Donnay's new Pentacore line of rackets

teekaywhy

Professional
I'm not one to bemoan the "new" iteration of an "old" product, but in the case of Donnay, it's totally justified. I have the TW reissue Pro Ones and they're one of my favorite racquets. The XDual Gold/Black/Blue 99 and 94 are also very good racquets in their own right.
The new multi-core sticks are great in concept but unfortunately, leave a lot to be desired in terms of consistency. I think it's admirable that someone is trying to keep the Donnay name on life support but let's be honest, tennis racquet manufacturing goes beyond marketing gimmicks a simple desire to succeed. My last experience with them was an order for two Pro Ones about 18 months ago. Granted it was before the current regime, but lets just say that the experience left a lot to be desired. Fast forward to the current ownership and their customer service mantra of having one individual be responsible for customer experience is great but it's a dollar short and a day late.
I love the Donnay pedigree but what we're getting now does not honor the heritage of the brand in any way.
 

The Hawk

New User
Check them out. Always in legal trouble, owe money to Bethanie Mattek Sands and Donnay licensing company in the UK. Always in trouble. No one wants to carry them. Terrible and erratic customer service.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
Check them out. Always in legal trouble, owe money to Bethanie Mattek Sands and Donnay licensing company in the UK. Always in trouble. No one wants to carry them. Terrible and erratic customer service.

at one time, perhaps, but the fellow handling it now has been extremely responsive and helpful to me with prompt service, having dealt with him a few times in the past few months. He said it's a "new deal" there now and my experience so far vindicates that
 

The Hawk

New User
at one time, perhaps, but the fellow handling it now has been extremely responsive and helpful to me with prompt service, having dealt with him a few times in the past few months. He said it's a "new deal" there now and my experience so far vindicates that
Been years of disaster! Total horror, Beware!
 

Guy Jones

Rookie
The pro one still goes down as an all time great, can't not forgive a company that have made such a racquet previously.
 

The Hawk

New User
No one uses them. No one. They are truly the emporer’s new clothes. Just for people who want to believe they have a secret no one else has, but face it, used only by people who want to be different and feel special. It’s an all time great never used (in modern times) by any great, near great or even a touring pro. Been sued by the few they contracted with and lost the suits, Courier uses them but he is a company owner and no competitive player on the tour bothers with them and some of them don’t get paid to use the frames they use. Beware!
 

big ted

Legend
theyre nice racquets but either they dont want to deal with retail distributors or retail distributors dont want to deal with them... i think its the latter
 

mark b.

Rookie
I need to weigh in on this. Recently I wanted to demo their 105" frame. I filled out the info and they contacted me almost immediately telling me they didn't have a demo ready to go. They'd have to string one and send. I sent back they should just send the frame and let me string it. They did. I did. and ultimately returned the frame to them as I didn't gel with it. The customer services was A+
 

The Hawk

New User
Mark, if they had any real customer service they could have strung the racket in in 30 minutes and mailed it to you! If that's an A+, you are an easy mark. If they had a company, had a stringer, had a warehouse, had a handful of employees, had anything like what an actual company (with customer service) has you would have had the strung frame immediately. What they meant was we have the frame, but no stringer, no real organization, no office, no service and that's it.
 

mark b.

Rookie
Hmmm. Hadn't thought about like that. How many racquet companies do you know that let you string their demo? I see your point though. Well done.
 

The Hawk

New User
Hmmm. Hadn't thought about like that. How many racquet companies do you know that let you string their demo? I see your point though. Well done.
Hmmm. Hadn't thought about like that. How many racquet companies do you know that let you string their demo? I see your point though. Well done.
Don't you get it? This isn't a company, this is a defunct organization that sometimes responds, sometimes answers, sometimes screws up and is inconsistent, disorganized, has no technical ability at all, guesses at its "specs", has no good tennis players on staff, its "office" is a cellar, it has no bookkeeping, is always being sued, is marginal.... They let you string the demo because they were out of string or stringers that day, had no one coming in, couldn't expect anyone, etc. It's a joke.
 

