Dunlop 300 series today's alternatives

 Comparison of classic Dunlop 300 series and today's alternatives:

*) conclusion: although similar specs (98 sq-inch, 16x19, 295-300 grams), todays racquet are stiffer and heavier

	M-Fil 300*	AG 300*	Bio M3.0	Graph Rad MP	CX 200	Touch Rad MP	360 Rad MP	AG 4D 300	Bio 300
Year	2006	2008	2012	2016	2021	2018	2021	2010	2011
Headsize (sq-inch)	98	98	98	98	98	98	98	98	98
Strung weight (grams)	309	309	312	317	323	312	318	309	309
String pattern	16x19	16x19	16x19	16x19	16x19	16x19	16x19	16x19	16x19
Stiffness RA	61	61	66	64	64	65	65	60	66
Swingweight (grams)	317	316	318	316	317	323	326	320	308
Balance (cm/HL)	3 HL	4 HL	2 HL	33/ 4 HL	32.5/ 6 HL	33/ 4 HL	33/ 4 HL	3 HL	2 HL
Beam width (mm)	21.5	21.5	22	20.5/ 23.5/ 21.5	21.5	20/ 23/ 21	20/ 23/ 21	21	21

MFil 300 2nd tries

 Restrung the Mfil3 with old stock tecnifibre syngut at 52lbs with total weight of 320grams with leather grip and overgrip. No dampener needed with this one. Compare to AG3 (did not play during the session), this racquet is heftier. I used MF3 for the 1st and 2nd sets and used the F3T for the 3rd set, the F3T was way light and less control and heft resulting in a subpar performance. Overall for the MF3, easy volley-forehand-backhand-overhead-serves. This now reminds me of PS97 but in a slightly lighter and softer package. Need to try this on outdoor court and maybe singles.

I have added 3grams on F3T on 3 and 9 and will see how it next compares.

Racquet balances data

Below is the measure I took:

*based strung with synth grip; the formula for HL is that 343mm as center and 3.175mm per point

Racquet	Balance (mm)	Points HL
PS97 338gr (leather grip)	315	8.8 HL
200G 346gr (leather grip)	322	6.6 HL
Rad OS 311gr (overgrip)	334	2.8 HL
Six One Team 305gr	342	0.3 HL
Bio F3.0T 329gr (overgrip)	325	5.6 HL
CX 200T 339gr 18x20 (3g lead, leather grip and overgrip)	320	7.2 HL
CX 200T 339gr 16x19 (3g lead, leather grip and overgrip)	320	7.2 HL
AG300 319gr (3g lead, overgrip)	338	1.5  HL
AG300 295gr (unstrung)	330	4 HL
MFil300 301gr (unstrung, leather grip and overgrip)	330	4 HL
MFil300 321gr (leather grip and overgrip)	335	2.5 HL

M Fil 300 1st and 2nd tries

 Strung it with unknown string at 52lbs felt OK in the 1st tries but at the 2nd tries, it felt very bouncy and will restring. The MFil is head heavier compare to AG300. I change the grip to leather to add weight in the handle and it swung more balance. It was 321 grams strung and 301 grams unstrung, the string was heavy. Frame construction wise, MFil got thicker throat bridge compare to AG300. MFil feels head heavier thus seems swung heavier with slightly better plow through or easy to swing late.

Dunlop 300: MFil vs AG

 Just got myself a used C conditioned MFil 300. The difference to AG 300 is that the throat bridge of MFil are wider, AG300 throat bridge is thinner like Prince design. On spec, they are the same; MFil is a point heavier. Below is TW short description of AG 300. The current weight for the MFil is 318 grams while the AG is 316 grams.

Bio F3T and AG3hundred

 Played three long sets on Friday; the first 2 sets played against higher rank player with heavy shots with Bio F3T: shanks on hard serve and hard forehand slices. Bio F3T have more plow through than AG300. The AG300 is good for pushing slow incoming ball while heavier balls need heavier racquet and BF3T is at the edge; PS97, CX200T are better for heavy balls. BF3T needs that heavy incoming ball to shine though much like PS97 and CX200T. AG300 is also good for hitting out but due to tinny feel needs to strike right in the middle like Tommy Haas with AG300 painted 95 sq inch 18x20 pro stock.

Dunlop 300 line

The Dunlop 300 line starts from Hotmelt 300G, M-fil 300, Aerogel 3hundred, AG 4D 3hundred, Biomimetic 300, Bio M 3.0, and now the specs is similar to CX 200 LS. The 21.5 mm beam, mid 310g swing weight, 98 sq inch head, and 290g static weight. The RA starts low, goes up, and now to modern soft in mid 60s.

PS97 v10, 11, 12, CV, 13

 Not much different other than materials and addition/removal of countervail; I might like this CV but might not considering v10 with multi was hard to control.

