Secrets of the Dunlop Max 200G

Avles

Hall of Fame
I found one of these at the thrift store today, and picked it up for a princely $2. The strings are broken, but the hoop looks pretty pristine (and surprisingly the grip does too-- it's black leather with "Dunlop" stamped on it in gold).

Neat to stumble on a racquet with such an illustrious history-- at some point I'll definitely get it restrung and take it for a spin.
 
I use mine for hitting against the wall.... it's the only racket that makes me feel like I have a chance against it!

...but seriously it helps me concentrate on preparation and footwork like nothing else. There are sidespin backhands that I simply cannot hit with any other racket.
 

EL_Bombadero

New User
I have a max 200G original version only with graphite on it.
On one side there is a sticker with "medium6".
what does that mean? is there anything special about this?
 

Hannah19

Professional
okay, thx so far...
are you sure that 6 means the gripsize?
it doesn't feel that thick...

For some reason the older large grip sizes feel a bit smaller in comparison to the modern rackets.
Maybe it's because in the old days grip size went all the way up to 4 7/8.
Nowadays it stops at 4 5/8. Maybe they cheat a bit and make modern grip sizes a bit bigger so large handed fellows can still hold them comfortably??
Or it's the shape that differs and feels different?
I have a 4 1/2 Fox ATP (Bosworht) with a square shaped grip that feels small compared to a more rectangular modern grip.
 

paoloraz

New User
For some reason the older large grip sizes feel a bit smaller in comparison to the modern rackets.
Maybe it's because in the old days grip size went all the way up to 4 7/8.
Nowadays it stops at 4 5/8. Maybe they cheat a bit and make modern grip sizes a bit bigger so large handed fellows can still hold them comfortably??
Or it's the shape that differs and feels different?
I have a 4 1/2 Fox ATP (Bosworht) with a square shaped grip that feels small compared to a more rectangular modern grip.

I've noticed the same... for instance, it is ridiculous how the size 3 (4 3/8) of the 200g (or of the wood Maxply) is small, even when new... but I think it has to do with:
(i) the buttcap: old buttcaps were in general smaller, and this may give the idea of a small size when handling the racquet.
(ii) the fact that the size is measured on the frame, that is, without the grip wrapped on it. And modern synt grips are in general thicker than old leather grips I think...the latter feel thinner in a sense...
(iii) Leather grips (and especially those fitted on the 200g) tend to reduce their thickness when used...and this reduces the gripsize if they are not replaced...

I would guess that a gripsize 5 (4 5/8) of the 200g fits on the hand like a modern 4 (4 1/2), of course without overgrip...
 

BlueB

Legend
I have a very minty one! It hits very nice - lots of power and stabillity, very soft feeling to it, plenty HL. I like the POG 90 just a tad more...
Mine is 12.8oz.
 

ramos77

Semi-Pro
I weighed my 200G and it came in at 365 grams!

I played with this racquet when I was 14! How did I manage to swing it?
 
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Hannah19

Professional
I weighed my 200G and it came in at 365 grams!

I played with this racquet when I was 14! How did I manage to swing it?

Simple, let the racket do the work.
It's much harder to swing and put mass behind ultra light rackets, imho...
 

Hannah19

Professional
Can someone of you tell me the value of a first generation dunlop max 200g in 9.5/10 condition? I have to sell mine =(

In the current market I would say around U$100.00 to U$125.00 if the graphics are clear, the head not warped and including the original cover.
 

paoloraz

New User
Simple, let the racket do the work.
It's much harder to swing and put mass behind ultra light rackets, imho...

I totally agree. Thats the way.
This eve I practiced using a wooden dunlop maxply fort.
Of course, using the maxply means that you are forced to to the "right things" (early preparation and good footwork), you cannot swing the head around or use only the whrist to produce head speed...the racquet has some inertia and you cannot do "strange things" with the racquet...only the classic long, rithmic "old swing" is effective...but the reward of good timing is to hit really powerful, heavy and "satisfying" shots, characterised by the orgasmic "pafffff" sound...
In addition, the 18x20 stringbed in 68 inches allows you to find impossible angles...Of course, using a Maxply in a competitive match is a different story...if you are not perfect, the ball will always fall short.

The 200g posseses many of these charateristics, but it is still a graphite midsize racquet... it stands in between old woodies and today racquets. I would say it plays like a modern...classic!! :)
 
Evidently it was not possible to comprehend the physical apperance of this frame. It looks as a blacksmith spent a week annealing graphite in to something one can go to war with.

Is it ok to put a two piece stingjob on this racket?
 

Tamiya

Semi-Pro
Evidently it was not possible to comprehend the physical apperance of this frame. It looks as a blacksmith spent a week annealing graphite in to something one can go to war with.

