Stiga Carbonado 290 vs Stiga Clipper Wood: Which Should You Buy?
| Stiga Carbonado 290 | Stiga Clipper Wood | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | very stiff, hard, crisp and direct carbon feel with a high-pitched sound; fast and linear with a low throw | solid, medium-stiff, hard fast all-wood with a big sweetspot |
| handle | FL | FL/ST/AN/PEN |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 carbon (7-ply), TeXtreme carbon | 7W (all wood) - limba outer plies over an ayous core, no carbon or synthetic layers |
| speed | OFF+ | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| type | OFF+ | — |
| weight_g | 95 | 90 |
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The Carbonado 290 and Clipper Wood are both Stiga but built on different philosophies. The 290 is a stiff 5+2 TeXtreme carbon blade rated OFF+, with extreme power, very stable blocking and long, low loop drives. It carries more feel than many carbon blades but is stiff, around 95 grams and throws very low, asking you to adapt your bat angle.
The Clipper Wood is a 7-ply all-wood blade with limba outer veneers over an ayous core, rated OFF in real-world play despite its faster reputation. It offers a big sweet spot, confidence-building control, rock-solid blocking and outstanding short-game touch, with a classic all-wood feel that pairs superbly with faster European or Japanese rubbers.
For raw OFF+ pace and finishing power, the Carbonado 290 wins, while for control, feeling and a big forgiving sweet spot, the Clipper Wood is the choice. Note the Clipper runs heavy and has a known splintering tendency that many owners seal. With a rating around 8.4, the Clipper Wood suits all-round attackers and looper-blockers who supply their own power, while the stiffer 290 rewards advanced players who finish points fast.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Carbonado 290 is the faster blade at OFF+, while the Clipper Wood plays in the OFF range in real-world use despite its faster reputation.
Which has better control and short game?
The Clipper Wood, with its big sweet spot and outstanding touch on pushes and drop shots, offers more confidence-building control than the stiff, low-throwing 290.
Does the Clipper Wood need sealing?
Many owners seal it because of a known Stiga splintering tendency on the all-wood surface; the carbon Carbonado 290 ships with a clean limba top and superb finish.
Which is better for blocking?
Both block well. The Carbonado 290 is exceptionally stable for counter-blocking, while the Clipper Wood absorbs incoming energy with rock-solid all-wood blocks.