Nittaku Violin vs Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive: Which Should You Buy?
| Nittaku Violin | Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.4/10 | 8.5/10 |
| feel | Soft, warm and flexible with long dwell, premium hand-crafted Japanese all-wood feedback | hard outer + soft core, linear |
| handle | FL | FL/ST/AN/CS |
| plies | 5-ply all wood (Kiri core with White Ash outer plies) | 5W (all wood) |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.3 | 5.7 |
| type | ALL+ | — |
| weight_g | 86 | 88 |
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The Nittaku Violin and Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive are both control-oriented all-wood blades, with the Yasaka leaning more offensive. The Violin is a soft, flexible 5-ply with a Kiri core and White Ash outers, rated ALL+ and prized for control, warm feel and long dwell. The Ma Lin Extra Offensive is a 5-ply rated OFF with a hard outer over a soft core, giving outstanding consistency, a superb short game and easy ball placement at unbeatable value.
On speed and feel they differ. The Violin is soft and slower than its billing, weak from distance, and needs harder or tackier rubbers to come alive. The Ma Lin Extra Offensive is light with good speed and many gears, but linear with no carbon catapult, so you supply the power, and it loses out a touch far from the table.
For styles, the Violin suits all-round and developing offensive players who prize control, feel and spin and loop close to mid-table. The Ma Lin Extra Offensive suits offensive and control loopers, including traditional Chinese penhold players, who want an all-wood OFF blade with a superb short game, pinpoint placement and unbeatable value for close-to-mid-table attacking and blocking, though it demands an aggressive, technically sound stroke and is not a beginner blade.
Buying advice: choose the Violin for premium soft feel and forgiveness, and the Ma Lin Extra Offensive for a faster all-wood blade with a superb short game at value. The Ma Lin Extra Offensive edges the rating at 8.5 to 8.4.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive is faster, rated OFF with good speed and many gears, while the Violin is a softer ALL+ blade that is slower than its billing.
Which has the better short game?
Both are strong, but the Ma Lin Extra Offensive’s hard outer over a soft core gives a superb short game and easy placement, while the Violin’s long dwell aids touch play.
Is the Ma Lin Extra Offensive beginner-friendly?
No. It is linear with no carbon catapult and demands an aggressive, technically sound stroke, so it is not a beginner blade, whereas the Violin suits developing players building technique.
Which is the better value?
The Ma Lin Extra Offensive offers essentially unbeatable value for an all-wood OFF blade, while the Violin carries a premium price.