Sanwei Fextra 7 vs Stiga Carbonado 290: Which Should You Buy?
| Sanwei Fextra 7 | Stiga Carbonado 290 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | Medium, woody and well-damped with moderate vibration; controllable offensive feel close to a Stiga Clipper but a touch crisper and not quite as stiff | very stiff, hard, crisp and direct carbon feel with a high-pitched sound; fast and linear with a low throw |
| handle | FL | FL |
| plies | 7-ply all wood (Limba/Ayous) | 5 wood + 2 carbon (7-ply), TeXtreme carbon |
| speed | OFF- | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 6.2 |
| type | OFF- | OFF+ |
| weight_g | 88 | 95 |
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The Sanwei Fextra 7 and the Stiga Carbonado 290 sit far apart on the speed scale. The Fextra 7 is a 7-ply Limba-over-Ayous all-wood blade with a controllable OFF- pace, a woody well-damped feel and a strong spin-and-loop character. The Carbonado 290 is a 5-plus-2 TeXtreme carbon blade with true OFF+ speed, rated on par with a Jun Mizutani ZLC class blade, and a very stiff, hard, crisp carbon feel.
On style, the Fextra 7 stays controllable and forgiving with both tacky and non-tacky rubbers, good in defense at all distances, but its OFF- pace limits far-table power. The Carbonado 290 delivers extreme power, exceptional and stable blocking and long, sharp loop drives with a low trajectory, plus more feel than many carbon blades despite the stiffness. However, it is stiff and on the heavier side at around 95 grams versus the Fextra’s 88, its very low throw can cause netting until you adapt, and it carries a premium price.
Pick the Fextra 7 if you are a developing intermediate or club-level looper who wants control, spin and affordability. Pick the Carbonado 290 if you are an advanced, aggressive attacker or offensive penholder who finishes points fast with hard drives, smashes and blocks and already has the technique to handle a very stiff, very fast OFF+ blade with a low throw. The Fextra rates a touch higher at 8.3, but the two serve completely different players.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Stiga Carbonado 290 is far faster, a true OFF+ carbon blade rated on par with a Jun Mizutani ZLC class blade. The Fextra 7 is a controllable OFF- all-wood blade.
Which is more forgiving?
The Fextra 7 is more forgiving and controllable. The Carbonado 290 is stiff, heavier and less forgiving, with a very low throw that can cause netting until you adapt your bat angle.
Which suits an advanced attacker?
The Carbonado 290 is aimed at advanced, aggressive attackers and offensive penholders who finish points fast. The Fextra 7 is geared toward developing intermediate and club-level players.
Which is heavier?
The Carbonado 290 is heavier at around 95 grams versus around 88 grams for the Fextra 7, though the Fextra’s weight varies a lot between units.