Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit vs Stiga Emerald VPS V: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit | Stiga Emerald VPS V | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 9.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | Medium and offensive with notable flex and long dwell, crisp but forgiving for a carbon blade | Stiff, hard outer surface with medium throw angle and large sweet spot |
| handle | FL / ST / AN | Flared (FL), also available in ST and Chinese pen |
| plies | 5 wood plies plus 2 arylate-carbon outer layers (5W and 2 ALC) | 5-ply all wood (Ebenholz/dark outer, VPS-treated middle veneers) |
| speed | OFF | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 6.2 |
| weight_g | 87 | 98 |
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Timo Boll Spirit is a forgiving, flexible carbon blade that makes heavy topspin loops easy and control natural across all strokes. Its soft character and long dwell reward loop-heavy, mid-distance attacking styles.
Stiga Emerald VPS V is an all-wood blade that chases maximum OFF+ speed with stiff feel and green Ebenholz outer plies. It excels at counter-looping and flat drives at mid to long distance. Emerald prefers solid technique and attacks from distance; Spirit forgives slower, loop-based games. Both are fast, but Spirit is more versatile and dwell-friendly, while Emerald demands consistent, powerful strokes.
FAQ
Which is actually faster?
Emerald VPS V rates OFF+ versus Spirit’s OFF, giving Emerald a slight speed edge. However, Emerald’s stiffness limits dwell for topspin loops.
Who wins on counter-looping at distance?
Emerald VPS V. Its stiff all-wood frame and green Ebenholz surface deliver flatter, faster counter-attacks. Spirit is better for close-table topspin.
Which suits intermediate players?
Timo Boll Spirit. Emerald’s stiffness and heavy weight (98g) punish weak or inconsistent swings. Spirit is more forgiving.
Can Spirit match Emerald’s blocking feel?
Spirit blocks well but with more flex. Emerald’s stiff all-wood frame delivers more authoritative, direct blocking feedback.