Dunlop F 3.0 Tour

[tom4ny]

Originally Posted by JackB1

do you guys think the new Dunlop's gripsize is the same as most others, or larger or smaller?

I just noticed this last night Jack, I think that the grip on the new F3.0 tour is just slightly larger than the biomimetic 300 tour. I just replaced the original grip with a head hydrosorb tour grip that I have on my bio 300 tours and the F3.0 runs just a bit larger. I hadn't noticed with the original grip because it is much thinner then the head grip.

So Dunlop may have increased the grip size slighly on these new models. If that is what you were sensing, I think that you are correct!

[tom4ny]

Others may disagree with my assessment that is ok but I still feel that the F3.0 tour is like a babolat apd in that dunlop has created a 'modern" feeling racquet. In that I mean that is is crisp, with a fast and snappy stringbed that allows one to generate some monster shots with impressive spin. The F3.0 tour does not have the plow through of an apd but is is more maneuverable and much more arm friendly. The F3.0 tour is a stiff frame but it is a very comfortable hit. Power level is comparable to an apd but comes from racket head speed as opposed to mass in the head like the apd has. A little lead in the upper hoop of the F3.0 tour gives some more plow through and fire power on serves. imo the F3.0 is very stable and does not need lead for stability like the bio 300 tour did.

I have decided to switch to the F3.0 tour from my bio 300 tour.

[Blitzball]

Originally Posted by tom4ny

Others may disagree with my assessment that is ok but I still feel that the F3.0 tour is like a babolat apd in that dunlop has created a 'modern" feeling racquet. In that I mean that is is crisp, with a fast and snappy stringbed that allows one to generate some monster shots with impressive spin. The F3.0 tour does not have the plow through of an apd but is is more maneuverable and much more arm friendly. The F3.0 tour is a stiff frame but it is a very comfortable hit. Power level is comparable to an apd but comes from racket head speed as opposed to mass in the head like the apd has. A little lead in the upper hoop of the F3.0 tour gives some more plow through and fire power on serves. imo the F3.0 is very stable and does not need lead for stability like the bio 300 tour did.

I have decided to switch to the F3.0 tour from my bio 300 tour.

Very agreeable review. I've switched as well after giving the F3.0 Tour some lead at the 10 and 2 for slightly more head-heaviness to help plow through defensive shots and the serve. I'm honestly liking it more and more than my Bio 300T every time I play with it.

[tom4ny]

Originally Posted by Blitzball

Very agreeable review. I've switched as well after giving the F3.0 Tour some lead at the 10 and 2 for slightly more head-heaviness to help plow through defensive shots and the serve. I'm honestly liking it more and more than my Bio 300T every time I play with it.

Hey BB! I got my F3.0 tour back in October when it first came out and I hit with it for a bit but did not care for the feel so I put it back down. A few weeks later I came back to it and my hitting partner started to say that he thought I played better with the F3.0. I wouldnt accept that and went back to my Bio. Long story short I started playing with the F3.0 a lot this month which set my overall game back slightly (from switching back and forth) but it became clear to me that my shots were better, heavier, spinnier, etc. so now I am a true believer.

I liked the way the F3.0 played with lead at 10:2 also! I then ran the lead all along the upper hoop covering the "dunlop" lettering which is similar to my Bio 300 tour setup. Serving was great with this setup! I started to hit my groundies long by a bit though so I probably would go back to the 10:2 layup that you have but for now I am going stock.

I will be curious what you decide over the coming weeks. Good luck!

[Blitzball]

Originally Posted by tom4ny

Hey BB! I got my F3.0 tour back in October when it first came out and I hit with it for a bit but did not care for the feel so I put it back down. A few weeks later I came back to it and my hitting partner started to say that he thought I played better with the F3.0. I wouldnt accept that and went back to my Bio. Long story short I started playing with the F3.0 a lot this month which set my overall game back slightly (from switching back and forth) but it became clear to me that my shots were better, heavier, spinnier, etc. so now I am a true believer.

I liked the way the F3.0 played with lead at 10:2 also! I then ran the lead all along the upper hoop covering the "dunlop" lettering which is similar to my Bio 300 tour setup. Serving was great with this setup! I started to hit my groundies long by a bit though so I probably would go back to the 10:2 layup that you have but for now I am going stock.

I will be curious what you decide over the coming weeks. Good luck!

Hey tom! Yeah it seems like my experience with the racquet is verging on your story with it! I hit with it again today and I'm really dialing in on my groundies, volleys, and serve. That lead tape really made a difference. I'm glad you already tried leading the upper hoop-- I was planning on doing that too but I'll probably just stick with the 10 & 2o'clock setup. It's really a sweet hitting stick like this. I still miss the solidity of the backhand when using the Bio 300 Tour, but the remarkable feel of the F3.0 Tour is slowly converting me. I guess we'll see how far this racquet takes us. From the look of it, it's gonna take us far!

