Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive

I bought this blade prepared with Yasaka Razka 7 max on B/H and Razka PO max on F/H.

First impressions of this blade after one session were exactly what I hoped for. I am a powerful player and I needed a blade that was stiff enough for the short pips but also had enough flex for my backhand topspin attack. This blade gives me the best of both, as I can flick serves with both f/h and b/h with ease. Together with the control factor, it makes topspins, smashes, and drives so easy.

This blade is all wood, so it has some vibration, but not excessive. I like the fact that you can feel the ball on the blade. I am old school, coming from the all-wood blade era.

Because this blade isn’t bouncy, it is perfect for serve and return, in addition to having enough power to finish the point. I wanted a blade that would compensate for the power of the Razka short pimple rubber. With this blade, I am able to hit on the forehand with real confidence that the ball will land where I choose it to.

It is very true that this blade is limitless with power. If you have the correct technique and timing, then this blade is devastating with the correct setup. I definitely won’t be changing anytime soon. Fantastic quality, I must add. The blade is finished far nicer than some well-known blades that are 4x the price.

All-around excellent blade. Perhaps not as fast as a VIS, and on the lower range of OFF blades, but it provides a much flexier and enhanced feel. When executing a stroke, it still delivers all the necessary speed without a noticeable lack of power. Produces a high-pitched smack when struck with force.

I play the Chinese Penhold grip. I used this blade for about 10 months. In comparison to the Hurricane Hao 1, this blade was way more consistent and easier to use for me. Everything felt better: loop, power, control, and block. All became much more consistent as soon as I switched.

This blade is fast if you have a strong stroke with good technique. There is a reason Ma Lin was able to dominate with this “bad boy.” But the speed and power on this has a limit. Long rallies from a few feet back take the wind out of you. This blade is not for long rallies. It can assist you to deliver finishing strokes and consistent short play. But don’t rely on it for long rallies.

My gameplay using this blade was playing a short game to my advantage and awaiting the opponent to push a little too long or high for me to either execute a strong loop, loop kill, or flick to control the rally. I was easily able to FH flick and RPB flick using this. Good vibrations, speed, control, and consistency.

My setup when this was my game racket using this was FH: TG2 blue sponge, BH: Tin arc 3. I currently have 802-40 mystery3 short pips on FH with this, and it is quite easy to use.

The hard outer layer allows me to hold the ball when looping, letting me get more spin. Additionally, the hard outer layer lets me block well. While fast, it is not uncontrollable. For the price, I can’t think of a better blade.

Nice sweet spot (even better than some carbon blades), not crazy fast with decent control.

Nice craftsmanship, excellent quality of wood, doesn’t splinter.

For the price (35 euros in my country), very good value.

Great blade for people learning how to play offensively. It has a huge sweet spot, making it easier to hit the ball cleanly.

Super light, it takes time to get used to it if you aren’t used to very light blades. Amazing for loops and offensive shots.

Despite similar speed to my TSPW, this blade offers slightly less control. The walnut outer ply imparts a sharp feeling and enhances stiffness compared to the TSPW. I tested it with soft to medium-soft rubbers characterized by medium-high throw, yielding satisfactory performance. The speed and control ratings were adjusted to “10” to align with the blade’s approximate actual speed, which I believe is closer to the TSPW.

I have the CPEN version. When I first used it 4 months ago, I didn’t like it because it felt too ‘weak’ for me. Maybe that’s because I was using a very hard JPEN with short pimples so I got used to the ferocious power. I didn’t use The MA LIN much after that, but TODAY … after some thought, I took it out and did some heavy and fast LOOPING with it. WOW … what a beast! The blade immediately felt like a Bullet flying out from a gun! My 2 regular sparring players were stunned at the speed and insane amount of spin this Blade produced.

Here’s the thing you need to know about using this blade: You NEED to go all out with your LOOPING … with proper LEG power technique involved to give the velocity required to be unleashed on this blade. If you can do it correctly, you will be rewarded with delightfully fast and powerful looping that will torment all your opponents! This blade is not for the lazy player. It demands an aggressive approach for it to be fully utilized.

