Stiga Carbonado 290 vs Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Stiga Carbonado 290 | Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | very stiff, hard, crisp and direct carbon feel with a high-pitched sound; fast and linear with a low throw | medium-hard carbon, controllable, excellent value |
| handle | FL | FL |
| plies | 5 wood + 2 carbon (7-ply), TeXtreme carbon | 5 ply wood + 2 ply Carbon (limba/ayous with a carbon layer) |
| speed | OFF+ | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 6.2 | 6 |
| type | OFF+ | — |
| weight_g | 95 | 88 |
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The Carbonado 290 and Ma Lin Carbon are both carbon blades but serve different priorities. The 290 is a stiff 5+2 TeXtreme carbon blade rated OFF+, delivering extreme power, very stable blocking and long, low loop drives. It is stiff, around 95 grams and throws very low, asking you to adapt your angle, and it carries a premium price.
The Ma Lin Carbon is a 5 wood plus 2 carbon blade rated OFF-, known for outstanding value and excellent control with a large, forgiving sweet spot. It is thin and light at around 88 grams, making forehand-to-backhand transitions fast and easy, with speed that climbs higher than expected on strong impact and a stiff carbon kick on smashes. It is not fast at light impact, so you must supply your own power.
Choose the Carbonado 290 for top-end OFF+ pace, hard finishing and the most stable blocking. Choose the Ma Lin Carbon for a controllable, forgiving carbon blade on a budget, if you are willing to drive the ball with a full stroke. With a rating around 8.4, the Ma Lin Carbon is the value, control-first option for improving all-rounders and penholders, while the 290 is a premium weapon for advanced attackers.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Carbonado 290 is faster at OFF+, while the Ma Lin Carbon is rated OFF- and is not fast at light impact, asking you to supply power with a full swing.
Which is better value?
The Yasaka Ma Lin Carbon is routinely praised as very cheap for its class, whereas the Carbonado 290 carries a premium price.
Which is more controllable?
The Ma Lin Carbon offers excellent control with a large, forgiving sweet spot, making it easier to handle than the stiff, low-throw Carbonado 290.
Which is lighter?
The Ma Lin Carbon is thin and light at around 88 grams, while the Carbonado 290 is heavier at around 95 grams, though Ma Lin Carbon weight varies between units.