New Donnay Racquets Listed on TW
- Thread starter LafayetteHitter
- Start date
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
They may not be the same racquet (in fact, we know they are not the same because TW specified them to be stiffer at 75% graphite/25% fiberglass, whereas the originals were 50% graphite/50% fiberglass), but how about the build quality? I mean I don't think Belgium is world-renowned for high quality manufacturing either (like Germany or Japan are) (no offense to any Belgians), so it might be possible that these new ones made in China might be of even higher (or equal) build quality than the originals?
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
In the 60's, 70's, and 80's Snauwaert and Donnay made the highest quality wooden and early graphite racquets in Belgium and were the OEM for other major brands.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Yes, I know. A lot of the non-Belgian brands of wood racquets were also made in Belgium (like Spaldings and some Wilsons, I think). I think back then, Belgium was the largest producer of wood racquets in the world. But that was then, this is now. And I believe the manufacturing processes to produce modern graphite racquets is very different from producing wood racquets. So I'm only specifically comparing the quality of the original Pro One International (which were made in the mid-90's) to the new TW ones made today in China.
ericsson
Hall of Fame
BP, what do i read??? Belgium not known as high quality?? hmmm man you should come here very soon and drink a Belgian beer or eat our Belgian fries or chocolates, all of the highest quality! trust me, things that are made here are not known as junk, we're just small compared to germans 
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Sorry ericsson, didn't mean to offend. I guess I was thinking of more complex manfacturing like cars, electronics, industrial equipment, etc., more so than beer, fries or chocolates.BP, what do i read??? Belgium not known as high quality?? hmmm man you should come here very soon and drink a Belgian beer or eat our Belgian fries or chocolates, all of the highest quality! trust me, things that are made here are not known as junk, we're just small compared to germans
And, yes, Belgium is well-known for having some of the best chocolates in the world. BP, what do i read??? Belgium not known as high quality?? hmmm man you should come here very soon and drink a Belgian beer or eat our Belgian fries or chocolates, all of the highest quality! trust me, things that are made here are not known as junk, we're just small compared to germans
Well, then you'll just have to send me some of those Belgium chocolates now won't you? You know what they say, put your chocolate where your mouth is. I don't believe you. Prove it. German chocolates rule! ...rule, rule, rule the world, I tell you!
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Sorry ericsson, didn't mean to offend. I guess I was thinking of more complex manfacturing like cars, electronics, industrial equipment, etc., more so than beer, fries or chocolates.
Gm owns a Automobile Factory in Belgium and manufactures different variants of the Opel Astra there. One of the best selling Cars in Europe.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
But Opels used to have a lot of quality issues and had a reputation for not being the most reliable (not just the models made in Belgium). I almost bought an Opel in the early 90's but decided to get a Toyota instead because of the fear of reliability issues.
we're gonna get the astra here in the states as well but as a saturn. I don't know if we're going to get the turbo version but i hope we do.
anyways i've been having the toughest time deciding which Donnay to purchase because both specs appeal to me. Really curious on how the oversize orange one plays. never played with an oversized racquet before. its sad but true. i really dig the thin beams on both sticks though and the swingweight for these rackets are just perfect for me. i'm going nuts from not being able to demo them. someone shoot me.
anyways i've been having the toughest time deciding which Donnay to purchase because both specs appeal to me. Really curious on how the oversize orange one plays. never played with an oversized racquet before. its sad but true. i really dig the thin beams on both sticks though and the swingweight for these rackets are just perfect for me. i'm going nuts from not being able to demo them. someone shoot me.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
The quality of Opel has been much improved over the last 5 or 6 years. Across the whole GM product range GM has made huge progress in quality in it's product. In fact GM's Buick Division has just tied for first place with Lexus in J.D. Power vehicle dependability study.
This fall in the U.S.A. you will be able to buy one of the Made in Belgium Opel Astra. GM is going to sell them as the Saturn Astra. Bob Lutz Vice Chairman of GM has turn Saturn into American Opel.
bluescreen
Hall of Fame
i go to the last page of this thread to see u guys talking about...cars. maybe this is going just a little off topic.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Sorry about that.
Anyway I really like the specs and the paint job on the Donnay Pro One International. I can't wait until they are available to demo.
H
Hedges
Guest
Well then...you are The One. Please give us a post after you've hit with it!
O M G.... i've literally been staring at the TW Donnay page screens for hours and and came back to the forums to see if there were any reviews on it. For people who have received their sticks...hit with it already and tell us what its like! Just don't charge us money for your reviews.
great specs offered at a great price. it was either the Donnay pro international or the POG mid... then theres the Pro One OS in a friendly orange color scheme....
I want to know which one is the better serving stick and the one that get is very stable when trying to hit return aces. The volkl tour 9 v-engine was awesome at this. T____T can't choose.
