Donic Appelgren Allplay vs Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon: Which Should You Buy?
| Donic Appelgren Allplay | Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 |
| feel | medium, controlled | medium-soft and flexible for a carbon blade, with clear feedback and a large sweet spot |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL/ST/AN |
| plies | 5W (abachi core + limba) | 7-ply (5 wood plus 2 very thin carbon layers) — same outer veneer as the Yasaka Extra |
| speed | ALL | OFF- |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| weight_g | 85 | 87 |
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Both blades prize control and forgiveness, but one is all-wood and one adds carbon. The Appelgren Allplay is a 5-ply ALL-speed blade with outstanding feedback that makes it an ideal first blade, especially with non-tension rubber like Yasaka Mark V or DHS Hurricane 3. It is adequate rather than fast, so improving attackers eventually want more.
The Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a 7-ply blade with two very thin carbon layers, medium-soft and flexible, rated OFF-. It keeps unusually clear ball feel for a carbon blade, with linear power, strong blocking and an excellent short game, making it a natural upgrade from premade bats. Its shorter dwell means heavy spin needs good technique, and far-table attackers may want more pace.
Choose the Appelgren Allplay if you are a beginner wanting the purest all-wood control for learning strokes. Choose the Ma Lin Soft Carbon if you want a bit more speed and stability from carbon while staying forgiving. The Allplay holds a slight edge on overall score, so the call comes down to whether you prefer all-wood feel or a soft carbon step up.
FAQ
Which blade is better for blocking?
The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon. Its thin carbon layers give excellent, stable blocking, while the Appelgren Allplay relies on all-wood control that is steady but softer.
Which is the better first blade?
The Appelgren Allplay is the classic learner blade, with the highest control and forgiveness for building technique. The Ma Lin Soft Carbon works well as the next step up from a premade bat.
Do they feel very different?
Somewhat. Both are controllable and forgiving, but the Allplay is pure all-wood while the Ma Lin Soft Carbon adds carbon for a slightly faster, more stable feel with a shorter dwell time.