Butterfly Korbel vs Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Korbel | Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | medium, soft and flexible all-wood with long dwell | medium-hard carbon, controllable, excellent value |
| handle | FL/ST | FL |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — limba-limba-ayous-limba-limba | 5 ply wood + 2 ply Carbon (limba/ayous with a carbon layer) |
| speed | OFF- | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 6 |
| weight_g | 88 | 88 |
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Learn more.
These two share the same OFF-minus speed and 88g weight but get there differently. The Korbel is pure all-wood, soft and flexible with long dwell, so it rewards touch, spinny serves and learning to loop by feel. The Ma Lin Carbon adds an inner carbon layer for a medium-hard, more direct response and a stiff kick on smashes, while still keeping a large, forgiving sweet spot.
Neither blade hands you free pace; both ask for a full swing. Choose the Korbel if you want the cleanest feedback for developing feeling and the short game, and pairing flexibility across European, Japanese and tacky Chinese rubbers. Choose the Ma Lin Carbon if you want a taste of carbon firmness on a tight budget and value its thin, light, fast-transitioning build.
For an all-round looper or improver learning strokes, the Korbel is the safer teacher. For an intermediate attacker or penholder who wants extra crispness for the money and will drive the ball, the Ma Lin Carbon is the pick.
FAQ
Which is faster, the Korbel or the Ma Lin Carbon?
Both are rated OFF-minus and neither gives much pace at light impact, so you supply your own power. The Ma Lin Carbon climbs higher than expected on strong contact and adds a stiff carbon kick on smashes, while the Korbel stays a flexible all-wood medium speed.
Is the Korbel better for beginners learning to loop?
Yes. The Korbel’s soft, flexible all-wood build with long dwell is ideal for learning to loop and develop feeling before moving to carbon, and it is forgiving with a high throw for spinny serves.
Which is the better budget choice?
Both offer strong value. The Korbel is cheaper than comparable Butterfly all-wood blades, while the Ma Lin Carbon is routinely praised as very cheap for an inner-carbon blade. The Ma Lin Carbon’s weight does vary widely between units, around 81 to 91g.