Dunlop Bio 200 Plus - Comments, Review

[Winners or Errors]

I've always preferred smaller racquets, and have generally played better with them against people of skill equal to mine. I'm a 4.0+ playing in a 4.5 league. Today, for the first time, I played with a 100 - the Dunlop Bio 200 Plus. Having read the TW review when it first came out, and seen it drop in price to $59 each for two, I ordered two.

A few comments for those of you considering it...

String: full-bed Kirschbaum Proline X 17, 55#

Feel: dwell-time = good, "sproingyness" (that's a technical term I think mid users will understand) = reasonable, but it will take some time until I'm confident hitting every shot because the feel is less immediate. It is not a mid.

Control: though the ball comes off the strings at a higher angle than I'm used to, I was able to hit several encouraging shots requiring pinpoint control of ball height, so I think I'll adjust quickly. As for right/left directional control, the larger string bed with its greater spin and deflection will require a bit of adjustment.

Power: there is free power on tap, and I was able to bunt some quick reaction / defensive shots that would be weaker responses with a mid to 95. As that's one of the reasons I am attempting the switch, it is encouraging. It is also easier to find the sweet-spot on reaction volleys. I did not feel at any point that I was hitting with a "rocket-launcher."

The reviews on this board have been rather mixed. To add my 2 cents, my experience aligns with those who liked the frame. I think it will appeal to many who are trying to do what I'm trying to do. I don't think it will appeal to the Babolat set quite so much...

I treat racquets like golfers treat putters and drivers, and I am accumulating them at a set every year or two. I don't like demoing racquets, as it takes a while for me to accept / reject one. I do play with the three different racquets I own now, and anticipate that these new Dunlops will make it into the rotation including M-Fil 200, 4D100, and London Tour.

YMMV.

 

[LeeD]

A few months ago, I posted a thread asking if anyone knew much about the 200Plus. I was interested, of course.
Reviews were mostly mixed, no good, no bad.
Seems specs are very close to F3t's, and older Aero300's (which are softer).
Thinking 320 SW and 11 oz a good starting point, it was in the running until the 64 flex came through, and TW didn't have 4 5/8 grips of that racket.
So ended up with 2 4D Aero300's and one Bio300T. Close enough.
If I feel weak one day, I can switch to my Aero500's weighted the same.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Well, after an hour of hitting with a friend of mine today, I think the range and accuracy on ground-strokes is easily as good as my 4D100s.

That, combined with a rather large increase in sweetspot, has me smiling at the moment. I think the people who demoed this racquet and thought it had a small sweetspot were playing with tensions that are too high.

They're very nice racquets, and unlike you, I was looking for a little more stiffness. Not a lot, a little. I think that's what I got. I'm excited about these sticks.

 

[Vegetable Lasagne]

Like yourself, I was looking to transition from midsize stringbeds (Wilson ProStaffs, Volkl PB10, BB London Tour) to something larger in order to manage some elbow, shoulder and knee issues.
Wanted some easily accessible power and spin without having to work too hard for it. I wound up with the Dunlop Biomimetic 500 Tour.
Gotta say I've been mighty impressed with the 500 Tours, but I was also really curious about the 200 Plus.
So now, with the price that the 200 Plus are going for I decided to try one up against my 500 Tours.
I'll post my results as soon as I get a chance to test it out.

 

[mela]

Do is Dunlop Biomimetic 200 PLUS a raquet too demanding like Prestige, Radical?

Do is Dunlop Biomimetic 200 PLUS good for 3,5 player?

thanks

 

[eelhc]

Do is Dunlop Biomimetic 200 PLUS a raquet too demanding like Prestige, Radical?

Do is Dunlop Biomimetic 200 PLUS good for 3,5 player?

thanks

At $69 ($59 when 2 or more are purchased).. I bit and ordered a pair for an "extended demo". I'd like to see how this stick compares to my Biomimetic 300 and Aerogel 4D 300.

I really don't get the idea of matching the racquet to the NTRP level... makes no sense... I know 4.0 players with terrible strokes who play with "beginner" OS frames and 3.0 players with great strokes who play with "advanced" frames. Until one gets to higher levels, I don't think one should confuse NTRP ratings with good/bad technique.

 

[LeeD]

I have one Bio300T.
My favorite right now is the 4DAero300's, I have two.
The 200Plus was going to me my main racket, but they didn't have 4 5/8 grip size, and I'm wasn't looking for another stiff racket at the time.
A already have 3 Aero2000's weighted to 11 oz and 320 SW's.

 

[eelhc]

Jackpot...

Got my 2 sticks tonight... I asked TW to NOT string the racquets... Rather just include 2 sets of the "free" Wilson Extreme Synthetic Gut with the frames since I string my racquets and was not sure what string/tension setup I wanted...

Well surprise surprise... the frames came with covers (rare these days for close out racquets..) and pre-strung with Dunlop Silk 16. Not sure what tension (I'm going to try and find out for reference)... I've been to try this multi so I think I'll hit with them as is for now.

Imagine that... a $60 racquet that comes pre-strung with $15 strings... Jackpot!

 

[eelhc]

Had 2 hitting sessions with the Bio 200 plus... I brought along my Bio 300 and Aerogel 4D 300 for comparison.

First hour with the factory Dunlop Silk full bed... I have no idea what the factory tension is but the racquet felt like a frying pan. Not much fun...

I restrung the frame with Silk mains and Gosen OGSM at 55lbs and hit another hour and all I can say is wow. I don't think I've ever had a racquet that hits such a "heavy ball". Balls I thought were going to go long at launch just dropped in. I was able to drive the ball deep with confidence.
Conventional wisdom would say the 16x19 pattern on my Bio/Aero 300 would have more spin potential but that is not what I'm seeing here... The 200+ is dropping balls I would have hit out with the 300s.

I took a few volleys and the 200+ felt similar to my 300s. I'm impressed...

 

[mela]

... and hit another hour and all I can say is wow. I don't think I've ever had a racquet that hits such a "heavy ball".

Is Dunlop 200 plus a arm friendly racquet?

 

[Winners or Errors]

Yes, I think so. The only reason I'm not playing with mine is that I dislike the sluggish feel. For people who play large racquets with balances <4 pts head-light, I think it'd be a great racquet. Even not really being able to adapt to the swing feel, I still like playing with the racquet at times. I don't recall it bothering me.

 

[mela]

Yes, I think so. The only reason I'm not playing with mine is that I dislike the sluggish feel. For people who play large racquets with balances <4 pts head-light, I think it'd be a great racquet. Even not really being able to adapt to the swing feel, I still like playing with the racquet at times. I don't recall it bothering me.

I like the sluggish feel!

I'm a 3,5 player ... I hope that Dunlop 200 plus is not too difficult for me.

thanks

 

[mela]

For people who play large racquets with balances <4 pts head-light, I think it'd be a great racquet.

Dunlop 200 plus is close in play to Prince Rebel 98?
Or Prince Rebel 98 is very different from Dunlop 200 plus?

thanks

 

[Winners or Errors]

No idea. I haven't hit with the Prince. My comparisons are all to racquets in my rotation: Dunlop 4D100, Becker London Tour, Wilson 6.1 16x18 2014. It is quite different from those. I prefer the others, and have given the 200 Plus to my son.

The above comments still stand, however. I do think it's a great racquet for those who like that sort of thing, even stock.

 

[mela]

The above comments still stand, however. I do think it's a great racquet for those who like that sort of thing, even stock.

thanks !!!!