Butterfly Korbel vs Donic Appelgren Allplay: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Korbel | Donic Appelgren Allplay | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.6/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | medium, soft and flexible all-wood with long dwell | medium, controlled |
| handle | FL/ST | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5W (all wood) — limba-limba-ayous-limba-limba | 5W (abachi core + limba) |
| speed | OFF- | ALL |
| thickness_mm | 6 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 88 | 85 |
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Both are control-first all-wood blades, but they pitch at slightly different speeds and goals. The Korbel is an OFF-minus 5-ply with high throw and long dwell, leaning toward learning the loop and the short game with genuine offensive capability. The Appelgren Allplay is a slower, ALL-speed do-everything blade with outstanding feedback on every stroke, equally comfortable for offensive and defensive play, which makes it an ideal first blade.
The split comes down to pace and intent. The Allplay is more forgiving and defensively versatile, and it shines with quality non-tension rubbers like Yasaka Mark V or DHS Hurricane 3 for a budget setup far better than a pre-made racket; high-tension rubber trims its control. The Korbel offers more inherent throw and offensive headroom for a developing attacker. Choose the Allplay if you are a beginner or modern-defensive player wanting one controllable blade for every stroke; choose the Korbel if you are building an offensive looping game.
FAQ
Which is the better first blade?
Both are forgiving, but the Appelgren Allplay is specifically a do-everything blade with high consistency that makes it an ideal first blade, including for defensive play. The Korbel is ideal if your first goal is learning to loop.
What rubbers should I pair with the Allplay?
Quality non-tension rubbers such as Yasaka Mark V or DHS Hurricane 3, which give a setup far better than a pre-made racket. High-tension rubber shifts it toward offense and trims its control.
Which is faster?
The Korbel. It is an OFF-minus blade with more throw and offensive headroom, while the Appelgren Allplay is an ALL-speed blade with adequate rather than high speed, so out-and-out attackers may outgrow it.