Timo Boll ALC vs. Timo Boll Spirit

For people who have tried both blades, do you think the ALC is an upgrade from the Spirit? Besides the refined look, what is different about these two blades?

I've got both, and coincidentally they're both 87.8 grams.

The Timo Boll ALC has a more comfortable handle. The TBS is nice, but it has a slight feeling of slipping out of my hand sometimes. With Tenergy (heavy rubbers) the TBS seems slightly more top heavy, or you could say the TBALC seems more balanced between the two. TBALC might be slightly faster, but I can't really tell, I'm only buying into the rumors on that point.

Both are very good investments. Even when I'm not playing with either of them, I don't regret owning them. Very good craftsmanship. However, they are so close in style, that there is the risk that someone might not want "two of the same blade".

venacious wrote: For people who have tried both blades, do you think the ALC is an upgrade from the Spirit? Besides the refined look, what is different about these two blades?

ALC is better in every which way... 

Oh I'm only in the lower ranks of an intermediate player at best switching to shakehand just 6 months ago and getting my real shakehand bat 2 months ago. I'm in a stage of reading up on the equipment reviews of forums. There's so much equipment out there its ridiculous.

So I got a chance to test out two blades yesterday with palio macro era (Max) (the softer sponge) and Buttefly Catapult on the back.  I started out with the ALC and it was very fast and had no feeling.  After playing with it for three hours, I got a better sense of the blade. It had good block and counter game.  It has good touch for loop against underspin.   After 3 hours with the ALC, I tried the TBS, and !!!  What is a difference.  The difference is the feel.  The TBS is slower than the ALC.  It had more feedback, control, the blade was stiffer, you had to give a little more effort for the blocks (wasnt' as smooth as ALC).  The Palio rubber definitely now has a trampoline kick to it, which was missing from the ALC.  Weight was similar, I couldnt' tell the difference.  The head size is the same and the rubber sheet transfered perfectly.   Try both blades and use the one you like best.  Remember, just because Timo Boll or other top players use the ALC, doesn't mean it's a better blade for you.  With the rubbers I used, the TBS was better out of the two. 

Speedy, can you write something more about T5000, please? Some info in terms of speed , stiffness, catapult (in compare with Spirit, Primorac Carbon etc. for example). Did you try it with T05? Classic Tamca�s are 3+2, T5000 is 5+2...

To me the TBS is a beautiful blade, well built and solid. No corners were cut where this blade is concerned hence the price you pay for it. This blade will go down as a classic. I do believe that you will have more people playing with this blade in the future than the TB ALC.