feel without hollow vibration, less wood-like than the Carbonado.
Which is better for short game?
The Stiga Carbonado 45 excels in short game, drop shots, and serve control. The ALC is versatile but not specialized for short game.