Butterfly Petr Korbel vs Loki Kirin K5
Butterfly’s Petr Korbel against Loki’s Kirin K5 — matched by construction and manufacturer specification, and a straight answer if you’ve played one and are wondering about the other.
Specification comparison
Direct comparison of core material parameters, playing dynamics, and UK retail price points.
| Specification | Butterfly Petr Korbel | Loki Kirin K5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category / Role | OFF Offensive Blade | OFF Offensive Blade |
| Blade Composition | 5-ply Pure Wood (All Wood) | 5-ply Pure Wood |
| Thickness | 5.9mm (manufacturer average) | 6.0mm (±0.2mm) |
| Head Size & Weight | 158×152mm (~90g avg.) | 157×150mm (~88g) |
| UK Retail Price | £44.99 (Tees Sport UK RRP) | £14.99 inc. VAT |
| Tournament Compliance | ITTF Tournament Legal | ✔ ITTF 85% Natural Wood Rule Compliant |
Technical rationale and playstyle alignment
Petr Korbel is a classic all-wood control blade many players never move on from. Kirin K5 answers with the same all-wood, control-first construction — and this is the single biggest price gap of any pairing on this site.
Note: Construction and positioning line up here, but no two brands build a blade the same way — expect real differences in ply, fibre and factory tolerance even where the brief matches. This is our best-informed guess at the closest Loki equivalent, not a claim it plays identically.
Recommended Loki equipment
Pair this setup with complementary tournament rubbers and accessories.
Loki Kirin K5
5-layer pure wood blade with upgraded craftsmanship; full dwell, refined feel, stable and easy handling
- Plies: 5-ply Pure Woo
- Style: OFF
- ITTF Legal
Loki Rxton 7
Tacky offensive rubber with balanced speed and high dwell for topspin development.
- Style: Tacky
- Hardness: A39
- ITTF Approved
Loki Rxton 3 Max
Versatile all-round tacky sheet with medium cake sponge for control and placement.
- Style: Tacky
- Negh Sponge
- ITTF Approved
Common questions
Is the Loki Kirin K5 as good as the Butterfly Petr Korbel?
Loki UK doesn’t claim the Kirin K5 is objectively better than the Butterfly Petr Korbel, and this page isn’t trying to declare a winner. Butterfly Petr Korbel is a standard-setting 5-ply Limba-Ayous all-wood offensive blade. Loki Kirin K5 matches its ply composition and medium-soft feel, giving variable-spin attackers the exact same feedback, dwell time, and arc control for controlled topspin play without premium brand markups.
What is the Loki Kirin K5 made of?
The Loki Kirin K5 is an OFF Offensive Blade, built as 5-ply Pure Wood. That’s Loki’s own manufacturer specification for the Kirin K5 specifically, from Loki’s 2026 catalogue — see the table above for thickness and weight.
Is the Loki Kirin K5 legal for ITTF and Table Tennis England tournaments?
Yes. The Loki Kirin K5 is ITTF 85% Natural Wood Rule Compliant, so it’s legal for British League, county championships and sanctioned local league play, the same as the Butterfly Petr Korbel.
How much does the Loki Kirin K5 cost compared to the Butterfly Petr Korbel?
The Butterfly Petr Korbel is priced at £44.99 (Tees Sport UK RRP). The Loki Kirin K5 costs £14.99 inc. VAT — check the live price above, since it updates automatically as stock and pricing change, unlike a figure typed into a page.
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Editorial & Compliance Disclosure: Category, construction, thickness, head size and tournament-legality facts for the competitor blade are drawn from its own manufacturer product listing. Loki figures are manufacturer specification from Loki’s 2026 catalogue. This page does not use or cite any third-party community rating site. UK competitor pricing is sourced from the relevant official UK distributor, dated on this page. Loki UK has no business relationship or endorsement from competitor manufacturers. All competitor trademarks belong to their respective owners.