Donic Appelgren Allplay vs Nittaku Acoustic: Which Should You Buy?
| Donic Appelgren Allplay | Nittaku Acoustic | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.7/10 |
| feel | medium, controlled | Crisp all-wood feel with a large sweet spot, long dwell and a signature acoustic sound |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL/ST |
| plies | 5W (abachi core + limba) | 5-ply all wood (Limba outer veneers over a tung and ayous core) |
| speed | ALL | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 85 | 88 |
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These two all-wood blades both put control and feel first, but they sit at different points in a player’s journey. The Appelgren Allplay is a 5-ply ALL-speed blade built for learning every stroke, with outstanding feedback, high forgiveness and excellent value, especially paired with non-tension rubber like Yasaka Mark V or DHS Hurricane 3. Its limitation is speed: out-and-out attackers will outgrow it.
The Nittaku Acoustic is a premium OFF- 5-ply that adds genuine attacking pace while keeping class-leading control, a large sweet spot and long dwell. It loops well from near and far, has the signature crisp acoustic sound and flatters both grippy European and tacky Chinese rubbers. The downsides are a premium price and a standard flared handle that runs small for larger hands.
Choose the Appelgren Allplay if you are a beginner or all-round player wanting one affordable blade to master technique. Choose the Acoustic if you are an intermediate-to-advanced looper who wants more speed and refinement without losing feel. The Acoustic scores higher and is the better long-term blade.
FAQ
Which blade is better for a complete beginner?
The Donic Appelgren Allplay. It is a controllable, forgiving do-everything blade at a budget price, ideal for learning all strokes, while the Nittaku Acoustic is faster and costs considerably more.
Which has more attacking speed?
The Nittaku Acoustic. Rated OFF-, it has enough pace to finish points without carbon, whereas the Appelgren Allplay sits at ALL speed and is adequate rather than fast.
Does the Acoustic handle run small?
Yes, the standard flared handle is small and thin, so larger hands often add grip tape or choose the LG or G-Revision version. The Appelgren Allplay also offers an AN shape that the standard Acoustic does not.