Dunlop Aerogel 4D 300 (3Hundred) question.

Rozroz · May 31, 2013

hi.
i recently went back to a Head Microgel Instinct and found it suiting my game.
i can get another one, but before doing that, i prefer trying another option.
so i found the Dunlop stick here on a crazy sale, and the specs look pretty similar to the Instinct.
i don't wanna spend more than 100$ on a new stick,
i don't mind a softer stick and i'll add lead to my needs.

but i wanted to ask the stuff here if anyone can enlighten me if it's really a similar choice, and if some of the playtesters can really give me an honset opinion about it (if they actually played the Microgel AND the 4D 300 at some point), helping me decide (or suggest a better option at 100$ ?)

many thanks! (i'm a 4.0-4.5 level, basically a baseline hitter, using BHB7 around 50#).

Rozroz · Jun 1, 2013

bump------

LeeD · Jun 2, 2013

Just got 2 of 'em, TourBite16 at 47 lbs.
My history, ChangOS's, TSticksOS's, Head630, ProStaff85's, LMRadMids, Mfil200's, Aero500's, MicroGelOS, Bio300T......
One hit, rightie. Nice compromise of medium flex, soft strings, decent power, low impact, easy SW, seemingly huge sweetspot with the 4 5/8 size grip that is actually bigger than any 5/8th that I've ever used. Very solid hitting, which is why I chose 16 ga over 17 SolincoTB, no twang or vibration.
I've settled on about 320 SW and 11 oz., so this racket is very close. Spec on racket says "64" stiffness, but it's definetely softer in flex than my Bio300T, which says the same thing.
Maybe next week I can hit leftie. Hit about 20 minutes with a strong groundie 4.0 player, who hit with big topspin of both wings.
Volleys seem better than to be expected, great bite, control, and consistent placement with excellent depth....better than any of my other racket's except maybe the Mfil200's.
I can't handle the Mfil's 340+ SW, so I gotta settle for around 320 for easy impact and quick swings.
Grip IS bigger than the #s indicate, but then again, I used to use 4 3/4 M's when I was playing decent tennis.

Rozroz · Jun 3, 2013

LeeD said:
Just got 2 of 'em, TourBite16 at 47 lbs.
My history, ChangOS's, TSticksOS's, Head630, ProStaff85's, LMRadMids, Mfil200's, Aero500's, MicroGelOS, Bio300T......
One hit, rightie. Nice compromise of medium flex, soft strings, decent power, low impact, easy SW, seemingly huge sweetspot with the 4 5/8 size grip that is actually bigger than any 5/8th that I've ever used. Very solid hitting, which is why I chose 16 ga over 17 SolincoTB, no twang or vibration.
I've settled on about 320 SW and 11 oz., so this racket is very close. Spec on racket says "64" stiffness, but it's definetely softer in flex than my Bio300T, which says the same thing.
Maybe next week I can hit leftie. Hit about 20 minutes with a strong groundie 4.0 player, who hit with big topspin of both wings.
Volleys seem better than to be expected, great bite, control, and consistent placement with excellent depth....better than any of my other racket's except maybe the Mfil200's.
I can't handle the Mfil's 340+ SW, so I gotta settle for around 320 for easy impact and quick swings.
Grip IS bigger than the #s indicate, but then again, I used to use 4 3/4 M's when I was playing decent tennis.

many thanks, Lee! appreciated.
hey, if i'm using a 4 3/8 grip and they've only got 1/8 or 5/8 , what would be a better option for me that i could tweak?

JLyon · Jun 3, 2013

Rozroz said:
many thanks, Lee! appreciated.
hey, if i'm using a 4 3/8 grip and they've only got 1/8 or 5/8 , what would be a better option for me that i could tweak?

You can always go up in size, but it adds weight, so be aware as you customize

LeeD · Jun 3, 2013

You can ask TW if the 1/8th seems big or full sized.
My 5/8th seems like most 3/4's, so I'd recommend going smaller in size to the 1/8th and adding an overgrip to get the weight to a full 11 oz.
I"m going to play them stock, and see if the bigger grip can help me find my tennis of the late '70's.

JLyon · Jun 3, 2013

LeeD said:
You can ask TW if the 1/8th seems big or full sized.
My 5/8th seems like most 3/4's, so I'd recommend going smaller in size to the 1/8th and adding an overgrip to get the weight to a full 11 oz.
I"m going to play them stock, and see if the bigger grip can help me find my tennis of the late '70's.

