Diary of a DONNAYHOLIC

VOLLEY KING · Feb 13, 2012

I dont about you guys but this company is driving me insane!!!

They keep coming out with so many new sticks and discontinuing others quicker than i Can test them.

What makes it even harder is that not only are so many of them differnet by a hair, they have weights and side weights to test. This constant Testing is becoming a full time job and driving me bonkers.

Im already up at night thinking about strings but now I have to think about which Donnay with which weight combo and then just as I choose one they discontinue it and come out with a new one. Mind you that I dont think the new Donnays are even a year old?? (not sure).

Anyway heres my story

Donnay X series

First they came out with these sticks . they had a whole bunch and each one was different by about an ounce. ( they seem to be almost all discontinued as i write this)

I tried the red and to make it more confusing the "dark red" , the White, the yellow, the yellow extended, the orange, the silver, the black, the Blue.

After playing around with all of them and having nightmares I finally settled on the White because it was the lightest and I could bulk it up to almost any of the other racquets. I plkunked down $800 bucks and bought four.

Problem solved? Nope think again....because then a few months later they came out with the dual core series.

Dual Core

After tormenting myself whether to even go through this hell of testing with sticks and weights I finally decided to give in and try the dual cores.

I wanted to hate them....I tried to hate them and tell myself the four whites I just plunked down $800 bucks were better ....but they werent. The Dual Cores were just far superior in every department.

So here we go again.....now I tried the Platinium 94 & 99, the Silver, The Silver lite (which was white in color), The Silver lite extended (also white in color).

After testing over and over again I finally settled on the Platinum . So i sold my whites and plunked down anothe $800 bucks for four Platinums.

Newer Dual Cores

So Im all excited about my Platinums and then a couple of months later they come out with the Dual core 27 (which is now discontinued and is now formula something) and a Dual Core 18 x 20 pro something ( which has now been discontinued and has been updated into a 16x19 version), and they also came out a host of larger sized frames as well.

Again I didnt want to try them. I told myself there is nothing better than the Platinum and it was the greatest stick in the world.

But it just kept nagging at me and a few months later I decided to torment myself and start testing.

Well I absolutely LOVED the 18x20 dual pro but I finally got a bit smarter and only bought one just a couple of months ago!!

My suspiciscion was right because tehy have come out with the 16x19 version...also as i said before they have already discontinued the 18x20 soon to be repainted and re released and the same is true for the 27 which has a new paintjob and now is the formula something.

WHEW!!!!

Dual Pro one 16 x 19

I really wanted to hate it. I said its control i need and the 18x20 is superior.

but again knowing that I would give in to the testing bug I decided not to wait and just try the 16x19.

LOVE THIS STICK.

Its my new stick....I gave in and plunked down $400 bucks and bought only two....why???

you guessed it the extended version is coming out this summer and a larger size pro one is coming out as well.

STOP THE PAIN....I NEED HELP!!! so tune in just another couple of months for " As the Donnay turns"....I cant stop myself...Im totally addicted. I need detox or something!!

ProPlayer · Feb 13, 2012

Oh look another donnay plant.

all the new donnays suck, the company has no clue as to what its doing, thats what happens when you buy a "brand name" and try to sell it on crap.

El Diablo · Feb 13, 2012

I'm very impressed with their sticks, had a few hits with the XP Dual Black and can't recall being as impressed with any other racquet. Will likely switch to it. As for their discontinuing racquets, some of them are still available directly from the company well after they're discontinued.

mhj202 · Feb 13, 2012

El Diablo said:
I'm very impressed with their sticks, had a few hits with the XP Dual Black and can't recall being as impressed with any other racquet. Will likely switch to it. As for their discontinuing racquets, some of them are still available directly from the company well after they're discontinued.

Completely agree. I've also been impressed with their rackets but do understand the OP's frustration with Donnay's incredibly quick product release cycle and hope that it stabilizes a bit so we can all depend on having support available (replacement grommets, etc.) for their sticks.

klementine · Feb 13, 2012

Plenty of racquets or brands that I don't groove with... but I'm not going to 'trash' any of them or their users.. just seems so un-american.

(after all, companies are people) And Donnay is good people.

Besides, regular consumption of hatorade shrinks the external ovaries.

VOLLEY KING · Feb 13, 2012

ProPlayer said:
Oh look another donnay plant.

all the new donnays suck, the company has no clue as to what its doing, thats what happens when you buy a "brand name" and try to sell it on crap.

