Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit vs Donic Persson Powerplay: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit | Donic Persson Powerplay | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 9.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| feel | Medium and offensive with notable flex and long dwell, crisp but forgiving for a carbon blade | Hard outer koto plies with internal foil damping layers; crisp feel with excellent feedback |
| handle | FL / ST / AN | FL |
| plies | 5 wood plies plus 2 arylate-carbon outer layers (5W and 2 ALC) | 7-ply all wood |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 5.9 |
| weight_g | 87 | 90 |
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Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit is a premium arylate-carbon blade with long dwell time, soft forgiving feel, and outstanding versatility across looping, counter-hitting, and combination styles. Donic Persson Powerplay is a 7-ply all-wood blade with crisp koto feedback and exceptional control at a lower price.
The Spirit is fast (OFF-class), soft-feeling despite its carbon composition, and delivers outstanding ball feel rated above rival blades by many reviewers. It has aged exceptionally well over twenty years. The Persson offers outstanding control and tactile feedback but is heavier at 90g, now discontinued, and lower in speed (OFF). Choose the Spirit for premium all-round offensive play with forgiving touch. Choose the Persson for budget-conscious control-focused players able to source secondhand stock.
FAQ
Why is the Spirit considered so forgiving?
Its long dwell time and soft feel make heavy, controllable topspin easy despite carbon construction.
How old is the Spirit design?
Over twenty years old, yet still recommended and widely used at elite levels.
Is the Persson still available?
No. It is discontinued and stock depends on the used market.
Which blade is faster?
Spirit at OFF versus Persson at OFF. Both are fast, but Spirit feels more explosive.