New Donnay Strings & Racquets From Thailand Open 2011

[suppawat]

Thailand Open just finished. Like every year, I walked around the event and look for new stuffs. Unfortunately, most top brands have no new products In fact, they brought in old stuffs for 30-70% discount. For Donnay, they launched 5 strings and 4 racquets this year. (in one year, they have 23 racquets launched). Each string set comes with a resealable bag that can be reused.

The first 2 strings are impressive in smooth string category. The first on is called X-Hybrid, a combination of Poly and Synthetic. It has soft feel, and have ample power on 18x20 racquet. I think it feels just about right (not too mute, too soft, and too crisp). My favorite smooth hybrid of all time was Boris Becker B-Xtreme & Sensor, but Boris Becker no longer make it. The X-Hybrid is my new favorite now. On my future racquet test, I will use this string.

The second one is called Syncore - a synthetic gut with smooth coating for better spin. It doesn't feel as crisp as traditional synthetic gut like Gamma Wearguard, but it does have the same firm & responsive feel. Best of all, string doesn't move a lot during play. Those old school players should try it.

The third one is X-Micron, a multifilament string. This string plays very soft on arm, a little to soft for me. It has a good ball pocketing. Many senior players like it.

 

[suppawat]

The last two are polyesters. I will playtest them soon.

Customization kit is now in a new package. It has a new dampener included.

 

[suppawat]

For racquets, Donnay launched 4 new frames.

X-Dual Pro: this one has been demoed the most as it surprised people with soft solid feel. It has a plain matted black cosmetic with white lettering, but it actually looks really good. Some top junior players and coaches even took it out from the event to the court for testing right away.

The racquet in stock form has a very soft solid feel on ball impact, and excellent stability. This reminds me of Head PT57A and Wilson H22 pro stock racquets. I don't need to add lead to 3/9 at all like I did on a previous prototype. It's a great choice for flat hitters. Players who like Donnay's signatured solid feel, but don't like the thin beam should find X-Dual Pro a good fit. Some Head Prestige/Radical users already made a switch.

The rest are X-P Dual, X-P Dual Tour, and X-P Dual Lite. They are part of those 30 demo racquets. Between X-Dual and X-Dual Tour, I like the X-Dual with weight slides at 3/9 better than X-Dual Tour. It's the easiest frame to play.

 

[BreakPoint]

For racquets, Donnay launched 4 new frames.

X-Dual Pro: this one has been demoed the most as it surprised people with soft solid feel. It has a plain matted black cosmetic with white lettering, but it actually looks really good. Some top junior players and coaches even took it out from the event to the court for testing right away.

The racquet in stock form has a very soft solid feel on ball impact, and excellent stability. This reminds me of Head PT57A and Wilson H22 pro stock racquets. I don't need to add lead to 3/9 at all like I did on a previous prototype. It's a great choice for flat hitters. Players who like Donnay's signatured solid feel, but don't like the thin beam should find X-Dual Pro a good fit. Some Head Prestige/Radical users already made a switch.

Wow, those look awesome!

Do you have the full specs for the X-Dual Pro? Also, what is the string pattern?

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[rlau]

Wow, those look awesome!

Do you have the full specs for the X-Dual Pro? Also, what is the string pattern?

Thanks, much appreciated.

http://www.donnayusa.com/shop/product.php?id=62

Head size: 97sqi
Unstrung Weight: 310g
Unstrung Balance: 315mm
Strung Weight: 11.5oz
Strung Balance: 5 Points HL
Strung Swing Wt: 318
String Pattern: 18x20
Stiffness (RDC): 64
Grip: Cushion
Rec. String Tension: 55lbs (+/- 5)
Beam Width: 21/21/21mm**
Length: 27
Technology: Dual XeneCore

 

[Bas]

I feel hopeless that i'm in europe. no such way to try or buy these and other racquets / strings which are availible at tw.