PS97 (leather grip, Gasquet overgrip)

 After taking the leather grip off from my PS97. I put it back again, I just couldnt find the groove on the PS97 with synth grip, the balance and grip size seems off. So, I put it back again so that it can look good and better in storage; synth grip deteriorates overtime. It has Prince SGD strings and started to fray, rather than cut them, see if I can play to break. With leather grip that adds weight, can only put one overgrip on it. To contained the shocks and vibration of leather grip, I wrapped the overgrip layered like Gasquet, works well on the CX tour. 

So, I brought to practice yesterday, along with F30T. For warm up, I play with the PS97. It feels OK, string was a bit stiff, but control and spin was good, just feels right; stable, control, spin, and comfort. Switched to F30T and could not control it better, so switched back to PS97.

In the end, won both doubles games and a single game with PS97. Played outdoor, ball not as fast as in indoor. I see, it feels like playing with CX 200 Tour. Next is to wait for PS97v13 but still way overprice now.

 

Bio F3.0T 2nd review

 I had 2 doubles sets playing with Bio F3.0T. In comparison with my regular AG300 was that BF30T because of its thick beam, cant get a topspin backhand; I shanked them. With BF30T, the serves had more power, groundstrokes more power and plush (less spin prob due to string pattern and string selection), volleys were plusher, slices were OK, and overhead were OK. The weight is just right, not light or heavy and at 308g unstrung, no need for lead tape or other customization, just rubber dampener for that ping sound. This is one of those racquet that I be comfortable just bring it to the court. My pinky was still sore but not as bad. 

Syn gut stiffness

 About last year, I experienced sore wrist unlike ever before on the same racquet (Pro Staff 97) but with a different string. I had a really bad wrist pain before but it was from using a light but stiff racquet (Six One Lite). On the PS97, I previously strung it with Prince Topspin, then Babolat multi, and the latest with Prince SG Duraflex. I never had any problem using syngut before (mostly Wilson or Babolat SG). The Prince SGD was thought to be the best, but after reading the TW string comparison, PSGD rates high for stiffness (188 compare to Babolat at 162). Touching by hand, PGSD feels stiff compare to Gamma or Babolat which are strung on my other racquet. PGSD due quite durable, the one in the PS97 had frayed but still unbroken.

Dunlop Biomimetic F3.0 Tour (1st tries)

 Have been using my new or mint Dunlop Biomimetic F3.0 Tour over several practice hours. The string was vintage Gamma syntgut 17g at 52; the string is smooth at first. The first hitting session were not good, did not connect at all, the backhand was terrible; ball landed on net.

The second time was on game practice, brought also a CX 200 Tour 18x20. Practice game with it and the serves were good, forehand still trying to figure it out (not hugging the ball like AG300), the power was there, volley was OK, backhand drive is still struggling but the control and comfort was OK. Add 1.5grams on 3 and 9. I dont like the porsche-cadillac analogy below, cadillac seems slow and powerless; the author must meant powerful but comfortable.

Note: edited this blog and bold the author comment on modern grip; no wonder, played better with AG version

From tennis.com:

According to Bruce Levine, Racquet Advisor for Tennis Magazine, the F3.0, compared to last year’s Biomimetic 300 Tour, is “clearly a different racquet. Due to its wider head size and throat, the F3.0 felt much more stable than older generations, and played comfortably all over the court without negative vibrations. To take an analogy: It looks and smells like a Porsche. But when you drive it, it has a lot of the characteristics of a Cadillac.” Several of our 4.0 and 4.5 playtesters agreed, claiming that, on groundstrokes as well as volleys, the racquet struck a nice balance between power, maneuverability, and plowthrough. Although baseline grinders might find the racquet’s spin potential lacking due to the closed string pattern—and old-school players may miss the heftier, more traditional feel of the 300 Tour—all-courters with modern grips should profit from the 3.0’s ample, control-oriented pop.

CX 200 Tour 18x20 versions update

 In 2021, Dunlop released update to CX 200 Tour 18x20 with new color (red black) instead of (black red). The newer version, 3rd iteration got lower score with overall less plow through feedback from TW testers.

Racket review: Aerogel 300, Radical OS, CX 200 Tour 18x20

In my playing session, I always bought 2 racquets because I mostly using backpack, at max 2 racquet. Last friday on indoor court, I brought Radical OS and Aerogel 300. After several games using RadOS, I changed to Aerogel 300. Radical OS is not a doubles racquet, really hard to control the volleys. 

On Sunday on outdoor court, I brought the RadOS and CX 200 Tour 18x20. Also starts with RadOS but the volleys were not as confident, so changed to CX Tour. The CX Tour got new lead setup is at 10 and 2 with total of 3 grams. At 12, the lead seems stiffen the racquet. After 2 games, the racquet was stable and comfortable, no pinky pain. The spin was there but not much, the string was moving a lot even though I am using syngut 17g.

Fake equipment

 Been buying equipment online, though read about fake equipment, you never expect until you experienced one. Bought a head liquidmetal, turns out a fake: the paint finish was not good especially on the liquidmetal corner, the condition was also bad, normal but heavy usage. Next was string, the packaging was awful, the print out and paper was different, no gauge size, and the no brand and type printed out on the string. Turns out, previously I bought old prince strings that may as well fake too. Beware of fake equipments especialy string because it may cost little but unusable.

