Depending on your skill level, this blade probably suits a large part of all amateurs better then any of the "ALC/ZLC" type blades from the various manufacturers.
Beeing honest to oneself most non professional players probably quickly realise that the typical carbon blades are just to fast and uncontrolled especially in the service receive game.
In open rallies 1-2 meters away from the table everything is fine since there the carbon and ease of speed generation stabilise the strokes.
But mastering these blades close to the table you'll need very fine handfeeling and a lot of training.
Back to the Timo Boll CAF, being bitten by the EJ bug (testing various equipment during the last 20 years) I've played around 20-30 different blades and this one reminds me the most to a more controlled and slightly tamed down version of the Butterfly Keyshot Light, which has the same 3+2 layer construction.
The Keyshot has a thicker middle ply and pure arylate instead of the CAF layer but the overall feeling in play is very similiar.
Relativly soft on impact but then a solid stable core.
The throw is low to medium, a notch higher than the Keyshot.
It best suited for a close to the table allround offensive game.
Topspin open ups are really good, one can easily vary speed, spin and placement.
The overall control for shortplay is very nice, since the base speed is not very high.
Pushes can be played rather aggresivly with very good spin.
One can hit direct winners close to the table with a fast topspin or smash but the overall speed is in the OFF- category.
Very stable in blocking, probably due to the thick middle ply in comparison to normal 5ply blades.
The CAF layers doesn't produce the typical ALC type kick, but it stabilises the blade on more impactful shots which can be played with a very good consistency.
If one plays mostly from the mid distance (2+ meters) this blade probably lacks the necessary power to be effective.
I played it with 2x Tenergy 19 in 2,1mm.
For the backhand this combination fits really good,
on the forehand a harder and more powerful rubber is probably more suitable e.g Tenergy 05, Dignics or some harder ESN type rubber with 48+ shore hardness.
Overall this is a solid controlled offensive blade for mere mortals in the lower leagues.
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