Butterfly Korbel vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Korbel | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | medium, soft and flexible all-wood with long dwell | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL/ST | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — limba-limba-ayous-limba-limba | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | OFF- | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 88 | 87 |
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The Korbel is a flexible 5-ply all-wood blade with long dwell, high throw and a spinny short game, making it ideal for learning to loop and develop feeling. The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a 7-ply build with two thin carbon layers, yet it stays medium-soft and flexible with an outstanding short game, linear power and unusually clear feel for a carbon blade.
Pick the Korbel if you prize long dwell for heavy spin and want a pure all-wood feel before stepping up to carbon. Choose the Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you are moving up from a premade bat and want a forgiving, controllable carbon plate with excellent blocking and a large sweet spot.
Both are rated OFF- and weigh around 87 to 88g. The Korbel generates spin more easily thanks to its longer dwell, while the carbon Yasaka has a shorter dwell that makes heavy spin harder without good technique. Aggressive far-table attackers may find both a little tame.
FAQ
Is the Yasaka carbon blade hard to control?
No. Despite its carbon layers, the Ma Lin Soft Carbon is medium-soft and flexible with a large sweet spot, so it stays controllable and forgiving.
Which generates more spin?
The Korbel, thanks to its long all-wood dwell. The Yasaka’s shorter dwell makes producing heavy spin harder without solid technique.
Which suits a player upgrading from a premade bat?
Both work, but the Ma Lin Soft Carbon is specifically aimed at improvers moving up from premade bats who want forgiving carbon with strong blocking.