Anyone play Donnay?

Ive hit with the Silver 99 and earlier blue 99. Liked em well enough... they just seem to be spazztic about changing up lines and adding more cores. I like the graphics.
 

haqq777

Legend
Hated the experience, never again. Spent over $500 actually. The racquets were good but absolutely pathetic customer service. And contrary to what a few might tell you, the new guy in charge now is simply as shady as previous owners. Dealt with him a few weeks ago directly. I will not recommend them one bit. They have a terrible reputation for a reason. Do check out some of the threads here. My two cents.
 

topspn

G.O.A.T.
Decent frames with poor QC and genuinely terrible customer service sprinkled with a penchant for offers they don’t fulfill. As already stated, stories from many preclude the one off bad experience
 

tenfan

New User
I have recently ordered (it hasn't arrived yet!!) a Formula Pentacore, I wish I didn't do it. The customer service (who apparently is ran by one person) is appalling. After 6 days my order was submitted I still don't have a shipping tracking number and I paid almost $80 for shipping costs. Never again....
 

tennistomcat

Semi-Pro
Did not have the greatest experience dealing with company but once I received the racket, I've been happy after a little alteration - I had to saw off the hairpin a 0.25 inch to get what I asked for - 27 1/4" racket.

I believe it is a good product. I've just recently dusted it off and started playing with my Pro One GT Quadcore 16X19. It feels very solid for its weight and has noticeable flex on contact reminiscent of the old head rackets that I loved prior to the introduction of graphene.

It's an upgrade to my old liquidmetal radical mp which was a solid all-around racket.
However, the Donnay does not have the weak spot in the upper sweetspot - because of this it feels so solid on serves where the radical was lacking for me. With a good swing, you can get that crushing, solid feel on contact.

Feel, touch, & control are there. It does not hit a very loopy ball despite its string pattern but it does not quite hit as flat as an 18X20 - sort of in between the 2.
It has good power too (but not overwhelming) for its weight & beam thickness depending on the string.
For its flex, I feel that a crisp poly would go well - too mushy or soft and I notice it seems too muted with these flexy sticks.
 

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
The last Donnays you could buy here in Oz were the X Dual range and in particular the Gold and Platinum 99 and 94. After this there was nothing available.
The main feature I thought was the comfort and the ability to change the butt cap and slide weights to the head.
What I did notice was that the butt caps appeared to lack a flared feeling, something that we tried to fix by adding a leather grip. I think the paint finish was rather flat and was prone to fading.
Not being able to market through retailors has hurt the brand and losing player endorsement likewise.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
If I'm buying a car, consistency of customer service is an important consideration for me. If I'm buying tennis racquets, in which case once I get the racquets and a bunch of grommet sets I don't expect I'll ever need to deal with the company again, it doesn't really concern me.
 

tennistomcat

Semi-Pro
What I did notice was that the butt caps appeared to lack a flared feeling, something that we tried to fix by adding a leather grip.
so true - what I did was wrap the wide rubber band that holds broccoli stalks together in the grocery store on the last part of the handle at the buttcap before wrapping the overwrap to give a little more flare.
It seems to help without adding much weight.

If I'm buying a car, consistency of customer service is an important consideration for me. If I'm buying tennis racquets, in which case once I get the racquets and a bunch of grommet sets I don't expect I'll ever need to deal with the company again, it doesn't really concern me.
Understood & agree - but what some of us have had to deal with was not getting any response of any sort after placing an order & not receiving a racket after what seemed like a reasonable time waiting.

We were left wondering whether we were going to actually receive a racket or not.
After finally receiving a racket, several of us did not receive exactly what we ordered.

For me, customer service and consistency is highly important when I am buying something that has great value.
Also, if you like a product & have been using it for a while you may start looking to see if there is a updated model that does things a little better.
 

tennisgurl

Semi-Pro
Worse possible company to deal with currently, Howie is a condescending jerk and has a terrible reputation and not just because of his Tennis Menace dealings (another one the shady companies he has). You can Google him and what people have to say abt him. This new ownership is just one of those cases where one business bought another and want to make money by any or all means possible even if includes false promises and shady deal makings...I have a lot of experience with previous owner/ceo as well and same thoughts. Avoid at all costs. The tons of horror stories are there for a reason

That said, I can not recommend Tennis Warehouse enough! Best place to buy all your gear. I know they dont offer Donnay but Donnay products are not that good that you need to subject yourself to such nuisance of customer handling anyway..
 

Tennisist

Professional
I still use the Gold 99 for doubles. Now in the latest paintjob. My prefered racquet for doubles. Do not feel much difference from the previous iterations. It's mobile enough not to create problems. Tried pro ones, but found them too slow for me in fast play. Tried Silver, but it feels stiffer and is lacking some oomph/power/plough-through.
 

BorgCash

Legend
I used many "Modern" Donnay racquets - Gold 99, Platinum 94, Red 94, Blue 99, Pro One 97 and I like them all. My current racquet is Blue 99 and Pro One 97 if I want more power. I bought all racquets (except first Gold 99 which I got from TW) second hand, so their customer service doesn't bother me at all. The racquets are great, among the best you can get now.
 

