Butterfly Timo Boll Allround vs Sanwei Fextra 7: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll Allround | Sanwei Fextra 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | Medium-soft, classic all-wood dwell with good tactile feedback | Medium, woody and well-damped with moderate vibration; controllable offensive feel close to a Stiga Clipper but a touch crisper and not quite as stiff |
| handle | FL/ST/AN/XXS | FL |
| plies | 5-ply all wood (koto outer) | 7-ply all wood (Limba/Ayous) |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.5 | 6 |
| type | — | OFF- |
| weight_g | ~85 | 88 |
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The Butterfly Timo Boll Allround and Sanwei Fextra 7 are rated identically at 8.3, but appeal to different player archetypes with distinct speed-spin tradeoffs. The Fextra 7 is an exceptional value at 20-30 USD, offering very spinny 7-ply all-wood construction with Limba outer plies and Ayous core that compares favorably with the Stiga Clipper and serves as an all-wood Viscaria alternative. The Timo Boll is discontinued, lightweight at 85g, and provides outstanding control and placement precision with crisp feedback from its koto veneer.
Where they diverge significantly: the Fextra 7 delivers controllable OFF- pace with excellent spin-based and looping capability, while the Timo Boll’s low speed ceiling limits offensive play for advancing players. The Fextra 7 is thick at 6mm with variable weight between units (84-94g), a known variance issue, while the Timo Boll offers consistent manufacturing quality. The Fextra 7 excels in defense at all distances and works with both tacky and non-tacky rubbers, while the Timo Boll’s sweet spot is pure consistency and technique building.
Choose the Timo Boll for control-first beginners; pick the Fextra 7 if you want an affordable, spinny 7-ply blade for intermediate attackers with a loop-oriented game.
FAQ
Which generates more spin?
The Sanwei Fextra 7 is rated very spinny with its 7-ply all-wood construction, while the Timo Boll offers good spin feedback but focuses more on placement precision than spin generation.
Which offers better value?
The Sanwei Fextra 7 is outstanding value at 20-30 USD; the Timo Boll is discontinued and requires secondary market sourcing, making the Fextra 7 far more cost-effective.
Which is more consistent in quality?
The Butterfly Timo Boll Allround offers authentic Butterfly manufacturing consistency; the Sanwei Fextra 7 has known weight variance between units (84-94g) and sweet spot inconsistency.
Which is better for defense?
The Sanwei Fextra 7 is versatile in defense at all distances with both tacky and non-tacky rubbers; the Timo Boll excels at control-focused defense but lacks the speed for aggressive counter-play.