Butterfly ‘Timo Boll CAF’, released in November 2016, is a fiber blade using new CA fiber (Cellulose Acetate Fiber). As we can see from the word ‘cellulose’, CA fiber is a fiber made from plants (mainly wood) and is a material widely used in packaging containers and filters. When used in table tennis blades, it is suitable as a special material of blade for players who want to switch from pure wood blade, because it provides more natural feeling than other fibers. Butterfly is explaining that ‘Timo Boll CAF’ which uses CA fiber provides high stability of the ball, and enables powerful topspin thanks to its thick center layer.

‘Timo Boll CAF’ can be considered as a new member of ‘Timo Boll’ series. However, its overall graphic design is different from existing products in the ‘Timo Boll’ series, and there are also differences in the shape of handles.

The construction of ‘Timo Boll CAF’ isn’t the 5+2 ply outer fiber construction which is common in ‘Timo Boll’ series but the traditional 3+2 ply construction which is shown mostly in the fiber blades of 1970~1980s. The top layer is Koto, and the center layer is Kiri. CA fiber (cellulose acetate fiber) is inserted between the top layer and the center layer. Overall thickness is around 5.7mm. CA fiber is a special material made from wood, and it provides a relatively natural hitting feel closer to wood compared to other fibers. So ‘Timo Boll CAF’ can be considered as a blade with similar characteristics to a 5-ply wood blade whose elasticity is enhanced by increasing the density & the tensile modulus of the middle layer.

The size of head is around 157mm x 150mm. Not different from the head size of the other models in ‘Timo Boll’ series.

The shape of FL (flared) handle is basically same as that of ‘SK’ series (e.g. ‘SK Carbon’). In other words, it is different from the Butterfly standard FL (for most of Butterfly blades including ‘Timo Boll’ series and ‘InnerForce Layer’ series) or Butterfly semi-wide FL (for ‘Viscaria’, ‘Fan Zhendong’ series and so one). The width is around 26mm (at top) ~ 27mm (at bulge) ~ 26mm (at narrowest section) ~ 34mm (at the end), and the thickness is around 23mm (at thumb) ~ 24mm (at the end). Although it appears thick in terms of size, it is somewhat slim when held because the cross-sectional shape is more shaved than the typical FL handles of Butterfly. When compared to the FL handle of ‘SK Carbon’, the FL handle of ‘Timo Boll CAF’ is one step thinner.

The ST (straight) handle (not shown in the picturs) is also different from the squared ST handle (which is applied for ‘Timo Boll’ series) or the standard ST handle (which is applied for ‘Viscaria’ or ‘InnerForce Layer’ series). The ST handle of ‘Timo Boll CAF’ shares the shape with that of ‘SK Carbon’. Its cross-sectional shape is more shaved than the standard ST handles of Butterfly. Differently speaking the cross sections of the handles of ‘Timo Boll CAF’ and ‘SK Carbon’ are closer to diamond shape. So, players will feel that it is slimmer in the hand even in case that the size in specification is identical. The width is around 28mm and the thickness is around 22mm which is around 1mm thinner than the ST handle of ‘SK Carbon’.

At the foreside of head, the logo mark depicting Timo Boll’s initials is printed along with the product name, the name of fiber and Timo Boll’s signature.

Nothing is printed on the backside of head.

The nameplate at the foreside of handle is a thin & long transparent plastic lens which had been applied for ‘Kreanga Carbon’, ‘InnerForce ALC’ and so on. The logo mark and the name of product are printed in the foreside lens.

Small rounded plastic lens is applied at the backside of handle.

Squared aluminum plate with Butterfly logo is applied at the end of handle.

‘SK Carbon’ (left) and ‘Timo Boll CAF’ (right). Although the two models are not from the same series, they have some things in common. Both of those two are fiber blades with 3+2 constructions with Koto top layers. And, two blades share the handle shapes.

‘SK Carbon’ (left) and ‘Timo Boll CAF’ (right). Both of those two are fiber blades with 3+2 constructions. ‘SK Carbon’ is much thinner than ‘Timo Boll CAF’ (5.2mm vs. 5.7mm). For that reason, ‘Timo Boll CAF’ isn’t slower than ‘SK Carbon’ although its CA fiber is much less elastic than woven Carbon fiber of ‘SK Carbon’.

‘SK Carbon’ and ‘Timo Boll CAF’ are recommendable for the players who want to switch from pure wood blade (mainly 5-ply wood allround or offensive blade) to fiber blade. Both of those two provide moderately high elasticity and high level of control. But, the players who have big hands should be careful because the handles of those two have smaller circumferences than what we can expect from the specifications. But, for players who have small hands that will be another advantage of ‘SK Carbon’ and ‘Timo Boll CAF’.

Following are the performance indices of Timo Boll CAF (avg.weight = 86.7g) :

– Ep = 1.73

– Ec = 1.83 (Ec/Ep = 1.05)

– Vp = 1.29

– Vl = 0.98 (Vl/Vp = 0.76)

Please note that above are average values and can be updated by further measurement.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this website’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to TTGearLab with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.