Donic Appelgren Allplay vs Stiga Carbonado 145: Which Should You Buy?
| Donic Appelgren Allplay | Stiga Carbonado 145 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | medium, controlled | 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/ST/AN | FL/ST (also offered as Legend and penhold) |
| plies | 5W (abachi core + limba) | 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon (5+2 composite) with the carbon fibers laid at a 45 degree angle for torsional bendability |
| speed | ALL | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 85 | 85 |
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This is a control-first learner blade against a fast carbon engine. The Appelgren Allplay is a 5-ply all-wood, ALL-speed blade with outstanding feel and forgiveness, making it an ideal first blade and an excellent value with non-tension rubber. It is adequate rather than fast, so committed attackers eventually move on.
The Carbonado 145 is an OFF+ blade with 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon layers laid at a 45 degree angle, giving stiff, linear power yet lab-confirmed wood-like vibration. It has a large sweet spot, very strong aggressive blocking and feedback experienced players love, but it is demanding for players still building consistency and is now discontinued and hard to find new.
Choose the Appelgren Allplay if you are still learning strokes or value all-round control at a low price. Choose the Carbonado 145 if you are an intermediate-to-advanced two-wing attacker who wants stiff carbon speed with honest feedback. The two are close on overall score, so the decision comes down to your level and how much raw pace you can handle.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Stiga Carbonado 145 by a clear margin. It is a stiff OFF+ carbon blade with strong mid-distance power, while the Appelgren Allplay sits at the slower ALL speed.
Which is more forgiving for an improving player?
The Appelgren Allplay. Its high control and forgiveness suit developing players, whereas the Carbonado 145 is demanding and unforgiving until your consistency is solid.
Is the Carbonado 145 still available?
It is discontinued and hard to source new, so availability is a real concern. The Appelgren Allplay remains widely available and inexpensive.