Stiga Allround Classic vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Stiga Allround Classic | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | soft, high control | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5W | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | ALL | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.1 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 75 | 87 |
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These two suit players at slightly different points in their development. The Stiga Allround Classic is a soft, slow 5-ply all-wood blade rated ALL, designed for control, touch and learning strokes. The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a medium-soft 5+2 carbon blade rated OFF- that adds speed and blocking while staying forgiving.
The Allround Classic delivers class-leading control, high dwell and honest feedback, plus huge versatility by rubber choice and excellent longevity. Its drawbacks are limited inherent power and a medium-small sweet spot. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon offers an excellent short game, linear predictable looping, strong blocking and a large sweet spot, making it a natural upgrade from premade bats, though its short dwell makes heavy spin harder and it can feel sluggish off-center.
Choose the Allround Classic if you are a beginner or control-first all-rounder who wants the lightest, most touch-focused option at around 75 grams. Choose the Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you want more pace and blocking power in a still-forgiving carbon blade, accepting the heavier around 87 gram weight.
In short, the Allround Classic prioritizes pure control, while the Ma Lin Soft Carbon adds offensive speed without abandoning forgiveness.
FAQ
Which blade is more forgiving for learning?
The Stiga Allround Classic, with class-leading control and high dwell, is the best blade for learning strokes, though the Ma Lin Soft Carbon is also forgiving for a carbon blade.
Which is faster?
The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon is faster, rated OFF-, while the Allround Classic is rated ALL and slow by modern standards.
Which has the better short game?
Both excel at touch, but the Ma Lin Soft Carbon stands out for its short game and blocking, while the Allround Classic offers class-leading all-wood control.
Which is the better upgrade from a premade bat?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a natural, controllable upgrade with extra speed, whereas the Allround Classic suits players who want to focus first on control and technique.