Butterfly Timo Boll ALC
Updated
Overview
Timo Boll ALC is the blade that made the Boll name a benchmark in its own right. It shares the outer-fibre philosophy of the Viscaria generation — Arylate-Carbon placed on the outer side of the blade, so the composite reacts from the very start of the swing — but with a character tuned for the all-court game Timo Boll built his reputation on: controlled power, excellent touch, and the ability to shift from block to loop without changing gear.
Over the years it has become one of the most-seen composite blades at every level, from local leagues to the world tour — a safe, proven pick rather than a specialist gamble.
Specifications
| Spec | Timo Boll ALC |
|---|---|
| Construction | 5-ply wood + 2 Arylate-Carbon, outer ALC (Koto / ALC / Limba / Kiri core) |
| Blade size | 157 × 150 mm |
| Thickness | 5.8 mm |
| Reaction | 11.8 |
| Vibration | 10.3 |
Butterfly's official catalogue figures for a typical piece. Reaction and Vibration are Butterfly's own index numbers rather than a 1–10 rating — higher Reaction means a livelier rebound, higher Vibration a crisper, more talkative feel.
Feel & character
The outer ALC gives a direct, slightly lively response. It blocks crisply, opens loops easily and stays forgiving enough that players coming from fast all-wood boards rarely feel out of their depth. It is not a dwell-heavy blade; the spin comes from your stroke meeting a board that responds immediately and predictably. Compare the outer vs inner character in outer vs inner fibre.
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Timo Boll ALC vs Viscaria & Fan Zhendong ALC
If you are weighing the Timo Boll ALC against its closest relatives — the Viscaria and the Fan Zhendong ALC — the honest headline is that all three share the same outer-ALC blueprint on the same wood core.
| Timo Boll ALC | Viscaria | Fan Zhendong ALC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 5-ply wood + 2 outer ALC (Koto) | 5-ply wood + 2 outer ALC (Koto) | 5-ply wood + 2 outer ALC (Koto) |
| Blade size | 157 × 150 mm | 157 × 150 mm | 157 × 150 mm |
| Thickness | 5.8 mm | 5.7 mm | 5.8 mm |
| Community character | forgiving, all-court control | the crisp reference | slightly softer, extra spin & control |
Look down the table and the Timo Boll ALC is, on paper, a Viscaria: Butterfly lists the same construction and the same 157 × 150 mm head. Where the Boll differs is tuning rather than structure — its community radar rates it a touch lower on raw speed than the Viscaria, traded for a more forgiving, all-court response that shifts easily from block to loop, which is exactly the character Timo Boll built his game on. In practice one individual blade varies more from another of the same model than the labels differ, so choose on feel and available stock rather than expecting a dramatic change of character. If you want the deeper, dwell-heavy side of the family instead, step to an inner-fibre blade — see outer vs inner fibre.
For rubbers, the Dignics and Tenergy lines are the natural partners — clean high-tension sheets such as Dignics 05 or Tenergy 05 keep the blade's direct outer-ALC feel, and a semi-tacky sheet like Dignics 09C adds bite on serve and opening loops. The family logic is explained in Why Play Tenergy Before Dignics?.
Ordering
For the latest price on this blade, see the Blades price list. We offer worldwide shipping — see How to Order.
Related
Outer vs Inner Fibre · How to Choose a Blade: All-Wood, Outer & Inner Fibre · Butterfly blades gallery
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