Butterfly Timo Boll W7 vs Donic Waldner Black Devil Carbon Balsa: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll W7 | Donic Waldner Black Devil Carbon Balsa | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 |
| feel | Hard, stiff, direct | stiff, minimal dwell |
| handle | FL, ST | Anatomic / Flared / Straight |
| plies | 7-ply all wood (Limba / Ayous / Kiri) | 7-ply: Koto outer + carbon + balsa core |
| speed | OFF | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | approx 6.0mm |
| weight_g | 94 | around 84g |
Donic Waldner Black Devil Carbon Balsa
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Butterfly Timo Boll W7 is a stiff, direct 7-ply all-wood blade with near-carbon OFF pace and huge sweet spot. It suits advanced flat-hit attackers seeking pure wood feel married to composite speed.
Donic Waldner Black Devil Carbon Balsa is an ultra-light, stiff carbon-balsa blade with explosive flat-drive power and minimal dwell. It excels at smashes and crisp pace but struggles with loops and demands aggressive technique. W7 is pure wood; Black Devil is carbon aggression at featherweight. W7 offers more forgiveness and loop capacity; Black Devil maximizes flat-hit explosiveness.
FAQ
Which is lighter?
Black Devil at around 84g versus W7 at around 94g. Black Devil’s ultra-light balsa construction significantly reduces fatigue.
Which suits loop-heavy players?
W7. Black Devil’s near-zero dwell makes heavy topspin loops difficult. W7 is all-wood and offers better dwell for spinning.
Is Black Devil actually faster?
Both rate OFF speed. Black Devil feels snappier due to stiff balsa core and lighter weight. W7 feels more planted and stable.
Can beginners use either blade?
Neither suits true beginners. Both demand solid technique. W7 is slightly more forgiving; Black Devil is unforgiving on off-center contact.
Which is better for flat-hit dominance?
Black Devil. Its ultra-light weight and explosive balsa core reward flat drives and smashes with unmatched crispness.