Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit vs Stiga Carbonado 290: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit | Stiga Carbonado 290 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 9.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | Medium and offensive with notable flex and long dwell, crisp but forgiving for a carbon blade | very stiff, hard, crisp and direct carbon feel with a high-pitched sound; fast and linear with a low throw |
| handle | FL / ST / AN | FL |
| plies | 5 wood plies plus 2 arylate-carbon outer layers (5W and 2 ALC) | 5 wood + 2 carbon (7-ply), TeXtreme carbon |
| speed | OFF | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 6.2 |
| type | — | OFF+ |
| weight_g | 87 | 95 |
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The Timo Boll Spirit is an OFF arylate-carbon blade with long dwell, heavy controllable topspin and a softer, more forgiving feel than the Viscaria, with excellent blocking and counterplay. The Stiga Carbonado 290 is a true OFF+ blade with doubled TeXtreme carbon, a very stiff, crisp and direct feel, extreme power and a very low, linear throw.
On style, the Spirit favors heavy, controllable topspin and versatility across looping and combination play with a forgiving touch, while the Carbonado 290 is faster and harder, exceptional for blocking and fast finishing but with a very low throw that can cause netting until you adapt. The Spirit can run away from weak technique; the Carbonado 290 demands established technique even more.
Pick the Timo Boll Spirit, rated 9, if you are an intermediate-to-advanced attacker who wants an all-round carbon blade that loops with heavy spin yet stays soft for blocking. Pick the Carbonado 290, rated 8.3, if you are an advanced, aggressive attacker who finishes points fast with hard drives and blocks and can handle a very stiff, very fast OFF+ carbon blade with a low throw.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Carbonado 290 is faster, being a true OFF+ blade with extreme power, while the Spirit is genuine OFF speed with more flex.
Which is more forgiving?
The Timo Boll Spirit is more forgiving, with long dwell and a soft feel, while the Carbonado 290 is very stiff with a very low throw that can cause netting until you adapt.
What are the constructions?
The Spirit is 5 wood plies plus 2 arylate-carbon outer layers, while the Carbonado 290 is 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon plies.
Which is better for blocking?
The Carbonado 290 is exceptional and very stable for blocking, while the Spirit offers excellent control with very good blocking and counterplay.