Official Dunlop iDapt Club 2014

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
tennis xpress has a video up showing how they assemble these racquets using the special tool. It looks like a long allen wrench.
Looks super easy to do. Not sure why Dunlop doesn't trust us with these tools? :)
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Because I'll bet half of us have never used tools beyond a hammer and scissors, and aren't qualified to do any kind of job correctly.
And, I'll bet, some small amount of contact cement or adhesive is still involved, as anything that is screwed together and shaken and stirred tends to creak, groan, twist, and loosen.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
Because I'll bet half of us have never used tools beyond a hammer and scissors, and aren't qualified to do any kind of job correctly.
And, I'll bet, some small amount of contact cement or adhesive is still involved, as anything that is screwed together and shaken and stirred tends to creak, groan, twist, and loosen.

obviously u didn't watch the video.
 

yellowoctopus

Professional
Hopefully the Dunlop Tennis team is planning for frequent updates to the different parts of this idapt line. The caveat here is that the parts or components will be available for purchase separately....and also perhaps making sure that dealers don't charge for using the tool to update or tighten.

Imagine updating your racquet head, grip, feel (the middle thingy) without having to buy an entirely-new racquet. The narcissists among us could update the colors to match their current bags, outfit, etc. while the gearheads could get the latest technology components without having to fully commit.

hermess1001.jpg
racket_anatomy.jpg
 
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JackB1

G.O.A.T.
Hopefully the Dunlop Tennis team is planning for frequent updates to the different parts of this idapt line. The caveat here is that the parts or components will be available for purchase separately....and also perhaps making sure that dealers don't charge for using the tool to update or tighten.

Imagine updating your racquet head, grip, feel (the middle thingy) without having to buy an entirely-new racquet. The narcissists among us could update the colors to match their current bags, outfit, etc. while the gearheads could get the latest technology components without having to fully commit.

Would be nice if they came out with more colors and components, but I don't see that happening. They will probably wait and see how the initial launch goes.
All this stuff is great, until you get to the part about not having the ability to make these changes yourself. My local Pro claims that MOST people don't want that...they want someone else to do it for them. He said you wouldn't believe how many people drop off their racquets just for a grip change.
 

jonestim

Hall of Fame
My local Pro claims that MOST people don't want that...they want someone else to do it for them. He said you wouldn't believe how many people drop off their racquets just for a grip change.

I was giving a guy I regularly hit with some crap about his overgrip being so dirty. He asked me if changing it was easy to do.... The shop changes it when he breaks a string.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
I was giving a guy I regularly hit with some crap about his overgrip being so dirty. He asked me if changing it was easy to do.... The shop changes it when he breaks a string.

we should at least have the OPTION to do it ourself.
hopefully they will give it to us in the future.

A friend of mine just told me that Dunlop is doing a very limited distribution of this initial release of the IDapt's. Maybe they want to see how they are received and don't want to have too much inventory on hand if things don't sell well?
 

mmk

Hall of Fame
we should at least have the OPTION to do it ourself.
hopefully they will give it to us in the future.

A friend of mine just told me that Dunlop is doing a very limited distribution of this initial release of the IDapt's. Maybe they want to see how they are received and don't want to have too much inventory on hand if things don't sell well?

I just booked flights for a business trip, and having a racquet that I could take apart and put back together would make packing a lot easier. But it still doesn't fix the lack low-RA sticks.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
So we got an official "club" and over a hundred posts and noone yet has bought one of these racquets??? Haven't they been available for a week already?

I am just waiting for my local shop to get them in so I can demo the 100 & 105.
 

TimothyO

Hall of Fame
interesting idea but after looking at it closer i don't see it.

you have 3 head sizes, 98/100/105 with 3 ra's, 67/68/69 and 4,4, and 2 head light.
from that you can choose colors, grip size, standard or extra length and some "feel" with the shock sleeve.

but you can't order different shock sleeves and replace them yourself.

so you have no control over the flex, and weight and balance can be adjusted with weights like any other racquet. you can also buy a racquet with a size smaller grip and use overgrips to play around with different feels.
that leaves us with length. can you replace the handle without the tool?

unless i'm misreading this you have to decide, then once you buy it that's it, only customization is stuff you can do with any racquet.

what am i missing?

^^^ this

Calling this system "customizable" is like calling any other large product line "customizable". You pick length, size, etc. just like any other fame.

The only difference is that Dunlop added the stupid sleeve that's just some sort of rubber that comes in three difference densities. That's not the same thing as changing the inherent flex of a frame which also involves beam shape and thickness throughout the length of the frame.

