Butterfly Timo Boll Allround vs Stiga Carbonado 145: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll Allround | Stiga Carbonado 145 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | Medium-soft, classic all-wood dwell with good tactile feedback | stiff, direct and rather linear with a large sweet spot, but the very thin TeXtreme layers keep the vibration close to a 5-ply all-wood blade |
| handle | FL/ST/AN/XXS | FL/ST (also offered as Legend and penhold) |
| plies | 5-ply all wood (koto outer) | 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon (5+2 composite) with the carbon fibers laid at a 45 degree angle for torsional bendability |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.5 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | ~85 | 85 |
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The Butterfly Timo Boll Allround and Stiga Carbonado 145 are polar opposites in skill tier and playing style. At 8.3 vs. 8.4, the Carbonado 145 is a stiff, fast low-OFF to OFF+ carbon engine with plenty of mid-distance power and very strong blocking on both wings, while the Timo Boll is a pure beginner all-wood control blade. The Carbonado at 85g matches the Timo Boll’s weight, but its laboratory-confirmed wood-like vibration masks a fundamentally different stiffness and aggression profile. Both are now difficult to source — the Timo Boll discontinued from Butterfly, the Carbonado 145 discontinued by Stiga.
The Carbonado 145 is demanding and unforgiving for players still building consistency, excelling only for intermediate to advanced two-wing attackers. Its large sweet spot remains consistent on off-center hits, and communicative feedback that experienced players love masks a lower spin generation compared to softer Carbonado variants. The Timo Boll is safe, forgiving, and universally compatible with any rubber. The Carbonado’s wood-like vibration despite carbon construction is technically impressive but does not excuse its unforgiving nature for learners.
Choose the Timo Boll for beginner technique building; pick the Carbonado 145 only if you are an experienced attacker seeking stiff carbon with surprising wood-like feedback — and can source it from the secondary market.
FAQ
Which is better for aggressive blocking?
The Stiga Carbonado 145 excels with very strong, aggressive blocking on both wings, while the Timo Boll is soft and offers gentle, safe blocking suitable for beginners.
Which is more forgiving?
The Butterfly Timo Boll Allround is much more forgiving for players building consistency; the Carbonado 145 is demanding and unforgiving, punishing imprecision.
Which generates more spin?
The Butterfly Timo Boll Allround offers good control-focused spin; the Stiga Carbonado 145 has lower spin on loops than softer Carbonado variants, despite its stiffness.
Which is easier to source?
Both are discontinued — the Timo Boll from Butterfly and the Carbonado 145 from Stiga — making secondary market sourcing necessary for either blade.