Case in point; Dunlop recently introduced their new Pro Revelation 200G, a
replacement racquet for the famed Max 200G. ( The racquet used by both John McEnroe,
and Steffi Graf.) A player’s racquet by today’s standards the Revelation measures a classic
27 inches in length, and sports a 95 sq. inch head size ( with a 90 on the way apparently );
the old version had an 84 inch head size. Dunlop says that this new Revelation 200G is just
the thing for all the players who, “ have requested the Max 200G be produced again.”
This is what they say on their website.|
Once dialed in though, flat ground stroke shot control was really pretty good with the
Revelation, as well as serve control, and I liked the tight string pattern. The little extra
frame flex made the Revelation easier on the elbow than say a pro staff, and after a couple
of months of good ball bashing it actually softened up even more. I didn’t like that
characteristic at first, because the feel of my two respective Revelations were different until
both got through their initial breaking in stage and settled down into their ready for wear
stage. But after that they seemed pretty close. At 12 & 1/2oz’s the Revelation is as stable as anything on the market, although it does at times seem a tad whispy in the head. It is a pretty good vollier as long as you get good position on the ball and strike it dead center at the lower middle part of the head. Frantic stab volleys and shoe string pick-ups are harder though, because one, it’s not stable enough to steer the ball accurately from a weak and awkward position, unless you happen to posses the grip and strength of a lunatic precisely at the moment of contact, and two, it doesn’t naturally lift the ball very much. Whatever plane of travel the ball comes in on is pretty much the one it’s going to leave on. It likes to drive balls into the net. Forehand chip shots are difficult with it too. So much so, that I don’t even attempt that shot with it anymore. This is due I think to the larger 95 inch head size ( the racquet’s not mine ) and my continental grip. Switching to an eastern grip helps, but it telegraphs intentions, and besides I’ve never been a big fan of flip-flopping the grip during play. |
 The Revelation 200G does not induce aggressive play |
|
I’ve never known a Max that was string or tension sensitive, on the contrary, I’ve
played with tensions as low as 40lbs to as high as 62lbs, and with string ranging from 15ga
synthetic garbage gut, to 17ga-light gamma TNT , to natural gut, and much in-between.
Some were better than others of course, but they all felt pretty good, because of the
amount of feel translated through the racquet frame into one’s hand. The first thought which springs into one’s head upon striking a ball with a Max 200G is: “Comfortable!” Completely plush. No buzz, no ping, no shock, just seamless comfort. It feels like a shock absorber which never seems to hit bottom regardless of the size of the bump. And string dampeners? No need. The material, and the construction of the frame absolutely neutralize all agitations, and without losing any feel for the ball in the process. Incredible, nothing else comes close. The next notable impression is of the stability of the frame. Some of this is due to the 14oz weight of it, some to the 84 inch head size, some to the rather wide and thick beam construction, and some to the force absorbing qualities of the injection-molded materials used in the mix. All together they combine to make the type of stability capable of turning maniacal top-spin ground strokes into Sundayschool volleys at the net. |
 By comparison, the superior volleying characteristics of the Max 200G encourage aggressive net rushing tactics! |
|
The Revelation 200g is newer, stiffer, lighter, works better for two-handers, and comes complete with a pretty keen paint job. The Max 200G is softer, heavier, far more comfortable, and stable, and has the classic look of a tennis racquet. The Revelation is one of a million racquets produced in China. The Max 200G is an injection molded masterpiece made in Jolly old England. The Revelation lacks comparative feel. The Max exudes feel and feedback. The Revelation hits fast balls. The Max 200G launches beguilingly heavy sliders. The Revelation takes extra energy to produce speedy shots. With the Max, only a clean connection with the ball. The Revelation demands a very tight grip in order to punch through volleys. Comparatively, the Max doesn’t. The Revelation requires extra input ( exaggerated wrist spin, pick-up etc.. ) to top-spin and to execute pick-up volleys. The soft and flexible frame of the Max torques the ball with little input, and lifts shots off the deck with surprising ease. Its smaller head size allows it to get down to the court a little better too. The Revelation is quick and maneuverable. The Max 200G is smooth, graceful, and elegant in its mobility. With the Revelation, balls explode off the strings. With the Max 200G one almost seems to catch the ball, hold it, then launch it in whatever direction one wants. Two different ways of looking at the world really. By today’s standards the original Max 200G is a dinosaur. Its head is too small. it weighs too much, and it is too flexible for western gripped ball floggers to get any pace from it ( relatively speaking ). There’s nothing extreme about it, except for the extreme comfort it yields its user while making extreme angle shots, which extremely bewilder unsuspecting opponents. I for one am extremely disappointed that Dunlop no longer deems it necessary to offer such an exceptionally unique tennis racquet. It’s still the best players' racquet they ever produced...
Background: the usual suspects lined up for mug shots
|
|
|