[REVIEW] Butterfly Viscaria with DHS Hurricane 3 Blue Sponge and Stiga Boost TX

[UpSideDownCarl]

The Viscaria is a 7-ply blade consisting of 5 wood plies and two Arylate-Carbon layers. However, I'm no woodworker so I can't determine the exact composition of plies. But according to forum reviews, it is the same with Timo Boll Spirit and Timo Boll ALC in composition.

This is what Butterfly's Website says about the wood:

• Koto outer plies & Balsa core.

That came from this website:

http://shop.butterflyonline.com/viscaria-fl

This would mean that the core is VERY different than any of the Timo Boll blades. Now, I know the Viscaria I had--before I sold it--had a Balsa core. It was interesting because it was definitely Balsa and it was definitely heavy. So Butterfly had figured out how to make the Balsa dense in some way. My Viscaria was 91 grams. But it was definitely a Balsa core.

I have heard other people say that the core is Kiri. That would make the blade have the same composition as the TB ALC and the TB Spirit. But, either they are wrong and don't know wood, or there are two kinds of Viscaria and some people have a Balsa core like the Butterfly website says and some people have a Kiri core. Or the people who think they have a Kiri core are being fooled by something like the weight.

I am not sure. But I know the Viscaria I had definitely had a BALSA Core which is why it played nothing like a TB ALC. That is also why it had a softer feel than the ALC. Balsa is softer than Kiri.

 

[harveyaquino]

This is what Butterfly's Website says about the wood:

• Koto outer plies & Balsa core.

That came from this website:

http://shop.butterflyonline.com/viscaria-fl

This would mean that the core is VERY different than any of the Timo Boll blades. Now, I know the Viscaria I had--before I sold it--had a Balsa core. It was interesting because it was definitely Balsa and it was definitely heavy. So Butterfly had figured out how to make the Balsa dense in some way. My Viscaria was 91 grams. But it was definitely a Balsa core.

I have heard other people say that the core is Kiri. That would make the blade have the same composition as the TB ALC and the TB Spirit. But, either they are wrong and don't know wood, or there are two kinds of Viscaria and some people have a Balsa core like the Butterfly website says and some people have a Kiri core. Or the people who think they have a Kiri core are being fooled by something like the weight.

I am not sure. But I know the Viscaria I had definitely had a BALSA Core which is why it played nothing like a TB ALC. That is also why it had a softer feel than the ALC. Balsa is softer than Kiri.

Mine would be Balsa core then, as I felt it was too soft for me. And added with the numbing effect of arylate, i can't feel the ball well.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Mine would be Balsa core then, as I felt it was too soft for me. And added with the numbing effect of arylate, i can't feel the ball well.

It is the carbon that makes it hard to feel the ball. If it was arylate alone you would be able to feel the ball. But arylate with carbon, the carbon deadens the feeling.

 

[harveyaquino]

It is the carbon that makes it hard to feel the ball. If it was arylate alone you would be able to feel the ball. But arylate with carbon, the carbon deadens the feeling.

I thought carbon gives a very distinct "ping" feel, at least from the Ignito that I've used. My Viscaria, for me, gave me a numb feeling, as if it has no carbon in it. Of course the carbon kicks in when you engage it, like looping or driving or smashing, but in short game, I can't really feel the carbon "ping" so I thought It must be the arylate that deadens the feel.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

I thought carbon gives a very distinct "ping" feel, at least from the Ignito that I've used. My Viscaria, for me, gave me a numb feeling, as if it has no carbon in it. Of course the carbon kicks in when you engage it, like looping or driving or smashing, but in short game, I can't really feel the carbon "ping" so I thought It must be the arylate that deadens the feel.

Well, I have played with rackets that had arylate and no carbon and they had the kind of feel of an all wood racket where you really can feel the ball. That crispness that you are talking about could be from carbon but with carbon, what you cannot feel well is the ball. So if you are talking about feeling the snap, you should still feel that with a Viscaria. You should also feel the dwell time from the arylate which is a soft plastic. But, since we are talking about what sensations you feel from a blade, we could be talking in circles. hahaha.

If you liked an all carbon blade, are you thinking of going back to one? Does it feel numb with the backhand rubber as well?

 

[harveyaquino]

Well, I have played with rackets that had arylate and no carbon and they had the kind of feel of an all wood racket where you really can feel the ball. That crispness that you are talking about could be from carbon but with carbon, what you cannot feel well is the ball. So if you are talking about feeling the snap, you should still feel that with a Viscaria. You should also feel the dwell time from the arylate which is a soft plastic. But, since we are talking about what sensations you feel from a blade, we could be talking in circles. hahaha.

If you liked an all carbon blade, are you thinking of going back to one? Does it feel numb with the backhand rubber as well?

Haha, yes indeed, we could be talking in circles as I've not quite specified the type of sensations from the blade.
The Viscaria setup was good if I am attacking but in touch play at the table, I can't really feel the ball well for both BH and FH. I've made up my mind that I would go back to all wood blades. If you can give an advice, I've made a separate thread for the Stiga Clipper blade I will be purchasing and the rubbers that I plan to put. Maybe you can give advice there. (I created a separate thread as to not deviate much from the topic of this post

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Haha, yes indeed, we could be talking in circles as I've not quite specified the type of sensations from the blade.
The Viscaria setup was good if I am attacking but in touch play at the table, I can't really feel the ball well for both BH and FH. I've made up my mind that I would go back to all wood blades. If you can give an advice, I've made a separate thread for the Stiga Clipper blade I will be purchasing and the rubbers that I plan to put. Maybe you can give advice there. (I created a separate thread as to not deviate much from the topic of this post

Okay. Good deal. I will look at that thread.

If you don't like the feel on touch shots and over the table play, it is worth changing setups. I did not like my Viscaria because I don't like carbon. I do like the TB ALC better though.

 

[rxng]

Nice Vis and great review, thanks for sharing ~