Donnay Pro One 18x20 Review and Comparison

[Xonemains]

Originally Posted by ChicagoJack

I was more comfortable with my demo P1 than I was with my own Babolats after about an hour of hitting.

Jack

wow. are you sure the P1 is that good??

LOL, i think it is.

you better write down the racquet weight and balance b4 you return the demo then, just for future reference

[Pure Babs]

Originally Posted by rrito

I have just 1 question: have you tried a different string set up to try to curb the excessive power problem? Maybe a full bed of low-power polyester?
Thanks again for your review

I'm going to try that next to try to tone down the power. Don't get me wrong, it's still very much a control oriented racket. I'm just comparing it to my Prestige MP most of the time, and thus don't know if anything can beat the control i get with this frame without sacrificing power. It's going to come down to just choosing a racket and sticking with it!

[ChicagoJack]

Originally Posted by Xonemains

wow. are you sure the P1 is that good??

LOL, i think it is.

you better write down the racquet weight and balance b4 you return the demo then, just for future reference

Hi Xonemains,

Yeah, I'm glad somebody caught the depth of that statement, ha ha.The P1 was quite a revelation for me. Yes, I will def heed your advice, gonna weigh and balance everything before I ship it back (If) I ship it back.

I went looking for a softer frame than my 2012 PD+, so I could keep using my GOAT Gut/Poly hybrid. But I think I might have found a far superior frame for me all the way around. The big test will be getting some quality court time with some of my 4.5, and 5.5 hitting partners. We'll she how she holds up to those deep and diving spinning eggs.

Will likely quickly obtain a P1 used, cause I'd be comfortable using one in any of my league matches. That will buy me some time to demo against some other frames on my list... PK 7G, Head IG Radical Pro, Donnay X-99 Blue.

Jack

[rrito]

Originally Posted by Pure Babs

I'm going to try that next to try to tone down the power. Don't get me wrong, it's still very much a control oriented racket. I'm just comparing it to my Prestige MP most of the time, and thus don't know if anything can beat the control i get with this frame without sacrificing power. It's going to come down to just choosing a racket and sticking with it!

cool! please let us know how it went

[Pure Babs]

Strung it up with a donnay hybrid at 53 lbs and hit with it tonight. It feels a lot better versus the full multi. Now i've got a 3 way battle between the 18x20 P1, the Yonex Vcore 95 and the Yonex Vcore 97 Tour... All trying to replace my current Head IG Prestige MPs!

[prsherrera]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

Interesting. I am currently playing with an X-dual Pro, and was looking to pick up the pro one 18x20 as a racket to add as a backup to my stable. In your honest opinion, is it different enough to warrant NOT to do so?

hey guys, please help me!
thes racquets, especially the Dual X-Pro, they behave more like Prestiges with that typical flexibility and comfort, or more like a tweener a PD or something like that?

[RollTrackTake]

Just finished a 1.5 hours of drills with the X-Dual Pro today. Got a good deal on one and wanted to see for myself how it differs from the Pro 1 16x19.
I hit with it stock first and did not like the feel & balance. I've been playing with the 10g buttcap in my P1 for the last month or 2. So I then put the 10g buttcap on the X-DP and much better. I did not serve with it. It came strung with Donnay hybrid at 53lbs.
1. The power is reigned in noticeably. There is still a good amount of power to be had I just needed to work more for it. Faster swings and precise timing were necessary whereas the 16x19 P1 leaves me more room for error.
2. Control is noticeably better. Still not really what I'd call a 'scalpel' but I could put balls closer to my targets than with the 16/19.
3. Love the matte black pj vs the glossy one!
4. When I put the X-DP on top of the 16/19 it appears the hoop on the X-DP is a shade smaller.
5. The balance & weight are dead on with the 16/19.

Over the next 2 days I get to use it in match play. That will tell a lot more than the practice drills.

[Pure Babs]

Originally Posted by prsherrera

hey guys, please help me!
thes racquets, especially the Dual X-Pro, they behave more like Prestiges with that typical flexibility and comfort, or more like a tweener a PD or something like that?

Definitely it plays more like a Prestige.

