Donic Waldner Ultra Senso Carbon

Blade Review

I’ve been using the blade JP01 2.00mm on FH and JP02 2.00mm on BH. Carbon sheets are placed like Butterfly’s innerforce series and the handle is like Stiga’s WRB with holes on both sides divided by sheets of the blade. Before WSUC, I used Butterfly’s Maze (Tackifire on both sides), Schlager Carbon (Bryce SpeedFX on both sides), Stiga’s Ebenholz 7 (Boost TX and TP), Rosewood 7 (Calibra LT Spin and Sound), Carbo 7.6 WRB (Vega Elite on both sides), and Joola’s Falcon Fast Plus (Sigma Euro and Joola Maxxx 500).

Ultra Senso Carbon is not as speedy as Donic claims. I’d say it’s an overall OFF- (double minus) blade, depending on circumstances. On passive plays, you can find the control of an ALL+ blade due to its medium-stiff wooden sheets and inner-placed carbon sheets. When it comes to active plays, you can find the aggressiveness of an OFF/OFF- blade because when you hit fast, the carbon sheets help you hit a powerful shot.

I think this blade’s characteristics depend on rubbers and players. With dynamic rubbers or players, it could turn into a powerful weapon yet likely controllable compared to others.

Introduction

Hey guys, I recently purchased a new bat since my previous one was about 6 years old. When I was shopping, I wanted a bat that would be slightly more powerful than my old one. After playing with my new bat for about 2 months, I can confirm that it is much more powerful. While I liked it at first, I’ve also noticed that I have to put in more focus and effort to consistently return balls.

Some information about myself

I would label myself as a medium-skilled player with a rating of about 1300. I’ve been playing for 2-3 years with 2 training sessions per week on average. I’m 21 years old, and my play style is fairly all-around, leaning towards the offensive side. I can serve, shove, spin, and block comfortably. However, I hope to improve my offensive skills.

Current situation

Yesterday, a beginner player at my club bought a new bat. I asked if I could try it, and I immediately noticed that it was lighter than mine. After playing some rallies, I was surprised at how much more consistent and controlled I felt. The diagonal forehand shots that had been a challenge suddenly seemed effortless. We then switched to opening and looping, and once again I felt totally in control of these techniques that had been difficult before.

I also tried a carbon blade belonging to a friend. While it was much lighter than mine, I’m not sure about the rubbers he used. Again, I felt like I had much more control than with my own bat, especially when serving. I could suddenly serve much shorter again, similar to what I could do with my older bat. Opening and blocking also seemed more precise. I was baffled about how I could play much more consistently and comfortably with a random bat that I’ve never played with before than with my own bat that I train with twice a week.

The first time I beat a 2100-rated player was with this blade. It offers magical control. The speed is on the slow side, especially when looping. However, when hitting directly, it packs a punch. You’re less likely to one-shot people with loop kills, but counter looping is a breeze, as if you were using Hurricane.

The Donic Waldner Ultra Senso Carbon is a faster version of the Donic Waldner Senso Carbon, albeit with less control. It is recommended to use non-maximum rubbers with this blade. It excels in blocking, smashing, and imparting spin. Overall, it is a solid choice for table tennis enthusiasts.

Having had the blade for a year, I can compare it with the simple Senso and the Ovtcharov Senso V-1. My recommendation is to buy the simple Senso. The Ultra is a very hard blade with minimal dwell time. The only rubber I can say fits well on it is the Bluefire M3. The Ultra’s great advantage is its weight. It is lightweight and should be paired with light to medium-weight rubbers. I recommend using softer Bluefires. The blade’s head is smaller, measuring 155 x 149-150mm. Despite being purported to loop well, it has a low throw, and one must be highly skilled to loop effectively or activate the carbon for powerful shots. Notably, Waldner himself always used the simple Senso, indicating his preference for its capabilities over the Ultra.

I bought the Waldner Ultra Senso Carbon (WUSC) and the Waldner Senso Carbon (WSC) simultaneously. I equipped both blades with Tibhar 5Q 2.1mm on the forehand side and FX-P 2.1mm on the backhand side.

Both bare blades weigh 85g, resulting in a weight of 178g with rubbers attached. On the WUSC, the third, center, and fourth layers have equal thickness, while the outer layers are thin. The carbon layer is adjacent to the center layer. On the WSC, the center layer is thick, with four much thinner outer layers, resembling a typical five-layer blade. The carbon layer is also adjacent to the center layer.

