To the OP, I have a AG4D200T (Aerogel 4D 200 Tour) which I alternate with a K90 most weeks. A close friend of mine with whom I hit with on a regular basis has a few A200 (Aerogel 200) and AG4D200 (Aerogel 4D 200) frames in his bag - I have tried his frames regularly as well as playing with my own Tour and my experiences with all three frames are listed below:
AG200T
Swingweight: the swingweight of this stick is the highest of all three mentioned. I am sure you will appreciate the pros and cons of this and I confirm both sides do apply, so I shall not go into massive detail here. I would not go so far as to say that it is a log but playing 4 or more sets does take its toll as I do find myself generating less RHS by that time.
Strings: when I first received the frame I used a full bed of multi with it (Yonex Super Pro 850 Tour, 57.5/59). I always felt this set-up was not an optimum one for the frame and this was confirmed once I switched to a full bed of Dunlop Comfort Poly at 52/52. I once read a comment on these boards that the Tour was gagging for poly strings and I second that! It really brought the best out of the frame in every way: groundstrokes, serves, overheads and importantly volleys (the Tour is the weakest of the 3 sticks wrt to these) all improved dramatically. Bottom line, use poly strings in this frame (and this is from someone who is normally very cautious of using them due to having a sensitive shoulder and who firmly believes that we (club players), do not usually generate nearly enough RHS as the pro guys do to get the full benefit of poly strings). Also, the Tour is a wonderfully soft stick and I have never had a single day of pain after using it.
Tailweighting: I found that the racket plays much, much better if you add a bit of weight towards the bottom – I use a ball of blu-tack weighing about 15g on the outside of the butt-cap of the racquet. On a side note it is very comfortable to let your little finger rest/curl around the ball of blu-tack when hitting with the stick. I know that other posters have also used a leather grip to tailweight this stick and many have reported positive results from doing so.
Groundstrokes: clichéd though it sounds, the ball gets absolutely crushed with this stick – though in order to do so you must use full and technically complete strokes i.e. use the whole body and pay attention to your follow-through. I also own a KPS 88 (it’s a beast) and the Tour isn’t far off it with regards “ball crush”. With regards directional control, the Tour is pretty good bad but the AG200 (especially) and AG4D200 are both noticeably better (but they are closed rather open string patterns like the Tour so that is expected) but get your footwork right each time and you should be OK with the Tour.
Volleys: this is a weakness of this stick when compared to the AG200 and AG4D200 which are both superb though I found using poly strings dramatically improved the frames ability to volley accurately to the point of it being pretty good.
Serves: one word – outstanding. Just remember to let the weight of the racquet do the work i.e. don’t muscle the ball but swing loose and you’ll get the best from this stick. Everytime.
Stability: I’m a real stickler for this trait and I can only report positively for the Tour. It is absolutely rock solid – nothing sent over the net from an opponent (wrt weight of shot, spin or pace) ever phases me with this stick. Slightly tongue in cheek, it is so damned good that you could likely deflect a blast from the Death Star with it!
AG4D200
Swingweight: it swings slightly easier than the Tour but not as easily as the AG200.
Strings: as I mentioned, my friend own a few of these – he has tried various hybrid combinations but usually goes for a full bed of Technifibre NRG1, 63/63 (I think) with these sticks. I have to say that I have never been keen on any of his preferred set-ups so perhaps other users of this stick could provide feedback for the OP.
Groundstrokes: the stick does provide good weight of shot (more than adequate I might add for when you are playing competitive points) but the sheer “ball crush” you get with the Tour is not there. Directional control is excellent – the stick is generally very accurate and I find it particularly easy to vary depth of shot with.
Volleys: a great stick for volleys - no complaints.
Serves: not quite in the same league as the Tour but it has good directional control (though not as good as the AG200 which is outstanding).
Serve returns: Also rock solid – but I just like my Tour better!
AG200
Swingweight/Tailweighting: my friend has 2 of these sticks. One, I definitely prefer over the other as he has tailweighted it (with a combination of leather and extra overgrips). In stock form, aside from a slightly lower swingweight and being slightly less maneuverable, the AG200 is not majorly different to its successor the AG4D200. My friend’s tailweighted racquet is very different and can justifiably be described as a revelation! Of the three racquets, it is by far the easiest to play with over a long period of time and it just does everything a (more than just a little) better than the other two.
Strings: again, as with the AG4D200 I have no control over what my friend chooses to string his AG200’s with. With regard to the tailweighted stick, there is one-set up which time and again gives an incredibly sweet bed to hit with – Technifibre synthetic gut pearl, 61/61. I can’t say anything other than with a fresh bed of the stuff, the stick does everything so well that you feel that you could enter the Matrix and beat Neo with it in a match!
Groundstrokes: similar to the AG4D200 and AG4D200T – only with the decreased swingweight and much better maneuverability, the tailweighted AG200 racquet not only excels but does everything better than the above two.
Volleys: easily the best of the three sticks. My KPS 88 mentioned earlier is perhaps the best stick I have ever used for volleying. The tailweighted AG200 is at least close to or its equal for the dark arts of volleying.
Serves: talking about the tailweighted version here - the best directional control by far of all three sticks, coupled to almost pin-point accuracy + it generates fantastic power too. All in all a truly amazing stick to serve with –Harry Potter would choose this over his wand if he could.
Serve returns: rock solid and unshakeable – this seems to be a trait of all sticks in the Dunlop 200 series and something that endears them very much to me.
Summary
To the OP, I hope the above is helpful to you. Of the three sticks I would rank my friend’s tailgated AG200 as my favourite of the three (I’m trying to acquire a AG200 myself at the moment actually!), followed by my own AG4D200T and then the AG4D200.
I have never written a review of sorts in connection with any racquets and the above is nothing more than a rough collection of my thoughts on these three sticks which I wanted to share, as am able to play with them on a fairly consistent basis. I hope reading the above makes your choice a bit easier!
