Stiga Allround Evolution vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Stiga Allround Evolution | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | soft, high feedback | 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 (all wood) | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.4 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 80 | 87 |
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These two suit players moving up at different speeds. The Stiga Allround Evolution is a soft 5-ply all-wood blade rated ALL+, designed for control, touch and feedback with a small step up over the Allround Classic. The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a medium-soft 5+2 carbon blade rated OFF- that adds offensive speed and blocking while staying forgiving.
The Allround Evolution is one of the best blades to learn strokes on, with lots of dwell and good spin from the right rubber, though it stays slow by modern standards and ambitious players may outgrow it. 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, but its short dwell makes heavy spin harder and it can feel sluggish off-center.
Choose the Allround Evolution if control and learning come first and you want a lighter blade at around 80 grams paired with medium non-tensor rubbers. Choose the Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you want more pace and blocking in a still-forgiving carbon blade, accepting the heavier around 87 gram weight.
In short, the Allround Evolution prioritizes control, while the Ma Lin Soft Carbon adds offensive speed.
FAQ
Which blade is better for learning?
The Stiga Allround Evolution is one of the best blades to learn strokes on, with outstanding control, touch and feedback.
Which is faster?
The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon is faster, rated OFF-, while the Allround Evolution is rated ALL+ and slower.
Which has the better short game and blocking?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon stands out for its short game and excellent blocking, while the Allround Evolution focuses on control and feedback for stroke development.
Which is the better step up from a premade bat?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a natural, controllable upgrade with added speed, whereas the Allround Evolution suits players who want to focus on control first.