 

[BreakPoint]

http://www.donnayusa.com/shop/product.php?id=62

Head size: 97sqi
Unstrung Weight: 310g
Unstrung Balance: 315mm
Strung Weight: 11.5oz
Strung Balance: 5 Points HL
Strung Swing Wt: 318
String Pattern: 18x20
Stiffness (RDC): 64
Grip: Cushion
Rec. String Tension: 55lbs (+/- 5)
Beam Width: 21/21/21mm**
Length: 27
Technology: Dual XeneCore

Great! Thanks!

Hmmm.....a bit on the light side and I guess it plays a bit softer than it's stiffness rating? Also, I wish it came with a more open string pattern.

 

[aimr75]

The racquet in stock form has a very soft solid feel on ball impact, and excellent stability. This reminds me of Head PT57A and Wilson H22 pro stock racquets. I don't need to add lead to 3/9 at all like I did on a previous prototype. It's a great choice for flat hitters. Players who like Donnay's signatured solid feel, but don't like the thin beam should find X-Dual Pro a good fit. Some Head Prestige/Radical users already made a switch.

can you give more of a review on how the x-dual pro plays? I have been using the platinum 94. How would you say it compares to the platinum?

 

[yan16]

First string (was inside first custom kit) were very bad string (poly), i hope they will be better now

 

[ericsson]

For racquets, Donnay launched 4 new frames.



The rest are X-P Dual, X-P Dual Tour, and X-P Dual Lite. They are part of those 30 demo racquets. Between X-Dual and X-Dual Tour, I like the X-Dual with weight slides at 3/9 better than X-Dual Tour. It's the easiest frame to play.

Looks like i will have to plan a trip to BKK soon for some serious testing. ;-)

keep up the good work Sam!

 

[suppawat]

can you give more of a review on how the x-dual pro plays? I have been using the platinum 94. How would you say it compares to the platinum?

Let me play it a few more times and will provide feedback.

 

[suppawat]

Looks like i will have to plan a trip to BKK soon for some serious testing. ;-)

keep up the good work Sam!

Welcome sir! You can also join our Friday midnight tennis. We are is a group of crazy people who love playing tennis from 9pm of Friday night to 6am Saturday morning.

My friend also have a lot of Donnay prototype racquets and you can try all day (and all night). Below are some examples of X-Dual Pro prototypes in different stiffnesses. I saw at least 3 prototypes before Donnay make it for retail.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Hmm... 97 square inches. Blake mold perhaps?

Also, how X-pensive?

 

[suppawat]

Great! Thanks!

Hmmm.....a bit on the light side and I guess it plays a bit softer than it's stiffness rating? Also, I wish it came with a more open string pattern.

Trust me, your feedback is counted I am sure Donnay is working on it. They are trying to make more of 16x19 and 18x19 string patterns.

This is one of them - JHT012 (104 sq.in, 18x19, 310g, 24mm).

 

[suppawat]

First string (was inside first custom kit) were very bad string (poly), i hope they will be better now

I agree. When I try the X-Series Platinum 94 with poly string, it has not feel and power. But the X-Hybrid is quite cool!

 

[suppawat]

Hmm... 97 square inches. Blake mold perhaps?

Also, how X-pensive?

$299 on Donnay website. You may call them and see if they can sell at lower MSRP, or wait for TW.

 

[Rock Strongo]

$299 on Donnay website. You may call them and see if they can sell at lower MSRP, or wait for TW.

I'll just stick to my 30€ sticks then. Goodness gracious that is expensive! Factor in the shipping to Sweden + customs and you would bankrupt this 130k citizen city!

 

[BreakPoint]

Trust me, your feedback is counted I am sure Donnay is working on it. They are trying to make more of 16x19 and 18x19 string patterns.

This is one of them - JHT012 (104 sq.in, 18x19, 310g, 24mm).

Wow! That black frame looks great with the red grommets! Similar look as the black Vantage frames with the red grommets. I like simple single color frames with just the brand name or logo in a different color. I hate today's trend towards multi-color frames with crazy designs and graphics all over them.

BTW, at 97 sq. in. and 18x20 pattern, it does appear to be very similar to the old Blake custom mold that Tyger and Dunlop made for him. I know Tecnifibre also used a very similar mold for their TF-335. Since both Dunlop and Donnay had the same corporate parent, I wonder if Donnay has access to this custom Dunlop mold that Blake used?

