Sanwei Fextra 7 vs Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Sanwei Fextra 7 | Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | 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 | medium-hard carbon, controllable, excellent value |
| handle | FL | FL |
| plies | 7-ply all wood (Limba/Ayous) | 5 ply wood + 2 ply Carbon (limba/ayous with a carbon layer) |
| speed | OFF- | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 6 |
| type | OFF- | — |
| weight_g | 88 | 88 |
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The Sanwei Fextra 7 and the Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon share an OFF- rating and a value reputation, but one is all wood and one has carbon. The Fextra 7 is a 7-ply Limba-over-Ayous all-wood blade with a medium, well-damped, controllable feel and a strong spin-and-loop character. The Ma Lin Carbon is a 5-wood-plus-2-carbon blade with a medium-hard, controllable inner-carbon feel and a large, forgiving sweet spot.
In play, the Fextra 7 is controllable and works with both tacky and non-tacky rubbers, good in defense at all distances, though its OFF- pace limits far-table power. The Ma Lin Carbon is thin and light, making forehand-to-backhand transitions fast and easy, with very forgiving short play, blocks and touch and a stiff carbon kick on smashes. It is not fast at light impact and you must supply your own power with a full swing, and some players find the carbon too much or the handle quality variable. Both weigh around 88 grams.
Choose the Fextra 7 if you want a pure all-wood feel with spin and control for a developing loop game. Choose the Ma Lin Carbon if you are an improving intermediate all-round attacker or penholder who wants a controllable, forgiving carbon blade on a budget and is willing to drive the ball with a full stroke. The Ma Lin Carbon rates a touch higher at 8.4, but the choice comes down to wood versus carbon feel.
FAQ
Which blade has carbon?
The Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon is a 5-wood-plus-2-carbon blade with an inner-carbon feel. The Fextra 7 is a pure 7-ply all-wood blade with no carbon layers.
Which is better for fast wing transitions?
The Ma Lin Carbon is thin and light, making forehand-to-backhand transitions fast and easy. The Fextra 7 is a heavier-feeling all-wood blade focused on control and spin.
Do either of these blades provide easy speed?
Neither gives easy borrowed pace. The Ma Lin Carbon is not fast at light impact and needs a full swing, and the Fextra 7 is a controllable OFF- blade with limited far-table power.
Which suits a penholder?
The Ma Lin Carbon is well suited to improving intermediate all-round attackers and penholders who want a forgiving carbon blade. The Fextra 7 is geared toward developing club-level attackers.