Waldner Ultra Senso Carbon (WUSC)

The WUSC offers a delightful woody feel. The entire blade acts as a single sweet spot, and its stiffness is noticeable. The point of impact is easily discernible. Smashing from a distance resembles firing a cannon. Backhand drives executed with quick, small movements produce remarkable speed and spin. Countering topspin is exceptional. Opponents quickly realize that insufficient speed on their topspin shots will result in heavy punishment. The blade allows me to perceive the spin imparted by the ball, enabling me to generate counter-spin and direct the ball accurately down the baseline. For underspin returns, a light, quick brush results in the ball dropping sharply after crossing the net. Looping chopped balls provides excellent spin and speed variation. This blade excels in hard-hitting scenarios, delivering exceptional dwell time and feel. Even touch shots are possible. However, the blade’s middle gear is less reliable, and short-game play requires a soft hand to control the ball precisely. Flicks demand good timing. Overall, this blade requires proficient technique to unleash its full potential.

**Both blades excel in their own ways, and acquiring both simultaneously has enhanced my understanding of my natural playing style. Currently, I favor the WUSC with softer rubber for a more pronounced woody feel, but I intend to retain both blades in my arsenal.

If you are an intermediate or even a beginner player, this blade can do wonders for you. It is good for everything you can think of. However, it is important to beware what rubbers you put on. If you put on rubbers with soft or even medium sponge, it will come out slow because the carbon layer is placed deep within the wood and it is harder to activate. But to compensate for that, this is a great opportunity for short games or away from the table when the carbon activates on harder strokes or punches. So if you manage to put the right rubbers on it, you will go places with it.

Durability is great. It is a very good blade for me and I think it is worth a try for a lot of people. But to be honest, I don’t think it is that good for intermediate and advanced players.

Update: After some time, I realized that this blade lacks some kick in speed and I have to put very fast and hard rubbers on it to play my offensive style of game effectively, so I decided to move on to another blade. Also, its quality is not that good in comparison to other blades. In my perspective, this blade is not OFF or manufactured OFF+ rate, but I think it’s actually OFF-. I’ve noticed in other Donic products that their rating system is not very accurate and they always make their products seem faster than they actually are (since they use terms like OFF++ which don’t really exist). Nevertheless, it’s still a great blade.

Update4: Throughout the year, I experimented with numerous blades but ultimately returned to the reliability of this one. I’m enamored with its speed, which I can adjust as needed, making it a timeless winner.

Update3: It’s definitely an Off blade, fast for certain… I’m convinced this blade has multiple gears, as my perception of its speed fluctuates. Recently, I sought a slower blade but switched back to tame this one instead. I believe it’s an ideal blade. (My other blades are Xiom Vega Pro (slightly faster), Viscaria (very fast), DHS PG9 (too fast), Jonyer H ii (slower).

Update2: It’s ALL+, offering excellent control and versatility. I can always revert to this blade when dissatisfied with my performance with faster blades.

Old review1: I’ve used this blade for the past 3.5 years… in fact, our main team members opted for this blade due to its exceptional speed and control.

I’ve combined this blade with Acuda S1, S2, Rakza 7, Rakza 7 soft, Rakza 9, and Coppa gold rubbers so far.

Its senso handle transforms it into a personal companion, enhancing your control naturally.

However, its speed can pose a challenge, especially with fast rubbers… it depends on the skill level. It’s OFF-, and I recommend it solely for players with reasonably developed skills (it’s likely a favorite of attacking top spinners like myself).

Notably, the blade excels at looping or high-speed top spin against both backspin and top spin… It’s also proficient at blocks, flicks, smashes, counterfeits, and flat shots. It performs well at the table, mid, and long distances from the table.

This is undoubtedly a top-tier blade… yet its pricing is comparatively reasonable.

Individuals struggling to lift the ball from backhand may reconsider purchasing it. Otherwise, it’s a fantastic choice, a loyal companion for the long haul!!! It’s highly durable and has no issues during rubber changes. It features a superb grip and premium wood.

This blade has a nice balance of speed and control. It’s great for playing both close to and far from the table, making it a good choice for loopers. However, it may not be the best option for beginners.

I’ve been using the Rakza 7 Soft 2.0 with this blade, and it’s been working very well for short games. It allows for strange angles, but my style of play requires more speed for backhand hits. For spin, it’s okay. I had a strange feeling using the blade with the Tibhar 1Q, as it’s soft and lacks consistency. However, with the Tenergy 05, it’s like a dream.

Having read a number of very favorable reviews on this blade, I decided to go ahead and buy one.

First of all, let’s get one thing quite clear. This is NOT an OFF+ blade as clearly marketed by Donic. I have absolutely no idea where Donic have come up with this from, and I would say a rating of ALL+ to OFF- would be far closer to the mark.

Secondly, it features a rather unusual handle design with it being far slimmer than any other blade I have tried. This takes some getting used to, as does the fact that the handle is also partly hollow. I am really not quite sure exactly why this is the case. I’m guessing to make the bat feel more top-heavy.

I am using the blade with Andro Rasant Grip on the forehand and Donic Bluefire JP03 on the backhand. After playing with it for some time, I am slowly getting used to the unusual quirks with this blade. I have to say that I am a little disappointed that its description is very different from how the blade performs.

