Interesting thing I noticed about Dunlop Japan today.

[VikingSamurai]

Ok, well might not be interesting to everyone else. But over the last few days, I have been having a good look around the Dunlop Japan web site, and was surprised to see that they were also advertising Babolat on the same site..

I didnt think much of it at the time, but it was when I posted a pic of one of my AG300 on another thread, that someone abused me for not only putting a stencil on my racquet, but that in his eyes, I had put a Babolat stencil on a Dunlop frame.. He made a point of telling me that he didnt like stencils...

The reason I stencil my racquets is because I like them stenciled, and when I saw the Dunlop Japan web site, noticed that they were putting the double bars on the bottom.. It was also the fact that I always liked the Sampras racquets with the Wilson W and the double bars, and so I always called them the Sampras bars..

What has this got to do with my thread heading you ask......

Well I took my daughter to give her her lesson today at the tennis centre, and they had a brand new Dunlop Japan catalogue in the pro shop.. It was then that I noticed that in the same catalogue they were advertising the Babolat range aswell, and so thought that maybe Dunlop Japan also owns Babolat Japan..

It then dawned on me when I was looking at the Japanese players in the catalogue all with the Dunlop stencil with the Babolat bars and the other international players without, that it appeared that Dunlop Japan stencils all their racquets to symbolize that they are a company that represents both Dunlop and Babolat in Japan, and their stencil/logo represents that..

Probably boring to most, but I found it interesting...Here is a pic of my AG200 to show what the stencil looks like.. Its not a great pic, as my Toalson strings seems to reflect the light well, but you get an idea of the stencil..

 

[Automatix]

Well that is interesting... soon we'll be hearing about Dunbolats

P.S.: Yeah on that pic you can barely see the stencil...

 

[VikingSamurai]

Yeah, its not a great pic.. I put Toalson strings in it, and they are kinda shiny.. I also had a good hit with it today, so that doesn't help.. I will try and find a picture from the web site..

 

[Automatix]

Don't bother... if you look closely you get the idea

 

[VikingSamurai]

Here you go...

Here is a picture of Aiko Nakamura using the Dunlop Diacluster RIM 1.5, and the Dunlop Japan stencil..

An here is the website.. http://tennis.dunlop.co.jp/new/index.html

 

[onkystomper]

They may just have a deal in Japan or go through the same distributor. It would be interesting to know if the babolat rackets have anything to do with dunlop on them?

 

[inferno303]

yeah a japanese guy on my team was using an older rim 2.5 or something but why rim? and why japan only?

 

[VikingSamurai]

They may just have a deal in Japan or go through the same distributor. It would be interesting to know if the babolat rackets have anything to do with dunlop on them?

Its funny you should say that, because I had a look last night on the website, and I couldn't see any Dunlop stuff on the Bab page..

I don't know why, but I like the look of the Dunlop Japan stencil on the Aerogels, it suits the modern style of the new frames I think..

 

[onkystomper]

i like the new dunlop paintjobs. I think it is the best looking racket they have made for ages. It is strange about the bab stencilling. What strings came in the AG series in Japan, maybe it was some babolat?

As far as the stencilling goes i like the look of stencils on the strings i would do my head symbol but have to do nothing but a spot in the bottom corner as i managed to get lucky enough to wangle some terms out of bow brand.

 

[Dave M]

Does seem odd that as frame suppliers dunlop didn't supply the strings as well to the people on the site but maybe (haven't been to Japan) dunlop strings aren''t easilly avaliable or aren't thought much of so they promote babolat ones?

 

[VikingSamurai]

Does seem odd that as frame suppliers dunlop didn't supply the strings as well to the people on the site but maybe (haven't been to Japan) dunlop strings aren''t easilly avaliable or aren't thought much of so they promote babolat ones?

Well, racquets dont come strung here in Japan, so I cant say I have seen Dunlop or Bab strings.. I didnt look hard at the site, but I think Dunlop just distributes the Bab racquets and accessories as a whole..

As for me, I have discovered Toalson strings and have liked what I have seen thus far..

 

[jonolau]

This is very interesting. If I can recall, Sumitomo bought over the Dunlop tradename for Japan only, therefore they are free to do whatever they want to.

 

[PBODY99]

The TOA line of strings have given me decent service over the years. Without any ad push it is hard to win market share. As Babolat has the most recognizable string stencil, it is smart to piggyback the two especially if you sell both.

 

[TeNNiS_SPieLeR]

I remeber Fed playing a Japanese serve/volleyer who used a Dunlop racquet... I think it was at the Japan Open...he was using an aerogel with both stencils also

 

[Yonex.]

what the hell is this?!?

 

[VikingSamurai]

Ha ha ha, that is for the trendy Japanese housewife who spends hubbies money while he kills himself by going to work in Japan everyday..

And I am not joking about that either....

ps: Maybe it the Japanese Big Bubba?

 

[meowmix]

Ha ha ha, that is for the trendy Japanese housewife who spends hubbies money while he kills himself by going to work in Japan everyday..

And I am not joking about that either....

ps: Maybe it the Japanese Big Bubba?

You're starting to think Chinese...