Butterfly Timo Boll W7 vs Tibhar Samsonov Alpha: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll W7 | Tibhar Samsonov Alpha | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 |
| feel | Hard, stiff, direct | medium-stiff, good dwell time, controllable |
| handle | FL, ST | FL/ST |
| plies | 7-ply all wood (Limba / Ayous / Kiri) | 5-ply all wood (Limba outer plies, Koto/Ayous middle layers) |
| speed | OFF | ALL |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 5.9 |
| weight_g | 94 | 85 |
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The Butterfly Timo Boll W7 is a speed-focused seven-ply all-wood blade for advanced offensive specialists, delivering near-carbon pace with pure wood feedback. Its stiffness and high vibration make it unsuitable for developing players or those seeking a softer, more forgiving touch.
The Tibhar Samsonov Alpha is a 5-ply all-wood blade designed for beginners and intermediate all-rounders, with exceptional near-table control and forgiving sweet spot. It prioritizes confidence building and technique development over raw pace.
Choose W7 if you are advanced and want speed from pure all-wood. Choose Alpha if you are learning allround attacking tennis and value control and forgivingness over pace.
FAQ
Speed ratings?
W7 is OFF; Alpha is ALL, much slower.
Target skill levels?
W7: advanced specialists. Alpha: beginners and intermediate all-rounders.
Comfort and vibration?
Alpha is comfortable; W7 causes hand vibration over extended sessions.
Playing style fit?
W7 suits flat-drive specialists; Alpha suits blockers and control-focused players.