Este mango dice que es ofensivo, yo lo encuentro entre all-around u offensive minus. Además, todos los golpes se sienten en el mango. Les recomiendo el original, el Senso Carbon.

Versatile and easy to play carbon blade. Stiff enough for blocks and smashes, flexible enough for topspins. It has a soft, woody feeling thanks to the limba outer ply, resulting in a huge amount of control and sensations.

This blade is not for beginners. In fact, it is very fast, has excellent control, a great feel, high dwell time, and is very sensitive. Overall, it is a complete and balanced blade for loop-oriented play.

This is a fine blade for controlled offensive players.

Played with this for a couple of months now. I give it a 7/10. This sucker is FAST.

Update: after 8 months of trying to improve my technique, some coaching, trying other blades, looking at coaching clips, borrowing a robot, and starting competition… I like this paddle. I have Jupiter for the forehand and Mercury 2 for the backhand.

I find the vibration to be excessive. Every time I attempt to block an opponent’s ball, even during practice, the blade vibrates heavily, which impairs my touch. It’s possible that I am not accustomed to this level of vibration. In any case, this blade does not suit my playing style.

Very good control and the feeling on this blade is the best! I would say it’s an off- blade, not too fast.

After experimenting with stiffer and harder blades (Stiga tube carbo, DHS-PG7, Yasaka dynamics), I went back to softer, wood-feeling carbon blades (Butterfly Balsa carbo 5, Butterfly Maze off, Donic Waldner SUC). I always use the same combo of rubbers (Xiom Sigma europe on FH, Globe 888 (MP) with Japanese sponge on BH).

Overall testing gave me the final conclusion: DWUSC is unbeatable in all performances I need for my control-aggressive playing!! Whatever I choose during the game, I realized; aggressive shots on both sides, passive/active blocking, pushing, serving, looping, driving…everything works perfectly from each part of the arena!! I must also say that I cut the head to the shape of Butterfly Balsa carbo 5 and solved the problem of head heaviness. The time for experiments is now over—this is my final choice!!

I’m a recreational player and had this blade for a while. I love to loop/drive, but no matter what rubbers I put on (fast, medium, or slow), it just doesn’t work for me. My battered old Primorac is a much better blade. My new Galaxy T8 highlights the lack of speed of this Donic.

A good blade for all-around play. It offers a good balance of control and power, making it suitable for players of all levels. The blade is also relatively lightweight, which makes it easy to maneuver. The only downside is that it is not as durable as some other blades, so it may not be the best choice for players who are hard on their equipment.

Review text:

I have used this blade for several weeks now with Hexer on the forehand side and Flarestorm II on the backhand side. I must say that this blade truly excels, and Donic’s description of it could not be more accurate.

In the past, I have also played with the older version of this blade, the WSC (not Ultra), which was an excellent fast all-around blade. However, there were a few difficulties with it, particularly in terms of its vibration during smashes, its tendency to send the ball high when blocking, and its somewhat head-heavy feel.

The Ultra version addresses these issues by sacrificing a little bit of control but solving all of the problems mentioned above. Both blades (despite having carbon layers) have a woody feel to them and offer exceptional control during passive and active play. They are also excellent for topspin against any type of backspin.

While the Waldner Ultra Carbon Senso is not an incredibly fast carbon blade (it falls somewhere between Off- and Off), it is certainly a looper’s dream blade.

This is a fast offensive blade with maximum control. It is slightly slower than the M.Maze blade, but it has greater control. In my opinion, it behaves a lot like it.

It is a little bit front-heavy and has a tendency to feel dead in your hand compared to the M.Maze blade. However, with a fast rubber, it will come alive.

If you want a do-it-all carbon blade, this should be among your alternatives. It is your pick.

Although it’s rated OFF+ by Donic and is made of carbon, it has great control with good speed (but nothing like a Boll TriCarbon). It works well with both softer and harder rubbers. It’s suitable for beginners using Mark V or Sriver and for advanced players with rubbers like Tenergy.

A good blade for players who like to make offensive strokes with a lot of control. I think it is a little bit fast for all-round players.

WSUC blade is definitely not for an aggressive looper/hitter/attacker, but more of an all-round blade. This blade performs differently with different rubbers. With this blade, you will need something like T05, because a soft sponge and slow rubber will just give you a defensive style in a game… Unless you are Jan Ove Waldner, then you could play with anything :)

In my honest opinion, this is a good starter blade for people in the 1200~1600 rating range. I recommend BTY TM ALC ST, which is the best blade I have played with so far.

Good luck to all!

This is a very solid blade with a very good feel. Two layers of thin carbon surround the ayous core. This gives the blade a very good wooden blade feel as the carbon is far away from the surface wood layer. It also strengthens the blade so that when doing hard smashes, the blade does not vibrate so much that you can feel the ball wobbling. If you are a controlled offensive player, you will definitely like this blade!