Is it ok to put a two piece stingjob on this racket?

i wouldn't bother, can't feel much difference whatever string is in it already

t'is the dreaded black stick forged in the depths of Birmingham,
its ominous presence foreboding to anybody on the other side of the net

the only way to make them look any more evil is to use all-BLACK string :twisted:

looks real stealth too :)
 

Hannah19

Professional
i wouldn't bother, can't feel much difference whatever string is in it already

t'is the dreaded black stick forged in the depths of Birmingham,
its ominous presence foreboding to anybody on the other side of the net

the only way to make them look any more evil is to use all-BLACK string :twisted:

looks real stealth too :)

I've stripped down a few to the bare graphite, spray painted them with heat resistant black paint ( matt finish) and strung it with an old all black graphite string.
Awesome....
 

joe sch

Legend
I've noticed the same... for instance, it is ridiculous how the size 3 (4 3/8) of the 200g (or of the wood Maxply) is small, even when new... but I think it has to do with:
(i) the buttcap: old buttcaps were in general smaller, and this may give the idea of a small size when handling the racquet.
(ii) the fact that the size is measured on the frame, that is, without the grip wrapped on it. And modern synt grips are in general thicker than old leather grips I think...the latter feel thinner in a sense...
(iii) Leather grips (and especially those fitted on the 200g) tend to reduce their thickness when used...and this reduces the gripsize if they are not replaced...

I would guess that a gripsize 5 (4 5/8) of the 200g fits on the hand like a modern 4 (4 1/2), of course without overgrip...

I think the main answer is the butts since many older rackets like the 200g did not have much flare out to the butt cap so the grip feels smaller especially to players use to gripping the buttcap held in the hand grip.
 

Tamiya

Semi-Pro
I've stripped down a few to the bare graphite, spray painted them with heat resistant black paint ( matt finish) and strung it with an old all black graphite string.
Awesome....

let me save you some work

just buff with rubbing alcohol or car cutting compound polish
and all the green gold graphics disappears anyway :twisted:
leaving you with flat black or that dark flecky green

Can blow over with rattle can enamel but looks good enough without
 

Hannah19

Professional
let me save you some work

just buff with rubbing alcohol or car cutting compound polish
and all the green gold graphics disappears anyway :twisted:
leaving you with flat black or that dark flecky green

Can blow over with rattle can enamel but looks good enough without

I tried that too but stripping it with chemical paint remover works fast and thorough. The bare graphite on the IMF does not have the braiding and good looks of a standard racket so the spray paint makes it nice and even.
 

Chuck Savage

New User
Virginia

After nearly 28 +- years I still play with this old girl and will not part with her.

I would like to think I have all the versions, but the latter versions were slightly lighter and stiffer.

The models I use are the earlier versions and they play like...well like many have described...only those that have used this stick have never played with anything like it.
 
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I'm in the market for one. For the ultimate 200G experience, is the 1982 version (2 green stripes, round holes, gold Dunlops over black grip) the one to get? Basically the earlier version the better? Thanks!
 

Tamiya

Semi-Pro
I don't think it matters much, they all feel the same to me... Just find
one in best condition least amt of (ab)use available and minimal warp.
 
I just received mine from the bay. Everything looks good except there is an annoying rattle inside the frame. Looks like a loose piece of graphite is trapped inside. How do I get it out? Thanks!
 
Good luck! Afaik there's no user-accessible cavities other than
whats occluded by the grommets & buttcap.

How do you remove the throat grommets because the curved throat shafts are blocking the pathways of the ones on the far left and far right when you try to pull them out straight? You can't bend the grommets without doing some damage.

Is the frame completely sealed off from the handle so you can't remove the buttcap and shake the debris out?
 
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Tamiya

Semi-Pro
think they're like plugs, nail shaped

yeah afaik it's all sealed off, there's internal cavities like a bamboo stem
but nothing that should be able to let debris in

where's the rattling?
 

MAX PLY

Hall of Fame
Interesting, I cannot ever remember a rattle with any of the dozens of 200gs that I owned over the years but I also don't recall the gromments difficult to remove---you may want to heat them a bit with a hair dryer to make the softer for ease of removal--that also should reduce any potential damage to them so you can reinsert them. I suggest trying to isolate where the rattle is coming from and only remove the grommet near that area---there are aspects of that frame that are somewhat closed but also other areas that are open.

I will take a look at some of my existing 200gs and see if I can figure out an alternative. Good luck.
 

Chuck Savage

New User
photos
 

yonexRx32

Professional
I just received mine from the bay. Everything looks good except there is an annoying rattle inside the frame. Looks like a loose piece of graphite is trapped inside. How do I get it out? Thanks!

It can happen. It may not be a piece of graphite but rather a piece of metal left over from the manufacturing process (lost core injection molding). It may also be a piece of a broken grommet, if the grommets are not all original. Either way it will be difficult to get out. The only access points are the holes with grommets. The throat grommets are the easiest to remove without damaging them. You can try to use that access. You can also try to remove the other grommets, on the side of the head , six in total. Those are more difficult to remove because they were likely deformed by the strings and will end up damaged in the process. Try MAX PLY's approach.
 