Guy Jones

Rookie
No one uses them. No one. They are truly the emporer’s new clothes. Just for people who want to believe they have a secret no one else has, but face it, used only by people who want to be different and feel special. It’s an all time great never used (in modern times) by any great, near great or even a touring pro. Been sued by the few they contracted with and lost the suits, Courier uses them but he is a company owner and no competitive player on the tour bothers with them and some of them don’t get paid to use the frames they use. Beware!
Decent players do use them, so really you have written quite a bit of unsubstantiated waffle here.
 

The Hawk

New User
Sure they do Guy. You I assume. No one on the tour male or female. No one at the USTA development center in Orlando that I've ever seen and I'm there a lot. "Decent" covers a lot of ground and of course "decent" players use them--just no important or really good players anywhere. Period.
 

Guy Jones

Rookie
Sure they do Guy. You I assume. No one on the tour male or female. No one at the USTA development center in Orlando that I've ever seen and I'm there a lot. "Decent" covers a lot of ground and of course "decent" players use them--just no important or really good players anywhere. Period.
I don't play with them (dunlop mfil 200 man), I do know of a few technically sound or even stylish decent level club players using them though. I have hit with the pro one, it is a very decent frame IMO.
 

The Hawk

New User
Sure Guy, stylishly decent players for sure and even some technically sound players. I'm sure you can spot them easily enough. Must be maybe a million of them around and at least 25 use Donnay. Of course. Just no one of real substance, ever, anywhere... Donnay isn't a factor... Period. And don't you think of someone thought they could play better with a Donnay, someone, somewhere, someone actually good, would be using them. Oooops, no one is. Just a few stylishly decent and technically sound players out there. Just that Donnay is not important, not a factor, not a active company....
 

Guy Jones

Rookie
Sure Guy, stylishly decent players for sure and even some technically sound players. I'm sure you can spot them easily enough. Must be maybe a million of them around and at least 25 use Donnay. Of course. Just no one of real substance, ever, anywhere... Donnay isn't a factor... Period. And don't you think of someone thought they could play better with a Donnay, someone, somewhere, someone actually good, would be using them. Oooops, no one is. Just a few stylishly decent and technically sound players out there. Just that Donnay is not important, not a factor, not a active company....
I don't understand your point, is the thought it isn't widely used on the pro tour meaning it can't make or hasn't made good racquets? May be just the fact it has been mismanaged, there are other factors at play that lead to no players being sponsored by the company and as a result less recreational players using it.
 
No one uses them. No one. They are truly the emporer’s new clothes. Just for people who want to believe they have a secret no one else has, but face it, used only by people who want to be different and feel special. It’s an all time great never used (in modern times) by any great, near great or even a touring pro. Been sued by the few they contracted with and lost the suits, Courier uses them but he is a company owner and no competitive player on the tour bothers with them and some of them don’t get paid to use the frames they use. Beware!

That means nothing but money, and you have fallen victim to marketing. Why do you think players leave one brand for another? Money. Players don't just use what they want to use, they use who is going to pay them millions.

Don't you get it? This isn't a company, this is a defunct organization that sometimes responds, sometimes answers, sometimes screws up and is inconsistent, disorganized, has no technical ability at all, guesses at its "specs", has no good tennis players on staff, its "office" is a cellar, it has no bookkeeping, is always being sued, is marginal.... They let you string the demo because they were out of string or stringers that day, had no one coming in, couldn't expect anyone, etc. It's a joke.

Wow, I'm sorry but you sound very misinformed and kind of bitter. Where is your proof of all this nonsense? You have none. They may not be the same Donnay out of Belgium, but the fact remains they make a good racquet with solid technology that is very arm friendly. Whether you like them or not doesn't give you leave to make up lies and nonsense on-line based on nothing but speculation, and false logic.

To anyone reading this thread and this guys posts, keep in mind - you truly cannot believe everything you read online!
 
