Stiga Carbonado 145 vs Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Stiga Carbonado 145 | Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | stiff, direct and rather linear with a large sweet spot, but the very thin TeXtreme layers keep the vibration close to a 5-ply all-wood blade | medium-hard carbon, controllable, excellent value |
| handle | FL/ST (also offered as Legend and penhold) | FL |
| plies | 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon (5+2 composite) with the carbon fibers laid at a 45 degree angle for torsional bendability | 5 ply wood + 2 ply Carbon (limba/ayous with a carbon layer) |
| speed | OFF+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 6 |
| weight_g | 85 | 88 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
Both are carbon blades but with different priorities. The Carbonado 145 is a stiff OFF+ 5+2 TeXtreme build with mid-distance power, a large sweet spot, strong two-wing blocking and wood-like feedback. It is demanding for inconsistent players and is now discontinued.
The Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon is an inner-carbon, OFF- blade praised for outstanding value, excellent control and a large forgiving sweet spot on short play, blocks and touch. It is thin and light for fast transitions, with a stiff carbon kick on strong smashes, but it is not fast at light impact, so you must drive the ball with a full swing. Handle quality and unit weight vary.
Choose the Carbonado 145 if you want genuine OFF+ pace and stiff carbon power for mid-distance offense. Choose the Ma Lin Carbon if you are an improving intermediate all-rounder or penholder who wants a controllable, forgiving carbon blade on a budget and are happy to supply your own power.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Carbonado 145 is rated OFF+ and carries more inherent pace. The Ma Lin Carbon is OFF- and only climbs in speed on strong, full-swing impact rather than at light contact.
Which is the better budget option?
The Ma Lin Carbon is the value pick, routinely praised as very cheap for its class. The Carbonado 145 is a premium blade that is now discontinued and harder to source.
Are these blades good for penholders?
The Ma Lin Carbon suits penholders and all-round attackers well. The Carbonado 145 is offered in a penhold handle too, but it is a more demanding, faster blade overall.
Which has more consistent quality between units?
Be aware the Ma Lin Carbon can vary in handle quality and weight, roughly 81 to 91 grams. The Carbonado 145 is more uniform but is now discontinued.