It has average flex … which is good for returning hard smashes so that the ball doesn’t fly out of the table. The weight is still pretty light with 2 inverted rubbers on it. When I used RPB with it, it was easily executed. I tried the Handshake version too … and it is equally good.

Overall … this blade is good only if your technique is solid. Recommended for Intermediate to Advanced players only. NOT for beginners…

Quite slow for the new plastic ball era. And I must mention that there are lots of vibrations. You need power to use this blade effectively. It is good for looping as well as blocking. However, for this era, it is better to try Yeo7 Power.

Very balanced blade with medium speed and light flexion. It has a medium hard outer layer but not too much, giving it a wide sweet spot. The handle is comfortable, providing a great feeling. It pairs well with all types of rubbers and is highly recommended for intermediate and advanced level players. It makes blocking, topspin, backspin, spin, and service easy to execute. Overall, it is one of the best 5-layer blades available.

I have developed my technique with this blade. There’s nothing missing on this blade. It has enough flexibility for spin and enough hardness for the smash. It provides a good level of control, and the ball feeling is also fine.

It does have a slight vibration. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their game if they are at a mid-level. The YEO deserves its fame. I think it is the king of five-layer blades.

YEO is one of the best 5-ply blades for a reason. Its merits lie in its linearity and feeling, provided by a hard outer ply and a soft core. It offers a superb short game, easy ball placement, and a great range of speeds. Its stiffness allows for stable passive blocking.

The demerits include a lack of catapult away from the table, as the power it has is physically demanding for continuous attack. Additionally, the hardness of the outer ply necessitates precision, as imprecise shots can suffer in quality or result in overhit balls.

Overall, this is an excellent blade for developing players. However, it may be too demanding for players over 40, as 7-ply blades offer more catapult.

I’ve been playing with the CPEN version of this blade, and I must say I’m impressed. It’s a very good blade overall, and I understand why it’s considered a classic by many players.

YEO or YMLEO is a renowned 5-ply all-wood blade from Yasaka, crafted in Sweden. Boasting immense popularity, it’s justly considered a classic. The walnut surface layer bestows a slightly firmer touch while maintaining ample feedback. Despite its moderate stiffness, it boasts excellent balance. Its sweet spot exceeds average dimensions, making it adept for both close and distant play. Its versatility extends to both celluloid 40 and the newer plastic 40+ ball. Composed of walnut, spruce, ayous, spruce, and walnut, it measures 6mm in thickness and exhibits exceptional craftsmanship. My blade weighs approximately 88g. Both the ST and FL handles offer remarkable comfort. In essence, the YEO or YMLEO is a versatile blade suitable for players of all levels, including beginners with a long-term commitment. Its affordability adds to its appeal.

My blade of choice at the moment. I have a JTTA approved version. The straight handle is just perfect for my large hands. The blade feels solid without unwanted vibrations. Stroke feedback is very good, speed and control are well balanced and can be tuned by choice of rubber. Highly recommended for intermediate level.

A very good blade for those who want to have great speed, excellent control, and want to loop and counterloop fast.

This blade swiftly elevated my gameplay. I utilize the CPEN (JTTA) version, outfitted with a Xiom Omega V Europe 2.0 on the forehand and a Friendship Super Soft 2.2 on the backhand. I find this setup to be effective, though it may add a noticeable weight. Looping is effortlessly executed, generating exceptional spin. Blocking with this combination is impeccable.

If you possess strong defensive skills but harbor a desire for aggressive attacks with formidable speed and spin, this blade is the quintessential choice. It strikes a meticulous balance between power and control. While superior blades may exist in the market, their acquisition entails a significant financial investment, costing two to three times the price of this exemplary blade.

Good price, good quality allwood blade. My defensive skill went up a lot!

First time using YEO, I struggled a little attacking… Speed is quite slow, but that was because I did my stroke / loop wrongly… After constant learning and improvement… I really like this blade!