Actually if you bothered to read my post you will see that I am the complete opposite of a plant.

I'm actually really frustrated with this company.

They change racquets quicker than I can change my underwear. It's freaking insane!

But I now see what Donnays strategy is.

Do you think it's an accident that their racquets are higher priced than any other racquets on the market?? It's purposeful.

Donnay's strategy is to focus on the wealthiest consumers. Such customers don't
Care about the price and are betting they will pay anything for newer "improvements" regardless of the price .

Therefore I can honestly understand your resentment.

I'm not exactly poor but even I'm getting sick of Donnays Bullsheet already and quite frankly I'm sick of being a sucker.

Having said all of that.....I honestly LOVE the pro one . It's an amazing stick. They really have something here and it's worth every red cent.

Believe me I really wanted to hate it . I'm sick of their stupid games........but this stick is just absolutely phenomenal.

Overheadsmash · Feb 13, 2012

VOLLEY KING said:
I dont about you guys but this company is driving me insane!!!

They keep coming out with so many new sticks and discontinuing others quicker than i Can test them.

What makes it even harder is that not only are so many of them differnet by a hair, they have weights and side weights to test. This constant Testing is becoming a full time job and driving me bonkers.

Im already up at night thinking about strings but now I have to think about which Donnay with which weight combo and then just as I choose one they discontinue it and come out with a new one. Mind you that I dont think the new Donnays are even a year old?? (not sure).

Anyway heres my story

Donnay X series

First they came out with these sticks . they had a whole bunch and each one was different by about an ounce. ( they seem to be almost all discontinued as i write this)

I tried the red and to make it more confusing the "dark red" , the White, the yellow, the yellow extended, the orange, the silver, the black, the Blue.

After playing around with all of them and having nightmares I finally settled on the White because it was the lightest and I could bulk it up to almost any of the other racquets. I plkunked down $800 bucks and bought four.

Problem solved? Nope think again....because then a few months later they came out with the dual core series.

Dual Core

After tormenting myself whether to even go through this hell of testing with sticks and weights I finally decided to give in and try the dual cores.

I wanted to hate them....I tried to hate them and tell myself the four whites I just plunked down $800 bucks were better ....but they werent. The Dual Cores were just far superior in every department.

So here we go again.....now I tried the Platinium 94 & 99, the Silver, The Silver lite (which was white in color), The Silver lite extended (also white in color).

After testing over and over again I finally settled on the Platinum . So i sold my whites and plunked down anothe $800 bucks for four Platinums.

Newer Dual Cores

So Im all excited about my Platinums and then a couple of months later they come out with the Dual core 27 (which is now discontinued and is now formula something) and a Dual Core 18 x 20 pro something ( which has now been discontinued and has been updated into a 16x19 version), and they also came out a host of larger sized frames as well.

Again I didnt want to try them. I told myself there is nothing better than the Platinum and it was the greatest stick in the world.

But it just kept nagging at me and a few months later I decided to torment myself and start testing.

Well I absolutely LOVED the 18x20 dual pro but I finally got a bit smarter and only bought one just a couple of months ago!!

My suspiciscion was right because tehy have come out with the 16x19 version...also as i said before they have already discontinued the 18x20 soon to be repainted and re released and the same is true for the 27 which has a new paintjob and now is the formula something.

WHEW!!!!

Dual Pro one 16 x 19

I really wanted to hate it. I said its control i need and the 18x20 is superior.

but again knowing that I would give in to the testing bug I decided not to wait and just try the 16x19.

LOVE THIS STICK.

Its my new stick....I gave in and plunked down $400 bucks and bought only two....why???

you guessed it the extended version is coming out this summer and a larger size pro one is coming out as well.

STOP THE PAIN....I NEED HELP!!! so tune in just another couple of months for " As the Donnay turns"....I cant stop myself...Im totally addicted. I need detox or something!!

I used to have this exact same problem whem it came to women:mrgreen:

I have x red and x black 99. I like them when I am outside on the clay in the summer and it is really hot. They don't seem to work as well indoors in the winter.

I would stay with the one's you have now for a while and don't break down and buy any news one's. Invest in lessons and try them with different types of strings and tensions.

Should have kept those whites - I rarely sell any of my sticks. It's fun to have a collection.

