Donic Persson Powerplay vs Stiga Carbonado 145: Which Should You Buy?
| Donic Persson Powerplay | Stiga Carbonado 145 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | Hard outer koto plies with internal foil damping layers; crisp feel with excellent feedback | stiff, direct and rather linear with a large sweet spot, but the very thin TeXtreme layers keep the vibration close to a 5-ply all-wood blade |
| handle | FL | FL/ST (also offered as Legend and penhold) |
| plies | 7-ply all wood | 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon (5+2 composite) with the carbon fibers laid at a 45 degree angle for torsional bendability |
| speed | OFF | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.9 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 90 | 85 |
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Carbonado 145 and Persson Powerplay represent the all-wood-to-carbon boundary. Carbonado 145 (8.4 rating) is a stiff, fast OFF+ carbon blade with lab-confirmed wood-like vibration despite TeXtreme layers, offering large sweet spot and aggressive mid-distance blocking. Persson Powerplay (8.2 rating) stays pure all-wood OFF with superior dwell, more forgiving all-round play, and better penholder feel.
Carbonado 145 suits intermediate-to-advanced two-wing attackers craving carbon speed and stiffness with wood-adjacent feedback. Persson Powerplay serves players who prefer all-wood consistency, softer feel, and are willing to sacrifice 0.2 speed points for versatility.
FAQ
Is Carbonado 145 truly wood-like despite carbon?
Lab testing confirms vibration patterns mimic 5-ply all-wood despite TeXtreme layers. Feedback is communicative for an outer-carbon blade.
Why was it discontinued?
Stiga cycled the lineup. It does many things well but excels in no single area, making it replaceable by newer designs.
Which suits aggressive blocking better?
Carbonado 145. Carbon stiffness and large sweet spot make it superior for both forehand and backhand blocks.
Can beginners handle Carbonado 145?
No—it is demanding and unforgiving. Persson Powerplay is far more suitable for building consistency.