Future racquets from Dunlop

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
Is there anyone out there who knows what forthcoming racquets Dunlop might be releasing soon. I ask this because the move towards the I-dapt and Force series was not something I was really that interested in but I really liked the Biomimetic and 4D ranges. I know in Europe they have the Revolution range and have a spin racquet with a 14/19 pattern but this seems to be limited to that market. Hoping there might be a new 200 or 300 series with low flex and soft feel being released again that appeal to traditional Dunlop users.
 

robbo1970

Hall of Fame
Unfortunately it's hard to see anything coming from Dunlop. Certainly nothing that resembles the previous models.

Some of the AG4D/Biomimetic 500 molds are being used on their recreational models, but nothing in the 300 or 200 mold.

IMO the Force racquets were a desperate attempt to try and jump on the Babolat band wagon, but that was a venture that was never going to succeed.

I've seen plenty of re-issues of the MW200G and HM300G, but that just about sums up their attempts to get people investing in their products.

To my knowledge, Robredo is their only sponsored pro and he's 34 now and hasn't made much impact on the tour of late.

It's a shame, because Dunlop would always be my 'go to' brand, but alternatives need to be looked at now.

The closest alternative brands I can think that offer similar to the older Dunlops are Technifibre, Mantis and Srixon.
 

Minion

Hall of Fame
I'm not very optimistic that Dunlop will bring out anything decent again. The last Dunlop I used (and still have) is the F2 Tour. Very nice racquet indeed, but a far cry from the Aerogel range already.
 

robbo1970

Hall of Fame
I'm not very optimistic that Dunlop will bring out anything decent again. The last Dunlop I used (and still have) is the F2 Tour. Very nice racquet indeed, but a far cry from the Aerogel range already.

Me neither.

The owners of Dunlop have turned them into a big box store recreational brand, which ironically isn't even selling at that level.
 

Minion

Hall of Fame
Me neither.

The owners of Dunlop have turned them into a big box store recreational brand, which ironically isn't even selling at that level.

Sad, but true. I see much more player with Prince racquets these days than Dunlop.
 

hoodjem

G.O.A.T.
I'm not very optimistic that Dunlop will bring out anything decent again. The last Dunlop I used (and still have) is the F2 Tour. Very nice racquet indeed, but a far cry from the Aerogel range already.
Yep. The Aerogel 4D range was the high point of Dunlop production. IDapt was the low point.

Imitating Babolat is a recipe for suicide.
 

Minion

Hall of Fame
Yep. The Aerogel 4D range was the high point of Dunlop production. IDapt was the low point.

Imitating Babolat is a recipe for suicide.

100% correct.

Nobody should try and copy Babolat. Like them or hate them, they know exactly what they're doing with their racquets.
 

robbo1970

Hall of Fame
100% correct.

Nobody should try and copy Babolat. Like them or hate them, they know exactly what they're doing with their racquets.

Exactly, they have that market sewn up.

But as Wilson and Head are showing, there is another market out there for those who prefer the sub 100 player-type racquets.
 

mxblink

Rookie
If you want something like the old Dunlops, why not go with Angell? Paul Angell was the head racquet designer for Dunlop during the 200g days. I didn't personally play with the older Dunlops, but people who have say you can definitely feel the Dunlop heritage in the Angell sticks.
 

CopolyX

Hall of Fame
Not just Dunlop..there are quite a few trying to stay in the game.
But with the big boys endorsements and marketing hypes....have you convinced you need a new frame faster that you need a new smart phone...
Those smaller ones will be left licking up the crumbs and scurrying for the leftovers. They try so hard to hold on to there retail prices...
Then suddenly boom....the sky falls and the prices drop faster that a wet ball on a rainy day...
I call these the " Me Toos" :
Gamma, Pacific, One Strings, Asics, Solinco and even ProKennex, Volkl, Tecnifibre
I am not staying they make bad frames at all.
I am just staying, try got it tough.....but it can be done......
 

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
Some very good reply's from all of you here, much appreciated. I also think it's the focus and attention to detail when it comes to the tennis industry that companies put their effort into. Dunlop seems less focussed on doing well in tennis, there is less marketing, less customer support and not enough strategic planning with retailors, coaches and players. You have to advertise the positive virtues of your product and prosecute your case. With Volkl and Pro Kennex I always tell my customers that compared to some Babolat frames, these racquets are much better on the arm then I provide players the opportunity to try out the racquets and find out for themselves and they usually come back surprised not knowing that this is actually the fact. Many people also don't recognise that frames used by the pros in many cases are not the ones available to the public especially when it comes to weight and stiffness.
 

Minion

Hall of Fame
Exactly, they have that market sewn up.

But as Wilson and Head are showing, there is another market out there for those who prefer the sub 100 player-type racquets.

Very true. I prefer a 95 myself, but the 97 and 98's are very popular. I would say that most of the players in our leagues either play with Blade 98's or PS 97's now - both really good frames. Such a pity, the Aerogel 4D's was certainly on par with Head and Wilson back in the day.
 

SumYungGai

Semi-Pro
Man did they mess up badly with their latest line. Hopefully they turn it around and produce some real and good one piece frames. Unfortunate that they actually thought they'd get anywhere with the Force line.
 
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Unfortunately it's hard to see anything coming from Dunlop. Certainly nothing that resembles the previous models.

Some of the AG4D/Biomimetic 500 molds are being used on their recreational models, but nothing in the 300 or 200 mold.

IMO the Force racquets were a desperate attempt to try and jump on the Babolat band wagon, but that was a venture that was never going to succeed.

I've seen plenty of re-issues of the MW200G and HM300G, but that just about sums up their attempts to get people investing in their products.

To my knowledge, Robredo is their only sponsored pro and he's 34 now and hasn't made much impact on the tour of late.

It's a shame, because Dunlop would always be my 'go to' brand, but alternatives need to be looked at now.

The closest alternative brands I can think that offer similar to the older Dunlops are Technifibre, Mantis and Srixon.

Angell is the most related to Dunlop as Paul Angell designed the classic MW200g and Hm300g and ran their prostock program.
 

wsk429

Semi-Pro
Unfortunately it's hard to see anything coming from Dunlop. Certainly nothing that resembles the previous models.

Some of the AG4D/Biomimetic 500 molds are being used on their recreational models, but nothing in the 300 or 200 mold.

IMO the Force racquets were a desperate attempt to try and jump on the Babolat band wagon, but that was a venture that was never going to succeed.

I've seen plenty of re-issues of the MW200G and HM300G, but that just about sums up their attempts to get people investing in their products.

To my knowledge, Robredo is their only sponsored pro and he's 34 now and hasn't made much impact on the tour of late.

It's a shame, because Dunlop would always be my 'go to' brand, but alternatives need to be looked at now.

The closest alternative brands I can think that offer similar to the older Dunlops are Technifibre, Mantis and Srixon.

Srixon makes the RF97A seem so cheap.
 

FedBeckRas

Rookie
Srixon makes the RF97A seem so cheap.
Srixon may be the answer for Dunlop racquets.
Srixon have some interesting frames with thinner beams that seem like classic Dunlop specs.
Re-branding these frames as Dunlops would give their core consumers what they want.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Need a racket that is a cross between the 400 and 500 Tour series, around 69-70 in flex, but maybe 102 sq's with a narrow beam. Make it 12 oz, 320 SW, and I"m on it.
 
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