DHS Hurricane Long 5 vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| DHS Hurricane Long 5 | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | hard, powerful | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL/ST | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | OFF+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.9 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 89 | 87 |
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Both blades use carbon, but they aim at very different players. The Hurricane Long 5 is a hard, powerful OFF+ plate that pairs best with tacky Chinese rubber for elite looping and counter-looping, with the inner carbon keeping soft touches and blocks safe. It is heavy and demanding, rewarding intermediate-to-advanced attackers with developed technique.
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is medium-soft and flexible, rated OFF-, with a short game many players love and unusually clear ball feel for a carbon blade. Its power is linear and predictable with no uncontrollable kicks, making it a natural, controllable upgrade from premade bats. The trade-off is a shorter dwell time, so generating heavy spin needs good technique, and aggressive far-table attackers may want more raw speed.
Choose the Hurricane Long 5 if you loop with tacky rubber and want carbon-backed power for a close-to-mid topspin game. Choose the Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you prioritize control, blocking and short-game touch over outright speed. The DHS holds a slight edge in overall score, but the Yasaka is the friendlier, more forgiving option.
FAQ
Which blade has better control?
The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon. Its medium-soft, flexible build and large sweet spot make it forgiving with excellent short-game touch, while the Hurricane Long 5 is harder and more demanding despite good control for an OFF+ blade.
Which is better for looping?
The Hurricane Long 5 generates heavier spin and a higher arc, especially with tacky Chinese rubber. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon loops in a linear, predictable way but its shorter dwell makes heavy spin harder without good technique.
Which suits a player upgrading from a premade bat?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is the natural upgrade, offering soft, controllable carbon and strong blocking. The Hurricane Long 5 is better saved for players who already loop confidently with tacky rubber.