You’d get a better deal in playability and sound choosing for carbon fiber than for a wooden bow

Weight and feel

Both bows are around 60 grams, which makes them lighter than most wooden bows. The feeling of the bows is very different. The prodigy is a bit heavy at the tip, making it very stable for detaché (normal) bowing, but a bit difficult for faster and more advanced bowings. This makes it ideal for students, as it’s meant to be. The Zlata bow feels light, stiff and a bit more jumpy and lively. More advanced bowing techniques like spiccato, ricochet and sautillé are easier with the Zlata bow, but lots of beginner and intermediate players will definitely like the stability of the Prodigy.

Sound

Of course judge yourself watching the above video ;). Here I demonstrate different pieces and bowing techniques to give you an idea of the sound and how the bows behave. I think the Prodigy sounds a bit warmer and mellower. The Zlata bow creates a large and bright sound.

Looks

The Prodigy looks a bit more like a traditional wooden bow, while the Zlata bow jumps out more with the weaved grey stick and the brown snakewood frog.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a very very stable bow in the beginner stage of your playing, the Prodigy gives a warm and mellow sound and helps you create a regular sound.

For the future of your violin playing, it’s a bit easier to perform advanced bowing techniques and it creates a larger sound.

It’s for you to decide what fits you best in this stage of your violin playing.

Click here to buy the Zlata carbon violin bow.
Click here to buy the CodaBow Prodigy violin bow.

Zlata personally plays with the round Arcus S9 violin bow. Click here to read more.

Which bow do you prefer?

Let me know in the comments below which one you like best or tell me a bit more about the bow you currently have.