Butterfly Timo Boll Allround vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll Allround | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | Medium-soft, classic all-wood dwell with good tactile feedback | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL/ST/AN/XXS | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5-ply all wood (koto outer) | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | ALL+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.5 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | ~85 | 87 |
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The Timo Boll Allround (8.3) is a pure all-wood blade designed to help beginners master placement and consistency without overwhelming them with speed or feedback complexity. The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon (8.1) bridges control and power, delivering a forgiving carbon blade with an excellent short game, linear blocking, and strong cost-to-benefit for players upgrading from premade bats.
Ma Lin Soft Carbon’s 7-ply construction with thin carbon layers gives a medium-soft and flexible feel that remains controllable and forgiving for a carbon blade—notably different from stiffer carbon designs. Its short dwell time makes generating heavy spin harder without good technique, but the large sweet spot and clear ball feedback suit improving control-oriented players. Timo Boll’s medium-soft dwell and 5.5mm thickness are explicitly beginner-friendly; Ma Lin Soft Carbon, though excellent for improvers, demands better technical understanding. Both offer solid, predictable responses, but Timo Boll is the purer beginner stepping stone, while Ma Lin Soft Carbon serves as a controllable upgrade for players who have mastered fundamentals and want carbon speed without losing the forgiving, predictable feel of softer blades.
Select Timo Boll if you are just starting and want an all-wood blade that teaches technique. Select Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you are improving, want to transition toward carbon, and prioritize short-game control over raw speed.
FAQ
Which is better for beginners?
Timo Boll Allround is explicitly suited for beginners. Ma Lin Soft Carbon is better for improving players moving up from premade bats.
Which has better short game?
Ma Lin Soft Carbon excels with outstanding short game on pushes, touches, and serves. Timo Boll provides good control but is not specifically noted for short game prowess.
Which generates more spin?
Timo Boll’s longer dwell supports spin generation better. Ma Lin Soft Carbon’s short dwell time makes generating heavy spin harder without excellent technique.
Which is lighter?
Timo Boll at approximately 85g is lighter than Ma Lin Soft Carbon at 87g, reducing fatigue during practice.