ArliHawk · Feb 13, 2012

Am really tempted to try the Formula, to see if it is a softer version of the APDGT

VOLLEY KING · Feb 13, 2012

Overheadsmash said:
I used to have this exact same problem whem it came to women:mrgreen:

I have x red and x black 99. I like them when I am outside on the clay in the summer and it is really hot. They don't seem to work as well indoors in the winter.

I would stay with the one's you have now for a while and don't break down and buy any news one's. Invest in lessons and try them with different types of strings and tensions.

Should have kept those whites - I rarely sell any of my sticks. It's fun to have a collection.

Women and Donnay have something very much I'm common.....

They both target money.

VOLLEY KING · Feb 13, 2012

ArliHawk said:
Am really tempted to try the Formula, to see if it is a softer version of the APDGT

Funny you should ask.....I used to play with the APD cortex.

And now that you say it that's a perfect description. It's a softer version of the APD.

I love the APD but I like the pro one better.

It's a tough call but I'd say the pro one just has a bit more control . They are very close.

Anton · Feb 13, 2012

Of the few Donnays I tried (red and orange 99, Pro One 16x19) I came away unimpressed.

VOLLEY KING · Feb 13, 2012

ArliHawk said:
Am really tempted to try the Formula, to see if it is a softer version of the APDGT

Misread your post...sorry....

The formula is actually the dual core 27 with a paint job. The dual core 27 was debuted for a few months before abruptly being discontinued.

That racquet is a piece of crap. You can't even mention the apd and formula a.k.a. Dual 27 in the same sentence.

This is a perfect example of how dishonest Donnay is. They come out with the dual core 27 and start advertising it as the most powerful racquet known to mankind bla bla bla

Then a few months later they discontinue the 27 and come out with the formula racquet like it's a new thing.......it's one of the most dishonest cheap moves I have ever seen a company do.

Bad form donnay!

ZeroSkid · Feb 13, 2012

VOLLEY KING said:
I dont about you guys but this company is driving me insane!!!

They keep coming out with so many new sticks and discontinuing others quicker than i Can test them.

What makes it even harder is that not only are so many of them differnet by a hair, they have weights and side weights to test. This constant Testing is becoming a full time job and driving me bonkers.

Im already up at night thinking about strings but now I have to think about which Donnay with which weight combo and then just as I choose one they discontinue it and come out with a new one. Mind you that I dont think the new Donnays are even a year old?? (not sure).

Anyway heres my story

Donnay X series

First they came out with these sticks . they had a whole bunch and each one was different by about an ounce. ( they seem to be almost all discontinued as i write this)

I tried the red and to make it more confusing the "dark red" , the White, the yellow, the yellow extended, the orange, the silver, the black, the Blue.

After playing around with all of them and having nightmares I finally settled on the White because it was the lightest and I could bulk it up to almost any of the other racquets. I plkunked down $800 bucks and bought four.

Problem solved? Nope think again....because then a few months later they came out with the dual core series.

Dual Core

After tormenting myself whether to even go through this hell of testing with sticks and weights I finally decided to give in and try the dual cores.

I wanted to hate them....I tried to hate them and tell myself the four whites I just plunked down $800 bucks were better ....but they werent. The Dual Cores were just far superior in every department.

So here we go again.....now I tried the Platinium 94 & 99, the Silver, The Silver lite (which was white in color), The Silver lite extended (also white in color).

After testing over and over again I finally settled on the Platinum . So i sold my whites and plunked down anothe $800 bucks for four Platinums.

Newer Dual Cores

So Im all excited about my Platinums and then a couple of months later they come out with the Dual core 27 (which is now discontinued and is now formula something) and a Dual Core 18 x 20 pro something ( which has now been discontinued and has been updated into a 16x19 version), and they also came out a host of larger sized frames as well.

Again I didnt want to try them. I told myself there is nothing better than the Platinum and it was the greatest stick in the world.

But it just kept nagging at me and a few months later I decided to torment myself and start testing.

Well I absolutely LOVED the 18x20 dual pro but I finally got a bit smarter and only bought one just a couple of months ago!!

My suspiciscion was right because tehy have come out with the 16x19 version...also as i said before they have already discontinued the 18x20 soon to be repainted and re released and the same is true for the 27 which has a new paintjob and now is the formula something.

WHEW!!!!

Dual Pro one 16 x 19

I really wanted to hate it. I said its control i need and the 18x20 is superior.

but again knowing that I would give in to the testing bug I decided not to wait and just try the 16x19.

LOVE THIS STICK.

