Weight
90g
Plies
7-ply
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Black Thunder V1
Donic Black Thunder V1 is engineered for aggressive players who demand high performance and blistering speed. Its unique construction pairs hard walnut plies with a newly developed carbon fiber layer positioned around the middle, creating significant stiffness and raw power. Swedish gluing techniques and Senso V1 technology work to provide excellent feel and feedback, balancing its inherently fast nature. Designed for modern, high-level play, this blade is a top choice for athletes who rely on powerful attacks and dominate fast-paced rallies.
The construction utilizes hard walnut for the outer and inner plies, with layers of carbon fiber integrated around a central, unspecified wood ply. This 7-ply configuration is designed to maximize stiffness and speed for aggressive play, while Swedish gluing and Senso V1 technology are employed to maintain a degree of feel and feedback.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Black Thunder V1 is renowned for its exceptional speed, consistently rated very high by users. This is attributed to its stiff construction with hard walnut and carbon fiber layers. It excels at generating fast, powerful shots, making it ideal for players who dominate points with sheer pace and aggressive drives from any distance.
While designed for speed, the blade offers a moderate level of control according to user ratings. However, its extreme speed and stiffness can make fine control, especially in delicate short game situations, quite challenging. Players report needing precise technique to manage its powerful response effectively.
The blade delivers a stiff, direct feel characteristic of its hard walnut and carbon construction. Senso V1 technology helps provide good feedback for its speed class, but the overall sensation is firm and less forgiving compared to more flexible blades, offering a clear connection to the ball on impact.
The combination of speed, stiffness, and carbon fiber generally produces a medium-high throw angle. This helps players generate powerful topspin shots that clear the net comfortably, making it effective for aggressive looping and driving from mid-distance.
Due to its extreme stiffness and fast nature, Black Thunder V1 has a relatively short dwell time. This facilitates quick ball acceleration off the rubber, favoring direct drives and smashes, but reduces the window for brushing and imparting heavy spin compared to blades with a longer, softer contact.
Black Thunder V1 is characterized by its extreme stiffness, a direct result of its hard walnut and carbon fiber construction. This contributes significantly to its high speed and direct, linear feel, making it one of the least flexible offensive blades available, suited for players who prefer a solid, unwavering hitting platform.
The combination of carbon fiber and hard wood plies results in a blade with moderate to high vibration transmission. While Senso V1 technology aims to manage this, players can expect clear, distinct feedback through the handle, which some may perceive as pronounced vibration, especially on off-center hits.
Specific quality ratings are scarce, but the use of premium materials like hard walnut and carbon fiber, along with specialized Swedish gluing techniques, indicates a commitment to high-quality manufacturing. The blade feels solid and well-crafted, built to withstand the demands of performance-oriented, aggressive play.
Technology
Donic Black Thunder V1 incorporates Senso V1 technology, a specific handle design aimed at reducing weight and enhancing feel and vibration transfer to the player's hand. The blade also utilizes a Swedish gluing technique, known for its precise application and contribution to the blade's overall performance and consistency. The core construction features a unique integration of a newly developed carbon fiber layer around the middle ply, combined with hard walnut plies, to achieve exceptional speed, stiffness, and direct power for offensive play.
Similar Blades
Donic Carbo System Offensive
Donic Carbo System Offensive is another blade that utilizes carbon technology for enhanced speed and power, sharing a similar offensive philosophy with the Black Thunder V1. While their specific constructions differ, both are positioned as high-speed options within the Donic range, designed for aggressive players seeking maximum pace and direct hitting capability.