Aerogel 300 - 3 weeks play

1st week: So, i had a chance to grab an old stockDunlop Aerogel 300. Last week, I added leads before stringing and felt heavy, so I took out the leads when playing doubles. The racquet at 290 grams unstrung at stock felt light. I put leather grip, add overgrip, and strung at weight at 318 grams now. The power of the racquet is at medium, I had several long and several shorts. The spin is good, can flick the racquet and ball will spin. The weight is a bit light but at the right balance. No added lead, afraid after adding lead will add power. Will seek out more flying hours before deciding that it can replace other main racquets. Serves and overheads are OK. The power and plow through are still lower than PS97.

2nd week: 2nd week of playing with this racquet, played for 4 days (2 days singles and 2 days doubles) with totals of 9 sets. Added 2-3 grams of weight at 3 and 9. I would say that the racquet is nothing special except for comfort, speed and sweetspot but that is the highlight. Forehands and backhands are good. Overheads are good. Volleys are good but not as stable as PS97 or CX200. Maneuverability is very good though due to weight and headsize. No wrist pain.

3rd week: a hitting session and game day. Add 4 grams to the racquet, now weight 324grams. In the hitting session compare with CX200T18, AG300 is like trampoline, easy power, no feel and dwell time. The next day, played 3 doubles game. Unstable when receiving heavy ball but better than before adding leads. When hitting offcenter, I can feel the shocks but unlike using PS97, no wrist pain afterward.

4th and 5th week: easy power, won singles game or lost close sets. Need to flatten the serves. Compare to CX 200 Tour, no need to swing and better maneuverability.

Hot Melt 200G Grip Customization

 So, I changed and rechanged my HM 200G racquets with leather grip. I have two, one strung and the other unstrung. 

Racquet	String	Grip	Weight (grams)	Remark
HM 200G #1	17 Prince Syngut	Leather	340	No overgrip
HM 200G #1	17 Prince Syngut	Synthetic	331	No overgrip
HM 200G #2	None	Synthetic	318
HM 200G #2	None	Leather	326

The leather grip adds 6 grams and that is a lot for this heavy racquet. The #1 racquet now with overgrip and dampener will measure at 340 grams.

Similar racquets

 So, I had several racquets that are said to be similar even though not the same generation. They are as below:

- Dunlop Hot Melt 200G (early 2000s 320grams) are similar with Head Tour 630/280 (late 90s 330grams) or Head Pro Tour 2.0 (2019) in terms of headsize (95 sq inch), string pattern (18x20), stiffness (low 60s), beam width (20mm), weight (>320 grams unstrung), headlight balance

- Dunlop Aerogel 300 (early 2010s 285grams) are similar with Wilson Pro Staff 97 (2015-2020 315grams) in terms of headsize (97 vs 98), string pattern (16x19), beam width (21.5mm), swingweight (>320s)

- Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20 (2018 315grams) are similar with Wilson Ultra Tour (2017 310grams) in terms of string pattern, low power, low stiffness

- Prince Warrior 107 (2015 300grams) are similar with Babolat Pure Aero (300 grams) in terms of power

I have not played with Head Pro Tour, Wilson Ultra Tour, or Pure Aero, but I get the ideas.

Running Soccer Shoes

 Had a look in soccer.com archives of 1999/2000 and found them, hybrid running and soccer. Did not buy them, I wish I had. I was more toward adidas but this are cool, supper comfortable for walking and kicking balls.

TW Archive Dunlop Hot Melt 200G

 

Valerian Movie

 I have now read Valerian comic series book 1-15. Hopefully, soon the complete series for book 18-21 will be available. Compare to the movie, the casting is quite far, the main actors for Valerian and Laureline looks too young. They should be in late 30s or early 40s. The depictions from the comic is great but quite far from my expectation as the comic fan. Below is the movie poster.

Dampener

 Dampener has weight: long silicon around 6 grams, small ones are 3 grams, while rubber band less are 2 grams. Need to try rubber band so it does not add weight significantly. Dampener dampens the string particularly the ping sound, it does not dampens the racquet vibration.

A racquet makes a difference

 The other day one of my regular session mate asked me, compare to how I played 6 years ago, he said "you have improved a lot". Then I said, "found the right racquet". 

So, what changed? I have to admit that ever since I use Pro Staff 97 v10 in 2017 my game changed. But the racquet has changed too. When I first started using it, still has the original grip but added two overgrips (one thick and one thin), the bevel feels very round. I remember the racquet being heavy but has good plow through, no arm/wrist pain though. In 2019, I changed both with leather grip. In 2020 with new string Prince Duraflex Syngut at 55lbs, I got wrist pain from using this racquet. I use to play with this racquet everytime especially when playing tough opponents. 

I have now opt friendlier racquet when playing, but less powerful than this one. Using this racquet, when you hit properly: proper forehand, proper backhand, proper volley, it felt good. However, when you hit on transition at the time when you need to adjust your wrist, that is when you feel it; I dont feel when using other softer frame.

The benchmark

 This is the racquet thats sets the weight benchmark: Hot Melt 200G. This racquet in stock form serves as the bench mark for hitting incoming ball in fast court. I can hit the ball nicely square with this racquet. The ball just dwell nicely in this one, you can just block fast past ball in this one. Strung it with syngut at 50lbs and still low power. Best with leather grip due to the frame low stiffness (<60lbs).