Never ever heard about this. For what purpose they produce racquets and balls? Advertising? Maybe it's another company made it with Diadora logo?
Can you post some pictures please?
Dunlop becomes new official balls partner at AO
- Thread starter anteksoszy
- Start date
Never ever heard about this. For what purpose they produce racquets and balls? Advertising? Maybe it's another company made it with Diadora logo?
Can you post some pictures please?
Manute Bol
New User
I have played with Diadora balls. They are the worst balls I have ever tried. They are not approved by the ITF, the ITF logo is not on the container. They are still on sale.
Diadora also makes racquets, they are cheap beginners racquets and kids racquets.
I see, thank you.
Manute Bol
New User
I am not in Australia by the way. The Diadora balls that I am talking about are sold in Canada.
O-o-ps, think that this is an italian market.
tommyfr
Rookie
Slazenger Wimbledon are different to Dunlop Fort. Slazenger Wimbledon is made in Philippines, nice, not so long life. Dunlop Fort (think have different name in US?) made in Philippines also, heavier, very long life. NOT THE SAME! Both are my favourite ball, and I switch between them every other week. Some volley players dont like it at all, incl Jonas Björkman, three time Wimbledon doubles champion. He thought the Dunlop too hard, esp at net, and can give arm issues.
Question is if AO Dunlop is same as Dunlop fort.
Question is if AO Dunlop is same as Dunlop fort.
aimr75
Hall of Fame
Watching some of the Brisbane international the commentators mentioned the players were saying the balls were fluffing up very quickly. A couple games in.
rafa_prestige89
Professional
So there will be no more Head/Penn ATP balls?
DNShade
Hall of Fame
Don't know what's going to happen with the Head/Penn ATP balls. I just heard that Dunlop was going to be the official ATP ball for tour events etc. We'll have to see.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
The first Slam of the year, the 2019 Australian Open, opens with Dunlop as its new ball sponsor! This new tennis ball features an HD Core, which is a remastered version of the classic Dunlop Forte Core that is designed to play even more consistently and with greater durability. Dunlop has also added HD Pro Cloth to this ball, a premium felt engineered for the highest level of play. Players of all levels looking for the highest quality ball will be satisfied with this new offering from Dunlop.
They make it sound like it is the best ball in the world. so I might try some too.
TW has it now.
They make it sound like it is the best ball in the world. so I might try some too.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
The first Slam of the year, the 2019 Australian Open, opens with Dunlop as its new ball sponsor! This new tennis ball features an HD Core, which is a remastered version of the classic Dunlop Forte Core that is designed to play even more consistently and with greater durability. Dunlop has also added HD Pro Cloth to this ball, a premium felt engineered for the highest level of play. Players of all levels looking for the highest quality ball will be satisfied with this new offering from Dunlop.
DNShade
Hall of Fame
Yep what I heard is true - it's official:
https://www.atptour.com/en/news/atp-dunlop-partnership-announcement-2019
chinobambino
Rookie
“I don’t know what the Australian Open has done, but it is terrible,” Tomic said. “I don’t know too much [about the balls], but I don’t feel like it is that good of a ball. I think they’re pretty cheap from what I’ve heard.”
Always consider the source - quote from Tomic regarding the Dunlop balls...article in The Guardian
Always consider the source - quote from Tomic regarding the Dunlop balls...article in The Guardian
David Le
Hall of Fame
So I used it tonight playing a ‘Best out of 3’ sets. At first during warm up, the ball felt a little stiff (isn’t all Dunlop balls though?) and it gradually soften up. We then progressed into the match and the balls we’re flying (in a good way) It didn’t bounce as high as I thought, but it was probably due to the air since it’s cold. Overall I like them. It’s fast, yet durable. Imo it probably could last me about 9 more sets. That’s my .02
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McLovin
Legend
Interesting. I also received 2 cans from Dunlop (courtesy of the TW playtest). I was not impressed at all. I played 2 sets and a 10-point tiebreaker this morning against one of our top local juniors (see my videos in the Dunlop Srixon Playtest thread). Balls barely made it through the 2nd set, and we were on relatively fast, smooth indoor courts. Can't imagine what they'd look like on gritty outdoor courts. And while I'm a 4.5/5.0 level player, I hit a fairly flat ball (Eastern forehand & 2-handed backhand).