[tlm]

Originally Posted by tom4ny

Others may disagree with my assessment that is ok but I still feel that the F3.0 tour is like a babolat apd in that dunlop has created a 'modern" feeling racquet. In that I mean that is is crisp, with a fast and snappy stringbed that allows one to generate some monster shots with impressive spin. The F3.0 tour does not have the plow through of an apd but is is more maneuverable and much more arm friendly. The F3.0 tour is a stiff frame but it is a very comfortable hit. Power level is comparable to an apd but comes from racket head speed as opposed to mass in the head like the apd has. A little lead in the upper hoop of the F3.0 tour gives some more plow through and fire power on serves. imo the F3.0 is very stable and does not need lead for stability like the bio 300 tour did.

I have decided to switch to the F3.0 tour from my bio 300 tour.

I agree with most of what you are saying, it is definitely crisp with a fast snappy string bed. Also I agree this is the only dunlop that I have used that has a modern feel to it.

Is it really that stiff? Or is it just because of the crisp feel? I thought it has a 64 stiffness rating. I have been demoing a lot of rackets lately and this is the best one so far by a lot, getting ready to purchase a couple of them.

[ccmtennis]

I think you guys are spot on with your reviews here. I was not even a dunlop fan before switching to this so I think this is one of the best sticks around that is still flying nder the radar. I am not fan of the beam width and paint job but that's just personal. The stiffness rating does feel higher than listed but it is very comfortable. As a former donnay P1 user I thought it felt quite the same with their foam filled frames

[tlm]

Originally Posted by ccmtennis

I think you guys are spot on with your reviews here. I was not even a dunlop fan before switching to this so I think this is one of the best sticks around that is still flying nder the radar. I am not fan of the beam width and paint job but that's just personal. The stiffness rating does feel higher than listed but it is very comfortable. As a former donnay P1 user I thought it felt quite the same with their foam filled frames

How does the power level of the P1 compare to the dunlop.

[ccmtennis]

Originally Posted by tlm

How does the power level of the P1 compare to the dunlop.

Much higher and closer to the APD. It does however serve a lot better and more comfortable but at the expense of being much less maneurable which is why I gave it up. I never liked an 18x 20 pattern due to the lack of spin but the f tour is great and slices are phenomenal

[tlm]

Originally Posted by ccmtennis

Much higher and closer to the APD. It does however serve a lot better and more comfortable but at the expense of being much less maneurable which is why I gave it up. I never liked an 18x 20 pattern due to the lack of spin but the f tour is great and slices are phenomenal

I agree good spin and great for slicing.

[Blitzball]

Originally Posted by tlm

I agree good spin and great for slicing.

Yeah it's probably the most spin potential you'll find in a stick with 18x20 string pattern. Even the TW reviewers gave it something like 84 which is above average/good. Plus the maneuverability/whippiness of the racquet allows for some more access to wicked topspin. My kick serve has really been improving and causing trouble for my opponents. But I've been using 16g strings this whole time-- I'll probably go with 17g to see if that can take me even further in terms of spin and plow through because I still feel like I'm getting pushed around sometimes.

[ccmtennis]

Originally Posted by Blitzball

Yeah it's probably the most spin potential you'll find in a stick with 18x20 string pattern. Even the TW reviewers gave it something like 84 which is above average/good. Plus the maneuverability/whippiness of the racquet allows for some more access to wicked topspin. My kick serve has really been improving and causing trouble for my opponents. But I've been using 16g strings this whole time-- I'll probably go with 17g to see if that can take me even further in terms of spin and plow through because I still feel like I'm getting pushed around sometimes.

Has anyone tried replacing the grip with leather? I am thinking bout trying this.

[MrFlynntastic]

Yes, I put a dunlop leather grip on mine. You have to stretch it out a bit further b/c the length of the handle is longer. I did this upon purchase and have no idea what it plays like in comparison to stock form. I put a thin over grip on it. The ridges from the leather are nice. Would recommend it.

[Pneumated1]

Originally Posted by MrFlynntastic

Yes, I put a dunlop leather grip on mine. You have to stretch it out a bit further b/c the length of the handle is longer. I did this upon purchase and have no idea what it plays like in comparison to stock form. I put a thin over grip on it. The ridges from the leather are nice. Would recommend it.

I just noticed the AG 300 in your signature. How/where do you customize that frame? I hit a customized 300G forever and almost upgraded to the AG 300 several times before going to Volkl/BB sticks. I busted the strings in both of my Londons last year in a league match and had to use a teammates AG 300, and it felt like I had played it forever. Although it was too light stock and a grip size too small, I sensed that it would be a great stick customized.

