Donnay Pro One 18x20 Review and Comparison

[GoSurfBoy]

Been considering a switch to an 18-main setup. Since I'm with Wilson, I'll probably just use the Blade Tour 93, but grabbed the Pro One 97 (18x20) and the X Dual Platinum (tried the Pro One 16...nope) for a hit to see.

If I could say what would be a PERFECT RACKET?

I would blend the X Dual Plat' with the Pro One. A hybrid of the...way...the Pro One is laid up, but slim the beam down a bit (not as radical as the X Dual).

Slim the Pro One down to 19mm or so, same characteristics, and I would bet Donnay could get Racket Of The Year.

Donnay? Pro Tour 97? You listening?

 

[suppawat]

TW just made a review video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql2qc6vNlig

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

Pure Babs (and anyone else who has a x dual pro), can you please tell me what your barcode says in regards to your racquet's manufactured weight? mine says it's 308g, and I'd really like to know how close mine will come to 12oz after I get string, overgrip, etc on it.

 

[ChicagoJack]

Hi The Lambsheadrep -

Well ... 308 is 10.86 oz. Overgrips add 4-6 grams, and strings add 13-16 grams, so I'd guesstimate 20 total. That's 328 which is 11.57 oz. add a 4 gram dampener, that's 332 / 11.71 oz. Add the +5 Buttcap and youd be at 337 / 11.88oz Add the 10g buttcap and you'd be at 342/12.06oz. That's about where my P1's end up with similar starting points.

-Jack

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

Hi The Lambsheadrep -

Well ... 308 is 10.86 oz. Overgrips add 4-6 grams, and strings add 13-16 grams, so I'd guesstimate 20 total. That's 328 which is 11.57 oz. add a 4 gram dampener, that's 332 / 11.71 oz. Add the +5 Buttcap and youd be at 337 / 11.88oz Add the 10g buttcap and you'd be at 342/12.06oz. That's about where my P1's end up with similar starting points.

-Jack

Hey Jack

I've seen that 11.5oz is the factory standard. To hear that with strings, grip, and dampener but without the weighted butt caps coming out to 12oz seems really heavy! I was just curious to his starting weight as shown in the barcode

 

[ChicagoJack]

Hey Jack

I've seen that 11.5oz is the factory standard. To hear that with strings, grip, and dampener but without the weighted butt caps coming out to 12oz seems really heavy! I was just curious to his starting weight as shown in the barcode

Yeah cool, coupla things.

1. According to TW specs (which I know from experience is more accurate than the Donnay web site digits) the average P1 18x20 is 11.6oz / 328.85g strung, not 11.5.

2. That 308 you have is on the lighter side of average from what I can tell. The average 16x19 P1, which is even lighter than the 18x20 (but more head heavy) is 11.5 oz strung. I have 9 of those with the stickers reading from 306 to 314.

3. I think you may have misread my previous reply? Even guessing on the high side for strings, a dampener, and an OG, I'm guesstimating you still come out under 12.oz.

308 .... + 15 strings = 323 / 11.39
323 ... + 5 overgrip = 328 / 11.57
328 ... + 4 Dampener = 332/11.71

Jack

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

Yeah cool, coupla things.

1. According to TW specs (which I know from experience is more accurate than the Donnay web site digits) the average P1 18x20 is 11.6oz / 328.85g strung, not 11.5.

2. That 308 you have is on the lighter side of average from what I can tell. The average 16x19 P1, which is even lighter than the 18x20 (but more head heavy) is 11.5 oz strung. I have 9 of those with the stickers reading from 306 to 314.

3. I think you may have misread my previous reply? Even guessing on the high side for strings, a dampener, and an OG, I'm guesstimating you still come out under 12.oz.

308 .... + 15 strings = 323 / 11.39
323 ... + 5 overgrip = 328 / 11.57
328 ... + 4 Dampener = 332/11.71

Jack

I was referring to the 12oz of x dual pro of the OP, not mine. I know that I'm def gonna need to break out the lead tape to get the weight to what I want.
The lighter than average weight of mine is OK i guess, I can play it off like how pro stocks are light and therefore customizable

Jack, youre a big pro one guy. even though we have diff string patterns, what's your favorite aspect of your 16x19 that would also be found in the 18x20?

 

[Broly4]

Is there any difference between the 16x19 and the 18x20 hoops? Twu rates the spin window of the 16x19 way bigger, I guess it's just a mistake.

