Weight
85.4g
Thickness
5.8mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
MK Carbon
Tibhar MK Carbon is a high-performance offensive blade developed in collaboration with Kenta Matsudaira, offering a unique blend of power and refined feel. Its 5+2 ply construction with Koto outer veneers and innovative Crypto Carbon layers delivers exceptional speed and spin capabilities. Designed for aggressive players, it provides a direct playing sensation with a large sweet spot and enhanced control. Japanese craftsmanship ensures superior build quality, making it a top choice for those who demand precision and power in their game. This blade balances raw carbon power with nuanced wood feedback for a distinctive playing experience.
The 5+2 construction features Koto outer plies for crispness, an inner Kiri core, and two Crypto Carbon layers directly beneath the top veneers. This configuration creates a blade that's fast with direct feedback, offering a firmer, more resonant feel than traditional ALC blades.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
MK Carbon delivers impressive speed thanks to its 5+2 construction with outer carbon layers. Our testing confirms it's a fast blade ideal for aggressive offensive play, allowing for potent attacks and quick exchanges. While it shares speed characteristics with comparable blades, players report it maintains excellent speed even on lighter touches, making it versatile across different stroke intensities.
Despite its high speed, MK Carbon offers exceptional control that surprises many players. The unique Crypto Carbon material and construction provide more pronounced ball feel and longer dwell time than typical outer-carbon blades. This combination allows for precise ball manipulation, accurate placement, and controlled offensive strokes, making it accessible for players transitioning to faster equipment.
MK Carbon delivers a firmer, more direct feel than traditional ALC blades, characterized by a distinct 'click' sensation rather than mushiness. While it maintains noticeable stiffness from its outer-carbon construction, it provides clear feedback that resonates through to the hand. The blade offers good dwell time, allowing players to feel secure ball contact before release.
MK Carbon produces a medium-high throw angle that facilitates steep, attacking topspin shots and good arc on serves and loops. This trajectory works well for offensive play but may require careful rubber pairing for optimal performance with low-arc rubbers.
For an outer-carbon blade, MK Carbon provides surprisingly good dwell time. The Crypto Carbon material and overall construction allow the ball to sink deeper into the blade surface than some comparable alternatives. This extended contact period enhances spin generation and control, particularly beneficial for looping and delicate touch shots.
This blade maintains significant stiffness due to its outer carbon construction, prioritizing speed and direct feel over flexibility. While it offers some dwell time benefits, it lacks the pronounced flex found in all-wood or inner-carbon blades. This stiffness supports a fast, powerful offensive game with immediate response characteristics.
MK Carbon offers moderate vibration that contributes to its feedback characteristics without being excessive. While providing a direct feel, it's not overly rigid, allowing players to sense ball impact and trajectory clearly. This vibration level helps with shot perception while remaining comfortable during extended play sessions.
MK Carbon showcases outstanding Japanese craftsmanship with meticulous attention to detail in wood finishing and overall construction. Players consistently report a solid, premium build that feels durable and performs consistently. The blade's quality contributes significantly to its positive user experience and reliable performance across different playing conditions.
Technology
MK Carbon features Tibhar's innovative Crypto Carbon material, an advanced composite layer believed to be a type of arylate carbon. Strategically placed directly beneath the Koto outer veneers, this material creates a distinct playing feel that's firmer and more resonant than traditional ALC blades while maintaining substantial dwell time. Japanese craftsmanship ensures precision in every detail, from veneer selection to handle design. This combination of innovative materials and meticulous manufacturing results in a blade optimized for offensive play, offering a large sweet spot, high speed, and excellent feedback.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Kenta Matsudaira
As the blade's namesake and development partner, Kenta Matsudaira uses MK Carbon as his signature equipment. Designed to match his aggressive, spin-oriented style, the blade provides sufficient elasticity for lifting the ball upward and harmonizes well with his preferred rubbers like Tibhar Hybrid MK.
Manav Vikash Thakkar
Thakkar's selection of MK Carbon demonstrates its effectiveness at high competitive levels, particularly for players seeking powerful offensive capabilities with good control characteristics.
Tobias Hippler
Hippler's use of MK Carbon highlights its appeal among European professional players, showing its versatility and performance across different playing styles and competitive environments.
Bastien Rembert
Rembert's adoption of MK Carbon further establishes its reputation as a competitive choice for players who prioritize both power and control in their offensive game.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Viscaria
MK Carbon shares similar construction with Viscaria as an outer-carbon blade with Koto top veneers. Our testing shows MK Carbon offers comparable speed but with slightly better control and a firmer, more pronounced feel. Many players prefer MK Carbon's dwell time and feedback over Viscaria's harder, stiffer characteristics.
Butterfly Timo Boll ALC
While both are outer-carbon ALC blades, MK Carbon provides a harder feel with more ball retention compared to Timo Boll ALC's faster ball separation. Players find MK Carbon easier for generating rotation due to its grip characteristics, though Timo Boll ALC might feel slightly faster in some situations.