Racket Similar to Dunlop 200G 95

[Quadium]

I absolutely love my Dunlop 200G 95, but i want an upgrade, does anyone know some rackets that play like the 200g?

Here are the specs:

Technical Specifications

Length 27 inches 69 centimeters
Head Size 95 square inches 613 square centimeters
Weight 11.9 ounces 337 grams
Balance Point 12.875 inches
33 centimeters 5pts Head Light
Construction 20 mm
Straight Beam
Composition Hot Melt
Braided Graphite
with Elastomer
and Kevlar Yoke
String Pattern 18 Mains / 20 Crosses


Babolat RDC Ratings

Flex Rating 60 Range: 0-100
Swing Weight 316 Range: 200-400

 

[Alec78]

What about the new Aerogel version? That may be as close as you can get, spec-wise. Technically it's a bit stiffer than the Muscle Weave but weight and head size/shape are the same.

 

[Quadium]

which one is the new aerogel version?

 

[schu47]

You might want to give the Donnay Pro One International midplus a try. Very similar specs to the Dunlop 200s, and very similar feel, in my experience.

There is an original version, and TW has a reissue that's a nice frame, and on sale, too. Here's the link:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Donnay_Pro_One_International/descpageRCDUNLOP-DP1INT.html

 

[peli_kan]

Second the Aerogel 200 18x20...Very nice racquet. Considered a worthy upgrade from the HM 200G.

In what way is it an upgrade? What are the differences between the Hotmelt and Aerogel versions?

 

[Quadium]

yeah i'm debating whether to buy another hotmelt, or upgrade totally.

 

[peli_kan]

yeah i'm debating whether to buy another hotmelt, or upgrade totally.

I was in the same situation not long ago, where I was down to one Hotmelt and needed to either update or find another copy. The Muscleweave is still considered one of the greatest Dunlops ever, second to only the Injection Molded Frame series of which the legendary Max 200g is part of. The Hotmelt is nearly identical albeit with a stiffer upper hoop and dampened yoke. Newer versions have failed to convincingly surpass the Muscleweave, so I never felt the need to update and found another Hotmelt instead.

I like to find numbers so that I can compare flex ratings, balance points, and strung weights, but they really tell only part of the story. For example, I never would've known how the Hotmelt compared to the Muscleweave if I hadn't played them side by side extensively. There are too many things that the numbers can't reveal.

 

[Quadium]

I was in the same situation not long ago, where I was down to one Hotmelt and needed to either update or find another copy. The Muscleweave is still considered one of the greatest Dunlops ever, second to only the Injection Molded Frame series of which the legendary Max 200g is part of. The Hotmelt is nearly identical albeit with a stiffer upper hoop and dampened yoke. Newer versions have failed to convincingly surpass the Muscleweave, so I never felt the need to update and found another Hotmelt instead.

I like to find numbers so that I can compare flex ratings, balance points, and strung weights, but they really tell only part of the story. For example, I never would've known how the Hotmelt compared to the Muscleweave if I hadn't played them side by side extensively. There are too many things that the numbers can't reveal.

Yeah i looked at the muscleweave and i noted that the specs aren't similar. Which one do you prefer? Judging by your signature i would say the hotmelt.

 

[peli_kan]

The Muscleweave up to the Aerogel all share the same hole drilling, as grommets are interchangeable. I'm no authority on this series of racquets, but with my short time comparing the Hotmelt to the Aerogel (I skipped the m-fil) I found that both had a good bit of pop, though the Aerogel was a tad bit more dampened. Be warned though, the differences were small enough that they could've easily been attributed to differences in string job. I'll just say that it didn't compel me to upgrade and I didn't want to discard my Hotmelt.

I play a fine game of tennis, but more often than I'd like to admit I miss the sweetspot up high, so the Hotmelt's stiffness there pays huge dividends. More often then not, it changes my looping, sharply angled backhand into a flat crosscourt drive whenever I miss and hit it higher than I should.

 

[peli_kan]

Peli Kan, is the grip shape of the hotmelt 200 the same as the Aerogel 200??...I really liked the AG200 18x20, nice pop on serve, very stable on returns and decent spin potential for a dense string pattern. The only thing that put me off is the high sw. I like to counterpunch on my forehand, so perhaps the Hotmelt 200 would be a better offering??

The Hotmelt 200g plays lighter than the Aerogel. Back when the Hotmelt was introduced, it drew praise similar to what the Aerogel 100 has garnered as a maneuverable, flexy/stiff in all the right places player's frame. As far as which racquet would suit you, I don't know. I can't figure out how the differences in stiffness and swingweight would fit into your game.

If it matters, the Hotmelt 200g is becoming scarce and is priced well above both M-fil and Aerogel versions.