Racquet head shape

 Here are the pictures of head shape taken from TW site. They are pretty accurate as I have them. Six One Team (SOT) looks bigger than PS97 but the SOT beam is thicker. Aerogel 300 is very polarized.

They are in sq inch: MW 200G (95), Six One Team (95), PS97 (97), AG 300 (98), Bio F3.0 Tour (98), Tour 100L (100), Warrior 107 (107), Radical OS (107).

Fed Backhand Volley

 Just noticed from watching online video of Fed practicing volley, Fed preparation for backhand volley is high and the swing is long. The result must be full of spin. From the picture: the ball was dipping but Fed takeback was still from high position.

Racquet Balance: polarization and stiffness

Racquet customization will impact with racquet polar, making it polarized or depolarized. In my short experience, a polarized racquet may benefit lead at 3 and 9 making it slight depolarized for more stability, for example on Aerogel 300 with 3grams total at 3&9. A depolarized racquet with wide body and low power such as CX 200 Tour may benefit with lead at 12 for polarized effect. The 6.1 BLX team added at 10 and 2 because has that elongated but flatten top corner. 

In addition, adding lead at 12 can feel like it stiffen the racquet by making it more powerful and plow through. The addition of lead at the top made it the upper hoop to bend less and might send the shock to the handle. 

 

Racquet finder (con't)

I am going to continue the post, I wrote about my racquet line up. The last time was on Prince Tour 100L. 

In 2018, I bought another Pro Staff 97 v10 as a backup for the first PS97. This racquet is now been sold at 2/3 of its purchase price. As mentioned in the previous blog, I had wrist pain from using this racquet and moved on to other arm-friendlier racquet.

In 2019, I bought a brand new old stock Head Youtek Radical OS at a bargain (half off from $189). I put a leather grip on it but kind of made it too big with overgrip and hurt my thumb. As of now, I put back a synthetic grip and played better. The grip was Head traditional rectangular grip so a leather grip made it one size up. With a tight string pattern (18x19), the strokes are flat, swing easy, good power. Currently with technifibre syngut 16g.

In early 2020, I was then browsing online and found a used Prince Textreme Warrior 107. New Prince racquet is rare in Indonesia, so at about half off a new one ($80), I bought it. The racquet is great at slicing but still not be able to maintain the power, may need spin a friendly string. It does not need dampener because already muted from the big headsize and thick frame. 

After several weeks not playing due to the pandemic, I found that the Pro Staff 97 gives me wrist pain. I actually felt it for a long time, I sometimes wear wristband day after playing with it which I thought was normal. But then, I read tennisnerd where he mentioned about the stiffness of PS97, it had me thinking to try others, especially player's racquet.

I remember a friend was selling Wilson Ultra Tour, I regretted not buying it because having fun with PS97. He mentioned that the UT was very low powered. But, then he told me that he is trying to sell Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20. Then, I read about it and was interested but at the same time I found online, someone selling the 16x19 version. So, I bought the 16x19 version at secondhand price around $80, the racquet is like new and clean. The 18x20 comes with some knicks and scratch but overall good. These racquet plays similar but very lighthead that it needs lead, most of the shots landed short and a bit unstable on stock. My current setup for both are around 3-4 grams of lead at 12 o'clock.

After that Dunlop, starting reading and found a seller selling brand new old Dunlop racquets. First, I bought the Hot Melt 200G, for around $15, which is heavy and low powered. It is so soft that it needs leather grip. The price was bargain, so I bought another one (might sell the unstrung one). 

Then, I bought another Dunlop, Aerogel 300, for around $50, just for trying but turns out, it is my go to racquet now. With current setup 3 grams on 3-9, synth grip, rubber dampener, and spin friendly string, the power and balance are just right, not too light or heavy. I have another one for spare. The tinny feel is there and with leather grip, it send shocks to my pinky. 

Bought a Prince Blade 107, for $25, might be an asian version of Precision Lite 107, in purple. Lend this to a friend for use.

I just myself another Dunlop, Biomimetic F3.0 Tour which have not strung and will see how it goes.

[to be continue]

PS97 and Radical OS setup

 For the last two tennis sessions, I brought my Wilson PS97 v10 (synth grip + 2 over grip) and Head IG YT Radical OS (synth grip + 1 over grip). In the first session, we were using weeks old balls, so the control from the ball was hard, using the PS97 works better. But in the second session, we were using new balls. Dont know whether my swing speed was off or the string has softened up, I just cant find any power or control from PS97 on the new balls. So, I switched to Rad OS which has bigger head size but tighter string in the center. Voila, the power and control was better, and I can swing more confidently. Summary: Rad OS with synthetic grip and overgrip feels good. Reminds me of Dunlop Aerogel 300 of its power and easy swing.