Weight
81g
Thickness
6.7mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Maze Performance
Butterfly Maze Performance is a classic 5-ply all-wood blade designed for balanced, controlled play. It delivers a soft feel and excellent dwell time, making it a favorite for players who prioritize touch and spin generation. While not the fastest blade, it offers sufficient pace for offensive shots when paired with dynamic rubbers. Its lightweight build and comfortable handle enhance maneuverability, providing a reliable and consistent platform ideal for developing technique and all-round attacking styles.
A traditional 5-ply all-wood construction featuring Limba outer plies. This build contributes to the blade's soft feel, good dwell time, and balanced performance. The noted thick core is key to the blade's solid momentum and overall tactile sensation.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Maze Performance offers a moderate to good level of speed for an all-wood blade. It provides enough pace for offensive shots, especially when combined with fast rubbers, and features a quick response off the bounce. Its overall speed rating is balanced by its primary emphasis on control and feel, making it more of a controlled offensive tool than a pure speed demon.
Control is the standout feature of this blade. Players consistently highlight its exceptional control, attributing it to the soft feel and good dwell time. This allows for precise shot placement and confidence in executing everything from defensive blocks to controlled offensive loops, making it incredibly forgiving and strategic.
The blade delivers a distinctly soft feel, which contributes to excellent ball feedback and dwell time. This allows players to feel the ball on the racket deeply, facilitating effective spin generation and appealing to those who value a natural wood sensation.
The combination of a soft feel, good dwell time, and moderate speed creates a medium-high throw angle. This is conducive to generating effective topspin loops and arc-based attacks, allowing players to lift the ball with confidence.
The 5-ply all-wood construction, combined with its soft feel, provides very good dwell time. This allows the ball to sink into the rubber and blade, making it easier to generate heavy spin on serves, loops, and touch shots.
Maze Performance offers a balanced flex profile. While it has a soft feel, the blade structure provides a responsive and relatively stiff response, aiding in control and direct shot execution without being overly flexible or unpredictable.
As an all-wood blade, it exhibits a moderate level of vibration, providing clear feedback without being excessive or harsh. Some players note a satisfying acoustic feedback on solid shots, indicating a good balance between vibration dampening and informative feel.
Maze Performance is recognized for its good build quality, typical of Japanese-made Butterfly products. The all-wood construction is well-executed, providing a consistent feel and reliable durability. Players often comment on its solid construction and the pleasant, natural tactile feedback it offers during play.
Technology
Maze Performance utilizes a traditional 5-ply all-wood construction. The outer plies are made of Limba wood, known for contributing to a soft feel and excellent spin characteristics. A thick wood core enhances the blade's momentum and solid feel. This design delivers power through classic wood composition, focusing on control, dwell time, and natural feedback without artificial fibers, appealing to players who prefer a pure, classic wood experience.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Michael Maze
Michael Maze, the renowned Danish professional, is the namesake for this blade series. His dynamic playing style—characterized by aggressive offense, quick reflexes, and powerful shots—benefits from blades offering good spin generation and a responsive feel. The Maze Performance embodies these attributes, reflecting the control and touch needed for his strategic, all-court game.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Maze Advance
The Maze Advance is the direct successor to the Maze Performance. It maintains the 5-ply all-wood philosophy, offering a balanced game with excellent control and feel. Considered a refinement, it provides updated characteristics to suit modern play while staying true to the controlled, tactile roots of the series.
Stiga CLCR
The Stiga CLCR is a frequently compared 5-ply all-wood blade. It shares key characteristics with the Maze Performance, such as a clear feel, good control, and a balanced profile. Both blades are often recommended as excellent, reliable choices for developing players and all-round attackers seeking a classic wood experience.