Lightweight blade, along with H8 (FH) and Vega Pro (BH), I feel I’ve progressed a lot, the percentage of the ball went in increased a lot, chopping is also possible. Looping becomes easier, the feeling is good. I think this blade is one of the best 5 ply allwood blade for a long time…

If you play like Ma Lin or Xu Xin, this is the blade for you. It’s ideal for all-out close-to-the-table attackers or away-from-the-table power loopers. In short, this blade is designed for power players with extreme strokes who can take full advantage of its capabilities.

Frankly, this blade is very good in all its aspects. However, its disadvantage is that it is not still crafted as per expectations.

I used the Yasaka Rakza7 on both sides but had problems getting the ball on the table, so I tried using short pips on the forehand side with Spectol. That was difficult too.

Then I purchased the Aruna Off+, which has a flared and flexible handle for forehand and backhand but was still not satisfied. So I purchased the DHS CW-C blade, which is a nice blade and has a big head & face, nicely well-crafted handle, and good performance on the table.

So after my observation & conclusion, I came to know that the Yasaka Malin has a short handle and the head & face in a bit small, so I added a piece of extra 6mm wood to the handle to make it a bit long and sanded the handle to fit my hand exactly.

Now I can topspin with short pips easily and have good control. I am trying to put DHS skyline neo 3 on it. This blade is a very good blade, but craftsmanship is a bit poor so players have no idea why they can’t get good power on this blade. I figured it out after a year. Now this blade performance in really deadly.

I hope in the long run Yasaka improves and upgrades this blade with a beautiful head & a bit bigger face like DHS & a flared handle like those of Stiga blade.

I recommend this blade for players of all types.

King of Control

This is a well-balanced blade with a large sweet spot. It excels in control. The soft and flexible blade makes it easy to drive and spin. It is the only blade that I’ve found which can redress Skyline Neo TG3’s weakness in control, giving it many gears. However, if you prefer speed, you will need a fast rubber, such as Donic Blue P1 Turbo. Even with P1 Turbo, control is still a key feature of this blade.

Review for CP JTTA Version

My blade weighs 91 grams, making it heavy. It is good for smashing, but it doesn’t have the same feel and power for smashing as a 1-ply hinoki blade.

Mine is 87g, paired with Rakza 9 & 7 soft. I think this is a very good all-wood offensive blade with a reasonable price. If you are an offensive-minded style of play, get used to it with this blade before upgrading to a more speedy and less controlled blade.

After all, this is the legendary YEO blade… a must-have blade.

Good blade. Despite being hard, it has a lot of flex and many gear options. It is slow on touch strokes but explosive on harder swings.

The sweet spot is big, but the feeling of the sweet spot is not as distinct as in most composite blades due to the vibrations that follow after hitting the ball. The vibrations are more pronounced with the new plastic ball.

This makes it unsuitable for consistent hitting, but looping is a dream.

Overall, it is a very nice blade.

I use the JTTAA version, and I do not know how the regular version plays.

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This is a great all-wood blade. It’s fast but not too fast, has great control, and the stiffness and hardness are good for the attacking style. It’s cheap and of good quality. The FL handle is comfortable. Coming from the Korbel/Primorac, this is an upgrade (a better upgrade).

With this blade, I started playing TT as a penhold grip. Then I changed to a Classic grip and it was still a good blade. The thing that I like more about this blade is the control.

Short game keeps the ball low with good spin, block is nice with a tensor rubber. The middle of the blade is hard, which gives a faster speed.

Overall, it is a great blade for the price. I recommend the blade for players that like a great feel for control and offensive style.

Advanced Blade (my favorite)

Nice touch, amazing speed, and great control. You can play from mid-distance or away from the table - it has excellent speed. Good for topspins from both forehand and backhand. Dwell time is less unlike all-round wood blades. This is my current blade.

Great blade. Very consistent, with a very good feeling of its speed and block in your hand.

This blade is the best I’ve tried in years. I’ve been using the Donic Ovtcharov Senso Soft Carbon (penhold). Then I got the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra OFF blade. It is so fast. I can play long distance, medium distance, and close to the table. I am currently using it with the new Yasaka Rising Dragon on my FH and Yasaka Rakza 9 on my BH. It is the best combination ever. You can have loads of speed with loads of control. Every offensive player can use this blade.