 

[gd!]

I'll just stick to my 30€ sticks then. Goodness gracious that is expensive! Factor in the shipping to Sweden + customs and you would bankrupt this 130k citizen city!

Racquet is already available within EU for 210 Euros free of charge. Still expensive, I think I will wait till TW Europe offering Donnay and demo to give it a test.

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

They are trying to make more of 16x19 and 18x19 string patterns.

sorry if i missed it in this post, but isn't Blake using the x-dual pro? it looks sick in all black. and are you referring to the x-dual pro being made with 16x19 or 18x19 later on or just other Donnay rackets?

 

[aimr75]

Let me play it a few more times and will provide feedback.

thanks

are you referring to the x-dual pro being made with 16x19 or 18x19 later on or just other Donnay rackets?

Yeah, would be nice if they offered the x-dual pro with a 16x19 option

 

[Serveand...]

any 90" frames comming??

 

[parasailing]

The racquets look cool as usual but the pricing of $30 for a set of syn gut is ridiculous. You might as well buy natural gut for that price. I wouldn't mind trying them out at $20 but $30 and you reaching natural gut territory.

 

[suppawat]

BTW, at 97 sq. in., it does appear to be very similar to the old Blake custom mold that Tyger and Dunlop made for him. I know Tecnifibre also used a very similar mold for their TF-355. Since both Dunlop and Donnay had the same corporate parent, I wonder if Donnay has access to this custom Dunlop mold that Blake used?

May be 50-60% similar, there are some differneces in shaft width and hairpin handle size. Donnay has slightly fatter shaft and smaller hairpin handle. Let me double check by taking photo side-by-side comparison between Dual Pro and TF335.

 

[suppawat]

sorry if i missed it in this post, but isn't Blake using the x-dual pro? it looks sick in all black. and are you referring to the x-dual pro being made with 16x19 or 18x19 later on or just other Donnay rackets?

Based on the prototypes I played, those 16x19 and 18x19 racquets are in different head sizes (102-104). They are trying to make the X-Dual Pro One OS that some of us in this forum asked for. I don't know if they plan to do a Dual Pro in 18x19 or 16x19.

 

[suppawat]

any 90" frames comming??

I don't think so, but I want to have one too. I heard from my friend that Donnay used to make Pro Staff 85 for Wilson long time ago. Has anybody heard of that?

 

[Fed Kennedy]

I don't think so, but I want to have one too. I heard from my friend that Donnay used to make Pro Staff 85 for Wilson long time ago. Has anybody heard of that?

I think there was some talk of belgian 85s...

there's also something like this

 

[ericsson]

I don't think so, but I want to have one too. I heard from my friend that Donnay used to make Pro Staff 85 for Wilson long time ago. Has anybody heard of that?

Yes this is correct, there was a joint venture between Donnay and Wilson, between 1984 and 1985, the currrency rate was quite favourable at that time so production for the PS85 moved to Belgium but not for long as they had quality issues...

A year later Donnay came out with the legendary Pro Cynetic, a classic frame to compete the PS85.
(also used by the great Pete Sampras)

 

[ericsson]

Welcome sir! You can also join our Friday midnight tennis. We are is a group of crazy people who love playing tennis from 9pm of Friday night to 6am Saturday morning.

My friend also have a lot of Donnay prototype racquets and you can try all day (and all night). Below are some examples of X-Dual Pro prototypes in different stiffnesses. I saw at least 3 prototypes before Donnay make it for retail.

That is great Sam, will sure let you know next time i come to Krungthep.
It's fantastic that you have access to all these prototype frames, Sportnova must have good connections ;-)

 

[BreakPoint]

Yes this is correct, there was a joint venture between Donnay and Wilson, between 1984 and 1985, the currrency rate was quite favourable at that time so production for the PS85 moved to Belgium but not for long as they had quality issues...