Additionally...they just didn't 'feel' right. The term 'hollow' comes to mind, which is ridiculous I know as all tennis balls are hollow, but that is the best term I can think of. Bounce seemed odd as well, and they were slower than my usual balls (which are normally one of the following: Pro Penns, ATP Tour Penns, and Prince).
I heard either Chris Evert of Tract Austin (can't remember which) comment that most club players wouldn't notice a difference, but that pros can. I'd have to disagree with that statement as I noticed a difference right away. I'm going to have my wife play w/ the 2nd can (she's a 3.5) and see if she can tell a difference.
Additionally...they just didn't 'feel' right. The term 'hollow' comes to mind, which is ridiculous I know as all tennis balls are hollow, but that is the best term I can think of. Bounce seemed odd as well, and they were slower than my usual balls (which are normally one of the following: Pro Penns, ATP Tour Penns, and Prince).
I heard either Chris Evert of Tract Austin (can't remember which) comment that most club players wouldn't notice a difference, but that pros can. I'd have to disagree with that statement as I noticed a difference right away. I'm going to have my wife play w/ the 2nd can (she's a 3.5) and see if she can tell a difference.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I agree they were the best ball out there but then changed and were not as good. But I started using them again last year and they are back to their original level and play great again.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I like using Dunlop balls but not the cheap championship line. The Dunlop Grand Prix is their best ball and much better than the championship.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
what does hollow mean ? all tennis balls are hollow inside. Bounce is odd ? what does that mean ? Inconsistent bounce ? low bounce like dead ball ?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
this is bad news for RAFA fans. low bouncoing Dunlop balls will negate his topspin
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
lol,, are you serious ? Wilson us open balls are best balls in the market today.
Decent balls. On par with Wilson US Open in terms of quality.
haqq777
Legend
I've only had one 2 hour session so far. They have not fluffed, playing consistent. They play a bit faster than Wilson US Open ones. Better than Penn ones for sure. Hit with a Div II college player who was no slouch.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Little bit faster than Wilson us open ? that is bit unlike the Dunlop balls. Dunlop balls usually become very heavy by getting fluffed up quickly. I once brought Dunlop championship balls to the league match against older opponents and they almost rejected the balls saying, these get very heavy and their arms will become painful.. lol
Tennis_Hands
Banned
The poster you are responding to is known to make a lot of statements that are either made for kicks and giggles, or plain fanboyism.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Do you think this hype statement from Dunlop was justified when you were hitting with the ball?
"new tennis ball features an HD Core, which is a remastered version of the classic Dunlop Forte Core that is designed to play even more consistently"
Doppelganger
Rookie
Wow, that's not been my experience with the Dunlop Championship Hard Court balls at all. I live in Florida, a sub-tropical climate, and they still hold up quite well and don't "get heavier" like those told timers were saying. Maybe they're just old and their arms get heavy in general lol. Seriously though, I'd love to give the AO balls a try sometime, as I'd like to see how they feel compared to the Championship and Grand Prix options.
I stopped using the Grand Prix a couple years ago. To my surprise I was not a huge fan of them, as they felt harder coming off of the string bed. Like hitting a felt covered rock lol. I actually prefer the less expensive Championship balls and have had a good experience with them.
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jackcrawford
Professional
I wondered why the local shop's new order of ATP balls just said Tour http://www.pennracquet.com/tour.html now it's clear. Interested in your take on the Dunlop. The Tour plays just like the ATP ball, so only the label/name changed.
