New Donnay X-Series - My Thoughts

[DrewRafter8]

I have a Gold, Pro One 16x19, and a Formula on their way from Donnay to demo. Honestly, I'm pretty excited to try them. I keep hearing about how great the feel is. I'm coming from a 350 gram weight and am looking to drop back into the 320's. I think I'll like the Gold and Pro One, but the Formula was just because I did play with a Pure Drive at one time. If I'm not crazy over these, I was going to switch to the IG Rad Pro. But, those threads on the new Wilson stuff have me thinking I'll wait until I can try them too.

[Mig1NC]

I still love the X-Dual Silver. Kind of regret selling most of my Donnay's now.

I actually really wish Donnay would make something to compete with the Dunlop 400 Tour, which falls in between their 300 Tour (players frame) and the 500 Tour (tweener, direct competitor to the Formula 100).

I'd like to see them put something in the middle between the Pro One 97 16 x 19 and the Formula 100.

[Sreeram]

Originally Posted by Racer41c

So a large dampener will cut down on the boing. But just so you know, I have a sorta similar experience with the Gold and Silver. The Gold is perfect for me when I'm feeling energetic, but when I'm fatigued it's a load. So I got a Silver thinking same stick just lighter. But it's very different and not for me.

I just got done demoing 3 more donnays and none of them are close to the gold.

I never flet Gold is heavy even towards end of 3 long sets over 3 hours. It swings so light. But my BH never got tuned with Gold.

[Kal-El 34]

Originally Posted by Mig1NC

I still love the X-Dual Silver. Kind of regret selling most of my Donnay's now.

I actually really wish Donnay would make something to compete with the Dunlop 400 Tour, which falls in between their 300 Tour (players frame) and the 500 Tour (tweener, direct competitor to the Formula 100).

I'd like to see them put something in the middle between the Pro One 97 16 x 19 and the Formula 100.

pro one os ext? give it a try...

[Racer41c]

Originally Posted by Sreeram

I never flet Gold is heavy even towards end of 3 long sets over 3 hours. It swings so light. But my BH never got tuned with Gold.

Your just stronger than me

[Mig1NC]

Originally Posted by Kal-El 34

pro one os ext? give it a try...

Tennis-Warehouse puts the swing weight pretty high on that one.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Donn...AY-DP1OSX.html

334 is a little too much for me.

Granted I could probably get it down to 325 or so if I cut off the half inch of extended length.

[Sreeram]

Originally Posted by Mig1NC

Tennis-Warehouse puts the swing weight pretty high on that one.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Donn...AY-DP1OSX.html

334 is a little too much for me.

Granted I could probably get it down to 325 or so if I cut off the half inch of extended length.

Did you play with it? Normally extended racquets are higher in SW because SW is a factor of distance from Budcap. Can someone review this racquet please?

[Mig1NC]

Not yet. Not even interested if it really is that high.

The Pure Drive 2012 is in the teens for SW.

[zapvor]

hit with the x white today. one of teh best frames i have tried, and i have over 100 rackets. the feel is unsurpassed

[Player#1]

The blue 94 and black 94 are incredible racquets!

I would like to see Donnay also offer 89" versions of these.

[zapvor]

i need to get a black 99! hah

[Marcus2137]

Still loving my X-Red 94+. Recently found a couple more at a great price and picked them up as backups. Got a nice stock of grommets that should last for years.

[DrewRafter8]

Originally Posted by DrewRafter8

I have a Gold, Pro One 16x19, and a Formula on their way from Donnay to demo. Honestly, I'm pretty excited to try them. I keep hearing about how great the feel is. I'm coming from a 350 gram weight and am looking to drop back into the 320's. I think I'll like the Gold and Pro One, but the Formula was just because I did play with a Pure Drive at one time. If I'm not crazy over these, I was going to switch to the IG Rad Pro. But, those threads on the new Wilson stuff have me thinking I'll wait until I can try them too.