A year later Donnay came out with the legendary Pro Cynetic, a classic frame to compete the PS85.
(also used by the great Pete Sampras)

Those Donnay Pro Cynetics look so similar to the PS 6.0 85 that it seems as if Donnay kept the Wilson molds after their contract ended and just kept producing essentially the same racquet. :shock:

 

[BreakPoint]

May be 50-60% similar, there are some differneces in shaft width and hairpin handle size. Donnay has slightly fatter shaft and smaller hairpin handle. Let me double check by taking photo side-by-side comparison between Dual Pro and TF335.

OK, I see. Thanks.

 

[aimr75]

Those Donnay Pro Cynetics look so similar to the PS 6.0 85 that it seems as if Donnay kept the Wilson molds after their contract ended and just kept producing essentially the same racquet. :shock:

yeah pretty similar, though no pws.. looks like 4 throat grommets too

 

[suppawat]

Those Donnay Pro Cynetics look so similar to the PS 6.0 85 that it seems as if Donnay kept the Wilson molds after their contract ended and just kept producing essentially the same racquet. :shock:

Yeah, look like they are from similar mold except for PWS and string pattern (Wilson's 16x18 VS. Donnay's 16x19).

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

Based on the prototypes I played, those 16x19 and 18x19 racquets are in different head sizes (102-104). They are trying to make the X-Dual Pro One OS that some of us in this forum asked for. I don't know if they plan to do a Dual Pro in 18x19 or 16x19.

nice, i love my 102sq.in Head Ti.Carbons which are 18x19, ill keep my eyes open, how would those other frames compare to the actual X-Dual Pro? I also have 3 OS rackets, so a X-Dual Pro One OS would be amazing. If I were to get another brand it would prob be Donnay or Prince, Donnay looks similar to Head and I've always been interested in the Prince Diablo MP.

 

[suppawat]

That is great Sam, will sure let you know next time i come to Krungthep.
It's fantastic that you have access to all these prototype frames, Sportnova must have good connections ;-)

I think Donnay distribute tons of prototypes racquets to players as they want to listen feedback from all level of players. (I saw some Donnay prototype racquets available on the auction site too) The newer frames like X-P Dual were tested by several good old players as well as some local recreational players in the US and my country too. It's cool to be part of the design

 

[skeeter]

can you give more of a review on how the x-dual pro plays? I have been using the platinum 94. How would you say it compares to the platinum?

Ditto. I have a Plat 94 but liking the specs of the Dual Pro and curious how the two compare. Thanks!

 

[suppawat]

OK, I see. Thanks.

Unfortunately, my friend already sold his TF335. But I founds something a little more interesting. Check this out. I took 3 racquets out and compare them - Head PT57A, Wilson H22, and Donnay X-Dual Pro. The Dual Pro and Wilson H22 pro stock side-by-side look a like, while PT57A looks obviously different.

Here is the measurement at shaft.
Beam thickness: H22 = 22mm, X-Dual Pro = 21.5mm
Beam width: H22 = 11mm, X-Dual Pro = 11mm

At 3/9 o'clock, X-Dual Pro beam width is a tad narrower than H22's (1.0 vs. 1.1mm).

The Dual Pro beam look wider because the beam shape is boxier.

The detail where shaft meets handle is also the same.

The detail where shaft meets hoop is slightly different.

 

[AverageJoe]

Unfortunately, my friend already sold his TF335. But I founds something a little more interesting. Check this out. I took 3 racquets out and compare them - Head PT57A, Wilson H22, and Donnay X-Dual Pro. The Dual Pro and Wilson H22 pro stock side-by-side look a like, while PT57A looks obviously different.

Here is the measurement at shaft.
Beam thickness: H22 = 22mm, X-Dual Pro = 21.5mm
Beam width: H22 = 11mm, X-Dual Pro = 11mm

At 3/9 o'clock, X-Dual Pro beam width is a tad narrower than H22's (1.0 vs. 1.1mm).

The Dual Pro beam look wider because the beam shape is boxier.

The detail where shaft meets handle is also the same.

The detail where shaft meets hoop is slightly different.

