Butterfly Maze Advance vs Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Maze Advance | Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| feel | soft, controlled, slightly stiff for an all-wood blade | stiff outer oak veneer, medium throw, solid dwell, consistent blocking |
| handle | FL | Flared, Straight, Anatomic |
| plies | 5W (all wood) | carbon composite (oak outer + carbon fleece CFNW inner, 5+2 layers) |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 5.5-5.6 |
| weight_g | 85 | 87-90 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
The Maze Advance is an affordable all-wood control blade for beginners, coach-recommended for learning technique with clean touch and low vibration. The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon is a beginner-friendly entry into carbon with genuine speed, excellent blocking consistency, and forgiving CFNW carbon fleece construction. Both are accessible entry-level options, but the Maze Advance keeps you pure wood while the Sweden EK Carbon is your bridge to carbon offense.
The Maze Advance is lightweight, widely available (USD 66), and lets you build technique before moving to carbon. The Sweden EK Carbon offers genuine carbon speed at an accessible price point, wider and more comfortable handle, and excellent blocking and near-table consistency—making it ideal for club and intermediate players ready to take the speed step. The Maze Advance’s moderate speed will eventually limit offensive attackers; the Sweden EK Carbon’s early ball release makes heavy topspin harder to produce.
Choose the Maze Advance if you want the purest, most affordable all-wood foundation before committing to carbon. Choose the Sweden EK Carbon if you are ready to step up to genuine carbon speed and blocking consistency.
FAQ
Which is faster?
The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon—it is OFF-class with genuine carbon speed. The Maze Advance is ALL+ and designed for control, not speed.
Which is better for blocking and near-table play?
The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon—it excels at blocking and consistency with forgiving CFNW carbon fleece and wide, comfortable handle.
Which is more affordable?
The Maze Advance at USD 66. The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon is more expensive but offers genuine carbon speed.
Which is better for spin generation?
The Maze Advance generates good spin without requiring very tacky rubber. The Sweden EK Carbon’s early release makes heavy topspin harder to produce.
Which is better for beginners?
Both are beginner-friendly. The Maze Advance is pure control foundation; the Sweden EK Carbon is for beginners ready to move to carbon.