Nittaku Violin vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Nittaku Violin | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | Soft, warm and flexible with long dwell, premium hand-crafted Japanese all-wood feedback | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5-ply all wood (Kiri core with White Ash outer plies) | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.3 | 5.8 |
| type | ALL+ | — |
| weight_g | 86 | 87 |
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The Nittaku Violin and Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon both emphasize control and feel, but one is all-wood and the other a soft carbon. 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 Soft Carbon is a 7-ply with two very thin carbon layers rated OFF-, medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback, a large sweet spot and an outstanding short game.
On speed and feel they are closer than most carbon comparisons. The Violin is soft and slower than its billing, weak from distance, and needs harder or tackier rubbers to come alive. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is linear and predictable with no uncontrollable kicks and excellent blocking, but its short dwell time makes generating heavy spin harder without good technique, and it vibrates and feels sluggish when you miss the sweet spot.
For styles, the Violin suits all-round and developing offensive players who prize control, feel and spin and want long dwell for the short game. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon suits improving and control-oriented offensive players moving up from premade bats who want a soft, forgiving carbon blade with an excellent short game and strong blocking rather than raw far-table speed.
Buying advice: pick the Violin for long dwell and easy spin with soft all-wood feel, and the Ma Lin Soft Carbon for a forgiving carbon blade with a superb short game and blocking. The Violin rates 8.4 to the Soft Carbon’s 8.1.
FAQ
Which blade generates spin more easily?
The Violin, with its long dwell time, makes spin easier, while the Ma Lin Soft Carbon has a short dwell time that makes generating heavy spin harder without good technique.
Which is better for the short game and blocking?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon has an outstanding short game and excellent blocking with clear ball feel for a carbon blade, while the Violin offers strong short-game touch through its long dwell.
Is the Ma Lin Soft Carbon forgiving?
It is medium-soft and flexible with a large sweet spot, so it stays controllable, but it vibrates and feels sluggish when you miss the sweet spot. The Violin is a soft, forgiving all-wood blade.
Which suits a player upgrading from a premade bat?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a natural, controllable upgrade from premade bats, while the Violin is a strong first custom blade for intermediates leaving fast carbon setups.