Racquet manufacturing has enough problems. Now Dunlop has decided to add a retail-level "Joe Teenager" to the equation. It's Friday night, Joe Teenager has to assemble and string your three new Dunlops and wants to get out of the shop as early as possible. He rushes through the work. What impact will that have on the feel, performance, and safety of each frame?

And I'm not sure that I want any idiot to have access to removing and reattaching the head of his frame. If he screws up just imagine his frame's head coming loose on his next overhead smash at net. Now you have the ball and his racquet head flying across the net. People do dumb s**t all the time and I can see them losing parts to this thing and deciding "this looks close enough" or "this screw might work".
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
^^^ this

Calling this system "customizable" is like calling any other large product line "customizable". You pick length, size, etc. just like any other fame.

The only difference is that Dunlop added the stupid sleeve that's just some sort of rubber that comes in three difference densities. That's not the same thing as changing the inherent flex of a frame which also involves beam shape and thickness throughout the length of the frame.

Racquet manufacturing has enough problems. Now Dunlop has decided to add a retail-level "Joe Teenager" to the equation. It's Friday night, Joe Teenager has to assemble and string your three new Dunlops and wants to get out of the shop as early as possible. He rushes through the work. What impact will that have on the feel, performance, and safety of each frame?

And I'm not sure that I want any idiot to have access to removing and reattaching the head of his frame. If he screws up just imagine his frame's head coming loose on his next overhead smash at net. Now you have the ball and his racquet head flying across the net. People do dumb s**t all the time and I can see them losing parts to this thing and deciding "this looks close enough" or "this screw might work".

I agree that I don't really see the appeal of this whole Idapt thing. The main issue is that if you don't like the way the racquet plays, then everything else doesn't matter. You can change the length, change the color, change the collar thingy and it's not going to transform the racquet into something entirely different.

Also, Dunlop is saying that "you have over 400 possible variations to choose from"!!! This is so ridiculous because they are multiplying all the choices X all the possible grip sizes too, which there are 6 of. Also there are 2 handle length's so that makes the multiplier now 12. Your only "real" choice is color (there are 3) and "feel" (again 3). And once you assemble the racquet, there is really nothing "new" or "gamechanging" there. Racquets are already available in different colors, head sizes and lengths. And there has been vibration dampening technology in the handles for many years already. Volkl, who IMO does it best, has had it's dampening system in place forever. So what exactly is so groundbreaking here? In the end, you still have a racquet that's no different from any other. What am I missing here?

Tim....the problems you envision with the teenage tennis shop employees won't happen. The system is virtually idiot proof. You put the screw in, you use the long allen wrench and turn it until you hear the "click". Whether or not the racquets will come loose with long term usage remains to be seen. I would think and hope Dunlop has already tested this pretty well. All you need is word of mouth that these racquets will eventually come apart while you are playing and the product's dead...over....fini.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Whether or not the racquets will come loose with long term usage remains to be seen. I would think and hope Dunlop has already tested this pretty well. All you need is word of mouth that these racquets will eventually come apart while you are playing and the product's dead...over....fini.

That is what LeeD is alluding to when he said that some adhesive cement must be required. But it is not required, right?
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
4 head sizes
3 colors
3 types of dampening thingies
2 lengths
6 grip sizes

Those come to 432 choices when multiplied. That of course assumes you buy all the components needed to create those choices.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
4 head sizes
3 colors
3 types of dampening thingies
2 lengths
6 grip sizes

Those come to 432 choices when multiplied. That of course assumes you buy all the components needed to create those choices.

Why would you possibly choose anything other than your usual grips size and/or handle length?
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Why would you possibly choose anything other than your usual grips size and/or handle length?

Same thing I asked before

Most people have settled on a grip size. They may be curious to try some extra length though.
 
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Bartelby

Bionic Poster
I could see this becoming addictive for some if they could assemble it themselves, as they may keep on buying attachments to try out new combinations.

Having the shop do anything makes it less easy to change and makes for no reason to keep buying parts. It seems a product designed for the benefit of the retailer.
 

TimothyO

Hall of Fame
I could see this becoming addictive for some if they could assemble it themselves, as they may keep on buying attachments to try out new combinations.

Having the shop do anything makes it less easy to change and makes for no reason to keep buying parts. It seems a product designed for the benefit of the retailer.

Do we know if one can disassemble an iDapt frame?
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
I think blast zones are just points on the frame to which you add the usual lead tape, so nothing interesting.

