Attention Dunlop AG 4D 300 Users!

[JackB1]

I need your help! I love my Dunlop Aerogel 4D 500 Tour but the stiffness of that frame (71) is killing my elbow/shoulder. I want to exchange it for the much more flexible 300 (60 flex rating) but I am concerned about the advertized low power level of the 300. Tennis.com has it rated at a 1853 power rating, which is extremely low....even lower than a Head Prestige.
The salesman tells me the 300 is just a little lower than the 500. Who is right? I can handle a small dropoff on power, but not a huge one. Thanks!

[1hbhBUX]

The 300 would be a lower powered racquet, due to the more flexible frame and the smaller head size. You could make up for that with lower tension in your strings if you wanted to.

[dadozen]

I don't think that the difference would be that high. Just as posted above, you can try lower tensions and soft strings, that will also help you in your arm;shouled problems.

[the Town Sherif]

the 300 is not really considered a lower-powered frame. with some lead and string type as well as tension, it can easily be a very powerful racquet.

I think it's one of the best racquets out on the market, you can make it be whatever kind of racquet you want.

[dParis]

Originally Posted by the Town Sherif

the 300 is not really considered a lower-powered frame. with some lead and string type as well as tension, it can easily be a very powerful racquet.

I think it's one of the best racquets out on the market, you can make it be whatever kind of racquet you want.

Hi Sherif. You seem to think the 300 is a more versatile raqcuet than I do. I know that at under 11 oz., there is plenty of room for lead but I think that would take something away from its unique characteristics. Also, I think there are better racquet options out there if one is going to bother putting lead on the 300. I see by your sig that you are a user of the AG200 4D 16x19. I'd be interested to hear how you compare the 200 and the 300.

[bigdaddy]

I've been playing with the 4D 500 Tour since they came out. I played with the AG 500 Tours before that. Will the 4D 300 Tour give me more control with a decent power level. The power level of the 500 Tour is awesome.

[Alec78]

I have two 4D 500 Tour frames and have demoed the 4D 300. The 300 is definitely the lower-powered racquet in stock form, but you don't need a roll of lead tape to make the 300 comparable to the 500 Tour in terms of weight and power. A few grams at your preferred locations on the head will make the 300 more powerful than a typical player's racquet without sacrificing too much maneuverability. You'll also gain some stability on off-center hits where the 500 Tour's stiffness is an advantage. All in all, I prefer the 300 with a bit of tweaking over the 500 Tour, which I've decided is too stiff for me. I've hit with a lot of racquets recently and experienced no shoulder or arm discomfort with any except the 500 Tour. I actually like how it plays and don't mind the extra stiffness and power while playing, but the discomfort after playing, though mild, is disconcerting. I'm checking out a few other frames but am seriously considering the 300, which even without lead tape has generous pop for racquet in its category.

[Fedace]

Lower power than Head Prestige ????????? LOL... No way. Microgel 300 is pretty powerful frame so i assume 4D 300 is not that different. Power is NOT the problem with these rackets.

[Alec78]

Both the 300 and 300 Tour offer more feel and control than the 500 Tour, no question. They're more flexible, thinner frames. What is decent power is in the eye of the beholder. You can swing these frames quickly and easily provide your own power. The 300 is rated, and feels, slightly stiffer than the 300 Tour but is significantly more flexible than the 500 Tour.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Fedace

Lower power than Head Prestige ????????? LOL... No way. Microgel 300 is pretty powerful frame so i assume 4D 300 is not that different. Power is NOT the problem with these rackets.

check the power ratings on tennis.com. The 300 is at the lower end of the spectrum. I wouldn't call the MG300 "pretty powerful" by any stretch. It's a "control" racquet through and through, much in the same vein as the Prestige.

[Fedace]

Originally Posted by JackB1

check the power ratings on tennis.com. The 300 is at the lower end of the spectrum. I wouldn't call the MG300 "pretty powerful" by any stretch. It's a "control" racquet through and through, much in the same vein as the Prestige.

