Donnay Pro One 97 users club

[neil1b]

I want to get this started for the users of this magical stick.

Please list your stick specs, string combos, tension, customization, and comments.


Ill start us off:

I have five 16x19 (97's):

Stick 1 - strung with SOLINCO tour bite 16 at 56#.
Specs are 311 grams, 66 flex, 320 mm balance

Stick 2 - strung with Pro Supex Blue Gear 17 at 56#
Specs are 309 grams, 67 flex, 319 mm balance

Stick 3 - strung with Luxilon Savage Lime 16 at 55 #
Specs are 307 grams, 67 flex, 316 mm balance

Stick 4 - strung with Prince gut(mains) 60# and Weiss cannon Scorpion 16l 55#
Specs are 310 grams, 68 flex, 316 mm balance

Stick 5 - strung with Babolat tonic gut(mains) 55# and Weiss Cannon Scorpion
16L at 55#
Specs are 309 grams, 67 flex, 317 mm balance

I am experimenting with different string combos. The combo of stick 4 is silky smooth and great feel, but is a tad too much power for my game.

The pro supex of stick 2 is great with this stick. Tons of spin, not too much pop, and great control.

I just strung the 1st stick today with the SOLINCO tour bite, so I'll give you more on this combo in a few days.

So far I love the feeling of the hybrid with the gut and poly, just need more time to get used to it. Probably will try Wilson champions choice next.

I have demo'd a ton of racquets and kept going back to my aeropro drive gt.........I loved the head prestige mp, but this once is special.........abou the same control and feel, but a bit more pop and comfort. I am done demoing.....this is this stick.

I have just purchases a brand new x-dual pro that is being shipped as we speak. This is the same stick as the pro one just in the 18x20 pattern. I am curious to do the comparison. I could wait till summer for the "pro one version" to be re-released so grabbed this one cheap.


Please let me know your combo's and comments

[RollTrackTake]

I'm in. I've got 4 Pro 1's. 2 new, 2 bought off the boards. None of my Pro 1's have the sticker with specs and barcode for some reason.

1. Strung with the Donnay Hybrid of X-Poly 17 & Syncore @ 52/55

2. Full bed of Babolat NVY @56

3. Full bed of Donnay X-Poly 17 at 55

4. Unstrung as of yet

I like the hybrid set-up the best. Just the right amount of power and control. I'm going to string the 4th Pro 1 with a hybrid of some sort. Not sure what yet. I'm also looking to string one with a full bed of B5E. Have that in a Pro Open and love it. I'll be interested in hearing what other setups are working well for people.

[the Town Sherif]

i love t his racquet as well and it is my main stick,

currently strung with klip nat gut hybrid with gosen og sheep micro

[skeeter]

Originally Posted by neil1b

I have just purchases a brand new x-dual pro that is being shipped as we speak. This is the same stick as the pro one just in the 18x20 pattern. I am curious to do the comparison. I could wait till summer for the "pro one version" to be re-released so grabbed this one cheap.

I've got a demo of both the Pro One and the Dual Pro coming, so will be interested in your comparison; I'll share the same.

What's everyone's thoughts on the control versus power in the Pro One so far? Is it pretty string sensitive? Any arm/shoulder issues?

[rlau]

I should be getting mine today or on Monday.

Barcode specs: 309 (weight) - 316 (balance) - 66 (flex).

I look forward to trying it next week. Interested to see how it stacks up to the TGK238.5 I'm currently playing with.

I'll probably string it up with WC B5E.

[Yaz]

Took a chance and got a pretty good deal on a used Pro One on the auction site and must say I'm pretty close to making the switch. I'm currently using a Head YT Prestige MP and the OP nailed it...the Pro One has slightly less control and feel but noticeably more power and it's VERY easy on the arm. I've let 2 others hit with it and they both really liked it as well. My opponents have also commented on the increased pace and "heaviness" of my ball when I've switched back and forth while hitting.

So far I've only strung it with Kirschbaum Pro Line II 17 at 55 lbs (same set up as the YTPMP) and that feels pretty good, but I have some VS Touch lying around so may experiment with that in the mains with the PLII in the crosses.

I've tried various combinations of the weights but honestly it feels best to me in stock form. It felt sluggish with the weights at 3/9 and even with just one at 12. I've never liked really headlight racquets so the butt cap weights didn't do much for me either.

The grip size is 3/8 but it felt bigger than that, likely due to the difference in shape from the Head grip (which was 1/2). I changed the stock grip to a Babolat Skin Feel (with Supergrap overgrip) and now it feels about right. With strings and overgrip it's weighing in at about 11.6 oz and 4pts HL. Spec-wise it was exactly what I was looking for; something a tad lighter than the Head but with a slightly higher SW and less HL and so far it's been right on the mark.

[RollTrackTake]

Originally Posted by skeeter

What's everyone's thoughts on the control versus power in the Pro One so far? Is it pretty string sensitive? Any arm/shoulder issues?

IMO the racquet offers substantial control in relation to power. In contrast with other frames I've played it did not have the control of an Aero Storm Tour Cortex or Microgel Rad MP but the difference isn't that big. The power I personally would put in a category just below the APDGT, PD, EXO3 Black. String choice does make a difference to me. The normal assumptions hold true. Multi or gut = more pop. Full poly = lowered power. For me a hybrid has worked best so far but I'm getting adjusted to a full bed of multi. I've been playing singles with it since December and now that the honeymoon is over I've noticed it's not as forgiving as the 100 sq in. frames. I still love the weight and plow. The deep penetrating balls I can hit with relative ease are my favorite playing attribute of the racquet. I have used it in stock form.

