VOLLEY KING
02-26-2012, 06:14 PM
Intro:
I've seen a renewed interst on these boards of the Babolat PD and I thought a comparison of the two sticks would be appropriate now.
Both sticks have similar measurements and similiar power levels yet there are some very interesting differences .
It's should be noted that this comparison is without the Donnay customization kit added.
The Donnay with the customization kit plays like a different racquet in that the power is increased by quite a bit ......in fact it's a bit to powerful for me that way.
The Babolat PD is an awesome stick and depending on your level and style of play ....picking the PD or DP will be a tough call.
As I am a serve and volleyer and hit with a lot of slice I chose the DP.
I would say if your an aggressive baseliner you will like the Babolat better . On the other hand if your a serve and volleyer or a true all court player you will probably like Donnay better .
Control:
DP : 7/10
PD: 5/10
Both sticks sacrifice a bit of control for some serious freaking power.
The DP leads in this department . The 97 inch head size really helps with control . It's more maneuverable than the PD and equal in power.
The DP is also thinner thus making it more maneuverable .
With the full weights in the DP it is even more powerful than the PD but the control goes way down as well. With the full weights in I would say that the DP has less control than the PD .
I still have to experiment with the customizeable weights of DP. I've only played all or nothing with the customizable weights. I wonder what would happen if I only put in a weight at 12:00 or only put in 5g in the butt?
I think the weights will also help the DP outdoors in the wind or on the clay. It packs a serious punch this way.
However for now in the winter time Indoors a "naked " DP seems to have more control and equal power to the PD
Power:
DP: 10/10
PD: 10/10
Both sticks have about the same power and are perfect for my game.
I do not need to add any weight to either racquet .
Balls seem to explode off both sticks but not so much power that it's going over the fence.
I know that more advanced players will scoff at such high powered sticks ....especially K90 users.....and I'm not saying they are wrong . But I personally love the power level of both sticks for my game.
I read somewhere that James Blake has switched from the PD to the Donnay. I'm not surprised since both sticks have similar power levels. The change to a Donnay must have been seamless.
slice:
DP: 8/10
PD: 5/10
As all Donnays these things slice great. I will put a Donnay up against almost any racquet on the market in the slice department .
The DP is thicker than most Donnays and does not slice as well as their 15mm sticks....but at 21.5 it's still freaking thin and slice great.
The PD is just to thick for effective slices . It doesn't come close to the Donnay in this department.
Topspin:
DP: 8/10
PD: 10/10
Quite frankly Im not a great topspinner and admittedly I cant give a good review in this department. But I would say the Babolat is stronger in this department.
The power of the two racquets are similar but the Babolat seems to be more powerful near the top of the head . I personally seem to just get more topspin with the Babolat .
I also feel a bit more comfortable with a larger head from the baseline.
I have to give the edge to Babolat in this department .
First Serves
DP: 10/10
PD: 10/10
Power, control all there for both sticks ....and Im a big server.
I love both these sticks for serves.
Second serves
DP: 10/10
PD: 8/10
This is the most ignored stroke in tennis reviews. Everyone always just classifys this category as "serves".....but first and second serves are quite different .
I also feel most people ignore their second serves and it's probably the most important stroke in the game.
Everyone has a pretty good first serve but how many have a great second serve? It's second serves that win matches.
The Donnay wins hands down here. The control is just far better on second serves. The smaller head size and thinner frame allows you to go all out and be aggressive even on your second serve.
Volleys:
DP : 7/10
PD: 5/10
Neither stick were the best for volleys....but the DP was better as the smaller head and thinner beam made it more maneuverable.
Drop shots
DP 6/10
PD 6/10
Both sticks were lacking in this department. I had a hard time with all that power hitting and controling and effective drop shot.
return of serve:
DP : 9/10
PD : 8/10
The DP is maneuverable as all hell and the returns are powerful and very deep. It may be the best return of serve racquet Ive ever played with.
