Timo Boll series - What are the differences?

[Sali]

I do not know if I like them because I have never tried. All my friends in my club play Wood blades so there is no oportunity for me to try. I have to think about it, because they are quite exoensive only for trying.
Last question because I understand they are very good for the feel but how about difficulty with playing comparing to Wood blades?

 

[PhilipRJ]

I love how the Innerforce ZLF feels. To me, that is the best blade I have felt.

Why don't you play with it then?

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Why don't you play with it then?

As a company, I do not like Butterfly. As a stance, I feel, that a blade that is $200.00, from a company I do not like, is, in some way, not as good as a blade that is $37.00 from a different company.

Also, once every few months, I slam the edge of my blade into the edge of the table on a serve. I keep fixing my blade and am okay with fixing a $37.00 blade. I would be really mad at myself if I spent $200.00 on a blade and then slammed the blade into the edge of the table.

I personally think an all wood Off- blade is better for developing technique than a faster blade. So I don't feel like I need to get something fancier and faster, when I like the speed, dwell time and control of the blade I have.

Some day I may play with that blade. But, I don't think I will ever need to.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

I do not know if I like them because I have never tried. All my friends in my club play Wood blades so there is no oportunity for me to try. I have to think about it, because they are quite exoensive only for trying.
Last question because I understand they are very good for the feel but how about difficulty with playing comparing to Wood blades?

Those blades are pretty expensive. It is not worth getting something you have never tried. I would not bother. I would get an all wood blade that you know you like if you are going to get a new blade. Or, if you like what you already have, even though it is old, just keep using it.

The ZLF and ALC blades are very easy to handle. That is why so many people really like them and why they are some of the most popular blades around today. They are not heavy. They are not thick. They are of a fairly normal size, not too small, not oversized. They are good for serving, for touch, for short game, for looping, for hitting. The ZLF blades have more feeling than the ALC blades. The ZLF blades are a little softer than the ALC blades. More people seem to like the ALC blades than the ZLF blades in spite of the fact that there is less feeling. But the ALC blades have almost as much control as the ZLF blades and are faster.

There are very few blades out there that have as much of a balance of dwell time, control and speed as the ALC blades. The ZLF blades have more dwell time, more control, not quite as much speed. They are softer which I am not sure everyone likes. I also don't know if everyone is as concerned about ball feel as I am. Ball feel is part of what makes playing so fun for me. I love being able to feel the ball on the racket.

All of this being said, I personally would not pay that much for a blade for the most part. If I get one, it will be because I got a deal or something. Like, I have a Viscaria which I do not use. I did not buy that. It was given to me. But it is not exactly my type of blade.

If I have a blade with these plies:

Limba-Ayous-Ayous-Ayous-Limba

I know I will be happy with it. If it is made by Stiga, I will probably be more happy with it because of the fact that Stiga's blades, although there is something a little bit cheap about how they are manufactured, have the best feeling of any all wood blades.

If I have a blade that is all Hinoki and not too fast, I will also be very happy even though I like the Limba+Ayous combination a little better.

 

[Mikael Berglund]

I agree fully with Carl's description above. There are a few details that I like with these blades. They are very well balanced which means that with heavier rubbers they do not feel as top heavy as other blades can do. They are also quite thin, from 5.4mm with the ZLF to around 5.7mm if I'm not mistaken with the ALC. You can also find lighter blades, such as the ZLF in 85g. That is a big win for me.

I've owned the Innerforce AL. It is light, soft and easy to play with. It should suit some players quite well. There are some players which use the Forte in my club and they are happy with it. A reasonable all-wood blade.

 

[Sali]

Those blades are pretty expensive. It is not worth getting something you have never tried. I would not bother. I would get an all wood blade that you know you like if you are going to get a new blade. Or, if you like what you already have, even though it is old, just keep using it.

The ZLF and ALC blades are very easy to handle. That is why so many people really like them and why they are some of the most popular blades around today. They are not heavy. They are not thick. They are of a fairly normal size, not too small, not oversized. They are good for serving, for touch, for short game, for looping, for hitting. The ZLF blades have more feeling than the ALC blades. The ZLF blades are a little softer than the ALC blades. More people seem to like the ALC blades than the ZLF blades in spite of the fact that there is less feeling. But the ALC blades have almost as much control as the ZLF blades and are faster.

There are very few blades out there that have as much of a balance of dwell time, control and speed as the ALC blades. The ZLF blades have more dwell time, more control, not quite as much speed. They are softer which I am not sure everyone likes. I also don't know if everyone is as concerned about ball feel as I am. Ball feel is part of what makes playing so fun for me. I love being able to feel the ball on the racket.

All of this being said, I personally would not pay that much for a blade for the most part. If I get one, it will be because I got a deal or something. Like, I have a Viscaria which I do not use. I did not buy that. It was given to me. But it is not exactly my type of blade.

If I have a blade with these plies:

Limba-Ayous-Ayous-Ayous-Limba

I know I will be happy with it. If it is made by Stiga, I will probably be more happy with it because of the fact that Stiga's blades, although there is something a little bit cheap about how they are manufactured, have the best feeling of any all wood blades.

If I have a blade that is all Hinoki and not too fast, I will also be very happy even though I like the Limba+Ayous combination a little better.