Blade: Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive (J.T.T.A.A ver) CS FH: Xiom Omega V Tour DF (max) BH: Butterfly Solcion (1.9)

From my extensive experience with table tennis (TT) blades, I have used both carbon and all-wood blades from reputable brands like DHS, Yasaka, Stiga, Xiom, and Butterfly. Among these, the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive blade stands out as one of the most controllable yet powerful blades for close to medium distance table play. While I cannot provide the exact weight of my blade, it is noticeably lighter than the Stiga Clipper WRB and thinner than the Stiga Ebenholz V. Despite its thickness, it offers a solid feel and excellent touch.

After more than six months of experience with this blade, I can confidently say that it provides exceptional consistency, allowing for precise ball placement on the table with any stroke (assuming adequate training). My backhand (BH) rubbers produce topspin and forehand (FH) opening loops with remarkable accuracy, and the blade generates sufficient power to finish points effectively. While smashing is not as exceptional as 7-ply or carbon blades, it is still more powerful than the average 5-ply blades. The blade also offers excellent touch on pushes and serves, and while I do not practice chop strokes as a Chinese penhold user, I cannot comment on its performance in that aspect.

In summary, I highly recommend the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive blade for offensive loopers who prefer close to mid-distance table play. Its reasonable price and exceptional performance make it an excellent choice for those looking for a blade that combines control and power. I have purchased two additional blades as replacements due to its exceptional quality.

Very nice blade. It allows you to have a good feel and I have no regrets buying it. The weight isn’t very consistent, but I took one which was 88g. It is heavy but powerful. I could still respond to RPB fairly quickly. The blade vibrates a little, but overall it is the perfect setup for me. I paired it with the new Yasaka Rising Dragon Max as FH and Yasaka Raksa 7 soft Max as BH. The only issue is that the workmanship isn’t as great as Nittaku blades.

Nice blade. Perfect for blocking because of its stiffness and hardness but, amazingly, it’s very good for topspin. Speed is comparable to TB Spirit but the all-wood feeling of YEO is much better. Overall it’s a very good blade, stable and predictable, good for every kind of strokes. It’s not hard to understand why it’s one of the all time best all wood blades. Highly recommended!

I give this blade a 10/10 because I enjoy it a lot. My YEO weighs about 85 grams, and I pair it with a Rakza 7 (max) and M2 (max). It was somewhat heavy for the initial sessions, but I have become accustomed to it, and I believe it enhances my looping/driving techniques.

I used to have a poor drive style, which resulted in the incorrect execution of the entire movement (completing the drive with my arm near my shoulder), creating a lot of problems. With YEO, I have developed a more appropriate style. The sweet spot is extensive, providing significant power and an exceptional feel. While the short game and blocking are adequate, this blade is primarily intended for looping and driving. It is an excellent 5-ply blade from Yasaka.

As everyone mentions, the feeling with this blade is amazing, indescribable.

The sweetspot is almost the entire blade. My blade weighs 87g and is fast, with medium/hard flexure. The control is the best I’ve tested, a solid 9.5.

I use Rakza7 max on both sides and can produce monstrous spin in both slow loops and loop drive shots. My serve is very damaging. The only problem I encounter is with flat hits, but I believe this is more due to my technique/rubber than the blade itself.

I highly recommend this blade to anyone who prefers playing within 2m of the table. Beyond that distance, it may lack some power.

One of the best 5ply all-wood off blades ever, this blade is a spin monster with a very good feel. It’s more powerful than my Innerforce AL/ALC with better touch. The sweet spot is a bit smaller than a composite blade but still decent thanks to the Walnut top ply and 6mm thickness.

I recommend choosing a blade around 88-90 grams, as the lighter ones around 82-85 grams may feel hollow.

I don’t notice any loss of power compared to my 869-gram Viscaria, but the 5ply all-wood feeling is the best in table tennis. The dwell time is long, the blade vibrates so nicely on every shot, and it’s a pleasure to play with.

I’ve paired it with M1 Turbo/M1/M2 and it was very good every time. It’s also one of the best blades I’ve ever played for blocks.