Its my new stick....I gave in and plunked down $400 bucks and bought only two....why???

you guessed it the extended version is coming out this summer and a larger size pro one is coming out as well.

STOP THE PAIN....I NEED HELP!!! so tune in just another couple of months for " As the Donnay turns"....I cant stop myself...Im totally addicted. I need detox or something!!

I use to be like you, but then I bought one and realized they are one of the worst racquets on the market

skeeter · Feb 13, 2012

VOLLEY KING said:
Dual Pro one 16 x 19

I really wanted to hate it. I said its control i need and the 18x20 is superior.

but again knowing that I would give in to the testing bug I decided not to wait and just try the 16x19.

LOVE THIS STICK.

I'm a fan of 18x20 sticks as well, but am curious about the 16x19. Would you say it still has some good control for such an open frame? Or is it one that you have to definitely add more spin to keep things from hitting the backstop? Power? Touch? Arm friendliness? Thanks.

VOLLEY KING · Feb 13, 2012

ZeroSkid said:
I use to be like you, but then I bought one and realized they are one of the worst racquets on the market

I understand , everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Some people are offended at the ridiculous high price . I don't blame them.

Personally I love their racquets and hate the company.

I love the sticks because basically they are the same measurements of your racquet but they are thinner. Which means they do the same thing except you simply swing faster with more manueverabilty.

Also I am a serve and volleyer, and for slices, flat balls, volleys and serves there is no better stick known to man. The fact that they are paper thin is a serve and volleyers dream.

But what I hate is how the company behaves . The customer service is poornand they have no demo program . The prices are insane and they keep coming out with new ones and discontinuing your current model after a few months.

But what I hate the most is that they will discontinue your racquet and then reintroduce it with a new name and a new paint job all in a matter of months. I think this is really dishonest and pisses me off.

ChicagoJack · Feb 14, 2012

Hi Volley King -

I understand your gripe, and it seems to me a valid one. Too many products, product cycle too quick etc. However, I invite you to look at this in a fresh perpective: If Donnay is rolling them out faster than you can test them, and you are literally losing sleep over that, well then... you can always stop testing them. Donnay doesn't have any agreement with you regarding the product cycle. You don't get to vote on that. What you can do is switch brands altogether, or give up your need to keep pace with the new roll outs. Not yanking your chain, just hoping you might see things in a way that has you less frustrated. Just feel you would do better to focus on your testing bug aliment, it's something that most of us here suffer from.

"There are two things one should never get angry about, things you can change, and things you cannot" - Plato

Swingweight · Feb 14, 2012

I have been playing with the x-black 94 @ 12.3 oz for the past year and half and loving it. Can't hit with anything that doesn't have a solid frame anymore. I've just go it dialled and it's perfect for my game. It plays well with heaps of different string combos...don't see what's not to like.

I only own one, though. I just restring every two or three weeks.

VOLLEY KING · Feb 14, 2012

ChicagoJack said:
Hi Volley King -

I understand your gripe, and it seems to me a valid one. Too many products, product cycle too quick etc. However, I invite you to look at this in a fresh perpective: If Donnay is rolling them out faster than you can test them, and you are literally losing sleep over that, well then... you can always stop testing them. Donnay doesn't have any agreement with you regarding the product cycle. You don't get to vote on that. What you can do is switch brands altogether, or give up your need to keep pace with the new roll outs. Not yanking your chain, just hoping you might see things in a way that has you less frustrated. Just feel you would do better to focus on your testing bug aliment, it's something that most of us here suffer from.

"There are two things one should never get angry about, things you can change, and things you cannot" - Plato

Well true but the problem is that Im a Donnayholic.......it's a disease

.

I've joined DA ( Donnayholics anonymous ) and Ive taken the first step:

" Hi I'm Volley King and I'm a Donnayholic"

Seriously I love this new Pro one . I'm really happy with it and I don't want to try anything else .

My problem is that they are coming out with the extended version this summer.
I used to play with the APD plus and that's why I'm really intrigued by an extended version of the stick .

I know there's no way I can resist testing it so this time I've only bought two Donnays.

You know what would solve the problem is if freaking Donnay had a demo program. I can't seem to wait for TW ever and the other guys out there either don't get them in as quick as Donnay and they rarely have a demo available.

Donnay is a pretty small company. There's only two guys that answer the phones and both their names are "John".

I swear these guys are robots. They have zero personality , I've asked them to give me a break and let me demo since probably their best customer. But they just won't budge.

