Butterfly Timo Boll Allround vs Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll Allround | Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 9.0/10 |
| feel | Medium-soft, classic all-wood dwell with good tactile feedback | Medium and offensive with notable flex and long dwell, crisp but forgiving for a carbon blade |
| handle | FL/ST/AN/XXS | FL / ST / AN |
| plies | 5-ply all wood (koto outer) | 5 wood plies plus 2 arylate-carbon outer layers (5W and 2 ALC) |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.5 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | ~85 | 87 |
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These represent beginner and intermediate-to-advanced stages respectively. The Timo Boll Allround (8.3) is an all-wood blade for learners, offering outstanding control, placement precision, satisfying tactile feedback, and safe speed (ALL+) that prevents players from advancing too fast before developing fundamentals. The Timo Boll Spirit (9.0) is an advanced arylate-carbon blade with long dwell time, forgiving soft feel, excellent control for a carbon blade, and outstanding ball feel that excels at looping, counterplay, and combination styles.
The Allround is lightweight and ideal for beginners transitioning from pre-made paddles; it prioritizes technique development with good tactile feedback and koto outer for slight crispness. The Spirit is faster (OFF), softer than stiffer carbon alternatives like Viscaria, and more forgiving overall — yet genuinely fast enough to run away from players with weak technique. Both are compatible with diverse rubber pairings, though the Allround targets learning while the Spirit targets advanced attacking. The Allround is discontinued and fragile on rubber changes; the Spirit has aged exceptionally well after twenty years of dominance. For building foundation skills, the Allround is unmatched; for intermediate players ready to advance into offensive carbon play with a soft touch, the Spirit is outstanding. They do not directly compete — the Spirit is the Allround’s natural progression.
FAQ
Which is faster?
The Timo Boll Allround is ALL+ speed for learners. The Spirit is OFF speed, much faster and rewarding an active stroke.
Which is better for beginners?
The Timo Boll Allround is explicitly designed for beginners and lower-intermediate players. The Spirit is faster and better for intermediate-to-advanced attacking players.
Which is more forgiving?
Both are forgiving for their respective levels. The Spirit is forgiving for a carbon blade with soft feel and long dwell. The Allround is safe and predictable for learners.
Which is lighter?
The Allround at approximately 85g is similar to the Spirit at 87g — not a significant difference.