Originally Posted by RollTrackTake

Just finished a 1.5 hours of drills with the X-Dual Pro today. Got a good deal on one and wanted to see for myself how it differs from the Pro 1 16x19.
I hit with it stock first and did not like the feel & balance. I've been playing with the 10g buttcap in my P1 for the last month or 2. So I then put the 10g buttcap on the X-DP and much better. I did not serve with it. It came strung with Donnay hybrid at 53lbs.
1. The power is reigned in noticeably. There is still a good amount of power to be had I just needed to work more for it. Faster swings and precise timing were necessary whereas the 16x19 P1 leaves me more room for error.
2. Control is noticeably better. Still not really what I'd call a 'scalpel' but I could put balls closer to my targets than with the 16/19.
3. Love the matte black pj vs the glossy one!
4. When I put the X-DP on top of the 16/19 it appears the hoop on the X-DP is a shade smaller.
5. The balance & weight are dead on with the 16/19.

Over the next 2 days I get to use it in match play. That will tell a lot more than the practice drills.

Glad you liked it! I LOVE the X-Dual Pro PJ... almost black-out just with the company's decals!

[ultradr]

Originally Posted by Pure Babs

Glad you liked it! I LOVE the X-Dual Pro PJ... almost black-out just with the company's decals!

How is the PJ different each other? Pro one 18x20 not as mat-black as xdual pro?

[Bartelby]

The decals could be smaller!

[RollTrackTake]

Originally Posted by ultradr

How is the PJ different each other? Pro one 18x20 not as mat-black as xdual pro?

The X-Dual Pro is the first production of the Pro 1 mold with an 18x20 pattern. It preceded the Pro 1 and was only available buying direct from Donnay to my knowledge. The Pro 1 18x20 & 16x19 were produced after it. I don't have a Pro 1 18x20 but I believe it has the same gloss black PJ as the 16x19 version. A little confusing

[Pure Babs]

The X-dual pro and both P1 versions all have a matte black paint. The only difference (according to Donnay) is that the x-dual pro has less and smaller company decals making it look like a prototype racket of sorts. Great pj on all the sticks though. They are NOT glossy black.

[ChicagoJack]

deleted pst

[ChicagoJack]

Originally Posted by Pure Babs

I had a chance to play with the "new" Donnay Pro One 18x20 for the last week and hope this review is helpful. First of all, I am a 4.0-4.5 level player. I currently am using the Youtek IG Prestige MP, previously I used Babolat Pure Drives. Only customization so far is an overgrip and rubberband vibration dampener and strung with a Donnay Syn Gut at 55 lbs. I will compare it to the Prestige throughout.

(Edited ... Continued)

Overall: Overall I can say I was really impressed with the Donnay Pro One 18x20. It really shines on all areas of the court. It's stable, has a good mass, feel, and offers a nice power:control ratio. I did get a chance to test the 16x19 version, and found it felt stiff, had too much pop and I couldn't harness it's power. This new 18x20 version is much improved, with greater control and flexibility[/b]. I would compare it to the Wilson nblade 98 and obviously the Head Youtek Prestige MP. Definitely worth a try, IMO. I'll try to answer any questions you may have to the best of my ability! Here are some pictures first with the prototype "X-Dual Pro" and then a headsize comparison with the Prestige.

Hi Pure Babs,

Thanks for the awesome review, much appreciated. I'm thinking/wondering if the early release version 18x20 you were able to obtain was much more flexible than the 18x20's that are shipping today? TW lists the (average) 16x19 as 64ra, and the (average) 18x20 as 68. Add in denser string bed to a stiffer frame, and the 18x20 seems (at least on paper) mucho stiffer, not softer. That's a key distinction btwn the two, for many of us sniffing out the specs from afar.

I'm stressing the word "average" here as it seems there is quite a range even between racquets of the same model. I have three P1 97's, 16x19's. One is 64 ra, the other two are 67.

If they vary in flex so much, Perhaps the best answer is to ring up Donnay or TW, and ask em to look for (on the code sticker) a matched set of whatever is in my wheelhouse.

Thanks!

- Jack

[RollTrackTake]

Originally Posted by Pure Babs

The X-dual pro and both P1 versions all have a matte black paint. The only difference (according to Donnay) is that the x-dual pro has less and smaller company decals making it look like a prototype racket of sorts. Great pj on all the sticks though. They are NOT glossy black.