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The Hawk

New User
That means nothing but money, and you have fallen victim to marketing. Why do you think players leave one brand for another? Money. Players don't just use what they want to use, they use who is going to pay them millions.



Wow, I'm sorry but you sound very misinformed and kind of bitter. Where is your proof of all this nonsense? You have none. They may not be the same Donnay out of Belgium, but the fact remains they make a good racquet with solid technology that is very arm friendly. Whether you like them or not doesn't give you leave to make up lies and nonsense on-line based on nothing but speculation, and false logic.

To anyone reading this thread and this guys posts, keep in mind - you truly cannot believe everything you read online!
Hey, I'm not going to get involved further. Suggest you investigate Donnay. Their legal issues, money they owe Mattek-Sands is a matter of public record, so are other legal issues. You check our their office and where it is! Most players get paid peanuts to use a brand of racket and if any of them thought that a particular brand would improve their game or help their arm, they'd switch in a heartbeat. After all, winning a few more matches or playing instead of being out with a sore arm costs them far more than most earn in a year from most racquet deals. And, you can talk about "marketing", but you should know that most any player would use most any brand of racket as it is easy to customize a model by almost any major brand to most player's specs. After all, despite the raving of some on this site, most top 100 players use rackets of just a few types in a narrow range of specs. It's the people on this site who believe in "magic"--secrets of strings, frames, etc. that only they know about and no one else does. Do you realize that if you go to the stringing room of a GS, you would see that of all the 100's of strings available, the top 100 men and women use very few of them--yes, on this site writers know all kinds of secret stuff about strings, but the good players use but a few of what is available. I'm finished with writing on this site for now--some of you know so little, are so uninformed, want to believe you know stuff, understand stuff, are knowledgeable--and yet you know almost nothing and believe what you read here from fellow "buffs" who are self-educated, won't check facts, etc. Not worth it for me--and yes, I do know stuff because I am there regularly and have been for a while. You check out Donnay. You do and you will come to your own conclusions and that's fine.
 

Guy Jones

Rookie
Hey, I'm not going to get involved further. Suggest you investigate Donnay. Their legal issues, money they owe Mattek-Sands is a matter of public record, so are other legal issues. You check our their office and where it is! Most players get paid peanuts to use a brand of racket and if any of them thought that a particular brand would improve their game or help their arm, they'd switch in a heartbeat. After all, winning a few more matches or playing instead of being out with a sore arm costs them far more than most earn in a year from most racquet deals. And, you can talk about "marketing", but you should know that most any player would use most any brand of racket as it is easy to customize a model by almost any major brand to most player's specs. After all, despite the raving of some on this site, most top 100 players use rackets of just a few types in a narrow range of specs. It's the people on this site who believe in "magic"--secrets of strings, frames, etc. that only they know about and no one else does. Do you realize that if you go to the stringing room of a GS, you would see that of all the 100's of strings available, the top 100 men and women use very few of them--yes, on this site writers know all kinds of secret stuff about strings, but the good players use but a few of what is available. I'm finished with writing on this site for now--some of you know so little, are so uninformed, want to believe you know stuff, understand stuff, are knowledgeable--and yet you know almost nothing and believe what you read here from fellow "buffs" who are self-educated, won't check facts, etc. Not worth it for me--and yes, I do know stuff because I am there regularly and have been for a while. You check out Donnay. You do and you will come to your own conclusions and that's fine.
18 messages and most on this subject, jeez. You a disgruntled ex employee or something.
 

haqq777

Legend
18 messages and most on this subject, jeez. You a disgruntled ex employee or something.
In all fairness, there are quite a few others too who have less than stellar feedback for this brand, including myself. You will come across a bunch of posts and threads on subject matter. Have not had any transactions in the last couple of months so maybe they are working on issues, but they have a long hill to climb. Personally, I will not recommend this brand to anyone.
 

