Butterfly Maze Advance vs Donic Appelgren Allplay: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Maze Advance | Donic Appelgren Allplay | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
| feel | soft, controlled, slightly stiff for an all-wood blade | medium, controlled |
| handle | FL | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5W (all wood) | 5W (abachi core + limba) |
| speed | ALL+ | ALL |
| thickness_mm | 6.7 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 85 | 85 |
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Both are all-wood, control-first blades aimed at beginners and all-round players, and both make excellent first custom setups. The Maze Advance is a thicker 6.7mm build that plays slightly stiff with low vibration and a clean touch. The Appelgren Allplay is a thinner 5-ply with a medium, controlled feel and strong feedback on every stroke, comfortable for both offensive and defensive play.
Choose the Maze Advance if you prefer a firmer, quieter blade with low vibration and clean blocking. Choose the Appelgren Allplay if you want maximum feel and feedback across looping, blocking and the short game, and you plan to pair it with quality non-tension rubbers like Yasaka Mark V or DHS Hurricane 3.
Neither is fast, and out-and-out attackers will eventually want more pace from either. For learning every stroke with control, the Allplay leans into feedback and do-everything versatility, while the Maze offers a firmer, more direct platform.
FAQ
Which blade gives more feedback?
The Appelgren Allplay. It is known for outstanding feel and feedback on every stroke, from looping to blocking to the short game. The Maze Advance deliberately runs low-vibration with a cleaner, quieter touch.
What rubbers suit the Appelgren Allplay best?
It pairs best with quality non-tension rubbers such as Yasaka Mark V or DHS Hurricane 3. High-tension rubber shifts it toward offense and trims its control, so it is less ideal that way for beginners.
Are both good for defensive play?
Both handle all-round offence and defence, but the Appelgren Allplay is explicitly comfortable for defensive and modern-defensive play, while the Maze Advance is geared toward all-around offence, defence and blocking.