So why not interchangeable weighted bumper guards and butt caps for real customisation?
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
So my first IDapt experience today was not good. My local dealer got them in, but they were very unorganized about everything. They had one demo of each model strung, but they just slapped any old handle on them and that doesn't make sense for demos. One had a 4 1/4, one was 4 and one was 4 3/8. I tried the 100" which had an extended handle was it was waaaay too heavy and over spec. I measured it on the RDC machine and it was 368 swingweight!!! and 11.7 oz. strung. Not sure why they put an extended handle on this one? The worst part was nobody knew where the special tool was, so they couldn't switch around any parts on the demos. They just got everything in stock today, so I guess I have to wait for the employees to get up to speed on everything.

One strange thing one of the employees told me was that every time you undo/redo a racquet you have to change to a new screw. She said the screws are only good for one tightening. Not sure if this is true, but she seems to insist it was.
 
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martini1

Hall of Fame
How is the stability between the neck and the handle? Seems like that is the weakest joint and could eventually go loose. Too bad they don't have the classic frames.

I'm thinking the same thing. If the middle joint is not glued and fastened well enough it would eventually come off. A standard racket is put together with factory machine and much more solid.

But I like the idea of being able to switch options by the user... I wonder if that is possible. If the racket is made, is it permanent?
 

WhereIsMacMac

Professional
I'm thinking the same thing. If the middle joint is not glued and fastened well enough it would eventually come off. A standard racket is put together with factory machine and much more solid.



But I like the idea of being able to switch options by the user... I wonder if that is possible. If the racket is made, is it permanent?


No its not permanent, you can go to your local dealer and adjust stuff
 

TimothyO

Hall of Fame
Watch the video on tennis xpress. Its very simple, but Dunlop only wants the dealers doing it. You need a special wrench to do it. But anyone COULD do it for sure.

Thanks!

And that tells us one more very important thing. Since it's just one screw/bolt holding this thing together and that fastener can be reversed out then these things WILL loosen over time as off-center hits put torque on said fastener. Vibration and torque are the enemies of fasteners and both are inherent to tennis ball-racquet impact.

In fact, the Dunlop tool incorporates a feature to prevent over-tightening (it's the clicky noise you hear in the video). There's no locking mechanism on these fasteners.

Two fasteners operating in parallel would have been much safer.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
Thanks!

And that tells us one more very important thing. Since it's just one screw/bolt holding this thing together and that fastener can be reversed out then these things WILL loosen over time as off-center hits put torque on said fastener. Vibration and torque are the enemies of fasteners and both are inherent to tennis ball-racquet impact.

In fact, the Dunlop tool incorporates a feature to prevent over-tightening (it's the clicky noise you hear in the video). There's no locking mechanism on these fasteners.

Two fasteners operating in parallel would have been much safer.

Supposedly no it doesn't come loose. Dunlop has been researching this 3 years.
 

GoSurfBoy

Semi-Pro
There is LocTite placed onto each screw. Dunlop's thought would be, rather than someone making a mess with too much or too little, simply place a new .03 cent screw in with appropriate amount of LocTite already applied.

LocTite is used in aerospace. It does NOT "eventually come off" - unless done wrong. Which is WHY Dunlop would like to have a new screw with a dealer doing the work.

Had another 45 minute hit with the 98, 27", 'medium' collar. Strung a bit too tight (typical to most demo frames), but it's a new feel for Dunlop.

Sweetspot is further towards the top of the hoop, which is the sweetspot in upper-level play, so you could really get some pop when you reached a bit more for the ball. Could krush some inside out forehands, for sure. Loved it at the net.

Connection is rock solid. You'd never know.

Local dealer has already sold a few, display and colors look great, concept intriguing.
 

Mig1NC

Professional
I hope they come out with more head options. Like a m4.0 head and so on. And a quarter inch extended grip.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
There is LocTite placed onto each screw. Dunlop's thought would be, rather than someone making a mess with too much or too little, simply place a new .03 cent screw in with appropriate amount of LocTite already applied.

LocTite is used in aerospace. It does NOT "eventually come off" - unless done wrong. Which is WHY Dunlop would like to have a new screw with a dealer doing the work.

Had another 45 minute hit with the 98, 27", 'medium' collar. Strung a bit too tight (typical to most demo frames), but it's a new feel for Dunlop.

Sweetspot is further towards the top of the hoop, which is the sweetspot in upper-level play, so you could really get some pop when you reached a bit more for the ball. Could krush some inside out forehands, for sure. Loved it at the net.

