Sanwei Fextra 7 vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Sanwei Fextra 7 | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 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 | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 7-ply all wood (Limba/Ayous) | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | OFF- | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.8 |
| type | OFF- | — |
| weight_g | 88 | 87 |
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The Sanwei Fextra 7 and the Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon share an OFF- rating but differ in construction. The Fextra 7 is a 7-ply Limba-over-Ayous all-wood blade with a medium, well-damped, controllable feel and a strong spin-and-loop character. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a 7-ply blade with 5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers, medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot.
In play, the Fextra 7 is controllable and works with both tacky and non-tacky rubbers, good in defense at all distances, though its OFF- pace limits far-table power. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon delivers an outstanding short game with decent control on pushes, touches and serves, linear predictable power with no uncontrollable kicks, and excellent blocking with unusually clear ball feel for a carbon blade. Its short dwell time makes generating heavy spin harder without good technique, it vibrates when you miss the sweet spot, and aggressive far-table attackers may want more raw speed. Both weigh around 87 to 88 grams.
Pick the Fextra 7 if you want a pure all-wood feel with more spin and dwell for a developing loop game. Pick the Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you are an improving, control-oriented offensive player moving up from premade bats who wants a soft, forgiving carbon blade with an excellent short game and strong blocking. The Fextra 7 rates a touch higher at 8.3, but the choice depends on wood spin versus carbon control.
FAQ
Which blade generates spin more easily?
The Fextra 7 is the spinnier blade, with long-dwell all-wood construction. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon has a short dwell time that makes generating heavy spin harder without good technique.
Which has the better short game?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is praised for an outstanding short game with decent control on pushes, touches and serves. The Fextra 7 also offers good control across the table.
Which is a softer carbon feel?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, which keeps it controllable and forgiving. The Fextra 7 is a pure all-wood blade with no carbon.
Which suits a player upgrading from a premade bat?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a natural, controllable upgrade from premade bats for improvers. The Fextra 7 also suits players stepping up from a premade or 5-ply setup.