 

[Disneos]

Do you think this racquet with a a soft powerful multi would work well and if so what tension do you think would work well for more of a precision spin player?

 

[Pure Babs]

Do you think this racquet with a a soft powerful multi would work well and if so what tension do you think would work well for more of a precision spin player?

I think it plays great with a soft multi around 53-55 lbs!

 

[v-verb]

Suppawat

How do you like Solinco Tour Bite 19?

Cheers

nigel

 

[mrmo1115]

How does this frame compare with sticks like the Blade 98 (2013) and the Babolat Pure Storm Tour? Maybe a comparison to the IG Speed?

 

[pjonesy]

Been considering a switch to an 18-main setup. Since I'm with Wilson, I'll probably just use the Blade Tour 93, but grabbed the Pro One 97 (18x20) and the X Dual Platinum (tried the Pro One 16...nope) for a hit to see.

If I could say what would be a PERFECT RACKET?

I would blend the X Dual Plat' with the Pro One. A hybrid of the...way...the Pro One is laid up, but slim the beam down a bit (not as radical as the X Dual).

Slim the Pro One down to 19mm or so, same characteristics, and I would bet Donnay could get Racket Of The Year.

Donnay? Pro Tour 97? You listening?

A great example of why racquet companies should listen to the people that buy and/or demo their products.

That's a good one, Go Surf Boy!!! That is 1 of 2 Donnay racquets that I have avoided demoing. I've tried the rest and finally settled on the X DC Platinum 94. Throwing another in the mix would break the bank.

That is true, if a racquet company has the perfect racquet, they update and ruin it. Or in the case of the Pro One, they just slightly miss the mark(so i've heard.) Prince seems to be the master of dropping or burying their best racquets and promoting questionable technology, related to their new line of racquets.

Have you tried the X-Dual, X-P Dual Pro or X-P Dual Tour?

 

[The Dark Knight]

I've been playing with 16x 19 my whole life and just have gone more and more open recently .

Went from vortex and then over the Wilson steam 99s.

I got a pick up game the other day and a friend loaned me his stick ...a donnay pro one 18x20 ( actually a dual core but that's what they called it before it was a pro one).

I immediately fell in love . The increase in control was addictive . I could not stop hitting with it.

So I bought one and have been testing . The results have been incredible .

They just got even better last night when I put Kevlar in the mains and gut in the crosses.

All I can say so far is WOW. I'm in love! Could he the honey moon period but right now I am loving this stick.

 

[v205]

Hi DK,

Did you buy the P1 18x20 or the X-Dual?

 

[v205]

Finally got my P1-97(18x20) strung with X1@55lbs and had a quick hit (less than an hour). (Put a head leather tour grip to replace the Donnay Cushion factory grip, then putting on a babolat thin overgrip)

Compared to my KBT:

P1-97 feels so much more solid (that old school feel), which is strange given that it is a lighter racket. There is a lot more power and spin and hits a much heavier ball. Serves were a bit strange at first but after adjusting to swinging with the weight, doing flat bombs was possible. Need to spend more time to adjust to spin serves. Slice backhand is phenomenal, penetrating skids. Top spin backhand can still take a bit more time to get use to. Occasionally, I feel that lost control of power from over swinging (both forehand and backhand) but hoping that I can eventually get use to it and control it. It reminds me a bit of the Donnay Pro One Int (TW Edition , which was 16x18, not very maneuverable compared to KBT and ultimately didn't suit my flat'ish hitting style with spin added and playing more doubles these days.) This 18x20 version may be the answer to playing for the next few years without needing to manage the elbow too much (generally wearing a loose neoprene elbow sleeve the keep the muscle warm is enough for playing with KBT) and hoping I wouldn't need to manage it at all with the P1-97.

Club doubles season starts next week, will soon find it if it will replace the KBT!

 

[v205]

Nothing like a competitive match to determine if a new racquet performs better or worse than the old trusty.

First week back in the doubles comp and I used the P197-18x20
Unfortunately, the P1 just feels less maneuverable than the K-Blade. Can't seem to generate as much head speed even though it's a lighter racquet.

Likes : Serving, more spin, volley forgiveness

Dislikes (compared to KBT) : sluggish, not as stable for groundies, unfamiliar vibration that a few others have also commented. Stiffer. Harder to hit my 1H-Backhand. More roundish grip.

2nd week of the doubles comp, I went back to my KBT, need a few games to adjust back to it and I was back to playing my better game.

To be fair, I haven't given the P1 enough adaptation time but the KBT just seems to be even better after coming back to it.