Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive

This is a fantastic blade that allows you to play some really amazing shots with ease. It's made specially for Ma Lin's style, and that shows. I am reviewing the penhold version of this blade (the version that Ma Lin used).

Design: Ma Lin Extra Offensive is designed for playing penhold in the traditional Chinese style (close-to-table attacking and blocking). Shakehand players can still imitate this style -- there is a shakehand player at my club who plays extremely well with this blade -- but be aware that this blade was not designed for shakehand players.

Beginner players: Some people say that this blade is too fast for a beginner. I think this might be a little bit true -- it is pretty fast for a wood blade. But I think anyone can learn well with this blade if you put some slow tacky rubbers on it (I'd recommend Skyline 2 or Hurricane 3, unboosted). If you have experience in another racket sport, or you're at a level where you can keep a consistent rally going, this is a great blade to learn and play with.

Flick & Loop-kill: The place where this blade shines is the forehand flick and the forehand loop-kill. These strokes are so easy to play, and they're very effective at the club level because not many people play the traditional penhold style any more. Penholders will have a great time.

When to hit: Taking the ball right off the bounce is really easy with this blade -- even when looping underspin -- and taking such shots can be incredibly satisfying. You can take the ball at any time, but it's most advantageous to try to play the ball right off the bounce.

Backhand punch: The traditional penhold backhand punch is another place where this blade shines. It's very easy to redirect an opponent's smash and block it to an inconvenient location. This is because the blade has an amazing level of control. You can punch the ball really well with the reverse backhand stroke as well.

Feeling: The feeling of this blade is kind of funny. It doesn't feel like other wood blades, and it doesn't feel like carbon. If I had to describe it, it feels almost like it's hollow when you touch the ball. It gives a lot of feedback in terms of vibration, which some people like and others don't. Vibration is good for learning, though, which is why I think this blade can be good for beginners.

Spin: This blade can create spinny loops from brushing the ball, but they tend to be pretty slow. The low speed can give your opponent an opportunity to counterattack, which is not ideal. Brushing loops will produce a slow (but spinny) ball. Brushing shots are not so satisfying to play, and they leave you feeling like you mishit the ball. Beginners who learn to play with this blade will learn a lot of good techniques, but they will not learn how to play a brushing loop because brushing loops do not feel good.

Fast looping: If you want a fast loop, you need to engage the core of the blade and hit very quickly. This means that looping far from the table will have very low control, compared to other blades which let you hit fast loops with a slower stroke.

My style: I am not very agile and I don't have the best reaction time, but I am tall with a big wingspan, so I tend to play far from the table for a lot of my game. Because of this, the Ma Lin Extra Offensive does not suit my style so well. It's a shame, because I like everything else about this blade, and no other blade competes with this one in the close-to-table game. I played with Ma Lin Extra Offensive for a while and ended up switching to Nittaku Miyabi because of the far-from-table game.

Who should use this blade: Players (particularly penholders) who are agile and reactive enough to play close to the table should seriously consider this blade. Beginners who want to play a fast attack-based game should also consider this blade. Anyone who admires Ma Lin and wants to play like him should try this blade.

Well, I buy this blade cuz of its price and because of my amazement to this blade. I buy it with the Xiom Omega V Euro on FH and Stiga Airoc Astro S on BH (RPB). All of the rubbers are in max thickness. I Bought my blade for $60 (Rp. 700.000 in Indonesia). Its weight is around 84-86g. I bought the penhold version of the blade. Enjoy the review.

FH Topspin : Really great !!! Dwells much that creates a lot of spin. Controllable yet still fast and powerful to topspin from mid until away from the table. But Im not to satisfy to topspinning away from the table because it lacks a bit power so needing more effort.

BH Topspin : BH topspinning with my RPB is also great. It keeps the trajectory low to medium and give the opponents more problems to return the stroke. Try to use a medium to medium soft rubbers on the BH, its feels great.

