Had a good session with DNA 17 last night in three different frames. They were strung at 54 pounds by the same stringer on the same CP machine. The three frames strung were a Slazenger V98 Team, Head Graphene Speed MP, and an old Wilson Hammer 6.2.
The DNA played a little firmer than I was expecting but ball response was very good and very predictable. While feeling firm, I had ZERO harshness from it in my arm. Spin was very good (for a multi), especially when serving. Power was middle-of-the-road for me, but I'd rather have the better control than power. Serves were a highlight and I was hitting my spots well, getting good hop of the court on topspin/kickers and decent swing on slices wide to the ad court (lefty.)
The Graphene Speed MP has a VERY open 16x19 pattern and the strings started moving almost right away. I was having to adjust them regularly between points. The V98 Team has a tighter 16x19 pattern and string movement wasn't nearly as bad. The Skunk was somewhere in the middle of the two. Wear on the strings looked minimal, but by today's standards I'm a flatter hitter and have never been much of a string breaker. I imagine the string will hold up just as well as anything else I've hit with.
Overall, very pleased. Thank you Mr. Mikeler for the indirect recommendation. I'm going to see how much it settles in over the next week, but if I were to string it again, I might be tempted to drop it two pounds to soften up the feel on volleys and increase the power slightly.
I also had a Skunk strung up identically with PPA 17 but didn't get a chance to hit it enough to really compare. On first hit, it seems DNA and PPA play quite similarly with PPA moving around a little less.