Butterfly Maze Advance vs Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Maze Advance | Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | soft, controlled, slightly stiff for an all-wood blade | medium-hard carbon, controllable, excellent value |
| handle | FL | FL |
| plies | 5W (all wood) | 5 ply wood + 2 ply Carbon (limba/ayous with a carbon layer) |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 6 |
| weight_g | 85 | 88 |
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The dividing line here is carbon. The Maze Advance is a pure all-wood blade with a soft, controlled touch, ideal for short play and blocking. The Ma Lin Carbon adds an inner carbon layer that stays controllable on touch but climbs higher in speed on strong impact, with a stiff kick on smashes and a large, forgiving sweet spot.
Pick the Maze Advance if you want the cleanest, most predictable all-wood feel and you mostly play an all-around control game. Pick the Ma Lin Carbon if you want a forgiving introduction to carbon on a budget and you are happy to drive the ball with a full stroke to unlock its pace.
Two cautions on the Yasaka: handle quality varies, with reports of a rough or thin grip and fragile side wood, and unit weight ranges widely from about 81 to 91g. The Maze Advance is more consistent in the hand.
FAQ
Does the carbon make the Ma Lin Carbon hard to control?
No. It is praised for excellent control and a large sweet spot, staying forgiving on short play and blocks, while the carbon mainly adds a kick on strong impacts.
Which is the better value?
The Ma Lin Carbon is routinely praised as very cheap for its class, sometimes found near 20 to 55 USD. The Maze Advance is also affordable, often around 66 USD.
Is weight consistent between units?
The Ma Lin Carbon varies widely, roughly 81 to 91g per unit. The Maze Advance sits around 85g and is more predictable.