Butterfly Innerforce ZLC vs Butterfly Timo Boll Allround: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Innerforce ZLC | Butterfly Timo Boll Allround | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.5/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | Soft-medium; woody feel with ZLC carbon layers near the core | Medium-soft, classic all-wood dwell with good tactile feedback |
| handle | AN / FL / ST | FL/ST/AN/XXS |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 ZLC carbon (inner ZLC construction) | 5-ply all wood (koto outer) |
| speed | OFF | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 5.5 |
| weight_g | 84 | ~85 |
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The Butterfly Innerforce ZLC (discontinued) offers inner ZLC construction’s distinctive woody feel, outstanding balance of speed, spin, and control for an OFF-class blade, with large sweet spot and low vibration paying off for spin-focused technique. Premium pricing reflects discontinued scarcity.
The Butterfly Timo Boll Allround is a control-focused all-wood blade with outstanding control and placement precision at close to mid-table, satisfying all-wood dwell supporting technique development, Koto outer veneer adding slight crispness, lightweight build reducing fatigue, and authentic Butterfly quality.
Timo Boll Allround is significantly cheaper, more available, and ideal for technique development. Innerforce ZLC is expensive on resale, discontinuation scarce, and overkill for learning. For beginners, Timo Boll Allround wins decisively.
FAQ
Which suits beginners?
Timo Boll Allround decisively. Designed for transitioning from pre-made paddles, offers exceptional control, forgiving play, and authentic Butterfly quality without premium pricing.
What is the speed difference?
Innerforce ZLC is OFF speed with carbon kick; Timo Boll Allround is ALL+ all-wood. Significant gap at distance, but Allround excels for learning at close to mid-table.
Why is Innerforce ZLC so much more expensive?
Discontinued status and premium-tier heritage drive resale prices. Original price was high; scarcity compounds cost. Timo Boll Allround is budget-friendly modern classic.
Can you grow from Allround to ZLC?
Yes, but better to grow to other available blades. Build consistency with Allround, then upgrade to modern fast ALC or ZLC blades that are actively produced and cheaper.