I guess I'm in this "toxic" relationship with Donnay. I feel like Sammy & Ron from Jersey shore .

Racer41c · Feb 14, 2012

VOLLEY KING said:
STOP THE PAIN....I NEED HELP!!! so tune in just another couple of months for " As the Donnay turns"....I cant stop myself...Im totally addicted. I need detox or something!!

This is the way I feel about head racquets. And how I felt about Prince racquets about 2 years ago.

And yeah, I just bought 2 X-dual golds, but I got them used (and in excellent condition) for $120 each. And as soon as I can find a pro-one for under $150 I might get one of those as well.

If I can recommend something, it's what Chris said in one of his reviews, something to the effect of "I can't ignore the results, I'm winning more points and more matches". The truth is, not every racquet you try will improve your results.

mrtrinh · Feb 14, 2012

An extended version is coming out?? Do you have specs? I love to have an extended donnay pro one but i wouldnt want to up the sw. I love how the current pro ones in stock form

VOLLEY KING · Feb 20, 2012

mrtrinh said:
An extended version is coming out?? Do you have specs? I love to have an extended donnay pro one but i wouldnt want to up the sw. I love how the current pro ones in stock form

Yup....in the spring.

Don't know the specs but I think it will be a 102 head size ....everything else should be about the same.

That thing will pack some punch .

brittboy23 · Feb 20, 2012

I have played with most of the X Series and settled on the X99 Black it works for me.

14OuncesStrung · Feb 20, 2012

Instead of Donnay screwing you around...
Try a Yonex.

VOLLEY KING · Feb 21, 2012

brittboy23 said:
I have played with most of the X Series and settled on the X99 Black it works for me.

That's a special stick .

Donnay must have irked you a bit because they discontinued the X series and then came out with the duals.

Pissed me off to no end. I felt like I wasted all that money......

The Donnay Platinum I hate to say it is an improvement . It's dual core....you may like the black better but I think you should give the platinum dual core a try .

Be forewarned you will be pissed and happy at the same time.

You will try to hate the stick and want to hate the stick but end up buying it. This is why I have a love hate relationship with Donnay.

I feel sort of tricked. I bought into the whole X series thing . Devoted time and a lot of money and then they discontinued the x series just like that .

On the other hand I really love the dual series and could not help testing those.

And after settling on a dual core ( dual core platinum ) they come out with the pro one which I like even more!!!!!

Donnay can you please stop discontinuing and coming out with new sticks!!!......just kidding I love them.....errr....no I don't .....yes I do.

I need help . Maybe some Xanax ? Lol

14OuncesStrung · Feb 21, 2012

VOLLEY KING said:
I need help . Maybe some Xanax ? Lol

Not Xanax... YONEX!!!
At least demo one of the Vcore racquets.

VOLLEY KING · Feb 22, 2012

16x19 vs 18x20 Pro one review!! Finally

Intro:

I finally had the chance to fully demo both sticks. I had played with the 18x20 before but felt it was underpowered. so I lowered the tension to 45 pounds and played with the
16x19 at 55 pounds. These racquets play very differently.

In general I would describe the 18x20 as a K90 with more power or maybe a supercharged Kblade would be more appropriate. The 16x19 is a serious increase in power from the 18x20. I would describe the 16x19 as a Babolat with the control of a Kbalde.

Control:

18x20: 9/10
16x19: 7/10

The 18x20 was near perfect on control. I could pinpoint shots as well as a K90. K90 users and Kblade users will love this stick.

The 16x19 sacrifices a bit of control for some serious freaking power.

Power:

18x20: 7/10
16x19: 10/10

The 16x20 has just the right amount of power for my game. In fact its so perfect that I cant add any weight to it or its just to powerful. I could hit deep penetrating shots effortlessly even when I was late.

I would describe the 16x19 as a babolat with far far better control. With the weights in the 16x19 actually felt more powerful than a babolat and quite frankly I could not control the ball.

The 18x20 was to underpowered for my game. Basically I am not good enough for it. Thats why I had played with a Babolat and not a Kblade.

slice:

18x20 : 8/10
16x19: 8/10

As all Donnays these things slice great. but the two patterns do slice differently. The 16x19 slice with more power and driving for while the 18x20 has more bite and spin on it. They are tied but they slice differently

Topspin:

18x20: 8/10
16x19 :8/10

again the topspin on these are different....and quite frankly Im not a great topspinner and admittedly I cant give a good review in this department. But I would say if you have a violent accomplished topspin then I would give the edge to the 18x20 version. On the other hand for a less accomplished topspin like I have i would go for the 16x19 pattern.

