Dunlop Grand Prix vs Dunlop ATP Balls - Are they different?

[Firepandas]

Hi all,

I went to my local racquet shop and asked to purchase a case of Dunlop ATP extra duty balls. He says sure, gives me the case, but when I open them up at home, it is a case of Dunlop Grand Prix extra duty balls. I texted him to ask what is going on, and he says that they are the same ball, but different logos. I have played with the ATP balls and like them, but I don't remember much about the Grand Prixs.

Is he right? Are these the same balls just different logos?

 

[Tennisist]

Dunlop ATP ( blue cans, not black ) are harder, faster, and much more durable.
Dunlop Grand Prix ( new ones, in black cans ) are softer, and lose their bounce fast. Kind of pleasant for an hour, but then have to be thrown away.

 

[Firepandas]

Dunlop ATP ( blue cans, not black ) are harder, faster, and much more durable.
Dunlop Grand Prix ( new ones, in black cans ) are softer, and lose their bounce fast. Kind of pleasant for an hour, but then have to be thrown away.

This is exactly what I have felt when I used Grand Prixs a long time ago. Which is why I am pretty pissed why the dude who runs the racquet shop is insisting they are the same.

 

[AceyMan]

fwiw, the Grand Prix is used at many WTA events, so it's not like it's a crap ball.

/Acey

 

[jindra]

There's 4 kinds of "ATP" and 2 kinds of "Grand Prix"

 

[Firepandas]

fwiw, the Grand Prix is used at many WTA events, so it's not like it's a crap ball.

/Acey

Yeah, I just personally am not a big fan of them. They just don't tend to last as long as the ATPs for me at least.

 

[blai212]

Grand Prix is dunlop’s version of ProPenn Marathon balls. They use these at a lot of pro tournaments, such as Roland Garros during pandemic…a lot of guys including nadal were complaining about low bounce but they’re pretty durable/long lasting. One of the prominent clubs in my area exclusively uses these balls and they last quite a while but are on the heavier stiffer side resulting in slightly lower bounce. Personally, I prefer the Wilson Championship and Dunlop ATP championship balls because they are lighter (easier on the joints) and have better initial bounce but wear out a tad faster.

 

[mimo]

Grand Prix is dunlop’s version of ProPenn Marathon balls. They use these at a lot of pro tournaments, such as Roland Garros during pandemic…a lot of guys including nadal were complaining about low bounce but they’re pretty durable/long lasting. One of the prominent clubs in my area exclusively uses these balls and they last quite a while but are on the heavier stiffer side resulting in slightly lower bounce. Personally, I prefer the Wilson Championship and Dunlop ATP championship balls because they are lighter (easier on the joints) and have better initial bounce but wear out a tad faster.

These are not the balls that were introduced to the French Open back in 2020. They switched from Babolat to Wilson which were heavier and slower. Nadal was one of several players who did not like the new Wilsons.

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/french-open-outrage-over-conditions-ball-change-003920937.html

 

[blai212]

Cold conditions definitely exaggerate the weight and deaden the bounce of the ball…

 

[Nostradamus]

Dunlop ATP ( blue cans, not black ) are harder, faster, and much more durable.
Dunlop Grand Prix ( new ones, in black cans ) are softer, and lose their bounce fast. Kind of pleasant for an hour, but then have to be thrown away.

dunlop grand prix were piece of garbage. they were very tough to control and bounces were unpredictable

 

[Agparj]

My experience with Dunlop GP is negative - they don't even last a match.

Interestingly, have had great luck with the Dunlop AOs. They last at least 3 matches (4.0\4.5) and still have sufficient bounce to give the dogs a challenge. The case i purchsed in 2020 (which I'm still going through!) has yet to provide a bad ball. Not a one.

They last significantly longer than other brands, even if they fluff up a bit.

 

[Fintft]

Dunlop Fort Clay rule and Slazengers rule, in turn on hc.

 

[mmk]

My experience with Dunlop GP is negative - they don't even last a match.

Interestingly, have had great luck with the Dunlop AOs. They last at least 3 matches (4.0\4.5) and still have sufficient bounce to give the dogs a challenge. The case i purchsed in 2020 (which I'm still going through!) has yet to provide a bad ball. Not a one.

They last significantly longer than other brands, even if they fluff up a bit.

The Dunlop AOs fluff up more and quicker than any ball I've ever used.

 

[Agparj]

The Dunlop AOs fluff up more and quicker than any ball I've ever used.

They really do. I think that is what leads to the felt lasting so long on them.

 

[3point0]

Interestingly, have had great luck with the Dunlop AOs. They last at least 3 matches (4.0\4.5) and still have sufficient bounce to give the dogs a challenge.

Huh. your 4.0/4.5 opponents are okay with balls that have been played twice (or more) before? Around here even 2.5s scoff at the idea of playing with pre-owned balls.


And what does a balls bounce have to do when it comes to playing with dogs?

 

[Rosstour]

I love the Penn Marathon balls

 

[2ndServe]

Dunlop ATP ( blue cans, not black ) are harder, faster, and much more durable.
Dunlop Grand Prix ( new ones, in black cans ) are softer, and lose their bounce fast. Kind of pleasant for an hour, but then have to be thrown away.

Used both extensively. I thought the Grand Prix were better and didn’t fluff up as much but the guy should give you want you paid for

 

[Agparj]

Huh. your 4.0/4.5 opponents are okay with balls that have been played twice (or more) before? Around here even 2.5s scoff at the idea of playing with pre-owned balls.


And what does a balls bounce have to do when it comes to playing with dogs?

We're a friendly bunch, so yes, just fine playing with slightly used balls that still have life in them.

As for the dogs: it's more exciting!

 

[AZSunTennis]

I prefer the GP over the AO. Simply a better bounce with the GP. And in cooler weather, the bounce of the AO
can even be quite dead. Anecdotal, I know. I prefer the Grandprix!