Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC vs Butterfly Timo Boll Allround: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Lin Gaoyuan ALC | Butterfly Timo Boll Allround | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | Soft — flexible ALC gives a more wood-like feel than other carbon blades; high dwell time | Medium-soft, classic all-wood dwell with good tactile feedback |
| handle | Shakehand (FL, AN, ST options); shorter anatomic handle than Viscaria | FL/ST/AN/XXS |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 arylate-carbon (ALC) — 7-ply construction with koto outer layers and inner arylate-carbon fiber | 5-ply all wood (koto outer) |
| speed | OFF (Butterfly rates Reaction 118, mid-fast; equivalent to OFF/OFF+ class) | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.7mm | 5.5 |
| weight_g | 84-87g typical (Butterfly spec approx 87g) | ~85 |
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The Lin Gaoyuan ALC is a premium arylate-carbon blade for advanced players who want carbon offense without losing the wood-like dwell and spin feel. Its large head and soft ALC layer make it forgiving for an OFF-class blade, and it spins impressively for topspin, serve, and sidespin work. The Timo Boll Allround is a pure all-wood beginner blade designed for technique and consistency, with classic dwell and lightweight handling that reduces fatigue.
The Lin Gaoyuan suits advanced attackers transitioning from pure wood who want close-to-mid-distance topspin and counter-topspin game with carbon power. The Timo Boll is for beginners and lower-intermediate players building stroke fundamentals and ready to focus on technique before stepping up to faster blades. The Lin Gaoyuan is discontinued and expensive to source; the Timo Boll is also discontinued.
Choose the Lin Gaoyuan if you are already an accomplished player wanting OFF-speed offense with a soft, feedback-rich feel. Choose the Timo Boll if you are developing technique and want a lightweight, forgiving all-wood foundation.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Lin Gaoyuan ALC—it is rated OFF-class and includes arylate-carbon layers. The Timo Boll is ALL+ and much slower, designed for beginners.
Which has better spin and dwell?
The Lin Gaoyuan. Despite being carbon, its soft ALC feel delivers wood-like dwell and impressive spin generation. The Timo Boll has good dwell but less spin potential for advanced strokes.
Which is better for beginners?
The Timo Boll—it was designed as a control-first blade for beginners. The Lin Gaoyuan is not ideal for beginners and requires strong stroke technique.
Which has a more comfortable handle?
The Timo Boll offers more handle options (FL, ST, AN, XXS). The Lin Gaoyuan’s anatomic handle is notably shorter and may not fit all hand sizes well.
Which is easier to find for purchase?
Neither—both are discontinued. The Timo Boll may be slightly easier to source from secondary markets, but both require patience and often higher prices.