Butterfly Timo Boll Allround vs Nittaku Violin: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll Allround | Nittaku Violin | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | Medium-soft, classic all-wood dwell with good tactile feedback | Soft, warm and flexible with long dwell, premium hand-crafted Japanese all-wood feedback |
| handle | FL/ST/AN/XXS | FL |
| plies | 5-ply all wood (koto outer) | 5-ply all wood (Kiri core with White Ash outer plies) |
| speed | ALL+ | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| type | — | ALL+ |
| weight_g | ~85 | 86 |
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The Butterfly Timo Boll Allround and Nittaku Violin are control-first blades that serve advancing players, but the Violin at 8.4 rating edges ahead with superior craftmanship, flexibility, and topspin capability. Both share ALL+ speed classifications, but the Violin is thinner at 5.3mm and comes alive with Tensor rubbers through its flexible 5-ply all-wood construction. The Timo Boll is discontinued and lighter at 85g, making it an attractive entry point, while the Violin commands a premium price for Made in Japan quality and warm, soft feel with long dwell time.
The Violin excels at close-to-mid distance all-round play and looping, with exceptional control praised across every source. However, it is slower than its OFF- billing suggests at long distances, and requires harder or tackier rubbers to reach full potential — introducing a rubber-matching dependency. The Timo Boll works universally with both European and Chinese rubbers but cannot match the Violin’s offensive capability or spin generation. The Violin also demands a break-in period before peak performance.
Choose the Timo Boll for budget-conscious beginners focused on technique; pick the Violin if you want a premium all-wood blade that develops your offensive looping and spin game with exceptional feel.
FAQ
Which is better for technique building?
The Butterfly Timo Boll Allround offers more accessible entry-level technique development; the Nittaku Violin is better for developing offensive players wanting to add topspin and spin-based play.
Which pairs better with Tensor rubbers?
The Nittaku Violin comes alive with Tensor rubbers through its flexible construction; the Timo Boll works well with them but does not showcase the synergy.
Which is faster?
Both are rated ALL+, but the Nittaku Violin is noticeably weaker at long-distance pace and requires harder rubbers to generate real speed, while the Timo Boll’s speed ceiling is simply low across all distances.
Which is more durable?
The Nittaku Violin’s premium Made in Japan construction offers superior durability; the Timo Boll’s fragile koto edges are a known weakness with frequent rubber changes.