ssulzer

New User
Just wanted to weigh in here and say that Donnay's one service rep and now CEO is named Howard Matthews. Some of you may know him from his Tennis Menace business, which sells new and vintage frames. He calls himself Howie the Racquet Doctor and can fix most any problem with your older frames.He is available every day from 8 am to 12 pm. I have been dealing with him for over five years and he has spent many hours with me customizing racquets to work with my arm problems, using his skills and a Babolat RDC machine. He is also far and away the best stringer I have ever had in my 40 years of of playing tennis. I have now switched from the customized Prince Vortexes he sold me to the Donnay Allwood, a six core Xenecore frame with very low stiffness (approx. 50) and swing weight (around 290). My two weigh in at about 12 ounces. The Allwood is very good for my older arm and shoulder, and it plays with both power and consistency, perhaps due to the Xenecore. It has a unique feel. I am a 68 year-old 4.0 doubles player.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
In all fairness, there are quite a few others too who have less than stellar feedback for this brand, including myself. You will come across a bunch of posts and threads on subject matter. Have not had any transactions in the last couple of months so maybe they are working on issues, but they have a long hill to climb. Personally, I will not recommend this brand to anyone.

dealt with Howard at Donnay again today, a few times in past few months, he's been prompt and helpful, no complaints whatsoever about my experience thus far. Things can improve from the problems in the past.
 

haqq777

Legend
dealt with Howard at Donnay again today, a few times in past few months, he's been prompt and helpful, no complaints whatsoever about my experience thus far. Things can improve from the problems in the past.
Good to know. That's a very positive thing. I had no issues with how the racquets played, as I mentioned. It was the horrendous customer service which was a put off. I really wish them the best of luck.
 

tennisgurl

Semi-Pro
In all fairness, there are quite a few others too who have less than stellar feedback for this brand, including myself. You will come across a bunch of posts and threads on subject matter. Have not had any transactions in the last couple of months so maybe they are working on issues, but they have a long hill to climb. Personally, I will not recommend this brand to anyone.
This. Exactly this. I had a lengthy post on forum here too regarding the scammy operation these guys have been running and I spent close to $500 for two racquets and strings. Was promised a free bag and free strings which I never got and that is not all. I'm never doing business with them again, better off spending my dollars elsewhere. They had the "new mgmt" spiel last time too and before that as well. God knows how many more times it will change hands again. Good for the two posters here who have had great experience. But I'm not risking going this route again. Neither would I recommend this company to anyone I know.
 

leejayh

Rookie
This. Exactly this. I had a lengthy post on forum here too regarding the scammy operation these guys have been running and I spent close to $500 for two racquets and strings. Was promised a free bag and free strings which I never got and that is not all. I'm never doing business with them again, better off spending my dollars elsewhere. They had the "new mgmt" spiel last time too and before that as well. God knows how many more times it will change hands again. Good for the two posters here who have had great experience. But I'm not risking going this route again. Neither would I recommend this company to anyone I know.

I am adding to this thread so that I can warn others. You can look through my comments over the years. You will know that I was a supporter of this company and their products. I have the Tri-Cores and the Penta's and I do like them. However, I have to agree, this company is poorly run, and very scammy. I would not trust any promotion or have any expectation of service. I was supposed to receive a free tennis bag, and in another purchase, free string. Never got either.

I recently tried to purchase replacement pallets, and "Howie" informed me that they no longer sell them, and that you have to send your racket to them so that they will change it. He claimed that they no longer sell them due to potential lawsuits - which is, of course ridiculous. I am not going to send my rackets, and won't let others mod them. So while the rackets are good, they are not good enough to put up with getting scammed. I would recommend staying away. You can honestly get another racket that works just as well, with greater appeal and resale value.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
I recently tried to purchase replacement pallets, and "Howie" informed me that they no longer sell them, and that you have to send your racket to them so that they will change it. He claimed that they no longer sell them due to potential lawsuits - which is, of course ridiculous

actually, it's not ridiculous, and my understanding is that it's the same reason TW and others don't sell separate pallets in this country, whereas you can sometimes find them sold separately in other less litigious countries. The issue has come up in the past when people wanted to buy pallets from TW for Volkl frames.
 

jdawg02

Semi-Pro
I am adding to this thread so that I can warn others. You can look through my comments over the years. You will know that I was a supporter of this company and their products. I have the Tri-Cores and the Penta's and I do like them. However, I have to agree, this company is poorly run, and very scammy. I would not trust any promotion or have any expectation of service. I was supposed to receive a free tennis bag, and in another purchase, free string. Never got either.