But again, the main feature of this blade is the feel/touch. I own 12+ Butterfly composite blades, and since I’ve tried the YEO, I stick with it. It offers power, dwell time, great feel, and is a spin monster.

I ordered a JTTAA one around 88-90 grams to see if it can be even better and to have a backup. I’m also looking forward to the Nexy Zealot, which seems to be the Nexy version of the YEO.

The blade balance is also great, which is another reason I prefer the YEO to the Stiga Rosewood V, Ebenholz 5, and Emerald VPS. The YEO is also more powerful while being easier to use in short games.

And the best thing about this blade is its fair price for premium quality. I still can’t believe the price, around €45 in Europe, and you can find the JTTAA version for around €60. A professional version for the Chinese market also exists, usually priced at around €350, but I can get them for around €130, which I might consider.

A good blade for penhold grip, but not so much for shakehand grip. It provides excellent control but lacks power. It performs well for close-to-table play, but is not suitable for counter loops.

Every aspect of this blade is exceptional.

Ottimo telaio. Non propriamente facilissimo da utilizzare. Parabola media con Donic Acuda S2 max fh e Baracuda BigSlam 1,9 bh. Grande scambio e ottimo smash. Si blocca anche bene con un buon feeling. Solo un po’ leggero (87g). Ottimo il manico flared. Da provare.

YEO is a blade that is suitable for me with Tenergy 05 on forehand and Boost TS on backhand. The spin is great. Regarding the control, it’s suitable for me, it’s not too fast like a carbon blade, but you will get a good feel during the game. It’s a highly recommended blade. Most importantly, it’s not too expensive.

The blade is hard and requires a high level of finesse to play well. It is suited for advanced players. Notably, it is fast for a 5-ply wood blade.

Great for close to the table play, I played with it about 3 weeks ago. I think the speed is off, but the control is very good. It also has an excellent feeling when hitting the ball. I used DHS Neo Skyline 3 in the FH and Bryce Speed on BH on this blade.

For me, [the blade is] fast enough and has good control. The ST handle fits my game well. I like the total weight of my racket, [which is] 2.0 Bluefire M2 FH - 2.0 Rakza7 Soft BH. It’s a balanced offensive weapon.

Was a bit disappointed with the quality of this blade. The wood grain looks like it’s going in two different directions!

I have owned this blade for seven months now and play with it two to three times per week. I use DHS Neo Skyline TG2 for forehand and 729 Focus III Snipe for backhand. The blade’s lightweight definitely enhances its controllability, but there’s more to it than that. This blade is exceptional. It complements the characteristics of the rubbers attached to it. If the rubber offers low control, the blade elevates it. Conversely, if the rubber provides high control, the blade maintains its stability. It’s an excellent choice if you’re contemplating purchasing the “Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive Blade.”

This blade is fast between off- and off (Butterfly’s rates) and is lighter than other wood blades. I found its feeling to be not firm because of the type of wood that makes it up. Summary: Good speed and control (Not great, but it’s OK)and light!

I have been using this blade with srivers on both sides for about half a year. I just can’t believe how much my game has improved. It just pushes you to go harder and harder and eventually end up hitting the best shots you have. The loophole here is that it needs a bit of control from the player. And that’s how I like it. Otherwise, you would hardly feel like playing your game once you reach a level with the blade.

It can loop as much as you want and can block rather quickly on the shorter play. The long block or blocking farther from the table is a bit of a headache as the ball doesn’t take off as you would wish. But a gentle nudge forward will see the ball go back to your opponent rather swiftly. It does give me a feel that’s really satisfying.

My only complaint is that this does not come in a straight handle model. That would be a great addition to its credentials. The grip, even now, is heartwarming with the blade just transforming into an extension of your hand!

Overall, it’s a bomb, not a blade. If you master it, you can just leap into higher levels of the game!

Absolutely great weapon. I had this with two sheets of LKT rubbers. Very very light, those LKT are mushy rubbers, but when I paired with this blade, I have an excellent power. I feel like using a tensor, but also has a decent spin.