Serves

18x20: 7/10
16x19 : 10/10

I agree with I think Kal-eL who also gave it a 10/10. Power, control all there...and Im a big server. Its even a better serving racquet than a babolat. You get just as much power and lose no control. absolutely amazing.

The 18x20 had perfect control on the serves but I could not generate nearly as much power as with the 16x19 version.

Volleys:

18x20: 9/10
16x19: 7/10

The 18x20 was near perfect. The control was all there and the volleys were penetrating.

The 16x19 was a bit to powerful at the net, but my serves were so big I didnt have to volley nearly as well

Touch and droppers

18x20 9/10
16x19 6/10

The only reason I didnt give the 18x20 a 10/10 is because I tried the silver lite and that racquet gets a 10/10 in this department. The 18x20 was almost as good.

The 16x19 was lacking in this department. I had a hard time with all that power hitting and controling and effective drop shot.

return of serve:

18x20: 7/10
16x19 : 9/10

The 16x19 is maneuverable as all hell and the returns are powerful and very deep. It may be the best return of serve racquet Ive ever played with.

The 18x20 version was underpowered in this department and I could not get my returns deep enough.

Conclusion:

I have chosen the 16x19 for my game. I think if you are a more accomplished player and you like the ps85 , k90 or Kblade you will LOVE the 18x20 version. Its like a Kblade or K90 on steroids. You get the feel and touch and control but with more power.

On the other hand if you are used to a more powerful racquet like a Babolat then I think you will love the 16x19 version. It has all the power and the huge serve of a babolat but with a LOT more control.

ChicagoJack · Feb 22, 2012

VOLLEY KING said:
That's a special stick .

Donnay must have irked you a bit because they discontinued the X series and then came out with the duals.

Pissed me off to no end. I felt like I wasted all that money......

The Donnay Platinum I hate to say it is an improvement . It's dual core....you may like the black better but I think you should give the platinum dual core a try .

Be forewarned you will be pissed and happy at the same time.

You will try to hate the stick and want to hate the stick but end up buying it. This is why I have a love hate relationship with Donnay.

I feel sort of tricked. I bought into the whole X series thing . Devoted time and a lot of money and then they discontinued the x series just like that .

On the other hand I really love the dual series and could not help testing those.

And after settling on a dual core ( dual core platinum ) they come out with the pro one which I like even more!!!!!

Donnay can you please stop discontinuing and coming out with new sticks!!!......just kidding I love them.....errr....no I don't .....yes I do.

I need help . Maybe some Xanax ? Lol

Although I've enjoyed poking fun at your obsession, I must say that's a very helpful post. It's informative, honest, you are able to state what you like and dont like, and you even have a dash of self deprecating humor thrown in there for seasoning. I think you'd be a highly valued asset here, If you simply offered your assistance as somebody who has tried nearly everything Donnay has put out there. This experience you have is something which is most singular. Of course you are free to post however you choose, but I think you will have a much better experience taking this angle, rather than having (or worse yet defending) non-factual ideas such as ...Donnay is a better than racquet company than company x y or z . There is no "best" racquet. I think you know that. It is a matter of personal preference, and I think you know that too.

One last little thing, and I'm not trying to yank your chain, just putting out there something worth sharing. As somebody who is 15 years into my 2nd marriage ... I can say for sure that if you want somebody to acknowledge your point, you must be willing to acknowledge theirs. Once points are acknowledged, there is very little left to argue about.

See you 'round the ranch. - Jack

VOLLEY KING · Feb 22, 2012

ChicagoJack said:
Although I've enjoyed poking fun at your obsession, I must say that's a very helpful post. It's informative, honest, you are able to state what you like and dont like, and you even have a dash of self deprecating humor thrown in there for seasoning. I think you'd be a highly valued asset here, If you simply offered your assistance as somebody who has tried nearly everything Donnay has put out there. This experience you have is something which is most singular. Of course you are free to post however you choose, but I think you will have a much better experience taking this angle, rather than having (or worse yet defending) non-factual ideas such as ...Donnay is a better than racquet company than company x y or z . There is no "best" racquet. I think you know that. It is a matter of personal preference, and I think you know that too.

