Dunlop Racquet Sports

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.