Sorry for being so impatient but i need to know because i want to purchase either the Pro One OS, the Pro International, POG mid, or another volkl tour 9 v-engine ASAP. thank you thank you thank you.
great specs offered at a great price. it was either the Donnay pro international or the POG mid... then theres the Pro One OS in a friendly orange color scheme....
I want to know which one is the better serving stick and the one that get is very stable when trying to hit return aces. The volkl tour 9 v-engine was awesome at this. T____T can't choose.
Sorry for being so impatient but i need to know because i want to purchase either the Pro One OS, the Pro International, POG mid, or another volkl tour 9 v-engine ASAP. thank you thank you thank you.
Anton
Legend
this frame seems to be very close to i.prestige mid
Strung Weight: 12.1oz / 343g (12 for donnay)
Balance: 5pts Head Light (6 for donnay)
Swingweight: 320
Stiffness: 60 (58 for donnay)
Beam Width: 19 mm Straight Beam
biggest difference being 18x20 for i.prestige and 16x18 for donnay
Strung Weight: 12.1oz / 343g (12 for donnay)
Balance: 5pts Head Light (6 for donnay)
Swingweight: 320
Stiffness: 60 (58 for donnay)
Beam Width: 19 mm Straight Beam
biggest difference being 18x20 for i.prestige and 16x18 for donnay
The quality of Vauxhalls (or opel or whatever else they are known as) has been pretty good for a long time now you still get good early 90's cars kicking round.HOwever it would be good to get a "then and now" comparison on the Donnays.
Welp, had a 3 hour hitting session with the Intl today...very nice. It's exactly what I was hoping it would be. Very comfortable racket...buttery. Very nBlade-ish but more access to spin. The head is barely smaller than my nBlade but I found myself framing a few times. I think it was just me being overzealous...wanting to rip the felt right off the ball. Serving was as to be expected, power was lacking but spin was available. Groundies was a joy. I was looking for more spin mainly on the 1HBH, for attacking high balls. The Intl seems to have solved this. Net play was a little strange. The ball was jumping off the stringbed. I don't know if it's the frame, my unfamiliarity with the frame or my string setup. I'll hold off on giving an opinion on volleying for a bit. I think I just need to get more playing time with it. I will say that it got the job done. Overall, it's a very nice racket (for my game and the kind of rackets I like). Lots of control and a free feeling of letting it rip from the baseline. Spec-wise it's supposed to feel more HL than the nBlade but it doesn't. It feels exactly the same. That's basically it. I'd like to hear other opinions if anyone has hit with their Pro Ones yet.
P.S. nBlade for sale...
I
ichibanosaru
Guest
Aloha!
Say, how do these TW Donnay Pro One sticks compare to the original Donnay Pro One models? Same material? Same string pattern?
Take care-
Say, how do these TW Donnay Pro One sticks compare to the original Donnay Pro One models? Same material? Same string pattern?
Take care-
ericsson
Hall of Fame
Well, for start they are different in composition, the original P.O International had 50% graphite and 50%glassfiber, now TW made it a little stiffer with 75%graphite.
they also dont come with the detachable bumper but a regular one.
stringpattern looks the same.
i think its a great concept especially with such a brand. back to memory lane!
I
ichibanosaru
Guest
Dunlop and Tecnifibre molds
I am curious as to which Dunlop and Tecnifibre frames are supposedly made from the same mold(s).
Thanks again and take care,
Ichibanosaru
I am curious as to which Dunlop and Tecnifibre frames are supposedly made from the same mold(s).
Thanks again and take care,
Ichibanosaru
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
The Tecnifibre T-Fight 320/335 is apparently a close copy of the custom Dunlop mold that Dunlop uses to make custom racquets for Blake/Haas/Berdych, etc. It's unlikely that it's the same mold that's used, just a copy that TF made of this Dunlop custom racquet that is for their sponsored pros only and is not sold to retail.
Pete Semper
Rookie
Anybody noticed that the handle on the TW version seems to be shorter than the original version (yellow and black PJ) ?
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
The original Pro One Oversize had a yellow and blue paint job.
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Pete Semper
Rookie
^^^
VSbaboloat...Im talking about the Pro One SuperMidsize.
VSbaboloat...Im talking about the Pro One SuperMidsize.
ericsson
Hall of Fame
Although i didnt see or felt the TW racket, this can't be true, the original was very short, i think TW made them a little longer, but surely not shorter...
Maybe you have an extended version, was called the pro one +
I
ichibanosaru
Guest
Tecnifibre = Dunlop?
Quite possible - you never know. As a matter of fact, a modern-day Maxply McEnroe held right next to a few other Dunlop frames looks practically the same, too, cosmetics aside.
Good stuff and thanks for the reply,
Ichibanosaru
Quite possible - you never know. As a matter of fact, a modern-day Maxply McEnroe held right next to a few other Dunlop frames looks practically the same, too, cosmetics aside.