I recently tried to purchase replacement pallets, and "Howie" informed me that they no longer sell them, and that you have to send your racket to them so that they will change it. He claimed that they no longer sell them due to potential lawsuits - which is, of course ridiculous. I am not going to send my rackets, and won't let others mod them. So while the rackets are good, they are not good enough to put up with getting scammed. I would recommend staying away. You can honestly get another racket that works just as well, with greater appeal and resale value.


Totally agree with all sentiments leejayh on Donnay. I had a bad experience as well from ordering two Penta's that were claimed to be both 4 1/2 grip size and one racquets pallet was poorly put on with the buttcap put on a different way as the other. I knew there was something fishy when there was a delay on shipping my racquets and then I received them and noticed the discrepency. I tried fixing the issue with **** to have a new handle mold put on and they spilt permanent residue on the throat of my racquet and they wouldn't admit to their workmanship flaw. Overall high disappoint to the start of 2018 and will never give both companies business ever again!
 

big ted

Legend
God bless donnay but theres a reason why TW doesnt sell them anymore, and my guess is because they chose not to..
 

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
The Xenecore concept is a good one, especially for arm comfort, they just need to get their strategic and operational plans in order to make retailors want to stock and sell their product.
The more choice we have as consumers the better it is. The other thing is that the new Allwood needs to be made available in a heavier (325g) spec to make it right, 285g is a nothing weight for players who want to swing a 50ra frame.
Most smaller retailors around here only want to stick Head, Wilson and Babolat and that's a bit bland.
 

leejayh

Rookie
I agree. The Pentacore racket is really quite good for those who want power and a crisp but dampened feel. I just wish the company had better business practices.
 

big ted

Legend
how long has the new donnay been in business...8yrs? the way I see it, it shouldn't take them that long to get some quality control/customer service..
 

ultradr

Legend
I have 2014 pro one 18x20.

1. I felt like the pro one is smaller than 97. For example definitely smalker head than rf97's. Have penta core pro one's head size any bigger than 2014(quad core?) ?

2. Penta core pro one flexier than the quad core?

Thanks.
 

BHud

Hall of Fame
I am adding to this thread so that I can warn others. You can look through my comments over the years. You will know that I was a supporter of this company and their products. I have the Tri-Cores and the Penta's and I do like them. However, I have to agree, this company is poorly run, and very scammy. I would not trust any promotion or have any expectation of service. I was supposed to receive a free tennis bag, and in another purchase, free string. Never got either.

I recently tried to purchase replacement pallets, and "Howie" informed me that they no longer sell them, and that you have to send your racket to them so that they will change it. He claimed that they no longer sell them due to potential lawsuits - which is, of course ridiculous. I am not going to send my rackets, and won't let others mod them. So while the rackets are good, they are not good enough to put up with getting scammed. I would recommend staying away. You can honestly get another racket that works just as well, with greater appeal and resale value.

My experience was totally different. Howie got the Formula Pentacore 100 demo out fast, let me string it too my liking (came with a full bed of poly but became a totally different racquet after I installed my usual gut/soft poly hybrid), and let me keep it until the new ones I ordered arrived. Great communication and flexibility. After modding, I have an 11.5 oz "soft drive"...more arm friendly, more flex, more control as compared to the Pure Drive, but still with some explosive power...just as advertised.
 

CopolyX

Hall of Fame
They can be great frames.
Thou this yearly ritual of adding more core fillings is pretty nuts!
Yes, I wish they could clean up there act, it would only help the industry and us players swinging sticks...

