BEST way to maximize power on 4D 300?

[AndreFan]

I absolutely love this racket. It's much better than the old 300G and the M-Fil. It also has better control than the Aerogel 300.

The racket is about 10.8-10.9 oz. in stock form and I'm not looking to add much weight. I'd be willing to go up to maybe 11.2--that's it. I need the lighter stick for maneuverability. Also, I don't like the "feel" of the 4D 300 "Tour".

If I want to add just a little more "pop" to the stick and keep the weight in the low 11 oz. range, where's the best place to put the lead? The racket has enough stability for me, so I'm thinking putting some around 12:00? and then maybe a little in handle to keep the balance??? Am I thinking right on this?

Also, what would be the best 17 guage string to put in the frame? I was thinking Bi-Phase 17. Finally, what tension to maximize power? The suggested range is from 55-65 and I think this stick has great control. I'm thinking I should go with 55 or 56 to maximize power. Any thoughts or comments are greatly welcomed!! Thanks.

 

[V6Jim]

5 - 10 grams at 12o'clock sounds about right if you're happy with stability. Don't bother counterbalancing at the handle. Any more weight and it'll become 'Tour' like....

Jimmy

 

[kfrog12]

AndreFan

I'm thinking about getting this stick vs. the old 300. Since you have more experience with Dunlop than I do, do you think the 4D make the difference and is worth the price over the AG300?

I have been demoing the 4D 300 Tour and the MP and found the MP to be better for me, just was thinking about the AG300 to save a few bucks. I play with a speedport MP now and is used to the 11.2-11.5 weight range and fear that the AG300 is too light and would need too much lead tape customization.

Plus the 4D's paintjob looks so good.

 

[Racer41c]

Andre, 2 things:

1. Agree on lead a the top, but I would put it at 10 and 2 to begin with. If you haven't yet tried some lead at 3 and 9 you'll surprised how much more stable the racquet is.

2. String. Not sure what your playing with, but if your ok using 17g string try Technifibre NRG2 at about 60.

Between those 2 mods the power of the 4d 300 will be substantially higher.

And yeah, I love this stick too.

Kfrog: For me, I wouldn't buy the AG 300, I didn't like it at all. As far as lead goes, I put 6" strips of 1/4 lead on both sides at 3 and 9. I trimmed the lead to match the paint and it's almost un-noticeable.

One of the things I really like about this racquet is the power level is in the middle. So you don't have to go crazy with lead and string to get it to where you like it. One of my previous raquets had too much power, I had to go to 16g poly at a higher tension and that killed my wrist. So I switched to a low pwr racquet that had so low power I wasn't able to generate any pace and got killed for the 2 months I used it.

So it's kind of a 3 bears thing for me ;-)

 

[bertrevert]

Lead at 12 to give it some sting - so long as your swing is not in any way impeded.

A way to do it is this: add quite a lot at 12, feel your swing slow down a bit. Then add some counterbalancing lead under buttcap. I know you don't want to go heavy but it's a good mod that adds a bit of spin as well.

I unfortunately STILL use the old 300g, w lead and poly (low tension) in it for now. I say unfortunately because it has never had much plow-thru, and you can tell by these mods that I've tried to get more out of it.

Andrefan, it's not simply the weight of the Tour you may not like fundamental difference in the stringbed of an 18x20.

The M-Fil 300g was a lot of fun, very versatile agreed.

 

[Love50]

I currently use a polarized setup with 1.5g@12 and 6-8g@6 to balance it out. My goal was to add a little bit more plowthrough (lead at tip) and arrive at a playing weight that is slightly more headlight than stock. My current adjustments give me a frame (with strings, dampener, grip, overgrip) that's about 320+ grams and 6-7 pts headlight.

 

[AndreFan]

AndreFan

I'm thinking about getting this stick vs. the old 300. Since you have more experience with Dunlop than I do, do you think the 4D make the difference and is worth the price over the AG300?

I have been demoing the 4D 300 Tour and the MP and found the MP to be better for me, just was thinking about the AG300 to save a few bucks. I play with a speedport MP now and is used to the 11.2-11.5 weight range and fear that the AG300 is too light and would need too much lead tape customization.

Plus the 4D's paintjob looks so good.

For me, I think the addition of the 4D technology does add more stability and control to the frame. I know you could save $100 but I will tell you there is more control and stability in the 4D version.

 

[AndreFan]

["1. Agree on lead a the top, but I would put it at 10 and 2 to begin with. If you haven't yet tried some lead at 3 and 9 you'll surprised how much more stable the racquet is. "

I'm only looking to make it about 11.2 oz. That would be about 12 grams of lead total, right? How about if I put 4 grams of lead at 12, 2 grams each at 3 and 9 and 4 more grams in handle. That would keep the same balance and give me about .4 oz more of overall weight, bringing it up to 11.2 or so. Does this sound like a good plan???


"2. String. Not sure what your playing with, but if your ok using 17g string try Technifibre NRG2 at about 60. "


Since I want to maximize "pop", isn't the Bi-phase better? Also, isn't mid-range of 60 too high? Why not 55-56, which is at bottom of the range?

 

[AndreFan]

"Andrefan, it's not simply the weight of the Tour you may not like fundamental difference in the stringbed of an 18x20."


Yes, I don't like the 18 X 20 pattern. I hit with a lot of spin and control the ball pretty well.

 

[Aces09]

I absolutely love this racket. It's much better than the old 300G and the M-Fil. It also has better control than the Aerogel 300.

The racket is about 10.8-10.9 oz. in stock form and I'm not looking to add much weight. I'd be willing to go up to maybe 11.2--that's it. I need the lighter stick for maneuverability. Also, I don't like the "feel" of the 4D 300 "Tour".

