Nittaku Acoustic vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Nittaku Acoustic | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.7/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | Crisp all-wood feel with a large sweet spot, long dwell and a signature acoustic sound | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL/ST | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5-ply all wood (Limba outer veneers over a tung and ayous core) | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | OFF- | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 88 | 87 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
Both are OFF- blades around 88g, but they reach control differently. The Acoustic is 5-ply all wood with long dwell, a large sweet spot and a crisp acoustic feel that makes looping, pushing and blocking forgiving while delivering excellent spin. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon uses seven plies with two very thin carbon layers, staying medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade with clear feedback and an excellent short game.
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon shines on blocking and short play with linear, predictable power and strong value, but its short dwell makes generating heavy spin harder without good technique, and it can feel sluggish off the sweet spot. The Acoustic’s longer dwell makes spin easier but it commands a premium price.
Choose the Acoustic if heavy spin, dwell and all-wood feedback matter most. Pick the Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you are moving up from a premade bat and want a soft, forgiving carbon blade with an excellent short game and strong blocking over raw far-table speed.
FAQ
Which blade makes spin easier?
The Acoustic’s long dwell makes generating heavy spin easier, while the Ma Lin Soft Carbon’s short dwell means you need good technique to produce heavy spin despite its forgiving feel.
Is the Ma Lin Soft Carbon a good upgrade from a premade bat?
Yes, it is a natural, controllable step up for improvers thanks to its soft, forgiving carbon feel, excellent short game and strong blocking. The Acoustic targets more experienced loopers who want all-wood feel.
How many plies does each blade use?
The Acoustic is 5-ply all wood. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is 7-ply, with five wood plies plus two very thin carbon layers, keeping it medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade.