Butterfly Timo Boll W7 vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll W7 | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | Hard, stiff, direct | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL, ST | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 7-ply all wood (Limba / Ayous / Kiri) | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | OFF | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 94 | 87 |
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The Timo Boll W7 is a hard, stiff, direct seven-ply all-wood blade delivering near-carbon OFF speed with excellent flat drives and smashes, best suited to advanced offensive players tolerating stiffness. The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a seven-ply soft carbon blade with outstanding short game, linear predictable power, excellent blocking and clear ball feel, medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, and a strong cost-to-benefit ratio.
Ma Lin Soft Carbon is the forgiving, control-oriented choice for improving and control-focused offensive players moving from premade bats. The Timo Boll W7 is faster, stiffer, and advanced-only. Ma Lin Soft Carbon offers better blocking and short game.
FAQ
Is Soft Carbon truly soft for a carbon blade?
Yes. Medium-soft and flexible, so it stays controllable and forgiving unlike harder carbon blades.
Can beginners use Soft Carbon?
Yes. It is a natural upgrade from premade bats for improving players seeking soft, forgiving play.
What is the dwell issue?
Short dwell time makes generating heavy spin harder without good technique. But the blade stays clear and controllable.
Is weight consistent?
No. Some weight inconsistency between individual blades; test before buying if possible.
Who should choose Soft Carbon?
Improving and control-oriented offensive players wanting soft, forgiving carbon with excellent short game and blocking.