If I want to add just a little more "pop" to the stick and keep the weight in the low 11 oz. range, where's the best place to put the lead? The racket has enough stability for me, so I'm thinking putting some around 12:00? and then maybe a little in handle to keep the balance??? Am I thinking right on this?

Also, what would be the best 17 guage string to put in the frame? I was thinking Bi-Phase 17. Finally, what tension to maximize power? The suggested range is from 55-65 and I think this stick has great control. I'm thinking I should go with 55 or 56 to maximize power. Any thoughts or comments are greatly welcomed!! Thanks.

Biphase isn't a powerful string, it's kind of like a really really soft poly, very low powered. I'd go with Babolat X-cel 17, or VS gut. I've used Biphase a few times and it doesn't have the crisp feel like X-cel or gut.

 

[cellofaan]

I currently use a polarized setup with 1.5g@12 and 6-8g@6 to balance it out. My goal was to add a little bit more plowthrough (lead at tip) and arrive at a playing weight that is slightly more headlight than stock. My current adjustments give me a frame (with strings, dampener, grip, overgrip) that's about 320+ grams and 6-7 pts headlight.

Don't you mean 6-8gram at the buttcap? When it's at 6, it's not polarized.

 

[ace18]

I have been using the AG300 for a few years and bought the 4D 300 a few months back. I lead them both at 3 and 9 and use 17G bi-phase strung at 56 lbs. I'm coming back from a wrist injury which had me out 2 months and I've been using the 4D 300 because its almost the same weight but feels more stable at the net. The bi-phase is a very soft string and very playable.

 

[Love50]

Don't you mean 6-8gram at the buttcap? When it's at 6, it's not polarized.

Yes, that should be obvious. I guess some people actually do stick lead on the throat...

 

[kfrog12]

Right now, I'm also demoing a Exo Rebel 95, which is much heavier and HL.

What I love about the 4D300 is the stability at the net, smashes' serves are so controlled yet still has a good amount of power. Obviously the only problem is that the ball on the groundies just aren't heavy at least compared to other players sticks.

So if adding weight at .4 oz at 12, .2 on 3 and 9. Plus another .5-.6 on the buttcap. I'm assuming I would get much more plow-thrown and still have similar balance. 3HL

However, would this affect the overall maneuverability of the stick on net.

 

[AndreFan]

I don't think it would affect it much at all, if at all. If you keep the same balance but just make 1/3 or 2/5 of an ounce heavier, I don't see it affecting maneuverability. And 11.2 or 11.3 oz stick is still fairly "light".

 

[AndreFan]

Biphase isn't a powerful string, it's kind of like a really really soft poly, very low powered. I'd go with Babolat X-cel 17, or VS gut. I've used Biphase a few times and it doesn't have the crisp feel like X-cel or gut.

I always thought Bi-phase was considered a pretty good "power" (and playable) string--especially in 17 g. Am I wrong on this? I will consider trying the Bab. X-Cel 17 though. Thanks!!

 

[cellofaan]

Yes, that should be obvious. I guess some people actually do stick lead on the throat...

Federer did.

So if adding weight at .4 oz at 12, .2 on 3 and 9. Plus another .5-.6 on the buttcap. I'm assuming I would get much more plow-thrown and still have similar balance. 3HL

However, would this affect the overall maneuverability of the stick on net.

It would effect it. The balance stays the same, and an increase of 1.2 ounce static weight isn't that much of an issue, but it would increase the swingweight by at least 40. You will definitely feel that. It kind of depends on how you move your racquet in between volleys whether it will be a problem or not.

 

[Conquistador]

Best Way: String it with Gamma Synthetic Gut

 

[JackB1]

I also just picked up a new 300 4D and need to power it up as much as possible. What would be a good combination of string, string tension and leadtape to get the 300 to have good power?

 

[kfrog12]

at another 1 - 1.5 ounces of lead to 12, 3, 9, and butt cap to evenly balance and still be 3 points HL.

I use Luxilon ALU BB 17G on mains, and a prince duraflex sync guy 17 on crosses.

However you can get with any poly/gut(syn) main cross hybrid for the power.

 

[JackB1]

Biphase isn't a powerful string, it's kind of like a really really soft poly, very low powered. I'd go with Babolat X-cel 17, or VS gut. I've used Biphase a few times and it doesn't have the crisp feel like X-cel or gut.

I have heard the exact opposite. That BiPhase is a good powered string and that XCel is softer, but less powered. Can anyone verify?

 

[eagle]

I've always thought that adding weight to the racquet improves its stability and not power. To me, power comes from the person swinging the racquet and/or the tension of the strings.

r,
eagle

 

[JackB1]

I've always thought that adding weight to the racquet improves its stability and not power. To me, power comes from the person swinging the racquet and/or the tension of the strings.

r,
eagle

Not true. More weight = more mass behind the ball = more power.
Same concept as in choosing a baseball bat. You find the heaviest bat or racquet until it starts to slow down your swing. Read the package on the lead tape. It says "to add more power, place the tape here......"

 

[eagle]

I use a stock 12.4 oz racquet, so I certainly don't need more weight. One of the reasons I chose it is its weight for stability. I have a full swing and rely on it to supply the power vs. the racquet.

But I can understand how adding more weight would make the racquet more solid for an improved swing.

r,
eagle

 

[KenC]

I have heard the exact opposite. That BiPhase is a good powered string and that XCel is softer, but less powered. Can anyone verify?

I think you got it right. If you want more power out of Xcel there is XCel Power.