Butterfly Korbel vs Butterfly Timo Boll W7: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Korbel | Butterfly Timo Boll W7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 7.8/10 |
| feel | medium, soft and flexible all-wood with long dwell | Hard, stiff, direct |
| handle | FL/ST | FL, ST |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — limba-limba-ayous-limba-limba | 7-ply all wood (Limba / Ayous / Kiri) |
| speed | OFF- | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 6.7 |
| weight_g | 88 | 94 |
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The Butterfly Korbel is an all-wood blade rated 8.6 that excels at feel, control, and versatility. Its flexible construction delivers long dwell time perfect for learning to loop and developing the short game. The modest OFF-minus speed means you supply the power, but the forgiving nature and wide rubber compatibility make it ideal for players transitioning toward carbon without commitment.
The Butterfly Timo Boll W7 rates 7.8 and offers near-carbon OFF speed from pure all-wood construction. Its huge sweet spot and stiff Limba feel reward flat drives and smashes, but the reduced loop-against-backspin spin and harsh feel make it unsuitable for beginners or intermediate players. Discontinuation means sourcing at fair prices is difficult.
The Korbel is the safer, more forgiving choice for building fundamentals. Choose Timo Boll only if you are an advanced flat-drive player who does not want carbon and can tolerate its stiffness and vibration.
FAQ
Which blade is better for beginners?
The Korbel is designed for beginners and improvers. Its soft, flexible feel, forgiving off-center response, and excellent touch feedback make it far more suitable for players developing technique than the stiff Timo Boll.
Why is the Timo Boll W7 discontinued?
Butterfly discontinued the Timo Boll W7 in favor of newer models. Remaining stock commands premium prices, making it less practical than comparable active options.
Which blade is lighter?
The Korbel at 88 grams is about 6 grams lighter than the Timo Boll W7 at 94 grams, though both are moderate weights for their respective categories.
Can I loop effectively with both?
The Korbel excels at learning to loop with its long dwell and high throw angle. The Timo Boll’s reduced loop-against-backspin spin makes it less ideal despite its OFF speed.