Butterfly Freitas ALC vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Freitas ALC | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.5/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | Medium-soft | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | Flared/Straight/Anatomic | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5+2 arylate carbon (ALC) outer — Limba-ALC-Limba-Ayous-Limba-ALC-Limba | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | OFF | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 88 | 87 |
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The Butterfly Freitas ALC prioritizes dwell time and soft feedback through outer arylate-carbon construction. It excels at opening loops and generating heavy spin, ideal for players who want every topspin stroke fully rewarded.
Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon delivers a softer, more flexible carbon blade with excellent short-game control and clear ball feedback—unusual for a carbon construction. It suits improving players who want carbon stability without losing feel, though it sacrifices dwell time for controllability.
Choose Freitas ALC if you want maximum dwell and spin generation on full strokes. Select Ma Lin Soft if you prioritize short-game touch and clear feedback over raw far-table speed.
FAQ
Which generates more spin?
Freitas ALC has superior dwell time, making it better for heavy topspin generation. Ma Lin Soft has shorter dwell, so spin output is less automatic without good brushing technique.
Which is better for short game play?
Ma Lin Soft provides unusual clarity for a carbon blade, making short game easier and more intuitive. Freitas ALC is still good but focuses more on power looping.
What about far-table attacking?
Freitas ALC handles distant balls with more consistency and power. Ma Lin Soft can feel sluggish at distance and prefers midrange attacking from consistent footwork.