Two outings with the Donnay sticks. Donnay has done a remarkable job. All three hit well, but the Gold and Pro One stand out. The feel is incredible and I feel that I'm becoming addicted to this Donnay feel.

[Racquet Daddy]

The X-Black 94 is definitely a plush stick. Not a lot of feedback from the frame (which I like). You can just carve through the ball however you like. I've been hitting with it stock; just an overgrip and dampener. It came with poly mains, gut crosses. Feels like it was strung on the low end. On serves, there is a noticeable difference in SW between it and my Prestige Mid. I wouldn't go so far as to call it "sluggish" - just different. I bet if I tracked down a customization kit and slapped on a weighted butt cap, that would bring it closer to what I'm use to. The stick does serve bombs, though. Counterpunching is awesome. It can send back serves and aggressive shots with a message. All in all, I love it and second everything Kal said in his review. Just wish the pj was better protected. I shed a little tear every time I dig out a low ball with a slice

[DrewRafter8]

Kal, thanks for the racquet advice! Bought two X-Dual Platinum 99 racquets from TW's special. I've liked all the Donnay's that I've tried, but these two really shine.

[Kal-El 34]

glad that it worked out for you man! all the best

[kaiser]

Kal, I'm eyeing the Gold 99 as a zippier, more forgiving potential alternative to my 200 Tours, but the Plantinum could also be a contender. I play mostly on European clay with a SW forehand and 1 HBH, so I figured the spin friendlliness open patterned Gold should be preferable for me. However, although TW Chris and Spencer give very favorable reviews of the Gold, on this board I think the Platinum is more popular. I'm still working to improve my consistency from the baseline on clay coming from the s&v game I developed on the grass courts of Oz where I pounced on every opportunity to take the net (I'm 6'5...).

What would your recommendation be?

[Kal-El 34]

Originally Posted by kaiser

Kal, I'm eyeing the Gold 99 as a zippier, more forgiving potential alternative to my 200 Tours, but the Plantinum could also be a contender. I play mostly on European clay with a SW forehand and 1 HBH, so I figured the spin friendlliness open patterned Gold should be preferable for me. However, although TW Chris and Spencer give very favorable reviews of the Gold, on this board I think the Platinum is more popular. I'm still working to improve my consistency from the baseline on clay coming from the s&v game I developed on the grass courts of Oz where I pounced on every opportunity to take the net (I'm 6'5...).

What would your recommendation be?

if you can handle the extra weight i would give the platinum look. you will get a little extra free power with the golds, but i like the benefit of more control. Power is a nice bonus, but you will win a lot of matches putting a few more quality shots in the court each point. aside from the extra power, i enjoyed the platinum 99 better in every aspect. In the 99 specs, I actually preferred the silver 99 with some tweaks over the gold.

[kaiser]

Thanks, you make some convincing points there. Weight is not likely to be a problem coming from my 13 oz, ~345 SW 200 Tours... I switched to my current 16x19 200 Tours mostly because I struggled getting enough topspin from my 18x20 HPS 6.1. My groundstrokes have definitely improved since then, but how would you rate the Platinum in terms of spin potential (remember, I string low)?

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by Kal-El 34

if you can handle the extra weight i would give the platinum look. you will get a little extra free power with the golds, but i like the benefit of more control. Power is a nice bonus, but you will win a lot of matches putting a few more quality shots in the court each point. aside from the extra power, i enjoyed the platinum 99 better in every aspect. In the 99 specs, I actually preferred the silver 99 with some tweaks over the gold.

Haven't tried the 99 but took my new X-Platinum 94. Apart from 5 minutes to adjust my strokes to an 18 x 20 string pattern (from a 14 x 18 on my POG mid), the X-Plat 94 was flawless. I haven't hit that consistently ever.

Groundies, overheads, volleys - Superb. Lots of power, spin, feel and no shock to my wrist or arm. I didn't get to serve but hopefully I'll do that this week.

Donnay puts out an amazing racquet.

Thanks Kal!!