THE NEW AEROGEL 4D 500 TOUR

This in my opinion is the best hitting frame in the line. It has the weight of a "player's racquet" at 11.1 oz, but has the power of a "tweener" racquet. This is truly a racquet for the masses, comfortable in a nationally ranked player's hand as well as an intermediate 3.7 player's hand.

Cosmetics are striking with mainly black and yellow accent coloration. Sharp cosmetics go hand in hand with the way the racquet hits--crisp and clean!

The string pattern is open (16 mains, by 18 crosses) on a 100 si mid-size stringbed.

If you like the Babolat Pure Drive, you will like this one!

The racquet retails online and in stores for $179.00 and comes with a full racquet cover.

Check this one out. Take it out for a spin!

Tommy Robredo serving with the new Aerogel 4D 300

Tommy Robredo

Tommy Haas

Refer to my earlier posts regarding 4D (4 directional braiding) technology. This racquet is built on the popular 300 rectangular, box beam mold with classic flex and feel. It is the perfect weight and balance for many players from 3.5 through touring pro. A 3.5 player would probably struggle a little with this frame, but one that was on the fast track to improvement would definitely be able to handle it.

I don’t think most people will be surprised to know that few if any touring pros (from any brand) have their racquets customized from the grip to the weight and balance. Every player has their specific specs, which helps provide them with a more consistent feel in the event that they might have to switch in the middle of a match. String tension and combinations (hybrids) are formulated as well in order to balance playability and durability.

The NEW 4D 3HUNDRED, is an improvement over the Aerogel model which was introduced in 2007. The 4 directional braiding provides a more solid yet comfortable feel. The updated cosmetics make it stand out both on the shelf and in your hand on the court. The cosmetics are driven by a primarily red pallet with black and white accents—eye popping!

As far as the hit, judge for yourself, but I think you will find if you liked the Aerogel 300, the M-Fil 300 or the 300 G, it will not take you long to get used to this frame. It’s solid, has a decent amount of power, yet enough control that if you have a quick swing speed or a loopy backswing, you will feel at home.

I was recently at a tournament and saw several players sporting both the Aerogel models as well as the new 4D model of this racquet. So, it seems that tournament players are finding themselves drawn to this racquet by Dunlop.

Again, I strongly suggest you go to your local club or tennis shop and demo this racquet if you are at all considering a new racquet. Prices are very reasonable with retail prices at about $179 unstrung (some shops string for free). With racquets from other manufacturers topping out at $279, it makes financial sense to give this Dunlop frame a try. Heck, you can almost get 2 for the price of one from one of those other companies. That’s fiscal responsibility in tough economic times.

For more information on the Dunlop line and for the 4D 3Hundred, try going to their website: http://www.dunlopsport.com.

NEW FROM DUNLOP!

AEROGEL 4-D 3HUNDRED TOUR

This is the weapon of choice for James Blake, current #17 in the world. James has been playing with Dunlop racquets since he was in the juniors, except a short stint with Prince, where he couldn’t seem to settle in on a racquet that suited his game. He came back and has not only climbed the rankings since then but has been a consistent performer on the ATP Tour.


The NEW 4D 3Hundred Tour is a new model for Dunlop, based on the actual tour model Blake plays with.


The new 3Hundred Tour sports sharp cosmetics (black with red and white accents). This racquet is slightly lighter than the 4D 2Hundred reviewed earlier. It too has a more dense string pattern with 18 mains and 20 crosses. Weight is definitely for a 4.5 and above player with a fast swing speed. If you can’t “hit out” this is probably not the racquet for your game. It is very solid and has a clean feel. While the sweet spot is very good, the racquet feels a ton better if you are consistently making centered hits. I’d say if you can hit 80 mph or better on your serve, you might want to give this a try.

It’s the new hot racquet from Dunlop and sure to be successful with tournament players, college players and pros. Give it a try.

Take it for a Test Drive!

It’s always a good idea to try before you buy. It’s a good way to escape from a $200 mistake. A good rule of thumb—try it 2-3 times. If you still like it, it’s probably right for you. Remember, there is no magic racquet—most of how you play is in your head. I always feel like I play better with a new racquet. I feel that it’s the second or third time that makes the decision for me.

Here are a few links to online pro shops that have demo programs. Check them out and get back to me with comments. These are all very reputable shops with stringers and pros that know the game, know the technology and can provide you with a wealth of information. Be aware that there may be a fee to demo a racquet, especially if you plan to take the racquet out of the facility to test drive it.