The PD is also awesome and it's size makes returns easy....but it's slightly less maneuverable than the DP.
So I have to give the edge to the DP in this dept.
Arm friendliness:
DP: 8/10
PD: 4/10
The Donnnay is a clear winner here. It's a pretty flexible racquet and the Babolat is very stiff and one of the least arm friendly racquets on the market.
I experienced really bad elbow pain with the Babolat using a full ALU string job.
The Donnay pro one is not nearly as good as the other Donnays in arm friendliness yet its still GREAT compared to most other racquets and way better than the Babolat .
The flex rating on the Donnay is only 64 while the Babolat is at a wholping 72zzzand yet they are equal in power .
No competition here and probably the only category where Donnay is far and away the better racquet.
Conclusion:
I have chosen the DP for my game. I think the DP is a bettwr serve and volley stick or all court stick....But if you have more of an Aggressive baseline modern game or a topspin game then the Babolat is probably a better choice.
If you are a more accomplished player who likes the K90 or the Kblade then I don't think either of these sticks are for you. Rather you should try the Donnay Pro one I'm the 18x20 version .....especially of you are a Kblade user . The 18x20 is virtually the same stick as a Kblade but packs a bigger punch. But I digress .
If arm friendliness is important to you then it's a no brainer ....go with the Donnay.
The Numbers compared
DP97in² / 626cm²
PD 100in² / 645cm²
Length
DP27.00in / 68.58cm PD27.00in / 68.58cm
Weight
DP 11.50oz / 326g
PD 11.10oz / 315g
Balance Point
DP4pts HL
PD4pts HL
Swing Weight
DP327
PD308
Frame Stiffness
DP 64
PD 72
Beam Width
DP 21.5mm
PD 26.0mm
Tip / Shaft
DP 21.5mm / 21.5mm
PD 23.5mm / 22.5mm
Power Level
DP Low-Medium
PD Low-Medium
String Pattern
DP 16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Pd 16 mains /19 crosses
I've seen a renewed interst on these boards of the Babolat PD and I thought a comparison of the two sticks would be appropriate now.
Both sticks have similar measurements and similiar power levels yet there are some very interesting differences .
It's should be noted that this comparison is without the Donnay customization kit added.
The Donnay with the customization kit plays like a different racquet in that the power is increased by quite a bit ......in fact it's a bit to powerful for me that way.
The Babolat PD is an awesome stick and depending on your level and style of play ....picking the PD or DP will be a tough call.
As I am a serve and volleyer and hit with a lot of slice I chose the DP.
I would say if your an aggressive baseliner you will like the Babolat better . On the other hand if your a serve and volleyer or a true all court player you will probably like Donnay better .
Control:
DP : 7/10
PD: 5/10
Both sticks sacrifice a bit of control for some serious freaking power.
The DP leads in this department . The 97 inch head size really helps with control . It's more maneuverable than the PD and equal in power.
The DP is also thinner thus making it more maneuverable .
With the full weights in the DP it is even more powerful than the PD but the control goes way down as well. With the full weights in I would say that the DP has less control than the PD .
I still have to experiment with the customizeable weights of DP. I've only played all or nothing with the customizable weights. I wonder what would happen if I only put in a weight at 12:00 or only put in 5g in the butt?
I think the weights will also help the DP outdoors in the wind or on the clay. It packs a serious punch this way.
However for now in the winter time Indoors a "naked " DP seems to have more control and equal power to the PD
Power:
DP: 10/10
PD: 10/10
Both sticks have about the same power and are perfect for my game.
I do not need to add any weight to either racquet .
Balls seem to explode off both sticks but not so much power that it's going over the fence.
I know that more advanced players will scoff at such high powered sticks ....especially K90 users.....and I'm not saying they are wrong . But I personally love the power level of both sticks for my game.