[Faithfulfather]

I should have never sold my pro ones.

[neil1b]

Just got a visit from mr FedEx and he dropped off this bad boy. I'm going to throw some SOLINCO barbed wire 16g @ 52 in it in a bit and I'll post some pics.

[ramos77]

My brother is picking up one from NYC.

Can you guys please recommend a string to prevent tennis elbow?

I take it a gut/multi combo would be nice? what about tension?

[Kal-El 34]

i have 5 dual pros...

the donnay poly playes really well at low 50's tensions.

i have been playtesting solinco strings this past month and have not been impressed

[neil1b]

Played two sets today with the pro one strung with solinco tour bite 16 at 56#........for me pure bliss.....controllable pop, spin moster, and just enough touch. Played softer than I expected.



Hit with the x-dual pro and wasn't that impressed. Strung it at 53 with SOLINCO barbed wire. Much lower powered racquet with a not so forgiving sweet spot. Great control, good pop if you hit the sweet spot.

I'll switch the strings in a week and try something else in it, but I prefer the pro one as of now.

[aimr75]

I initially tried the pro one weighted up as it felt quite light to me, but gave it a whirl stock the other day. To my surprise it was a monster. Huge hitting on both wings and big on serve, very nice to slice with. Strung with TB @ 48. I liked it better than the weighted version. Still need more time hitting with it though

[rlau]

Hi Aimr75,

How does the Pro One compare to the Vantage 95s you played with? The Vantages were a bit heavier of course.

Best regards,

rlau

[corners]

Originally Posted by neil1b

I want to get this started for the users of this magical stick.

Please list your stick specs, string combos, tension, customization, and comments.


Ill start us off:

I have five 16x19 (97's):

Stick 1 - strung with SOLINCO tour bite 16 at 56#.
Specs are 311 grams, 66 flex, 320 mm balance

Stick 2 - strung with Pro Supex Blue Gear 17 at 56#
Specs are 309 grams, 67 flex, 319 mm balance

Stick 3 - strung with Luxilon Savage Lime 16 at 55 #
Specs are 307 grams, 67 flex, 316 mm balance

Stick 4 - strung with Prince gut(mains) 60# and Weiss cannon Scorpion 16l 55#
Specs are 310 grams, 68 flex, 316 mm balance

Stick 5 - strung with Babolat tonic gut(mains) 55# and Weiss Cannon Scorpion
16L at 55#
Specs are 309 grams, 67 flex, 317 mm balance

I am experimenting with different string combos. The combo of stick 4 is silky smooth and great feel, but is a tad too much power for my game.

The pro supex of stick 2 is great with this stick. Tons of spin, not too much pop, and great control.

I just strung the 1st stick today with the SOLINCO tour bite, so I'll give you more on this combo in a few days.

So far I love the feeling of the hybrid with the gut and poly, just need more time to get used to it. Probably will try Wilson champions choice next.

I have demo'd a ton of racquets and kept going back to my aeropro drive gt.........I loved the head prestige mp, but this once is special.........abou the same control and feel, but a bit more pop and comfort. I am done demoing.....this is this stick.

I have just purchases a brand new x-dual pro that is being shipped as we speak. This is the same stick as the pro one just in the 18x20 pattern. I am curious to do the comparison. I could wait till summer for the "pro one version" to be re-released so grabbed this one cheap.


Please let me know your combo's and comments

Are the weight, balance and flex specs you list strung or unstrung? And where did you find them - from the barcode or an RDC machine? Thanks.

[rlau]

Those are the unstrung specs, most likely from the barcode

[neil1b]

They are all from the serial number inside the throat, donnay lists the unstrung specs with the first part of the serial number. It's a fairy new thing as my x-red 99 did not have it, my pro ones all have it,but the x-dual pro does not. I think it's a great thing donnay does, shows they are not hiding the tolerance specs.

[aimr75]

Originally Posted by rlau

Hi Aimr75,

How does the Pro One compare to the Vantage 95s you played with? The Vantages were a bit heavier of course.

Best regards,

rlau

Yeah the Donnay in stock form swings easier and is more powerful. Both are very solid frames. It's hard to judge feel since strings play a big part in how a frame plays and I never used TB with the vantage. But from what I recall, the V had a crisp feel to it with full poly, crisper to me than the pro one.

I gave the V's to my brother, so can try it out again

[rlau]

Got mine today -- it's certainly a sharp looking frame!

Originally Posted by neil1b

donnay lists the unstrung specs with the first part of the serial number.

What do you think the last part is? Unstrung swingweight?

Originally Posted by neil1b

I think it's a great thing donnay does, shows they are not hiding the tolerance specs.

Very cool indeed!

[ramos77]

My brother bought one for me today, and is bringing it back home with him.

I have had issues with my elbow, I'm thinking of using a full bed of Babolat VS natural gut.

What tension do you guys recommend? And do you think it might be too powerful? I don't care about the cost, can't play tennis if my elbow gets worse.

Thanks