I have two Baum Esprit but they don't come close to Viscaria or even True Carbon. Before True Carbon I love their Crest OFF and WC89 Waldner. But Waldner is simply too thick and Crest OFF's thin and long handle made it less balance and head heavy. Although Crest OFF still wins in absolute power but True Carbon is awesome in about everything. Mine is only 5.55mm and I have it paired with Acuda Blue P1 Turbos. 

I'm not allowed to buy Butterfly products from outside my territory, so I can only get a Viscaria from my official vendors, and their price is fixed at £120.

The True Carbon is 60% of the price of the Viscaria.  And that's with me spending 5 minutes searching - could probably get it cheaper with more effort.

So it's aimed at people like me, I guess?

I like how you very specifically pick the cheapest BTY ALC blade to suit your argument.

Shall we say it's aimed at people who were considering the ZJK ALC instead?  Because that's $190.

Regardless, you have it backwards.  It's a cheaper alternative to all these ALC blades, and it might take some customers from Butterfly, who are already the market leader.

You see, if I pay $150 to buy a Viscaria now & then use it for 15 years, I can sell it for $600 later (expected price of the silver tags at that time).

No mention of material used in composite layer but it seems that ALC is common place and cheap in China these days. A Yinhe ALC can be had for as little as $30. Unless Buttefly has the patent right to it, I wonder why Donic can't advertise and use it. 

I know I know...wishful thinking to boost the value of my TC like the way ZJK do to Viscaria. But I am well prepared and already bought the new design HL5. 

For me, it's a simple thing consisting of two points.  

First, many blades are made to very high standards these days, and it's very possible to get blades which are equivalent in performance terms to Butterfly for far less cash.  Exactly the same?  No.  Equal (or better) in performance terms?  Yes, in my experience.  If you like and currently use Butterfly's blades, but know deep down in your heart of hearts that you can't be bothered to make the very slight adjustments needed to switch to any alternative, then fine - spend the money.  To me, this is just a waste of cash that could be spent on other things because I'd play at the same level, and with the same happiness.

Secondly, as a matter of principle I avoid BTY these days because of their price rigging, which I find unethical.  I don't expect everyone to agree or do the same, and it doesn't eat me up or make me want to protest outside their head office or anything, but there you go.

IMO, most of Butterfly's attraction is just a carefully designed and coordinated aura that they've built up over the years.  Of course their stuff is well made and performs well, but their pricing used to be much more in-line with the market average (with perhaps a 10% premium on top).  Since their enormous price hike and introduction of territorial restrictions, they just don't represent value for money any more.

Now, I'm not attacking you, or anyone else who chooses to spend their money on Butterfly stuff.  It's a free world (unless you want to buy Butterfly stuff from Japan - not quite so free there I suppose), anyone can spend whatever they want.  Feel free, go crazy.  But I won't agree that Butterfly stuff is more expensive because it's intrinsically better in some way, and I'll generally say so to help counter the brand fascism that has built up around them.  There is a good argument to be made about buying Butterfly to support the sport, due to their sponsorship of junior events and so on.  But don't kid yourself - you don't "get what you pay for" (except in the literal sense of paying money to get a thing) with Butterfly.

As you say "if you want a Viscaria, buy a Viscaria".  Yes, but perhaps ask yourself why you want a Viscaria, and is it a rational decision you're making?  Why won't a really similar blade for far less money do the job?  And if it isn't rational (and not everything is, of course), take ownership of your emotional decision and then understand that other people just don't care about brands, or professionals who use things, or popularity, and buy things based on what they do when you use them.  Because I'd rather save money and take my family out for the day, or save towards our next holiday, or any number of other things.  Money (unlike the wood to build blades) doesn't grow on trees.

I got mine from Dandoy. See if you can get one there as they are having it with promo price now.

Dandoy has it

http://www.dandoy-sports.com/donic-ovtcharov-true-carbon.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.dandoy-sports.com/donic-ovtcharov-true-carbon.html

tibi.

By the way, megaspin has a summer sale with code summer16 for 5% off. That is probably the best price in US at the moment. Ammerican table tennis has an assembled paddle with blue P turbo rubbers for $155. Not bad either.

Some people are almost like cult members when it comes to Butterfly stuff.  

The famous 150 x 157mm. Can't say it is by coincidence. 

That price is not bad for anyone living in USA. I paid about US$128 for mine from Dandoy assembled with Acuda Blue P1 Turbo both sides. Great matching rubbers with this blade. Very fast when you need it and equally fine to control where it land and keeping the ball on the table. Exactly what Americantabletennis is saying about this combo. 

Has anyone figured out what the layers of this blade are yet? Also, does anyone know how it would compare to the Innerforce ALC? 

For me it looks as if Ovtcharov True Carbon has the thinnest outer veneer of these three blades.

If you compare the first (outer) and third veneer of these blades:

- OTC = thicker third veneer and thin outer veneer

- ZJ ALC = thicker outer veneer and (little bit) thinner third veneer

- Viscaria = first and third veneer with same thickness

I don`t know, if this is always a fact, but at least at my blades.

The core seems to be kiri in each of these blades, but the OTC-core looks lighter.

Generally OTC is thinner (5,5 mm) than ZJ ALC and Viscaria (both = 5,7-5,8 mm).

Therefore OTC is a notch slower than the other two blades and the feeling is a notch softer.

Would love to see a side by side picture compared to a FL TB ALC or Viscaria. Much Thanks.

My thoughts exactly - thanks.

Also ST handle vs ST TB ALC/other popular BTY and non-BTY blades.

http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=76922&title=reduced-donic-ovtcharov-true-carbon-scaly-koto

thanks, will check if I still have O4P on a blade - remember it was quite bouncy

thanks, probably goes well but I decided against using T64 because it plays all by itself  (hiding my stroke shortcomings)

http://www.tabletennis11.com/other_eng/donic-ovtcharov-true-carbon

Sounds like you selected a very light blade weight? You should try get a heavier one. It is not slow.

my thoughts exactly, got another one 88g.  the setup is now a bit head heavy but more power.  will see how it works in games.

I have 3 DOTC blades at the moment. I feel that DOTC is 90% BTY ALC blade feel and 10% JRE feel: it is a bit softer than my BTY ALC blades (thus spinner on slow loops & in serves) but slightly faster and slightly less dwelly / spinny on powerloops (implying more carbon in its fiber).

no argument here, my setups are 176g and the second around 185 (can't remember exactly) so it is understandable that I would describe them as off- to off.