I read somewhere that James Blake has switched from the PD to the Donnay. I'm not surprised since both sticks have similar power levels. The change to a Donnay must have been seamless.
slice:
DP: 8/10
PD: 5/10
As all Donnays these things slice great. I will put a Donnay up against almost any racquet on the market in the slice department .
The DP is thicker than most Donnays and does not slice as well as their 15mm sticks....but at 21.5 it's still freaking thin and slice great.
The PD is just to thick for effective slices . It doesn't come close to the Donnay in this department.
Topspin:
DP: 8/10
PD: 10/10
Quite frankly Im not a great topspinner and admittedly I cant give a good review in this department. But I would say the Babolat is stronger in this department.
The power of the two racquets are similar but the Babolat seems to be more powerful near the top of the head . I personally seem to just get more topspin with the Babolat .
I also feel a bit more comfortable with a larger head from the baseline.
I have to give the edge to Babolat in this department .
First Serves
DP: 10/10
PD: 10/10
Power, control all there for both sticks ....and Im a big server.
I love both these sticks for serves.
Second serves
DP: 10/10
PD: 8/10
This is the most ignored stroke in tennis reviews. Everyone always just classifys this category as "serves".....but first and second serves are quite different .
I also feel most people ignore their second serves and it's probably the most important stroke in the game.
Everyone has a pretty good first serve but how many have a great second serve? It's second serves that win matches.
The Donnay wins hands down here. The control is just far better on second serves. The smaller head size and thinner frame allows you to go all out and be aggressive even on your second serve.
Volleys:
DP : 7/10
PD: 5/10
Neither stick were the best for volleys....but the DP was better as the smaller head and thinner beam made it more maneuverable.
Drop shots
DP 6/10
PD 6/10
Both sticks were lacking in this department. I had a hard time with all that power hitting and controling and effective drop shot.
return of serve:
DP : 9/10
PD : 8/10
The DP is maneuverable as all hell and the returns are powerful and very deep. It may be the best return of serve racquet Ive ever played with.
The PD is also awesome and it's size makes returns easy....but it's slightly less maneuverable than the DP.
So I have to give the edge to the DP in this dept.
Arm friendliness:
DP: 8/10
PD: 4/10
The Donnnay is a clear winner here. It's a pretty flexible racquet and the Babolat is very stiff and one of the least arm friendly racquets on the market.
I experienced really bad elbow pain with the Babolat using a full ALU string job.
The Donnay pro one is not nearly as good as the other Donnays in arm friendliness yet its still GREAT compared to most other racquets and way better than the Babolat .
The flex rating on the Donnay is only 64 while the Babolat is at a wholping 72zzzand yet they are equal in power .
No competition here and probably the only category where Donnay is far and away the better racquet.
Conclusion:
I have chosen the DP for my game. I think the DP is a bettwr serve and volley stick or all court stick....But if you have more of an Aggressive baseline modern game or a topspin game then the Babolat is probably a better choice.
If you are a more accomplished player who likes the K90 or the Kblade then I don't think either of these sticks are for you. Rather you should try the Donnay Pro one I'm the 18x20 version .....especially of you are a Kblade user . The 18x20 is virtually the same stick as a Kblade but packs a bigger punch. But I digress .
If arm friendliness is important to you then it's a no brainer ....go with the Donnay.
The Numbers compared
DP97in² / 626cm²
PD 100in² / 645cm²
Length
DP27.00in / 68.58cm PD27.00in / 68.58cm
Weight
DP 11.50oz / 326g
PD 11.10oz / 315g
Balance Point
DP4pts HL
PD4pts HL
Swing Weight
DP327
PD308
Frame Stiffness
DP 64
PD 72
Beam Width
DP 21.5mm
PD 26.0mm
Tip / Shaft
DP 21.5mm / 21.5mm
PD 23.5mm / 22.5mm
Power Level
DP Low-Medium
PD Low-Medium
String Pattern
DP 16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Pd 16 mains /19 crosses