One last little thing, and I'm not trying to yank your chain, just putting out there something worth sharing. As somebody who is 15 years into my 2nd marriage ... I can say for sure that if you want somebody to acknowledge your point, you must be willing to acknowledge theirs. Once points are acknowledged, there is very little left to argue about.

See you 'round the ranch. - Jack

Thanks for the tip and I and certainly use it and I am taking it to heart .

Having said that all I really did was make a valid point and it really hurt a certain company that shall remain nameless.

In fact I made such a good point that the owner himself actually took notice and joined in the debate.

Sometimes the truth really stings and I think that's what happened. But I will never make the point again or put another company down.

I have In fact learned my lesson and I thank you for your kind words.

Congrats on the marriage by the way!!!

VOLLEY KING · Feb 22, 2012

skeeter said:
I'm a fan of 18x20 sticks as well, but am curious about the 16x19. Would you say it still has some good control for such an open frame? Or is it one that you have to definitely add more spin to keep things from hitting the backstop? Power? Touch? Arm friendliness? Thanks.

Yes the 16x19 still has great control. Much better than a Babolat without any loss of power.

But if you want serious control and provide can provide your own power then the
18x20 is the way to go. I would describe the 18x20 as a Kblade on steroids.

The arm friendliness on these sticks was great. The are not as stiff as a Babolat and I string with a full Poly set up.

I have to be honest .....the touch on the 16x19 was not great. It's the biggest criticism I have about the stick. It's to powerful for droppers. On Volleys I experience the same problem ....a bit to powerful....but definitely not bad. Still a lot of control on volleys and my serves we're so freaking big that I didn't have to volley that well anyway.

The 18x20 by contrast had amazing touch. Drops we sick.....volleys perfect.....serve....not so powerful.

As the serve is my most important stroke I am going with the 16x19.......

Except the freaking extend version is coming out next month! KILL Me NOW!!!! Ugggh

VOLLEY KING · Mar 10, 2012

Well now that more and more people have tried the pro one we have a lot of reviews here at TW. They are sold out everywhere.