Connection is rock solid. You'd never know.

Local dealer has already sold a few, display and colors look great, concept intriguing.

OK that answers Leed's concern - there IS an adhesive being used.
 

A_Instead

Legend
I saw the Dunlop idapt display. Very impressive. Some of the color combinations looked fantastic. .my favorite was the orange and black 98.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
There are only 8 true combinations: 4 head sizes and 2 choices for length.

Dunlop/TW should post the unstrung specs for each of them.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
big article in the latest RSI online mag:
http://www.tennisindustrymag.com/issues/201409/index.php

Also, there is an ad for Dunlop Idapt that says "This month Dunlop introduces 432 performance tennis racquets".
That's so stupid. They are counting ALL THE DIFFERENT grip sizes as different racquets. In reality, there are
only 3 new models....the Force 98,100 & 105. If you wanted to count the extended length as another racquet,
then OK, you have 6 new models.

Sorry, but i still don't see any of this as "game changing" or "groundbreaking". And what's up with the product launch
at the end of summer? Wouldn't March or April been more ideal?
 
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JackB1

G.O.A.T.
Blue is the removable Loctite...red is permanent

So you need to apply blue locktite each time to re-tighten the screw? I can't imagine the stores will be using the loctite on demos that
are assembled/disassembled frequently?
 
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JackB1

G.O.A.T.
There are only 8 true combinations: 4 head sizes and 2 choices for length.

Dunlop/TW should post the unstrung specs for each of them.

They do post specs, but they don't change for 27" or 27.5" handle, which doesn't make sense.

The 98/100" racquets are 300 grams unstrung and the 105" is 290. The extra 1/2" probably adds about 5 grams.
 
I've hit my 27.5" Green 100S now for about 10 hours and it is so much more solid than my APD and PD's were. Much softer feel with the medium shock sleeve. I put ALU138 in at 55lb and it the stringbed has plenty of bend, and at the same time, lots of plow and pop. I think what makes this so rock solid is that if you take off the grip, you can see that the hairpin is extra thick and it really gives the racquet a whole lot of plowthrough (or at least that's my theory). Oddly enough, this 14x18 pattern has enough control to hit flat, yet at the same time, just as much spin as a pro staff 95S. I really, really like how the crosses start high up in the stringbed.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
I've hit my 27.5" Green 100S now for about 10 hours and it is so much more solid than my APD and PD's were. Much softer feel with the medium shock sleeve. I put ALU138 in at 55lb and it the stringbed has plenty of bend, and at the same time, lots of plow and pop. I think what makes this so rock solid is that if you take off the grip, you can see that the hairpin is extra thick and it really gives the racquet a whole lot of plowthrough (or at least that's my theory). Oddly enough, this 14x18 pattern has enough control to hit flat, yet at the same time, just as much spin as a pro staff 95S. I really, really like how the crosses start high up in the stringbed.

Roddick....I think you are the only one on the planet besides me that has hit with one of these racquets. There seems to be very little interest here in TW-land, which is odd, but hey, it's Dunlop. If Wilson or Babalot were doing this, it would be all the rage.

Have you tried the different shock sleeves in the same racquet and do they make a noticeable difference?
 
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JackB1

G.O.A.T.
All you'll need is an extra long hex key set in order to unscrew the handle. No room for silicone though. Personally I plan on trying all three shock sleeves.

I am not sure it will be that easy. You will need to add some locktite to the screw and you'll also need some extra screws if you plan on changing out parts on a regular basis.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
So I am at my local shop today and I hear about the first IDapt fail....."somebody reverse threaded the screws in a couple of racquets and now the heads are useless".

I guess someone turned the wrench the wrong way and reverse threaded the screws? Not sure exactly how this happened, but the store clerk told me one of their employees totally messed up and made two heads worthless. Strange huh? I guess people can find a way to mess up anything, no matter how simple it sounds.
 

hescobal

Rookie
So I am at my local shop today and I hear about the first IDapt fail....."somebody reverse threaded the screws in a couple of racquets and now the heads are useless".

I guess someone turned the wrench the wrong way and reverse threaded the screws? Not sure exactly how this happened, but the store clerk told me one of their employees totally messed up and made two heads worthless. Strange huh? I guess people can find a way to mess up anything, no matter how simple it sounds.

they should sell them to me for cheap. I'm sure a buddy of mine can retap the threads and I can get a different screw to match and make it work! =p
 
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