With my AG100's I actually took off the replacement grip and play with about 3-4 overgrips, stinks on feel of bevels but the 5/8 felt too big, so I might do the same if I pick up some 4D 300's

LeeD · Jun 3, 2013

In a way, I"m lucky to be a sorta of handyman.
I have all the tools to shave grip pallets down. If needed.
I'd also consider removing the stock grip, slightly rounding the corners of the bevels, then using one or two thin overgrips.
But either way, it's going to be interesting to try a slightly bigger than 4 5/8th grip again, since that's the size I used for most of my better play in Open tourneys and Q's.
I don't really have "modern" forehand, even though I hold a strong SW grip, and net play is my game.

Rozroz · Jun 6, 2013

hey Lee - i need your exact opinion on the difference between an 4 3/8 and 4 5/8 size - how much bigger it feels? a lot? little? manageable through tweaking replacement and over grip?

also- maybe i NEED a bigger grip?
lately i feel a bit insecure with my regular 4 3/8 size. i now measured again with the ruler and i'm EXACTLY 5.1 inch.
so ordering the 4 5/8 is not that crucial right?
what'dya say?

LeeD · Jun 6, 2013

After 3 sets of play with one of my 4D300's, the grip size is squeezed down to a real 4 5/8th. The other one, only 20 minutes of righthanded hitting, seems to soften and should squeeze down to a normal 5/8th size, or a little smaller than 5/8, since my Bio300T is supposed to have a small grip (it's a 5/8th), but smaller than my other racket's 5/8th sizing.
Maybe that white old Dunlop sythetic grip really squeezes down a lot after some play.
Used lefty yesterday, first time lefty in two weeks.
Good pocketing, great control, soft feel, first serves still landed in and 40" high at the backwall, fantastic volleying, and a lot my bite than I'm used to on heavy sliced skidders.
So far, so good. Today went to courts, nobody there, but my lefty was sore and tired, and hit mainly rightie to try a JBerger serve.

Rozroz · Jun 7, 2013

i ordered the 4 5/8 stick. now i need to think how to string it.
(i'm now at 54/52 BHB7)

LeeD · Jun 7, 2013

Had mine strung with SolincoTB at 47. Could have gone down a couple pounds, control is excellent, no springy feel, good pocketing, solid as a rock. 16 gauge for me, because open string pattern.
It even works fine when I use my right hand, blocking the ball more, less slicing, of course, less ball speed.
Still haven't played it full out lefty. Shoulder still doing rock work on the fireplace, so it's rightie tennis for now. Should be fine, I played a ranked state junior last week lefty, and it hit fine.

Rozroz · Jun 11, 2013

LeeD said:
Had mine strung with SolincoTB at 47. Could have gone down a couple pounds, control is excellent, no springy feel, good pocketing, solid as a rock. 16 gauge for me, because open string pattern.
It even works fine when I use my right hand, blocking the ball more, less slicing, of course, less ball speed.
Still haven't played it full out lefty. Shoulder still doing rock work on the fireplace, so it's rightie tennis for now. Should be fine, I played a ranked state junior last week lefty, and it hit fine.

played with mine yesterday. hmmm... most of the time it felt really great, as you said above.
slices felt exceptionally easy and awesome.

the only main problem i had was maintaining good power.
it seems i need to dial into the sweetspot a little. felt i did not hit into it some of the time.
i'll get used to it a bit more till i'll be able to decide whether i need a bit of lead tweaking. not sure if the lightness fits me (+ coming from the Instinct pattern, leaded to 340 g).

LeeD · Jun 12, 2013

Well, dropping 20 points in SW might have an effect.
With the 300's, you gotta accelerate the rackethead onto the ball, or hit solid old school shots. It doesn't give you any extra power, like a 500 gives you.
It plays MUCH better against hard incoming balls, and is sorta wimpy against soft slices and floaters. So, it's a player's racket.
My 47 lbs strings are starting to feel to stiff. It's a real 47, as my rackets strung at 52 and 54 are much stiffer feeling. But maybe with the soft frame, a soft string job that adds some power might be a good thing, and easy on the arms and shoulders.
Next hit, I"m bringing one of my 500's to compare. They're weighted to 300 specs, so only stiffness and 52 lbs string the difference.

Rozroz · Jun 12, 2013

i think the lightness takes much of the plow trough i use having.
gonna lead that stick..

LeeD · Jun 12, 2013

Sure, if a little kid hit you, it wouldn't hurt much.
But if the BigSHOW hit you (6'10" and 450 lbs.), it would hurt.
OR, you can add swing speed to the equation, since a lighter SW racket is easier to swing fast.

