Sanwei Nova Carbon vs Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Sanwei Nova Carbon | Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| feel | stiff, linear, direct | stiff outer oak veneer, medium throw, solid dwell, consistent blocking |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | Flared, Straight, Anatomic |
| plies | 5-ply: Hinoki + carbon + Kiri core | carbon composite (oak outer + carbon fleece CFNW inner, 5+2 layers) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 6.2 | 5.5-5.6 |
| weight_g | 90 (plus or minus 5g) | 87-90 |
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The Nova Carbon is a stiff, direct intermediate carbon. Its Hinoki character feels solid, and linear feedback suits mid-distance attacks. Trade-off: stiffness limits dwell and demands precise contact for best results.
The Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon is a genuine Swedish-made carbon blade with excellent blocking and near-table consistency. Its forgiving CFNW carbon fleece delivers a larger sweet spot, and medium throw suits broad rubber compatibility. Quality construction and comfortable wide handle inspire confidence. Drawback: early ball release makes heavy topspin harder, weight around 87-90g feels substantial, and the speed rating is slightly overstated. Both are intermediate carbon, but EK is Swedish-crafted and control-blocking-focused; Nova is stiff and attack-linear. Choose Nova for attacking precision; pick EK for refined Swedish consistency.
FAQ
Which blocks better?
Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon. Its consistency and wider sweet spot excel at near-table blocking.
Which is faster?
Roughly equal at OFF speed. Nova slightly more linear; EK more consistent across the blade.
What about quality and construction?
Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon. Its Swedish-made status and wide comfortable handle signal superior refinement.
Which sweet spot is larger?
Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon. Its forgiving CFNW fleece gives a noticeably larger, more accessible sweet spot.
Which for club intermediate transition to carbon?
Yasaka Sweden EK Carbon. Its refined construction and blocking consistency suit skill-building better than Nova’s stiffness.