DNShade
Hall of Fame
I figured that Head/Penn would have to do something like that. Interesting. I'll let you know how the Dunlop AO balls play as soon as it stops raining out here in sunny California ha. I have a lot of experience with pretty much all companies balls - including the many types of other Dunlop/Slazenger etc.
Moonballballer
Semi-Pro
I played with them too and I think they’re definitely slower than Wilson us open. Me and my sparring partner thought the same. They become a bit hairy/big compared to us open, but they feel pretty good.
haqq777
Legend
Interesting. We play on very fast indoor courts this time of the year. Are you playing outdoors? And on what surface? Different surfaces could make the ball behave differently too.
Moonballballer
Semi-Pro
Indoor hardcourt, medium speed. Normally he can’t really return my first serve there but with these balls he definitely had more time
haqq777
Legend
Yeah, ours are fast indoors. Anyway, completely different experience than yours. Balls still have not fluffed up considerably and haven't gotten bigger. Sliding more after bounce than Wilson US Open on these courts. Not exactly as bouncy also. Weight feels same. A couple of big servers in the college team had a great time serving. I didn't notice the difference on my serve since I am not a huge server but felt it more on groundstrokes where I had less time to set up since ball was coming at me faster. For me and all the guys I have hit with, the speed seems to be noticeable difference now Dunlop AO being faster.
tennisjon
Professional
I am a huge Dunlop ball fan, but I have played with the Dunlop Fort balls several times and they are awful. I wonder if this is what they are playing with in Australia as the pros have complained. I have found them to be less bouncy and don't take to spin as well. They seem to be dead even when new. Most Dunlops are harder and more bouncy.
therecanbeonlyone
Semi-Pro
I played the new Dunlop AO balls this weekend on an outdoor hard court for almost 1.5 hours of singles hitting. I thought they were good. The balls definitely looked beaten up at the end of the session. They first got fuzzy and then slightly matted, and the writing/labels were coming off. That said, the bounce and firmness of the ball did not diminish too much, so they didn't feel dead. I wouldn't say they felt slow. I was hitting with a new partner on a court I'm not familiar with, so can't give it a really good comparison. I do know that I've been less impressed with Wilson US Open balls over the last few years, and I've become less of a Penn hater too. I've got another can of the Dunlops, so I'll be selective on when and where I use them next time to get the best comparison I can.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Then Which dumlop balls are the best ?
DNShade
Hall of Fame
Finally played with the Dunlop AO balls today. Got some good hitting and play in. Felt quite good. Reminded me of the old Dunlop A player balls back in the day and the Slazenger Wimbledon balls.
They lasted well even after a good amount of time on court with a very consistent bounce. They due fluff up a bit especially on a gritty hard court - like all top Dunlop/Slazenger balls - but not to an aggravating level. They are a little bit heavier than Wilson US Open and Penn ATP (Wilson being the lightest) - but not by much - but better lasting playability that either of those. Both my partner and I were very happy with the ball and will be using them quite often.
They lasted well even after a good amount of time on court with a very consistent bounce. They due fluff up a bit especially on a gritty hard court - like all top Dunlop/Slazenger balls - but not to an aggravating level. They are a little bit heavier than Wilson US Open and Penn ATP (Wilson being the lightest) - but not by much - but better lasting playability that either of those. Both my partner and I were very happy with the ball and will be using them quite often.
Pandora Mikado
Semi-Pro
Wilson AO used to be my favourite ball about 4-5 years ago but they changed to the translucent packaging and must have also moved specs In recent years durability was just not the same
Never liked Dunlop long lasting but they feel like bricks I found a pro shop still selling Wilson AO’s, bought 3 cartons to hold me through until I find a new ball.
but they changed to the translucent packaging and must have also moved specs In recent years durability was just not the same Never liked Dunlop
long lasting but they feel like bricks I found a pro shop still selling Wilson AO’s, bought 3 cartons to hold me through until I find a new ball.Similar threads
