Donic Appelgren Allplay vs Donic Waldner Black Devil Carbon Balsa: Which Should You Buy?
| Donic Appelgren Allplay | Donic Waldner Black Devil Carbon Balsa | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 7.8/10 |
| feel | medium, controlled | stiff, minimal dwell |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | Anatomic / Flared / Straight |
| plies | 5W (abachi core + limba) | 7-ply: Koto outer + carbon + balsa core |
| speed | ALL | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | approx 6.0mm |
| weight_g | 85 | around 84g |
Donic Waldner Black Devil Carbon Balsa
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The Donic Appelgren Allplay is a genuinely do-everything blade with outstanding control and feel on every stroke from looping to blocking to short game. Woody natural all-wood construction combined with high consistency and forgiveness make it ideal for developing players learning every stroke. Speed at ALL maintains safety while allowing tentative attacks. Excellent value when paired with quality non-tension rubbers like DHS Hurricane 3 or Yasaka Mark V creates a setup far superior to pre-made rackets. Trade-off is adequate rather than high speed means attackers will outgrow it as they improve.
The Donic Waldner Black Devil Carbon Balsa is a specialist’s tool for flat-hit and smash-dominant players. Exceptional power output on flat drives and smashes, ultra-lightweight at 84g, and the first carbon-balsa combination in Donic’s lineup deliver distinctive crispness. Enlarged sweet spot relative to earlier Donic composites provides some forgiveness. Near-zero dwell makes heavy topspin and loop play difficult, fragile Koto and balsa veneers chip easily, and it’s too demanding for intermediate or loop-style players.
FAQ
Which is better for a beginner?
Appelgren Allplay. Its do-everything versatility, forgiving character, and lower speed suit learners. Black Devil demands advanced technique.
Which is lighter?
Black Devil at around 84g vs. Allplay around 85g. Negligible difference, but Black Devil is fractionally lighter.
Which suits offensive attacking?
Black Devil for advanced smashers. Allplay for developing attackers. Black Devil’s stiffness and speed suit advanced flat hitters.