Butterfly Maze Advance vs Stiga Infinity VPS V: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Maze Advance | Stiga Infinity VPS V | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 8.6/10 |
| feel | soft, controlled, slightly stiff for an all-wood blade | stiff thin outer (Diamond Touch), medium-hard |
| handle | FL | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5W (all wood) | 5W (all wood) |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 85 | 88 |
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The Numbers That Matter
Between these two, one axis dominates the comparison and the rest are closer than you would expect. Speed splits by 2.8 points — Infinity VPS V at 8.6 versus Maze Advance’s 5.8 — the same size gap as the Clipper Wood comparison, and for the same underlying reason: Maze Advance is a genuine ALL+ blade while the VPS V carries an OFF rating built for offense. That is the deciding factor for most buyers here.
What is notable is how close everything else sits. Control differs by only 0.9 (9.8 vs 8.9) — both blades are rated as strong control tools, just with Maze Advance nudging ahead. Consistency differs by just 1 point (10 vs 9), and hardness is essentially identical (6.2 vs 6.3, a 0.1 gap that is noise, not signal). Stiffness moves by 0.6 (6.0 vs 5.4), a small edge to Maze Advance for a slightly firmer, more direct-feedback build. Weight tips 1.1 points toward the VPS V (7.5 vs 6.4), so it carries noticeably more heft in hand, consistent with its higher swing weight for offensive shots.
Why This Matchup Is Different From Other Maze Advance Comparisons
Unlike a straightforward control-vs-speed blade, the Infinity VPS V’s own pros list — flex and dwell that reward heavy brush looping, power in the fast game and control in the short game — describe a blade trying to do both jobs at once via its VPS and Diamond Touch construction. Revspin and Megaspin reviews back this up: it is positioned as a control-first OFF blade rather than an outright speed monster, which is why its control score sits so close to the far more control-oriented Maze Advance. Tabletennis11’s coverage of Stiga’s offensive lineup places the VPS V as a step toward power without fully abandoning touch.
Migration Question: Worth the Upgrade?
If you are playing on a Maze Advance and considering the Infinity VPS V, the real question is whether you have technique to spare. The VPS V’s cons are explicit: it ships fairly raw, with a thin outer veneer that needs sealing and wings that may want sanding — that is real setup work the Maze Advance does not require. And because it is a control-first OFF blade rather than a speed monster, you are not just buying raw speed; you are buying many gears, per its own pros, which only pay off if you already generate topspin actively. If your looping game is still developing, the 2.8-point speed increase may outpace your ability to control it, and you would be giving up a full point of consistency and 0.9 points of control for pace you cannot yet use.
Conversely, if you are a Maze Advance owner who has plateaued because you cannot hit through opponents anymore, and you already brush the ball for spin rather than just blocking and looping passively, the VPS V is a sensible next step — it keeps a wood-like dwell, unlike carbon blades, while adding real pace.
Fit and Handle
Both blades share FL and ST/AN-style handle overlap (Maze Advance is FL only; VPS V offers FL/ST/AN), so handle choice is not a differentiator unless you need something Maze Advance does not offer. Thickness runs opposite to what you would expect — VPS V is thinner (5.8mm) than Maze Advance (6.7mm) despite being the faster blade, which is exactly why its flex and dwell characteristics differ so much from a stiffer, thicker all-wood build.
Bottom Line
Choose the Maze Advance if your priority is a forgiving, low-maintenance blade for building consistent all-around play. Choose the Infinity VPS V if you already loop actively and want more pace and gears without moving to carbon — but budget time to seal the veneer before your first session.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Stiga Infinity VPS V much faster than the Butterfly Maze Advance?
Yes, by 2.8 points on the axis data (8.6 vs 5.8) -- the largest gap between these two blades and the main reason to choose one over the other.
Do the two blades feel similarly consistent?
Fairly close -- Maze Advance scores 10 for consistency against the VPS V's 9, only a 1-point gap, much smaller than the speed difference.
Does the Infinity VPS V need extra preparation before use?
Yes. Its own cons note it ships fairly raw, with a thin outer veneer that typically needs sealing and wings that may want light sanding.
Is the Infinity VPS V a beginner blade?
Not really -- it is a control-first OFF blade aimed at spin-first offensive players with active looping technique, not a first blade for someone just learning strokes.