Issues are the company itself has lost it's true vision, soul andhas totalty lost its companies core value " do the right things" towards their customers.
Way too much penny pinching, loss of good communication and has not even considered exceeding customers expectations. Mainly because they can not even meet their expectation!
Overall quality issues. There pricing structure and marketing approach is not helping them.
They lost the formula of locking in their loyal customer base.

I vote will my wallet. If a company does not value me, then I will not continue to support them.
To me, I much more then just buying a frame.
Some just don't care...What can you do; c'est la vie.”
 
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BHud

Hall of Fame
They can be great frames.
Thou this yearly ritual of adding more core fillings is pretty nuts!
Yes, I wish they could clean up there act, it would only help the industry and us players swinging sticks...

Issues are the company itself has lost it's true vision, soul andhas totalty lost its companies core value " do the right things" towards their customers.
Way too much penny pinching, loss of good communication and has not even considered exceeding customers expectations. Mainly because they can not even meet their expectation!
Overall quality issues. There pricing structure and marketing approach is not helping them.
They lost the formula of locking in their loyal customer base.

I vote will my wallet. If a company does not value me, then I will not continue to support them.
To me, I much more then just buying a frame.
Some just don't care...What can you do; c'est la vie.”

Wow...too bad. My experience has been great! Update: after playing with the racquet for a month, I could never quite dial it in, so I decided to call it quits and move back to my old sticks. Donnay/Howie refunded 100% of the purchase price within 24 hours of return. I have never experienced a guarantee like that! I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again.
 
Well, I think Donnay is probably on the way out. They have pissed off a large number of customers with their incredibly shady pricing scheme that seems to change overnight, at will. Case in point - Howie (the supposed savior of Donnay and new CEO), has all but removed Facebook reviews and the ability to post them, because people called them out on their shady practices. And if anything negative is said about Donnay on their page, it will be removed.

A few months back, I purchased a clearanced out 2014 model racquet from the site for $99. In a matter of weeks, that same 2014 stick went up to $149, and it is now $199. In fact, ALL clearance racquets, regardless of age or warehouse dust have been cranked up to $199. It's become clear that Donnay engages in shady pricing and business practices, and I will no longer be giving them my business. They make a great frame, but I will be happy to buy those frames at a discount from the second-hand market. Not from their website.
 
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young1

New User
I am new here and i am 20.I am using an old donnay tennis racquet and wishing to get a new one.Is there any suggestion?:oops: I hope to get your reply
 

hisrob777

Rookie
I purchased a Pentacore 97 a few months ago. I’m playing my best tennis in years. Tennis elbow gone. I’m using a full bed of Luxilon ALU soft at 50lbs with some lead at 12,3 and 9. I just ordered a used Hexacore 97 soft of the Donnay site yesterday. Can’t wait. I’m definitely a Donnay fan.

With that being said what are some good utlra soft frames from some of the big manufacturers?
 
I purchased a Pentacore 97 a few months ago. I’m playing my best tennis in years. Tennis elbow gone. I’m using a full bed of Luxilon ALU soft at 50lbs with some lead at 12,3 and 9. I just ordered a used Hexacore 97 soft of the Donnay site yesterday. Can’t wait. I’m definitely a Donnay fan.

With that being said what are some good utlra soft frames from some of the big manufacturers?

I'm glad you like your new Donnay. I think they have good racquets, but unfortunately they have some questionable people at the helm of the company these days. Recently I've put my Donnay's to rest in favor of a Prince Tour Pro 98. It feels quite plush and has a great weight distribution imo. It has a nice and low flex somewhere in the 61 range, and fits like a comfortable glove for me. I still like my Donnay's, but right now this is my favorite stick.
 

lgbalfa

Professional
Long thread but basically what happened with Donnay?

Howie Matthews from Tennis Menace bought the company and now runs it as a one person shop?
 

mctennis

Legend
Long thread but basically what happened with Donnay?

Howie Matthews from Tennis Menace bought the company and now runs it as a one person shop?
I've talked with the owner of Tennis Menace a few times discussing strings. He is a one man show there. Interesting and very helpful individual. I did not know he bought Donnay. Interesting.
 
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