Comments: The Ultimate MAGIC stick. Donnay Pro One 97. Unbelievable in every aspect of the game. Added my 10g butt cap and 2 side 3g inserts and it is by far the most powerful yet great control and maneuverable stick for a power player like myself I've ever tried at 345Gs. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for the best pop, control, swing, etc, etc etc. in a stick today. This is definitely a major come back by Donnay. LOVE my Pro One.
From: John, 3/12
String type and tension: Kirschbaum Proline II Black, 55lbs
Headsize: 97
NTRP Rating: 4.0
Comments: Read this if you have used a Wilson racquet before!!! I am an advanced level high school player. This racquet blew my mind. Just ordered two more with the Donnay hybrid string. I loved the feel, and I've heard that it is a hollow frame which is much different from the ever-so-soft Wilson BLX Surge. The feel is much different from the wilson, but it is a different kind of smooth. I felt UNBELIEVABLE control from all areas of the court, which is different from the wilson because on some shots with my Surge i had difficulty producing the components to hit a difficult shot back with aggression. It is very forgiving no matter where it hits the racquet. I would say the spin control is slightly better than the BLX, power control was different because i was using a 50 tension on the Donnay and a 59 on the BLX. Overall control of the ball exceded my expectations, especially on my favorite shot, the long inside out forehand, which is now a killer whip because of the power a and spin I can now produce. Well placed balls overall. Not sure about the price, but im willing to shell it out... Whoopie. My one negative about this racquet is that I had trouble controlling depth on my slice backhand, which was obnoxious especially having a one handed backhand in the first place. Overall : GIVE IT A SHOT, ITS A WONDERFUL RACQUET!
From: Carter, 2/12
String type and tension: Wilson BLX Surge: rpm blast 16 (59lb) OR Donnay Pro One 97: donnay hybrid (50lb)
Headsize: 100 on BLX
Comments: I'm not sure if it was the limited edition or not but I played with the 18 x 20 version. I like the 16 x 19 version better. The 18x 20 had a bit more control but it was very low powered comparatively . It's a tough choice but although you lose a bit of control with the 16 x 19 it's not all that much of a loss. On the other hand you gain a lot more power. For some reason I also think the 16 x19 is built differently ...somehow it's more hollow but not in a bad way. I get far more feedback with the 16 x 19 whereas the 18 x 20 seemed to have more of a muted feel. Both sticks however were absolutely the best in the Donnay line up....and lord knows I tried a truckload of them. In the summer they will be coming out with the extended version of this stick so it will be back to the "testing" board again. For now at least I have found my holy Grail in the 16 x 19 version. I am really happy.
From: Alex, 2/12
Comments: Has anyone who has played with the Tennis Warehouse exclusive Donnay Pro One (limited edition) played with this new model as well? I really loved the feel of the Tennis Warehouse exclusive model (before the Donnay re-do) including the $80 price but would be willing to shell out for this one if necessary.
From: Adam
String type and tension: Luxilon ALU BB, 58lbs
Headsize: 95
NTRP Rating: 4.5
Comments: Completely agree with the comments from Aaron. I'm currently using a couple different Volkl models, but miss my old Wilson 6.1 feel. This new pro one version has the feel and balance that I've craved out of a stock racquet for years. Great job Donnay!
From: Anon, USA, 1/12
String type and tension: Demo - copoly hybrid, 58 lbs
Headsize: 97
NTRP Rating: 4.5
Comments: I had a happy experience hitting with this racquet. I'm a serve & volleyer, became a doubles champion for some prestigious tournament not to mention USTA National 10.0. I used Babolat AeroPro Drive which I like, but that I missed my Wilson 6.1 feel which I grew-up with. Basically I try to find a racquet which is in between Babolat AeroPro Drive & Wilson 6.1. I find this racquet a good alternative for me. I would recommend this racquet. Nice on serve, spin, touch and easy to maneuver.
From: Aaron, USA, 1/12
String type and tension: Babolat Revenge, 52lbs
(TW: Try some lead tape, allows you to choose where you want the weight to be)
Comments: I really loved this stick. By far my favorite Donnay. I found absolutely no weakness' except for drop shots. A bit of lack of feel in this department. Other than that, playing with this stick made me feel like goldilocks and the three bears..." the porridge was just right ". The stick basically does everything well. Very similar to the Wilson K-blade but a bit more stable - sort of like an improved K-blade.
From: Alex, 12/11
String type: Gamma Zo True 17
Headsize: 97
NTRP Rating: 4.5
Comments: I really loved this stick. By far my favorite Donnay. I found absolutely no weakness' except for drop shots. A bit of lack of feel in this department. Other than that, playing with this stick made me feel like goldilocks and the three bears....." the porridge was just right ". The stick basically does everything well. Very similar to the Wilson K-blade but a bit more stable, sort of like an improved K-blade.
From: Alex, 12/11
Comments: I started hitting with the Pro One about three weeks ago and I liked it right away, the racquet has a great solid feel which really helped me on my volleys.
From: Scott, 12/11
String tension: 55 lbs
Headsize:97
NTRP Rating: 5.0
Comments: Wow! This racquet just feels better every time I play with it. I have to admit that I'm addicted to buying and trying new racquets on the market but this stick really seems special. I find it to be so solid and best of all it is soft on my elbow and wrist which many rackets I've liked and used before were not. If you naturally hit flat then you will just love it and spin is also achievable with the open string pattern. I'm just saying that some racquets you pick up just feel like spin machines(Babolat AeroPro) and some flat drivers(Pro One) even though it's really about your stroke form. After experimenting with the weight kit I was surprised to like this racquet with 10g on the butt and the 3g slide weights at 3 and 9 o'clock feeling great plow thru. This racquet also has a great feel with the serves and again feels solid. Lastly, what a paint job! Basic but very classy in flat black, silver and a bit of white, very cool. I suggest you try this racquet out and see if it's a match for you.
From: MS, 12/11
String type and tension: Kirschbaum Proline II Black, 48/50lbs
NTRP Rating: 5.0
Comments: The best racquet I have used so far. Great plow through and feel. Much better power than the previous models i.e., X-Red and X-Dark Red. I just played a few sets and I was hitting the ball with greater penetration, and spin than ever before. The solid response of this racquet was allowing me to redirect cross-court shots down the lines with relative ease. This racquet really shines on serves as well - with brutal efficiency and accuracy. Love it. I used the 5 gram butt cap weight without the slides to make it more head light. The racquet strung out of the box weighted in at 331 grams at 5 points head light. Adding the 5 gram butt cap, over-grip, and dampener put this racquet at 340 grams.
From: Zorn, 12/11
String type and tension:M-55 Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power Spin; X-52 Luxilon Big Banger TiMO 18 gauge
NTRP Rating: 5.0

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