EDIT (mid 2011): It is not that soft. I was using hard carbons before this, and this blade feels soft compared to carbons. However, I have tried more wooden blades, and I have changed my mind - this is a medium-hard blade with low flex. After more time with Rakza, it works really well. The ball has some vibrations when hit, but it works great except for this (I actually like it more and more day by day). Tenergy also works well, so it is not suitable for Chinese rubbers only. I have not tried it with a soft rubber yet, but I guess flex + soft rubber is not a good combination. I recommend it with rubbers. Great blade.

EDIT (April 2012): After many hours with this blade, I can say much more. I have a non-jttaa regular version. It is softer compared with most carbon OFF blades, but in the range of all wood blades, it belongs to the group of harder ones. It works very well with Rakza (I must say that after all), Tenergy or Coppa X1. These rubbers are medium and make a good harmony together. DHS Neo rubbers work well as well (I do not recommend rubbers harder than 40°). I paired this blade with Palio Thor’s recently, and it was not that good for me. Thor’s is a tacky, hard rubber. It is playable, but hard rubbers like Thor’s require more flex. I have heard that the jttaa version is different; I do not know how it plays. Conclusion: all wood, stiff blade, low flex. Works great with medium-hard euro/jap rubbers and DHS Neo up to 40-degree sponge. If you use harder rubber, look after a more flexible blade.

This review is for the JATTA version only! The regular version has a lot of vibrations and is not as solid as the JATTA ones.

Made for spinny shots and power looping just like Ma! Great at blocking as well and has very good feel. I highly recommend this one!

I have had this blade for a month and it’s a very good one! I recommend it to everyone! It’s very fast with a lot of control. The looping is very good and you can feel the ball.

Fast but good for close table only. Stable but strength-less while playing mid-distance rallying. Make a control racket with classic rubbers. Good for beginners or close-to-table fast attackers.

Pros:

- Very good blade for the price. — Best suited for ratings between — 1300 to 1900 (USATT). — Fast blade with exceptional power. — Pairs well with any type of rubber. — Provides a strong and powerful feel when looping, if used correctly. — Amazing for smashing, with the ability to execute powerful shots with ease.

Cons:

- Control can be difficult to master for beginners.

I think this blade is fast and not easy to control compared to my Innerforce ZLC, which is slightly slower. The faster speed makes it more difficult to control, so some adjustment to your playing style may be necessary.

This is a powerful offensive blade. It’s a little bit stiffer than I would prefer, but I’ll adjust to it for sure. You really need to have proper loop stroke techniques to produce good topspin and lift chopped balls. Where this blade really shines is in fast smashes, drives, and counterloops near the table. It might be your weapon of mass destruction if you can handle it.

Really happy with this blade. It has a perfect blend of speed and control for offense.

It has quite a good controlled feeling. However, it requires a lot of effort to generate reasonable power, speed, and loop.

I have found a brand new special version with Ma Lin face below the handle. It is lighter and harder than the Normal Ma Lin Offensive.

Mine is 76g, my old one was about 85g. Ok, just talking about the new one, the Ma Lin face version.

There were few pieces to choose from, most of them are around 84-89g, but I found one of them at just 76g and when I knocked the blade, the tone was the second highest of them.

For me, I prefer heavier, because my style is looping from mid-table, but the saleslady said “it’s very hard to find a blade that is light but fast.” Well, that’s a deal.

The Ma Lin face version has a slimmer handle, it made my RPB easier. And because it’s lighter, so I can swing faster and create more spin.

This blade is good in serve and very good in close table smash; when the ball comes just a little higher, I can smash. The funny thing is, when I smash harder, it will get more accuracy.

Touch and Control are just fair, because my blade is just 76g and a little hard, also not so good in mid to far distance to the table.

This special blade has completely changed my style from mid-table looping to close table fast attack. Then the speed of smash is the fastest of all my blades, even faster than some Butterfly ZLC, Stiga Dynasty Carbon Xu Xin version.

This is the first blade I ever used. Paired with Hurricane 3 FH and Dignics09C BH, I was able to create fast attacks with ease and was able to give tons of spin when I RPB.

Overall, it is a high-quality blade and very cheap as well. I would definitely recommend this blade to penholders.