Timo Boll ALC review

Well, I just got my Timo Boll ALC a few days ago. Now, I just wanted to review it.
First, some basic things about this awsome blade.
Mine weights about 92 gr, which is heavy, but I like heavy blades. I am used to play with them. Before I got this one, I was playing with a 91 gr Primorac Carbon.
It is a 7 ply blade. Its composition is: koto, ALC, limba, kiri, limba, ALC, koto.
You may call me stupid for writing that, but i've seen so many guys telling others that the ALC has only 5 plies.
First impressions: the quality construction is very high. No sharp ends to talk about. Veeery fast, I would rate its speed 9/10. Dwelly, easy to control. Nice flared handle.
Now, the complete review of it, step by step.
Speed: very fast, as I said before. IMO, it's way underrated by Butterfly, who rates it 8.5. I would rate it 9.5. It is very explosive and easy to control at high speeds. It is maybe a little slower than my PC, but there's not a big difference.
Control: I enjoyed its control from the first moment I hit with it. The ball goes exactely where I want it to go. I fount it somewhat more controllable when looping than when hitting (due to its long dwell). IMO, it's easier to control this blade than a TBS. On the passive game it offers a very clear response, helping yourself to hit very accurate and short shots.
Throw angle: wow it's high. On 1st and 5th ball attacks, this blade really rocks. Lifting heavy underspins was very simple. I just had to do the movement and my Tenergys did the rest.
Dwell: IMO, this blade is soft but almost stiff. However, it offers a great dwell that most players will love.
Spin: I was impressed by the amount of spin this blade generates. I've found it muuuuch spinny than my Primorac Carbon and my Photino, too, specially on 3rd ball attacks. On rallies, the spin that this blade is able to generate is kinda high, too. Furthermore, your opponent will sometimes tend to missread the amount of spin you're imparting to the ball, specially when hitting heavy top spins.
Sweet spot: very big. Bigger than the sweet spot of my PC and my Photino. I felt that I was always hitting with my ALC's sweet spot.
Explosiveness: At first, I've found it a liitle less explosive than my primorac carbon. However, when I finally got used to it, I found out that is very explosive.
Vibrations: Well, I think AL really works. No vibrations to talk about.
Balance: It's a well-balanced blade. Head heavy of course. More HH than my PC and, obviously, less than my Photino, which is HL hahahah.
Maneuverability: easy to maneuver in any situation.
I think it's a better blade for loopers than the Timo Boll Spirit, which I think it's stiffer. Nice looping blade. It exels at short and mid distance looping, but this depends of the rubbers you're playing with.
I use 2 Tenergys 2.1 mm.
Overall: a very high quality looping blade, controllable, maybe dwelly and spinny. I don't think it overpriced, it worth every penny you pay for it.
Hope this helps!!
 

Dwell time is the length of time the ball stays in contact with the rubber when the ball is hit. Longer dwell times are said to be better for producing spin, while shorter dwell times are supposed to be better for producing speed. The hardness of the blade, thickness and hardness of the sponge and topsheet, and tackiness of the topsheet are all considered to be able to affect the length of the dwell time for a particular bat.

I dont understand why you think its better than TBS since it shares same plywood construction and thickness. I've own both and can't feel any noticeable difference between them. I also think fiber blades have less dwell time compared to any allwood so they cant bite the ball so well and be as spinnier as allwood.
I believe ALC is a trendy blade and TBS old fashioned, that's all. There's nothing to justify TB ALC over TBS except price tag&colour.

THanks for the great review Best99!

tabten5 wrote: haggisv wrote: THanks for the great review Best99! ...which was written four years ago.

ROFL! You got me there.

I find my TBS and TB ALC to be VERY similar. I think ALC has a slightly wider handle at the neck for sure.

TBS with 2.1 Tenergy is head heavy. Much better with the Tenergy FX's in the same thickness. Very good with Stiga Boost TS or TC. Since the handle feels short before sanding the wings after it is sanded the balance is improved a little.

Yep, but at some point they did start making them slightly thicker.  Also, slightly heavier in the handle than TBS.

It will definitely feel dead compared to Axelo! I thought that thing was a cannon that I was trying to use to shoot sparrows.  I probably didn't give it enough time.  I have an old Moonbeam that is the same way.  Strad is a pretty good blade.  I prefer most of my Viscarias to any of them, but it would also feel dead to you.  Of course it always depends on which one you get.

Amazing how some of these threads come back to life.

I've switched from boll alc to Viscaria because I think Viscaria has a better backhand and it fits me just right.