Weight
70g
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
nullxnull
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Oversized
Balance
Balanced
Defplay Classic Senso
Donic Defplay Classic Senso is engineered for the classic defender, delivering exceptional control and a superb, soft feel. This lightweight 7-ply hybrid blade weighs around 70 grams, enhancing maneuverability for long rallies. Its construction combines anigre and limba outer plies with a balsa core and fiberglass inserts, providing excellent vibration dampening and a soft touch. The enlarged head size increases the sweet spot, offering stability for precise defensive play while retaining enough speed for disruptive attacks. It's a reliable choice for players who value precision and feedback.
This 7-ply construction combines soft wood outer plies (Anigre, Limba) with a balsa core and fiberglass inserts. The balsa core provides a soft feel and control, while the fiberglass layers enhance stability and vibration dampening, creating a hybrid design balanced for defensive capabilities with enough speed for offensive actions.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
As a primarily defensive blade, Defplay Classic Senso offers moderate speed. It provides sufficient pace for disruptive attacks and can feel quicker than some official ratings suggest. The balsa core contributes to a softer feel that prioritizes control over raw power, making it effective for controlled offensive actions rather than outright power shots.
Control is the standout feature of this blade. Its construction, particularly the balsa core and Senso technology, delivers exceptional ball feedback and stability. Players consistently praise its ability to handle defensive shots like chops and blocks with precision, making it a benchmark for control-oriented play.
Defplay Classic Senso delivers a consistently soft feel with excellent vibration dampening. The balsa core and Senso handle create a distinct, somewhat hollow sensation that many defensive players appreciate for its exceptional ball feedback and touch on every shot.
With its soft nature and long dwell time, this blade tends to produce a medium to high throw angle, especially on loops and defensive shots. This creates effective arcs over the net, ideal for controlled offensive play.
The soft nature of the blade creates a long dwell time, allowing the ball to sink into the rubber and blade. This enables players to impart more spin, particularly beneficial for defensive maneuvers like chops and controlled loops.
Defplay Classic Senso is characterized by its flexibility, which is crucial for defensive play. This elastic quality allows for deep strokes with good spin and control, effectively absorbing pace from opponents while maintaining shot precision.
This blade is designed to minimize vibration, contributing to its high control and soft feel. The balsa core and Senso technology work together to filter out harsh vibrations, allowing clear ball sensation without discomfort.
Quality is generally regarded as good for its specialized defensive purpose. The use of balsa and fiberglass creates a specific performance profile that some players describe as having a distinct, somewhat hollow feel. While this may not feel as premium as all-wood blades to some, its durability and construction are well-suited for defensive play.
Technology
Donic Defplay Classic Senso features SENSO technology, a patented system that incorporates hollow spaces within the handle to reduce overall weight and enhance ball feel. This contributes significantly to the blade's exceptional control and unique playing sensation. Additionally, fiberglass layers within the construction enhance stability, improve vibration dampening, and expand the sweet spot, supporting its defensive capabilities and overall playing characteristics.
Similar Blades
Donic Defplay Senso
Donic Defplay Senso is a closely related 5-ply all-wood defensive blade, often considered a predecessor or variation. While both offer excellent control, the Classic Senso's 7-ply hybrid construction with balsa and fiberglass makes it generally lighter and softer, creating distinct differences in feel and playing characteristics.
Victas Balsa 2.5
Victas Balsa 2.5 is another defensive blade featuring a balsa core, known for its lightweight feel, excellent control, and soft touch. Like the Defplay Classic Senso, it suits defensive players seeking control and feedback, though specific differences in speed and feel depend on their exact construction and material combinations.