Open Ups/Loops : Loops and Open ups are very effortless. The all-wood feel gives very good feedback and dwell that create a lot of spin thats hard to return. Very satisfying.

Driving/Hitting : Lacks a bit of accuracy, but its good for me when i use it on BH (that is not RPB [the same side]) still making a good stroke.

Blocking : Feels great. Lacks power a bit.

Counter attacks : Very good. Pair it up with my Xiom Omega V Euro, can create a really effortless counter attacks like topspin, loops and counter drives. Creates good trajectory.

Serving : Feels only a bit bouncy, but still can create a lot of spin.

Short play : Feels a bit lack of control, need to adjust but when done adjusting it, I satisfated for the result. Flicks also good. 3rd ball and 5th ball is awesome.

Conclusion : For me this the weapon that RPB Penholders searching. Its easy to create a very strong 3rd ball. I recommended for mix to agressive players that still like to play with power.

Regards,
William

Using H3 neo on it, fl version. What I have felt is that the blade is very good for close to table,solid touch and perfect feedback, one needs to be precise though as it has less dwell. It has minimal vibrations,which I liked.
Mid and long, one has to apply more power, may be because of my rubber, which needs to be boosted, i think.
The design of the blade is upto the mark, walnut hard outer plies, and handle is very comfortable, unlike Dhs blades, which have short handles.
The con of this blade is less dwell time. It has all the power, but when you need to get the ball more on blade, this blade lacks I think, still working with this blade. Will update as I get acquainted with this blade more and more!!
Note: I have normal commercial version. Wt:92 grms.

This blade overall is a wonderful piece of craft. Not only is this blade pretty cheap at a value of 34-52 dollars depending on the website, but this blade offers really good control. This blade can basically help you direct the ball to any direction you want with enough control and speed to do so. The good this about this blade is that it is not to fast where you can't control your shorts, but at a medium-fast speed to control your shots well. The only con is when you play with the blade away from the table. This blade requires a bit more power/energy on your strokes in order to the ball on the table. Overall, I recommend this blade to anyone that looking for a cheap, not to fast, controllable, and named after a professional blade.

As everyone mention, the feeling. The feeling with this blade is amazing, i cant describe.

Sweetspot is almost entire blade. Mine is 87g.
Fast, medium/hard bit of flexure.
Control is the best ive tested. 9.5 for sure.

I use with Rakza7 max both sides.
I can produce monstruous spin in both slow loop or loop drive shots.My serve is very damaging. The only problem i have is flat hits but i think its more due technic/rubber than this beautiful blade.

I recommend to anyone who like to play until 3m of table, more than that i think will lack some power.

This balde is absolutely amazing for the price. I haven't tried tens of blades only a select few from yasake and nittaku. But by god this blade is so good. I use Hurricane III NEO and it compliments that rubber, like a condom in a whore house. It has great speed, control, feel, and I love the sound it gives off. Great durability I nick this blade on the table all the time it is made of steel! People complain about blocking with this blade but I feel that the blocking is great. It gives more of a low and short bounce, but I prefer that it lets me play extremely aggressive close to the table even when on defense. Honestly I have no negatives for this blade. It is definately worth a try. What do you have to lose, your not going to find many blades at a lower price.

This blade is the same one that Ma Lin used for a few years. (Pen grip).

I recommend this blade for the offensive player. It is fast but you are still able to get good solid control and consistency in your shots as it is not 'over the top fast'. I found it gave me a good overall balance for my close to the table attacking game from both wings as it provided enough speed and was able to counter loop with this blade effectively from close-mid distance.

Because of the durability and hardness of the blade it gives you a very consistent result on the ball even if you don't hit it in the middle every time, yet at the same time the feeling is not compromised as it still feels very nice to play with.

A blade for the player looking for a step up to a more attacking orientated blade for strong loops and counter loops whilst still offering you with control and good solid feeling for touch play close to the net.