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max_brat

Rookie
I am having my Max 200G restrung, and is there a special way my stringer must do it? I've seen him do other vintage racquets like T2000s and Prince Woodies, but a Max 200G is a different animal, so is there a special way it must be restrung?
 

Chuck Savage

New User
I am having my Max 200G restrung, and is there a special way my stringer must do it? I've seen him do other vintage racquets like T2000s and Prince Woodies, but a Max 200G is a different animal, so is there a special way it must be restrung?

Yes there is a stringing pattern I have seen one somewhere on the comments forum. If you give me a e-mail address, I can send you a photo of the stringing pattern.

Dunlop did recommend the sticking to the stringing pattern.
 
Max 200G Demonstration - Rare?

I have 6 various Max200g's, but never seen one of these before, presumably just a demo model...are they rare?

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105sfpj.jpg

r0xkr9.jpg

whfl06.jpg


Remember folks.....anything other than 55lbs "you cannot be serious"

Rgds
Jim
 

Manu Anand

New User
I bought a couple of Max 200G's off TW to supplement my PS85 and PS88 line. The intention was to play with Max 200G when I was feeling tired hitting with prostaff family. However I got hooked to this beautiful racket and have been using it everyday for last 3 weeks. The funny part is that I strung it with the cheapest string I could find - Gosen Sheep 16G but this racket still plays like a champ.

The most obvious change is returning previously un-returnable serves and slices. The serve took some getting use to but I'm able to hit a sweet down the T serve from Deuce side and a wide serve from Ad side. I'm still working at generating topspin on both backhand and forehand.

It is becoming hard to get back to my beloved PS line. These two iconic rackets are just too different.
 

max

Legend
Yeah, I found the max200g is not really string-dependent; the frame construction is what really creates the "feel" here.
 

yonexRx32

Professional
Great frames that can tolerate all strings and still play outstanding. The natty gut setup on these rackets must be experienced.

I use natural gut in the mains and synthetic gut in the crosses. The beauty of these rackets is that you can use natural gut from India (which they describe as 16G but is more like 15G). Those strings would not fit the grommets of modern rackets but fit the max 200g and are cheap. Quality may differ though. With the right strings, you may experience Nirvana.

Note: Judging by the picture your stringing is not according to the original.. I belive they used an 'old school' pattern (the leftmost and rightmost mains not parallel to the others). At least that's how i bought a couple of them and how I string mine.
 
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joe sch

Legend
I use natural gut in the mains and synthetic gut in the crosses. The beauty of these rackets is that you can use natural gut from India (which they describe as 16G but is more like 15G). Those strings would not fit the grommets of modern rackets but fit the max 200g and are cheap. Quality may differ though. With the right strings, you may experience Nirvana.

Note: Judging by the picture your stringing is not according to the original.. I belive they used an 'old school' pattern (the leftmost and rightmost mains not parallel to the others). At least that's how i bought a couple of them and how I string mine.

Agree, its nice that these magical rackets play like woods and allow thick guage gut like 14/15G. Regarding the outside mains not parallel to the others, it really makes no difference to playability, and looks nice since gives the racket even more of a vintage look.
 

joe sch

Legend
Great frames that can tolerate all strings and still play outstanding. The natty gut setup on these rackets must be experienced.
dunlopmax200g4a.jpg

Im surprised there are not more collectors and players that seek out the other max 200g versions, since they all play great. Im surprised since the head pc600 players all know that finding a prestige classic pro (earlier brown or white) model play just as superb, and many will seek out and pay a premium as they are much more scarce.
 

MT Dunlop

New User
I totally agree. Thats the way.
This eve I practiced using a wooden dunlop maxply fort.
Of course, using the maxply means that you are forced to to the "right things" (early preparation and good footwork), you cannot swing the head around or use only the whrist to produce head speed...the racquet has some inertia and you cannot do "strange things" with the racquet...only the classic long, rithmic "old swing" is effective...but the reward of good timing is to hit really powerful, heavy and "satisfying" shots, characterised by the orgasmic "pafffff" sound...
In addition, the 18x20 stringbed in 68 inches allows you to find impossible angles...Of course, using a Maxply in a competitive match is a different story...if you are not perfect, the ball will always fall short.

The 200g posseses many of these charateristics, but it is still a graphite midsize racquet... it stands in between old woodies and today racquets. I would say it plays like a modern...classic!! :)
This is exact what I love with my Max 150g and Max 200g this diffrent feel comparised with newer racquets. Sometimes I even take out my wooden Dunlop for a play and it feels fantastic. You really need to swing correctly and the footwork is so important, but if you get all in place its a real pleasure.
 
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