OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Butterfly is probably the most popular table tennis brand, at least outside China. No doubt their quality is good, but their prices are among the highest, and since the latest huge price hike (about 30% for many products) many Butterfly users are looking for cheaper alternatives. I don't believe the high price tag is justified in many cases, and there would be much cheaper alternatives from other brands of similar quality.
As requested, I'll start and maintain a list of Butterfly blades, with equivalent (or closest) blades from other brands.

The list is a list of most current Butterfly blades (thanks to cstt for the list ). Underneath each one I will add alternatives, with a brief (one-liner) of the small difference between the Butterfly blade and the alternative. If this topic proves popular I'll sticky it.
So if you know of alternatives for any of the blades below, please post them here and I'll update the list.

Shakehand:
Gergely Alpha
Power Drive II
Amultart
Andrzej Grubba
BalsaCarbo X5
- Donic Waldner Senso Carbon
- Donic Smirnov Ultra Carbon
Cofferlait
- Yinhe K1/V11
Feth
Firehand
Gergely
Grubba Carbon
Grubba Pro
Hinoki Shake 5
Holy Crown
Innerforce AL
Innerforce ALC
Innerforce T5000
- RITC 729 F-1
Innerforce ULC
Innerforce ZLC
Innerforce ZLF
Innershield ZLF
Iolite Neo
Ishlion
Jonyer Hinoki Special
Joo Se Hyuk
Keyshot Light
Kong Linghui
Kong Linghui Special
- Yinhe K2/V12/W3
Korbel
- Tibhar Samsonov Alpha
Korbel SK7
Korbel Speed
Maze Passion
Mazunov
Michael Maze
- Yinhe K6/V16
Mizutani Jun
Petr Korbel
Photino
Primo Vitesse
Primorac
Primorac 2000
Primorac Carbon
- Yinhe T2
Ranunculus
SA-01
Schlager Carbon
- Yinhe T1 (much harder feel)
- JUIC Hinoki Carbon III (slightly slower)
Senkoh Max
Taksim
- Yinhe K5/V15
Timo Boll ALC
Timo Boll All
- Donic Appelgren Allplay
Timo Boll ALL+
Timo Boll OFF-
Timo Boll Spirit
- Yinhe K4/V14
Timo Boll T5000
Timo Boll W7
Timo Boll ZLC
Timo Boll ZLF
Viscaria
- Yinhe K5/V15

Penhold:
Chinese AL
Chinese ULC
Cypress-S
Firehand-CS
Haruvatart-S
Innerforce ZLC CS
Kim Taek Soo
Primorac 2000 CS
Senkoh-1
Senkoh-5
Yoshida Kaii

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

This list is going to be an even harder one I guess. But I'll give it a shot

Korbel
- Tibhar Samsonov Alpha

Balsa Carbo X5
- Donic Waldner Senso Carbon
- Donic Smirnov Ultra Carbon

The Galaxy K series, altough I don't know what Butterfly blade they could serve as a substitute

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If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same

Yinhe K1/V11 - Cofferlait
Yinhe K2/V12 - Kong LingHui Special
Yinhe W3 - Kong LingHui Special
Yinhe K4/V14 - Timo Boll Spirit
Yinhe K5/V15 - Taksim/Viscarla
Yinhe K6/V16 - Michael Maze
Yinhe T1 - Schlager Carbon
Yinhe T2 - Primorac Carbon

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Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive Cpen - Yasaka Shining Dragon - Yasaka Razka 9
Galaxy U2 Cpen - Galaxy Sun - Galaxy Moon

Butterfly Timo Boll ALL = Donic Appelgren Allplay

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The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
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My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

All added, thanks guys!

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Any more?

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

o guess the STIGA clipper wood would come close to the yoshida kaii blade, because it has the "classic" seven ply construction, low throw, stiffness and speed of an old school fast attacking blade. would the BBC AR blade come close to the primorac?

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SPW/Solo

I have read on mytt forum that RITC 729 F-1 blade is very similar to Innerforce T5000 blade. I have used F-1 but not the Innerforce T5000 so can't say for sure.

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Main Setup
Blade : Timo Boll ALC
Rubbers: F/H : Sanwei T88-1 Max
B/H : Tibhar Genius Max
Alternate Setup
Blade : Butterfly Michael Maze ALC FL
Rubbers: F/H : DHS TG3 Neo 2.1
B/H : Haifu Shark II Red Sponge 2.1

I that series of blades by 729 is only released in CHina though... aren't supposed to be copies of another brand (was it XIOM?), or am I confused with another series?

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

I have no idea about that series being released only in China. I bought it from http://www.eacheng.net

But I think I have read it for sure that F-1 is really similar to IF T5000. I personally liked this F-1 blade except for top end speed where it lacks a little bit than TB ALC. Otherwise the F-1 is really good blade.

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Main Setup
Blade : Timo Boll ALC
Rubbers: F/H : Sanwei T88-1 Max
B/H : Tibhar Genius Max
Alternate Setup
Blade : Butterfly Michael Maze ALC FL
Rubbers: F/H : DHS TG3 Neo 2.1
B/H : Haifu Shark II Red Sponge 2.1

OK, I've added it to the list

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

For Butterfly's classic defense blades made of willow, the Joola T.Hold Whitespot would be an alternative at more or less half the price. It is a 5 ply cottonwood blade, not 3 ply willow, but cottonwood (or poplar) plays very similar to willow. Although the blade is light-weight (80 grams), it is very good for chopping (very low speed, max control) and at the same time packs some punch for countering. It is extremely durable; I have had mine for 5 years and it banged the table quite a bit but hasn't chipped.

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Without opponent, no match.

Butterfly Taksim comes only in cpen. The equivalent of Taksim for shakehand is Viscaria.

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I Love Cheap and good blades that suit my game

Blades I like: Super ALC clone ...
Rubbers I like:those that are Cheap and good ...

Sanwei King Of Blue Arylate Carbon has same structure as BTY TIMO BOLL SPIRIT. Feeling is also quite close.

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www.pimplelover.pantown.com

I can offer two blades similar to Timo Boll Spirit/Timo Boll ALC and Innerforce ALC. You can find them on my website:

Carara High (similar To Boll Spirit/ALC): http://www.tischtennis-manufaktur.de/29.html

Carara Deep (Innerforce ALC): http://www.tischtennis-manufaktur.de/30.html

As most testers say, the blades play very close to the Butterfly ones. Price of each blade is € 69,- plus shipping.

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Tischtennis-Manufaktur Spin Master Carbo Power
Acuda S2 2,0
Desto F2 1,8