Butterfly Maze Advance vs Stiga Carbonado 290: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Maze Advance | Stiga Carbonado 290 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | soft, controlled, slightly stiff for an all-wood blade | very stiff, hard, crisp and direct carbon feel with a high-pitched sound; fast and linear with a low throw |
| handle | FL | FL |
| plies | 5W (all wood) | 5 wood + 2 carbon (7-ply), TeXtreme carbon |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| type | — | OFF+ |
| weight_g | 85 | 95 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
These blades sit at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Maze Advance is a lightweight all-wood ALL+ blade around 82 to 85 grams, coach-recommended as a first proper blade with low vibration and clean touch for short play and blocking. The Carbonado 290 is a true OFF+ carbon blade with doubled 200 gram TeXtreme carbon, delivering extreme power, a crisp feel and a low, linear trajectory, and it is heavier at 95 grams.
The gap in feel is large. The Maze Advance is soft and controlled, though slightly stiff for an all-wood blade, and forgiving for developing players. The Carbonado 290 is very stiff, hard and direct with a high-pitched sound and a very low throw that can cause netting until you adapt your bat angle. It is exceptional and stable for blocking and counter-blocking, but it is less forgiving over long rallies and sits at the high end of the market on price.
Pick the Maze Advance if you are a beginner or intermediate stepping up from a pre-made paddle who wants a light, controllable blade for all-around offence and defence. Pick the Carbonado 290 if you are an advanced, aggressive attacker who finishes points fast with hard drives and blocking and already has the technique for a very stiff, very fast carbon blade. The Carbonado 290 rates 8.3 to the Maze Advance’s 8.2.
FAQ
Which is the better blade for a developing player?
The Maze Advance, which is coach-recommended as a first proper blade and is light and controllable. The Carbonado 290 is demanding and best left to advanced attackers with refined technique.
How big is the speed difference?
Large. The Carbonado 290 is a true OFF+ carbon blade with extreme power, while the Maze Advance is ALL+ with a moderate speed that limits its offensive ceiling.
Which is heavier?
The Carbonado 290 at 95 grams is noticeably heavier than the Maze Advance, which weighs around 82 to 85 grams and is praised for easy handling.
Why might the Carbonado 290 send balls into the net?
It has a very low throw, which can cause netting until you adapt your bat angle. The Maze Advance is more forgiving and controlled for short play and blocking.