When i hit with AG 300 it had plenty of power,,, somewhere in the line of K-blade MP racket.

[bigdaddy]

Thanks for answering. I've played some of the best tennis of my life with the 500 Tours, both AG and 4D. Always looking to improve on that. Think I'll give the 4D300 Tour a Demo. I'm a Dunlop man all the way. For me they are the most solid hitting racquets on the market.

[Fedace]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy

Thanks for answering. I've played some of the best tennis of my life with the 500 Tours, both AG and 4D. Always looking to improve on that. Think I'll give the 4D300 Tour a Demo. I'm a Dunlop man all the way. For me they are the most solid hitting racquets on the market.

Did you think the 4D was definitely better ?? and how do you like the feel of the Aerogel??. this materials very different feel to it than the solid traditional graphite like Wilson frames.

[bigdaddy]

Yes I like the 4D version the best. To me Dunlop racquets are very solid. The 4D 300 Tour appears to be very different than the 4D 500 Tou. Thinner frame, softer flex. I wonder how it was rated so high on the review.

[fantom]

Originally Posted by Fedace

When i hit with AG 300 it had plenty of power,,, somewhere in the line of K-blade MP racket.

Right. The K-blade MP isn't considered to be a "power" racquet either. You need to look at it in the entire spectrum of racquets, which includes the 115 sq. inch, 8.5 oz. granny sticks.

[Ten_nuts]

Hi JackB1, i currently play with 4D 500 Tour. Before i had it strung with Luxilon Power at 60 lbs, then MSV Focus @ 60 lbs, then mixed Lux Power vs Wilson sensation @ 60 vs 65. All these string setup give a solid performance of the 4D 500 tour. But man the strings break too early, so i switched to Ashaway crossfire and it lasted a little longer (strung at 62 vs 65 lbs), and this strings are a little easy on the arm with great feel. Trust me on this: if you feel good with the 4D 500 tour, don't bother to go with the 4D 300 16x19 because the swing weight is too light and the felx is a lot lower. But if you want to experience it with lead tape and some time to adjust it to your style, you will get it. Anyway, without lead tape, the 4D 300 cannot compare to the 4D 500 tour.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Ten_nuts

Hi JackB1, i currently play with 4D 500 Tour. Before i had it strung with Luxilon Power at 60 lbs, then MSV Focus @ 60 lbs, then mixed Lux Power vs Wilson sensation @ 60 vs 65. All these string setup give a solid performance of the 4D 500 tour. But man the strings break too early, so i switched to Ashaway crossfire and it lasted a little longer (strung at 62 vs 65 lbs), and this strings are a little easy on the arm with great feel. Trust me on this: if you feel good with the 4D 500 tour, don't bother to go with the 4D 300 16x19 because the swing weight is too light and the felx is a lot lower. But if you want to experience it with lead tape and some time to adjust it to your style, you will get it. Anyway, without lead tape, the 4D 300 cannot compare to the 4D 500 tour.

Thanks. I decided to abandon the 500 altogether and get something a whole lot more flexible (Prince Ozone Tour). The AG 500 Tour is an outstanding frame and I would still be using it if my elbow would let me
I am just moving away from the stiffer frames.

[Ljubicic for number1]

Jack, The 300 has heaps of power but you have made the right decision coming over to the premier brand

[Fedace]

Originally Posted by fantom

Right. The K-blade MP isn't considered to be a "power" racquet either. You need to look at it in the entire spectrum of racquets, which includes the 115 sq. inch, 8.5 oz. granny sticks.

Right but Kblade has some decent pop and it is considered medium power racket. Sure it isn't K1 or Ncode 3.0 but it does have pretty good pop in all areas.

[Sander]

What about leading up a standard 4D 500? Stiffness in between the 300 and 500 tour at 66, will probably be quite a bit more comfortable than the tour version. Say 5 to 10 grams to the head and 10 to 15 grams to the grip. Did anyone try that? Would be interesting to try...