Pretty interesting. How does it compare to the H22? I liked the H22 but found it a bit "hallow" feeling compared to the H19 and PT57A. Looking forward to TW getting these sticks

 

[suppawat]

Pretty interesting. How does it compare to the H22? I liked the H22 but found it a bit "hallow" feeling compared to the H19 and PT57A. Looking forward to TW getting these sticks

I like the H22 too (like it better than PT57A), but it has less feel compared to Dual Pro. I can feel the ball 70-80% with H22 while the Dual Pro gives me close to 90-100% ball feel. In addition, the Dual Pro is much more comfortable on serve and hard hitting. Stability wise, both H22 and Dual Pro have the same level of torsional stability even though there is 20g difference in strung weight. Power of X-Dual Pro is fairly low in stock form. I struggled a little bit from the baseline, but executing shots in mid-court was very effective. This reminds me of Head YT Radical MP, Dunlop Bio 300 Tour, and Wilson KBlade 98. The Dual Pro should fall in the same category.

After a 3-hour session, I think this racquet can fit to those who have all-court game, hit the ball rather flat, need extra ball feel, stability and comfort. I will try adding more lead on 3/9 or 12 and see if my baseline groundstroke is getting better.

The other area I want to also re-test is spin. The Dual Pro and current hybrid string (smooth coating) doesn't generate much spin. I remember that I hit very good spin with H22 + Solinco Tour Bite 17. I will try a few more shaped string to see if it helps.

 

[AverageJoe]

I like the H22 too (like it better than PT57A), but it has less feel compared to Dual Pro. I can feel the ball 70-80% with H22 while the Dual Pro gives me close to 90-100% ball feel. In addition, the Dual Pro is much more comfortable on serve and hard hitting. Stability wise, both H22 and Dual Pro have the same level of torsional stability even though there is 20g difference in strung weight. Power of X-Dual Pro is fairly low in stock form. I struggled a little bit from the baseline, but executing shots in mid-court was very effective. This reminds me of Head YT Radical MP, Dunlop Bio 300 Tour, and Wilson KBlade 98. The Dual Pro should fall in the same category.

After a 3-hour session, I think this racquet can fit to those who have all-court game, hit the ball rather flat, need extra ball feel, stability and comfort. I will try adding more lead on 3/9 or 12 and see if my baseline groundstroke is getting better.

The other area I want to also re-test is spin. The Dual Pro and current hybrid string (smooth coating) doesn't generate much spin. I remember that I hit very good spin with H22 + Solinco Tour Bite 17. I will try a few more shaped string to see if it helps.

Sounds like a great frame! Wonder when tw will get them

 

[roundiesee]

Wow suppawat, thanks for taking the time to post all those lovely photos!

 

[ericsson]

I just got confirmation that Mats Wilander switched to the Donnay X-Dual Gold 94.

 

[dParis]

I just got confirmation that Mats Wilander switched to the Donnay X-Dual Gold 94.

ericsson, are you still using Volkls, or have you switched to Donnay?

 

[asiank90]

In the top left corner, is that blue tour bite I see?

 

[suppawat]

In the top left corner, is that blue tour bite I see?

That one is regular tour bite. But I am testing a blue string that is shaped like Tour Bite.

 

[ericsson]

ericsson, are you still using Volkls, or have you switched to Donnay?

Hi, im still swinging the old T10's but im eager to try and test the newer Donnay's.

Problem is no test program here so i'll have to take a trip to Thailand soon ;-)

 

[TonyB]

Too bad Donnay is getting caught up in the same nonsense as every other racquet manufacturer: coming out with too many new racquets too soon and not supporting their old ones.

"Let's introduce a new frame with 'new technology' every 6 months and obsolete the old ones."

Yeah, that'll make your customers happy.

 

[Mig1NC]

I'm a big fan of 16x20 patterns.

 

[TonyB]

I'm a big fan of 16x20 patterns.

Me too. There's just something about the control and feel of that pattern.

I've only played with Yonex and Tecnifibre frames with that pattern, however. I assume the Donnays with that pattern would play more similarly to the Tecnifibres.

 

[Ten_nuts]

Hi Suppawat, and thanks for your info. and some great pictures. You know what? Isn't it funny that i went to Donnay's website and found out the X-dual Pro racquets are........................ out of stock? Do you happen to know what that means? Thanks.