Stiga Carbonado 145 vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Stiga Carbonado 145 | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 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-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL/ST (also offered as Legend and penhold) | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon (5+2 composite) with the carbon fibers laid at a 45 degree angle for torsional bendability | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | OFF+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.7 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 85 | 87 |
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Both blades use carbon, but they feel very different. The Carbonado 145 is a stiff OFF+ 5+2 TeXtreme build with mid-distance power, a large sweet spot and strong two-wing blocking. It is demanding for inconsistent players and is now discontinued.
The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a 7-ply blade with two thin carbon layers that stays medium-soft, flexible and forgiving. It delivers an outstanding short game, linear and predictable looping with no uncontrollable kicks, excellent blocking, unusually clear ball feel and a large sweet spot at a strong price. Its short dwell makes heavy spin harder, it can feel sluggish off the sweet spot, and aggressive far-table attackers may want more raw speed.
Choose the Carbonado 145 if you want stiff carbon pace and OFF+ power. Choose the Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you are an improving, control-oriented player upgrading from a premade bat who wants softness, forgiveness and a great short game over raw far-table speed.
FAQ
Which is more forgiving for a player upgrading from a premade bat?
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is the natural, controllable upgrade, being medium-soft and forgiving. The Carbonado 145 is stiffer and unforgiving while you are still building consistency.
Which produces heavier spin?
Neither is a spin monster, but the Carbonado 145’s stiffer build helps mid-distance offense. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon’s short dwell makes generating heavy spin harder without good technique.
How do they differ in feel?
The Carbonado 145 is stiff, direct and linear, while the Ma Lin Soft Carbon is medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clearer feedback and a large sweet spot.
Which is better for far-table attacking?
The Carbonado 145 is the stronger far-table option with its OFF+ pace. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon may leave aggressive far-table attackers wanting more raw speed.