And not to totally hijack this thread, has anyone tried hitting this F 3.0 Tour with very low string tensions? The silk in my demo felt way too tight to do the racquet justice, imo.

[tom4ny]

I've had my F3.0 tour strung with a full bed of poly (KB proline2) at 52 and 50 and liked it. Currently I am at 55 with Isospeed Professional Classic.

For me this frame plays better at lower tensions. I did not like it at higher tensions. When I initially received my first F3.0 from TW it was strung above my requested tension and was around 60 lbs. I would not go higher than 57/56 but I prefer even a little lower. Under 50 lbs and it probably will be too powerful for my liking especially with lead added at 10:2

[tom4ny]

I have now tried the same string set up at various tensions (60, 57, 55, 52, 50) and can say that at 55 lbs and lower you get some ball pocketing though not the dwell time that i feel the biomimetic 300 tour has. Power and spin are ample as long as swing speed is fast otherwise balls will sail on me. At 50 lbs the strings are moving a bit on me. At 57 the string bed firms up and I no longer feel the ball pocket but control is very good. I am still settling in at 55 lbs. It just seems to do everything well for me. This is with Isospeed Professional Classic. I really am enjoying this set up.

I have 100% switched to the F3.0 tour and am officially in honeymoon period with everything going well with this frame for me. I am now staying with one setup.

[Pneumated1]

Originally Posted by tom4ny

I have now tried the same string set up at various tensions (60, 57, 55, 52, 50) and can say that at 55 lbs and lower you get some ball pocketing though not the dwell time that i feel the biomimetic 300 tour has. Power and spin are ample as long as swing speed is fast otherwise balls will sail on me. At 50 lbs the strings are moving a bit on me. At 57 the string bed firms up and I no longer feel the ball pocket but control is very good. I am still settling in at 55 lbs. It just seems to do everything well for me. This is with Isospeed Professional Classic. I really am enjoying this set up.

I have 100% switched to the F3.0 tour and am officially in honeymoon period with everything going well with this frame for me. I am now staying with one setup.

Thanks, Tom. Everything that you state here is confirmed by my brief experience with my demo a while back. I probably had about 6g of added weight in the upper hoop from 3-9. With the tighter tension of the demo, I'd need to strip at least half of that weight. However, at 53-55#, I could likely keep the weight, but the frame is so stable already, the added swing speed would be a great benefit at any weight. I'd likely hit it stock and find the lowest tension that I could accept.

This is one "modern" frame that I'll consider once my Londons wear out.

[cold_frame]

Anyone considered what the M3.0 16x19 would play like if was leaded up to match the specs of the F3.0
Just to have some more spin...
Or maybe if a 16x19 is what one needs, there are a lot of other frames to look at?

[MrFlynntastic]

Originally Posted by Pneumated1

I just noticed the AG 300 in your signature. How/where do you customize that frame? I hit a customized 300G forever and almost upgraded to the AG 300 several times before going to Volkl/BB sticks. I busted the strings in both of my Londons last year in a league match and had to use a teammates AG 300, and it felt like I had played it forever. Although it was too light stock and a grip size too small, I sensed that it would be a great stick customized.

And not to totally hijack this thread, has anyone tried hitting this F 3.0 Tour with very low string tensions? The silk in my demo felt way too tight to do the racquet justice, imo.

Pneumated,

here's my mod'd specs for my AG 300:

- 21g in the handle, 4g at 10 and 2 o'clock and 3g at 12 o'clock -

The AG 300 racquet is fantastic at this spec. It does not get pushed around and I can get much more plow thru on my strokes.

In the 3.0F, I use a poly/nat gut hybrid at 54lb poly main, 52 gut X

[TennisCJC]

Originally Posted by tom4ny

Others may disagree with my assessment that is ok but I still feel that the F3.0 tour is like a babolat apd in that dunlop has created a 'modern" feeling racquet. In that I mean that is is crisp, with a fast and snappy stringbed that allows one to generate some monster shots with impressive spin. The F3.0 tour does not have the plow through of an apd but is is more maneuverable and much more arm friendly. The F3.0 tour is a stiff frame but it is a very comfortable hit. Power level is comparable to an apd but comes from racket head speed as opposed to mass in the head like the apd has. A little lead in the upper hoop of the F3.0 tour gives some more plow through and fire power on serves. imo the F3.0 is very stable and does not need lead for stability like the bio 300 tour did.

I have decided to switch to the F3.0 tour from my bio 300 tour.

I demo-ed the f3.0 and don't think it is like a bab apd. For me, apd is like a club while the f3.0 is softer than the apd but medium flex compared to all rackets. The f3.0 has much better feel than apd to me. APD is a unique racket to me in that it plays stiffer than rating and has very little feel. APD is perfect for mini-Nadal bashers while f3.0 could appeal to all court players.