Faris

Professional
If I'm buying a car, consistency of customer service is an important consideration for me. If I'm buying tennis racquets, in which case once I get the racquets and a bunch of grommet sets I don't expect I'll ever need to deal with the company again, it doesn't really concern me.
Oh it'll concern you alright when your order arrives and it's missing items, or the order is not right or even the entire order just vanishes in thin air while your credit card has been charged. It will concern you even more when any of this happens and you can't get a hold of someone or even if you do, you get reassurances with out any results for weeks. Be my guest if you want to deal with all that.

I know u mentioned in ur other post u had a great experience with Howie, well, he has been a d-bag to the other maybe 8-9 people out of ten so just consider yourself in the lucky minority there.

I have been bitten once, never again. OP if I were u I'd pass if buying new. Pick up used ones for cheaper if u really like them that much. Like tennisgurl said, just go with TW they are the best..
 

donnayblack99

Semi-Pro
I play with the Pro One 97 (chrome paint job) 18x20 and they are the smoothest, most comfortable frames, other then the new Prince Phantoms, that I’ve ever played with! Absolute control and shock absorption with power on reserve. Probably the most similar to the Prince phantom 100P or the Wilson Ultra Tour. You can feel the flex yet pound the ball at the same time. Feels like a less stiff Wilson 6.1 95. Go check one out ASAP. Quality control is great. I just picked up two more from fleebay.
 
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Donnay makes a great frame, but you may want to consider getting them from anywhere BUT their actual website. 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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tennisgurl

Semi-Pro
Donnay makes a great frame, but you may want to consider getting them from anywhere BUT their actual website. 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.
100 percent agree. I saw that as well regarding price hike and whole facebook debacle. What an embarrassing display. Anyway, very well said..my advice would be same for anyone looking into Donnay
 

JewingItUp

New User
I checked the website about the sale when I got an ad for it the other day. Website looks updated. If they still had mids I might have jumped on it. Unfortunately I've been getting ads for them on insta and fb since then.

Probably gonna get an x-dual blue 94 soon if I can find one.
 

1990's Graphite

Hall of Fame
Worse possible company to deal with currently, Howie is a condescending jerk and has a terrible reputation and not just because of his Tennis Menace dealings (another one the shady companies he has). You can Google him and what people have to say abt him. This new ownership is just one of those cases where one business bought another and want to make money by any or all means possible even if includes false promises and shady deal makings...I have a lot of experience with previous owner/ceo as well and same thoughts. Avoid at all costs. The tons of horror stories are there for a reason

That said, I can not recommend Tennis Warehouse enough! Best place to buy all your gear. I know they dont offer Donnay but Donnay products are not that good that you need to subject yourself to such nuisance of customer handling anyway..

Yeah he is pretty bad. Even factual youtube comments get removed if they make the company look bad.ceo is pretty racist also on facebook howie j ewbear matthews.
 

haqq777

Legend
Yeah he is pretty bad. Even factual youtube comments get removed if they make the company look bad.ceo is pretty racist also on facebook howie j ewbear matthews.
He has absolutely horrendous behavior on Facebook, indeed. Very rude. Actually disabled reviews of his Donnay-Xenecore page because he was arguing with people and everyone was leaving him negative reviews. Never in a million years for me.
 

1990's Graphite

Hall of Fame
He has absolutely horrendous behavior on Facebook, indeed. Very rude. Actually disabled reviews of his Donnay-Xenecore page because he was arguing with people and everyone was leaving him negative reviews. Never in a million years for me.

Yeah not a good look. Donnay has customers all over the world middle east too. Lucky donnay in europe and I think norway do business properly and have good results. I would pay extra for shipping just to deal with better human beings.
 

Aus_Hack

New User
Hi all,

New poster from Australia. I've read a few comments in these forums re: customer service / questionable website etc on Donnay. I kind of skipped the whole customer service issue as I ordered directly off the Donnay USA website. TBH, I was a little apprehensive to purchase directly off there after reading some of these stories! Luckily for me it worked out, as I received both racquets in around a week (including clearing customs). I've posted on another thread I've ended up with some Donnay Hexacore Formula 100 Soft Ltd Ed racquets (thread explains story) that I am looking to try this week:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/donnay-xenecore-series-racquet.631156/post-13866650

Will post back once I've had a chance to try them out.

Cheers
 
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SVP

Semi-Pro
Hi all,

New poster from Australia. I've read a few comments in these forums re: customer service / questionable website etc on Donnay. I kind of skipped the whole customer service issue as I ordered directly off the Donnay USA website. TBH, I was a little apprehensive to purchase directly off there after reading some of these stories! Luckily for me it worked out, as I received both racquets in around a week (including clearing customs). I've posted on another thread I've ended up with some Donnay Hexacore Formula 100 Soft Ltd Ed racquets (thread explains story) that I am looking to try this week:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/donnay-xenecore-series-racquet.631156/post-13866650

Will post back once I've had a chance to try them out.

Cheers
I just received a call from Howie, who apologized for the delay in the $1 demo. It’s coming. He didn’t try to push a sale. He asked if I were suffering from tennis elbow, in which case he would make an offer on a new racquet, or whether I just wanted to try it out. I said I just wanted to try it out since I liked my old X-99 Red.

I look forward to your review.
 
I used many Donnay racquets : ProCynetic1 (fantastic frame), ProOneInternational L.E.(100% graphite) and modern gold99-silver99. The racquets are great.
 

1990's Graphite

Hall of Fame

Aus_Hack

New User
Apologies - I don’t really have much idea how the threads work - I just signed up the other day after reading them for a while.

Will make sure not to pollute other threads with cross posting.

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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