Butterfly Maze Advance vs Sanwei Fextra 7: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Maze Advance | Sanwei Fextra 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | soft, controlled, slightly stiff for an all-wood blade | Medium, woody and well-damped with moderate vibration; controllable offensive feel close to a Stiga Clipper but a touch crisper and not quite as stiff |
| handle | FL | FL |
| plies | 5W (all wood) | 7-ply all wood (Limba/Ayous) |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 6 |
| type | — | OFF- |
| weight_g | 85 | 88 |
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Both are all-wood control blades, but they differ in pace and construction. The Maze Advance is a lightweight ALL+ 5-ply around 82 to 85 grams, coach-recommended as a first proper blade with low vibration and a clean touch for short play and blocking. The Fextra 7 is a slightly faster OFF- 7-ply with Limba outer plies and an Ayous core, very spinny and controllable, and a standout for value at roughly 20 to 30 US dollars.
The feel is the dividing line. The Maze Advance is soft and controlled but plays slightly stiff for an all-wood blade because of its thicker 6.7mm build, and some owners find it too firm. The Fextra 7 is medium, woody and well-damped, close to a Stiga Clipper but a touch crisper, though its sweet spot can feel smaller with the crisp sound only on centered hits. The Fextra is the more offensive of the two and better suited to spin and loop-oriented play at all distances.
Choose the Maze Advance if you want a light, forgiving blade for an all-around offence and defence style with reliable short play, especially as a step up from a pre-made paddle. Choose the Fextra 7 if you want a cheap, controllable 7-ply with more spin and a touch more pace, and you accept that its weight varies a lot from 84 to 94 grams. The Fextra 7 rates 8.3 to the Maze Advance’s 8.2.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Fextra 7 is the faster of the two, rated OFF- with a controllable offensive feel, while the Maze Advance is ALL+ with moderate speed that limits its offensive ceiling.
Which is cheaper?
The Fextra 7 is the budget pick, typically around 20 to 30 US dollars. The Maze Advance is affordable too, often around 66 US dollars.
Which has more consistent quality?
The Maze Advance has near-perfect consistency in community ratings and a steady weight around 82 to 85 grams. The Fextra 7 has weight that varies a lot between units, from 84 to 94 grams.
Which is better for spin and looping?
The Fextra 7 has very spinny 7-ply construction and excellent control for spin-based and looping play at all distances. The Maze Advance generates good spin without tacky rubber but has a moderate speed ceiling.