Donic Appelgren Allplay vs Nittaku Violin: Which Should You Buy?
| Donic Appelgren Allplay | Nittaku Violin | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | medium, controlled | Soft, warm and flexible with long dwell, premium hand-crafted Japanese all-wood feedback |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL |
| plies | 5W (abachi core + limba) | 5-ply all wood (Kiri core with White Ash outer plies) |
| speed | ALL | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.3 |
| type | — | ALL+ |
| weight_g | 85 | 86 |
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Both are all-wood control blades, but they serve different budgets and ambitions. The Donic Appelgren Allplay is a 5-ply abachi-and-limba blade rated ALL, with a medium controlled feel, outstanding consistency and forgiveness and strong value, especially with non-tension rubbers. The Nittaku Violin is a premium 5-ply all-wood blade rated ALL+, with a soft, warm, flexible feel, long dwell and Made in Japan craftsmanship.
For pure control and learning every stroke the Allplay is the friendly do-everything choice, comfortable for both offensive and defensive play and an ideal first blade. The Violin adds more spin, feel and a touch more speed at ALL+, with pinpoint placement that suits developing offensive players, though it is relatively stiff when new, benefits from a break-in period and needs harder or tackier rubbers to reach its full potential. The Violin carries the slightly higher rating here at around 8.4, and the premium price is sometimes questioned versus cheaper blades.
Pick the Allplay if you are a beginner or all-round player who wants one controllable, forgiving blade to learn the game cheaply, paired with quality non-tension rubbers. Pick the Violin if you are an all-round or developing offensive player who prizes feel and spin and wants a premium all-wood blade, including as a strong first custom blade for intermediates leaving fast carbon setups.
FAQ
Which blade is better for a complete beginner?
The Allplay is the more beginner-focused do-everything blade, with high consistency and forgiveness, ideal paired with non-tension rubbers. The Violin leans toward developing offensive players.
Which blade is faster?
The Violin is rated ALL+ versus ALL for the Allplay, so it has a touch more speed, though it is still slower than its billing suggests and weak at long distance.
Is the Violin worth the premium price?
It offers premium Made in Japan craftsmanship, warm feel and pinpoint control, though some reviewers question the price versus cheaper blades. The Allplay is the stronger value pick.
What rubbers pair best with these blades?
The Allplay pairs best with quality non-tension rubbers such as Yasaka Mark V or DHS Hurricane 3. The Violin comes alive with tensor rubbers and needs harder or tackier sheets for its full potential.