When I started playing TT about 25 years ago, quite quick a change some ready racket to Firehand Off- and srivers and with that equipment I was playing about 7 years. My blade is top wanted by many players because it is very stiff (hard). My friend who was playing with that balde many years ago wanted to crash it on the wall by hitting it many times with the edge but he failed. He only managed to did some whole in the wall. That is why mostly soft and midsoft rubbers suits it best. About 1 year ago (after 15 year break) I came back. And sometimes I am lacking of power in distance and control playing short although playing close to the table there is a lot of power. That is why I was thinking to try something else.

 

[JasminTBS]

Those blades are pretty expensive. It is not worth getting something you have never tried. I would not bother. I would get an all wood blade that you know you like if you are going to get a new blade. Or, if you like what you already have, even though it is old, just keep using it.

The ZLF and ALC blades are very easy to handle. That is why so many people really like them and why they are some of the most popular blades around today. They are not heavy. They are not thick. They are of a fairly normal size, not too small, not oversized. They are good for serving, for touch, for short game, for looping, for hitting. The ZLF blades have more feeling than the ALC blades. The ZLF blades are a little softer than the ALC blades. More people seem to like the ALC blades than the ZLF blades in spite of the fact that there is less feeling. But the ALC blades have almost as much control as the ZLF blades and are faster.

There are very few blades out there that have as much of a balance of dwell time, control and speed as the ALC blades. The ZLF blades have more dwell time, more control, not quite as much speed. They are softer which I am not sure everyone likes. I also don't know if everyone is as concerned about ball feel as I am. Ball feel is part of what makes playing so fun for me. I love being able to feel the ball on the racket.

All of this being said, I personally would not pay that much for a blade for the most part. If I get one, it will be because I got a deal or something. Like, I have a Viscaria which I do not use. I did not buy that. It was given to me. But it is not exactly my type of blade.

If I have a blade with these plies:

Limba-Ayous-Ayous-Ayous-Limba

I know I will be happy with it. If it is made by Stiga, I will probably be more happy with it because of the fact that Stiga's blades, although there is something a little bit cheap about how they are manufactured, have the best feeling of any all wood blades.

If I have a blade that is all Hinoki and not too fast, I will also be very happy even though I like the Limba+Ayous combination a little better.

Hi guys!

I pretty much share the same sentiment as Carl's about all wood with Limba being in contention. I was a Koto fan, Timo Boll series Spirit and ALC only to be exact when I started - but later had a change of heart. Haven't really had the chance to upgrade to ZLC or ZLF or Innerforce series for that matter.

I intentionally chose to "downgrade" to Stiga Clipper CR to enable my game, in my amateurs ways, to progress. I believe one's sports development should be gradual so that you always have room for improvement.

Now I have moved on to Adidas Challenge Speed but I will never forget my Clipper CR which I can always turn to for basics table tennis education.





Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

When I started playing TT about 25 years ago, quite quick a change some ready racket to Firehand Off- and srivers and with that equipment I was playing about 7 years. My blade is top wanted by many players because it is very stiff (hard). My friend who was playing with that balde many years ago wanted to crash it on the wall by hitting it many times with the edge but he failed. He only managed to did some whole in the wall. That is why mostly soft and midsoft rubbers suits it best. About 1 year ago (after 15 year break) I came back. And sometimes I am lacking of power in distance and control playing short although playing close to the table there is a lot of power. That is why I was thinking to try something else.

Fair enough. I would say, try a Stiga Clipper. That is a really decent 7 ply blade. It feels really good. It is comparable to a few of the TB series blades. It is a little more speed than Off- but it is on the low side of the Off speed blades.

 

[phillypong]

I have to confirm what Carl says about the Butterfly blades being overpriced. I have found that an all wood blade of good quality can do the job for us amateur players , and even a lot of world top players play with an all wood blade.

I am very pleased with my Stiga Tube Allround WRB (an all+ blade) , I think my blade has a very good feel , and also a clearly above average control. The speed is more off- when combined with a fast rubber like a Tibhar Genius.
I am also convinced that an all wood blade gives me a little extra dwell and spin (compared to my former blade, a Donic Waldner senso carbon).

For most of us , the all wood blades have the best price/quality ratio. And Stiga seems to make some very good blades imho.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

I am very pleased with my Stiga Tube Allround WRB (an all+ blade) , I think my blade has a very good feel , and also a clearly above average control. The speed is more off- when combined with a fast rubber like a Tibhar Genius.

That is an excellent blade. I love that blade. And, regardless of rubbers, it is an Off- blade.

 

[Wally]

I've played the Boll ALC for quite a while. It's a great blade. Switched to ZLC after it, it generates even more speed. Had the chance to briefly try the ZLF. In my opinion it's slower than the ALC and more controlled. Has anyone tried the Boll T5000 and can compare it to the ALC or ZLC?

 

[P1ngP0ng3r]

Had some training session testing the Boll ALC and I must admit, I like paying with the ALC. Hope to receive a Boll ZLF within a few days and start testing with it.

By the way: like everyone I think these blades are overpriced and that's why I only buy used BTY blades.

 

[Samuraisam 3467]

TB w5/7 are made with all wood giving the best feel, control and touch good for progressing technique and consistency. TB t5000 is made with tamca which is the fastest blade and suited for powerful drives losing a bit of spin and control. TB zlf is one of my favourites as it has good feel, soft, dwelly and not too fast enabling a bigger and stronger shot. Blocking is very good with it and is about 5g lighter than the others, suited for close to table countering and looping. TB alc has a numb feel but with a very spinny and powerful trajectory, able to play far from the table very well and maintaining decent control close. TB zlc is faster than alc with less spin and can block/counter very quickly.