Michael Lynne’s Tennis Shop—St. Louis Park, MN:

http://www.mltennis.com

Tennis Connection—Grand Rapids, MI and Kalamazoo, MI: http://www.tennisconnectionshop.com

Club-Net—Libertyville, Lincolnshire, IL and Racine, and 2 locations in Kenosha, WI: http://www.club-net.com

Chuck and Mike’s Tennis Shop—Louisville, KY: http://www.chuckandmikestennis.com

Midwest Sports Outlet—Cincinnati, OH: http://www.midwestsports.com

I have connections all over the US. If you are in an area not covered by these contacts, please let me know and I will refer you to someone in your area. I will personally vouch for all of the retailers above.

Watch for more reviews on the other tennis racquets from the Dunlop line.

AEROGEL 4-D 2HUNDRED

4-D The Next Generation of Tennis Technology from Dunlop Sports

As mentioned in my earlier post, 4-D technology improves strength as well as providing a softer feel. The new Aerogel 4-D 2Hundred has been redesigned with improved technology, but upgraded cosmetics as well. Used on the ATP Tour by Tomas Berdych (currently ranked #22), with the exception of the Aerogel 1Hundred, this has the thinnest beam width of any of the racquets in the line. That translates into great feel and great control. The string pattern is a fairly dense 18 main strings and 20 cross strings, which provides a very solid string bed and is great for string breakers. (Because of the more dense string pattern there is less movement of the strings during impact, which reduced string-on-string friction.) Check out his website at http://www.tomas-berdych.com/.

The Aerogel 4-D 2Hundred is a high performance racquet, meant for a NTRP 4.5 or higher. The reason for this is that due to the specs of the racquet, a player needs a relatively fast swing speed in order to generate spin and depth. Keeping the tennis ball deep is key—short balls invite your opponent to the net and allow them to hit angles and make you run more.

Regardless, it’s worth a hit no matter what level of player you are just to see what the pros hit with. This racquet is the closest of the rack frame to what the pros are using on tour. They of course all have their personal racquets customized for their swing speed and game style, but the raw frame is essentially the same.

The Proof's in the Pudding!

Try before you buy!

The real way to experience 4-D and how a racquet fits your game is to take it for a road test. Try getting a demo at your local club or tennis shop. Many shops have demo programs where they will let you try the racquet out for free or for a small refundable fee (usually refundable if you purchase your new tennis racquet form them). Makes sense though, they want you to try racquets out before trying!

Once out on the court, start with short shots and work your way back to the baseline (just like the pros and top players do). Once you are warmed up, give it a whirl and see how the racquet performs. Make sure not to forget to hit some volleys, overheads and serves. Take some notes on a piece of paper or a card and note what you liked and what you didn’t like. If you want a lighter racquet, go in with that information in hand. If you want more power, note that as well. Where did the racquet perform the best, at the net or from the baseline? Any information you can provide to the shop or your pro will help them in suggesting what racquet to try next. It’s usually best to take 2 racquets out for a demo. I have found that if you take more than 2, you will either never give the racquet a fair try or they will all start to blend together and you will not have a clear sense of the individual characteristics of each racquet.

In my following posts I will list several very reputable tennis shops where you can go to test out racquets. These shops have knowledgeable staff—usually very good players themselves, have very fair pricing, and have excellent customer service. If you are in an area not covered by these referrals, drop me a note in comments and I will access my database of shops and refer you to a good shop in your area. Typically though, it’s best to go to your local club pro, as they are more likely to be familiar with your game and at least can suggest a starting point.

The 4th Dimension

This is an unofficial blog dedicated to one of the most storied brands in tennis. This is my first of many posts, reviewing the line and what makes it great.

Dunlop's new technology, which has been added to the already successful Aerogel technology is 4-D, short for 4 directional braiding. Instead of laying up 4 thicknesses of graphite fabric at 11 degree increments, Dunlop uses one thickness of fabric and weaves it in 4 directions, achieving the same strengthening effects of 4 layers in one. This technology not only provides increased strength but because it is only one thickness, as opposed to four, the racquet plays softer as well.

Without 4-D there is increased deflection at impact.

This can cause a decrease in control and increase in vibration.

With 4-D there is less deflection at impact, improving control.

4-D Technology is employed in Dunlop's newest additions to the Aerogel line:

2Hundred 4D

3Hundred Tour 4D

3Hundred 4D

5Hundred tour 4D

5Hundred 4D

5Fifty Lite 4D

Superlite 4D

7Hundred 4D

Current tour pros and their weapon of choice:

• Tomas Berdych--2Hundred 4D


• James Blake--3Hundred Tour 4D


• Tommy Haas, Tommy Robredo--3Hundred 4D


• Nicolas Almagro--5Hundred 4D


• Dominika Cibulkova--Superlite 4D
  

Watch for my next post where I review the 2Hundred 4D.