Look up the definition of 'matte' then the definition of 'glossy'. I'm not saying the Pro 1 is shiny black or iridescent.
Kal El & Suppawat both made the same distinction in the first version of this thread 6 months ago. They each posted hi res pics of the X-dual pro next to the Pro 1 16x19 and if you insist I can do so as well.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showt...nay+pro&page=7

[tball]

Pro One is glossy. Dual Pro is matte.

[mrrockstar]

How does Sweetspot and Power compare to P1 16x19?

I have a P1 16x19, it is the biggest sweetspot of every racquet I ever had (Prestige Mid, Prestige Pro, Volkl PB10 mid, ProKennex Qtour, ProKennex Ki5, Babolat APD GT...)

and Power of P1 16x19 is also rated quite high above average

Thanks!

[RollTrackTake]

Originally Posted by tball

Pro One is glossy. Dual Pro is matte.

Nice pics! Thanks for saving me the trouble!

[RollTrackTake]

Originally Posted by mrrockstar

How does Sweetspot and Power compare to P1 16x19?

I have a P1 16x19, it is the biggest sweetspot of every racquet I ever had (Prestige Mid, Prestige Pro, Volkl PB10 mid, ProKennex Qtour, ProKennex Ki5, Babolat APD GT...)

and Power of P1 16x19 is also rated quite high above average

Thanks!

I've only had the X-Dual Pro for a week. In that short amount of time on the court i've found it to be less powerful than the Pro 1 16x19. Especially when hitting slightly off the smaller sweetspot. There are others on the boards with a lot more experience with it who are better players who may disagree. In an attempt to be as comprehensive with these racquets as possible, I got a 3 week demo with the Pro 1 18x20 coming from Donnay. I've read others say that racquet plays different than the X-Dual Pro.

[Pure Babs]

Originally Posted by ChicagoJack

Hi Pure Babs,

Thanks for the awesome review, much appreciated. I'm thinking/wondering if the early release version 18x20 you were able to obtain was much more flexible than the 18x20's that are shipping today? TW lists the (average) 16x19 as 64ra, and the (average) 18x20 as 68. Add in denser string bed to a stiffer frame, and the 18x20 seems (at least on paper) mucho stiffer, not softer. That's a key distinction btwn the two, for many of us sniffing out the specs from afar.

If they vary in flex so much, Perhaps the best answer is to ring up Donnay or TW, and ask em to look for (on the code sticker) a matched set of whatever is in my wheelhouse.

Jack, that may very well be, as I did get an early release version. If I didn't have the specs in front of me though, I would swear the 18x20 was more flexible than the 16x19. It could also be that the power level is a lot higher with the closed pattern. Who knows. Specs can be decieving. Could also have been the strings... I'd have to hit with the 16x19 again!

Originally Posted by RollTrackTake

Look up the definition of 'matte' then the definition of 'glossy'. I'm not saying the Pro 1 is shiny black or iridescent.
Kal El & Suppawat both made the same distinction in the first version of this thread 6 months ago. They each posted hi res pics of the X-dual pro next to the Pro 1 16x19 and if you insist I can do so as well.

Whew, thanks for catching that, and yes, you are dead-on. The P1 retail is actually more glossy than the completely matte X-Dual Pro. But like you said, it's not the shiny glossy you would find on say the 2012 Pure Drive or BLX Blade etc.

Originally Posted by RollTrackTake

I've only had the X-Dual Pro for a week. In that short amount of time on the court i've found it to be less powerful than the Pro 1 16x19. Especially when hitting slightly off the smaller sweetspot. There are others on the boards with a lot more experience with it who are better players who may disagree. In an attempt to be as comprehensive with these racquets as possible, I got a 3 week demo with the Pro 1 18x20 coming from Donnay. I've read others say that racquet plays different than the X-Dual Pro.

I have a feeling you are really going to like the final retail 18x20. I was one who did feel a difference between the two (with the XDP feeling more demanding and less powerful). Really a smooth feeling racket and I would have switched to it if not for the Yonex Vcore 95 (for power and maneuverability).