Rozroz · Jun 13, 2013

i strung it with BHBR 17 52/50, and i gotta admit it feels a bit stiff (compared to the Instinct).
so should i also go lower at the next stringing?

LeeD · Jun 13, 2013

My SolincoTourBite at 47, going low thud when you slap it to your palm, also feels too stiff most days....unless I"m hitting hard against a hard fast incoming ball.

Rozroz · Jul 11, 2013

just wanted to let you know my choice with this crazy sale racket turned out a perfect match for me.
added lead at my preferred spots, and now this stick is perfect for my game.
also i had to decrease the grip size so i put on the thinnest leather grip. now the size is perfect.
couldn't find a better bargain than this

Rozroz · Jun 2, 2014

gotta share the strong connection i have to this stick.
after a year using it, trying a newer racquet , the Ai98 and then going back to the Dunlop, i finally feel i it IS my perfect stick.
it's not easy resisting the urge to try new sticks,
but once i went back to using it again, i now know what an "exact tool for the job" needs to be for me.

if you can still find this stick, give it a try. you can get it now for peanuts.
it's a great platformer.
my specs: i have the 3hundred 16X19 version, not the tour.
i put on a Kimony leather, and Supergrap,
leaded at 3, 9, 12 & butt to reach 335g.
it feels crisp, precise, works well with full strokes, excellent slice. very classic feel.

makinao · Feb 15, 2015

I got a pair of 4d 300s after a 2-year trauma with Pure Drives. I actually wanted the heavier 4d 200, but the local distributor ran out of stock and only had 4d 300s left. So I got them and figured I could add lead to bring them up to a weight I was used to, which was about 11.5oz head light. Unfortunately the lead muted the feel too much, and I never found the right string/tension setup I wanted. I sold them after a year to a friend whose m-fil 300s were about to call it a day. He took off all the mods and is very happy with them. I did however notice that the m-fil was slightly stiffer and had a bit more pop than the 4d.

I ended up with used POG OS 4-stripes and NOS Radical LE OSs.

Rozroz · Feb 15, 2015

makinao said:
I got a pair of 4d 300s after a 2-year trauma with Pure Drives. I actually wanted the heavier 4d 200, but the local distributor ran out of stock and only had 4d 300s left. So I got them and figured I could add lead to bring them up to a weight I was used to, which was about 11.5oz head light. Unfortunately the lead muted the feel too much, and I never found the right string/tension setup I wanted. I sold them after a year to a friend whose m-fil 300s were about to call it a day. He took off all the mods and is very happy with them. I did however notice that the m-fil was slightly stiffer and had a bit more pop than the 4d.

I ended up with used POG OS 4-stripes and NOS Radical LE OSs.

ok, i umderstand your experience with the 4D.
(what level and game do you have?)

but i also want to know why did you choose prince and radical,
after the 4D..

makinao · Feb 15, 2015

^ I'm probably a 4.0 on a good day right now.

As I said in the other thread, I was having problems with returns with my 4d 300. Just out of curiosity, I picked up a beat up, but still usable one-stripe POG one day in the club trash bin. I strung it up and put a new grip, and it blew my mind from the first hit. The stock weight, balance, plowthrough and pop was just right. And the OS head solved my return problems. So I looked around for more old-skool OSs. A few days later I saw a New-Old-Stock Radical LE OS for 70% off at a mall sportstore. Now I have two more used POG OS four stripes, and three Radicals (one still unused). I even picked up a Prince CTS Synergy DB24 in between those, and am presently courting a Prince Graphite II OS (for US$10).

Rozroz · Feb 15, 2015

makinao said:
^ I'm probably a 4.0 on a good day right now.

As I said in the other thread, I was having problems with returns with my 4d 300. Just out of curiosity, I picked up a beat up, but still usable one-stripe POG one day in the club trash bin. I strung it up and put a new grip, and it blew my mind from the first hit. The stock weight, balance, plowthrough and pop was just right. And the OS head solved my return problems. So I looked around for more old-skool OSs. A few days later I saw a New-Old-Stock Radical LE OS for 70% off at a mall sportstore. Now I have two more used POG OS four stripes, and three Radicals (one still unused). I even picked up a Prince CTS Synergy DB24 in between those, and am presently courting a Prince Graphite II OS (for US$10).

ok, man, thanks.
i dig your budget state of mind

i wish there was more variety in Israel.

Dunlop Aerogel 4D 300 (3Hundred) question.

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