Good stuff and thanks for the reply,
Ichibanosaru
Racketdesign
Semi-Pro
Brands such as Donnay, Slazenger and Dunlop may share molds as they are all owned by the same parent company. I can't speak for Tecnifibre, but can assure you that the Vantage molds are our own. There wasnt much chance of Dunlop sharing theirs with us!
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
As I see it, if I find a good deal on a frame that I'm really curious about, I can buy it and consider the honeymoon to be my demo period. The couple of bucks that I may loose if I decide to sell it are just the cost of an extended demo. If you got either of these frames and didn't care for it, you'd probably be able to turn it over with no problem. After all, these are some of the best deals we'll probably ever see on new frames. I got the midplus here 2nd hand and it's quickly winning me over.
Just flip a coin and try one!
The Blue-yellow donnay, was never produced in the Limited Edition frame. I have one and it's only a commercial racket that used to be sold in the 1990. Later, Donnay produced the same frame with the Orange-Grey pattern (I have two). But it's only when Andre won Wimbledon, that Donnay decided to sell a frame very similar to his one. It's the Limited Edition. No one will never find a Limited Edition in the blue yellow pattern, it was never produced. Agassi's original pro ones had the signature "Andre agassi" along the throat, while in the limited there 's written "Limited Edition".
Conclusion:
Please TW, consider the possibility of making a Limited Edition in Yellow/Blue pattern. It has never produced and it would be absolutely Original.
We will be absolutely grateful to you.
Conclusion:
Please TW, consider the possibility of making a Limited Edition in Yellow/Blue pattern. It has never produced and it would be absolutely Original.
We will be absolutely grateful to you.
Pete Semper
Rookie
TW should have give more flexibility to the Donnay Pro One, the original got 55 RA when the TW version got a 58 RA, I dont understand why they have designed this frame in a different way, its a great mistake IMO.
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
I think this frame is already somewhat on the "tame" or let's say "composed" side with a 58 flex rating, but it's got the best feel that I've ever experienced in a racquet since the woodies I used as a kid. If it were any more flexible, it might feel like a blob on a stick (or who knows, it might feel even better!), but I don't see an error in the design. I've been looking around for about two years for a better fit and this frame is my new honey, hands down.
What's that song - you're my favorite mistake...
stevewcosta
Professional
No way. Any more flexible and this racquet would be terrible...total mush. Also, for people who fear this pattern is too open, that's not the case either.
Pete Semper
Rookie
I feel your points of view, but honestly have you ever tried to play with a55 frame ? I still play with old Pro One Original (55 RA) and tried the Donnay Limited Edition Original (58 RA, 100% Graph) and the 55 has more pop than the limited Edition with a superior feel, maybe its because of the composition, I dont know. But its not because a racquet is flexier that it would be powerless.
TW Staff
Administrator
We hit with racquets as low as 53 RA. We put a lot of hours into hitting them and the 58 RA proved best - still soft feeling (especially by today's standards) and improved stability.
Chris, TW.
When you talk about the "Limited Edition", do you mean the one that TW currently sells? If so, it is NOT 100% graphite; the newest version has 25% fiberglass.
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
Ok, I'll admit it... I'm curious.
Pete Semper: that other Donnay you're talking about sounds funky - my first graphite frames ever were a pair of Pro Cynetic Ones from Donnay and I suppose all their gear holds a place in my heart. It all makes me wonder how the racquet's composition translates into feel because I wouldn't want this TW Pro One to be any softer, but a stick with a lower flex rating and good feel would probably be like a magical cloning of the feel of wood into a composite frame. Goosebumps anyone?
Hey TW peeps - I'm a firm believer in positive reinforcement, so if you need a little something to help you cope with your busy days at the candy store there...
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU!!! You've hit a home run with the midplus, both in the racquet's design as well as the resurrection of Donnay.
Pete Semper: that other Donnay you're talking about sounds funky - my first graphite frames ever were a pair of Pro Cynetic Ones from Donnay and I suppose all their gear holds a place in my heart. It all makes me wonder how the racquet's composition translates into feel because I wouldn't want this TW Pro One to be any softer, but a stick with a lower flex rating and good feel would probably be like a magical cloning of the feel of wood into a composite frame. Goosebumps anyone?
Hey TW peeps - I'm a firm believer in positive reinforcement, so if you need a little something to help you cope with your busy days at the candy store there...
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU!!! You've hit a home run with the midplus, both in the racquet's design as well as the resurrection of Donnay.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
You're welcome.
These are newly manufactured Donnays made to TW's specs.
Sorry, I have not hit with them yet so I can't compare it to the DNX 10 Mid.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
I've heard it's the same as Dunlop's grip shape. Makes sense as the same company now owns both Donnay and Dunlop, so the same handle pallets are likely used for both.
Pete Semper
Rookie
No, Im talking about the original Limited Edition (made in Belgium in the begining 90's), it was 100% graph and got a 58 RA. The TW version is 25% FB and 75% Graph.
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Pete Semper
Rookie
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