The Dunlop Aerogel Range (2009) Review

The Dunlop Aerogel series proved to be very popular among all standards of players. A complete range of rackets using the new Aerogel technology which incorporates the word’s lightest solid (a strength of 4,000 times its own weight). This produces greater stiffness and increased power without adding extra weight to the racket.

The Next Generation Of Racket Technology

The Aerogel construction is coupled with M-Fil (Multi Filament) which is a combination of  three types of material which are placed into the hitting zone of the racket head. This 3D braided structure enhances torsional stability at the point of the ball’s impact to create better control and feel.

Enhanced Touch and Feel

There are five rackets in the Dunlop Aerogel range – The Ultimate, Elite, Tour, Pro and Pro GT. All the rackets are quite similar weights but have slightly different benefits to suit the type of player. Below are some brief descriptions and some comments on the rackets which I hope you find helpful.

The Dunlop Aerogel Ultimate

Specifications

1. Construction – Aerogel / M-Fil
2. Head Size – 500 cm 2
3. Weight  – 137 g
4. String Pattern – 16/19
5. Balance – Head light
6. String – M-Fil TS
7. String Tension – 20/30 lbs
   
   

The Dunlop Aerogel Ultimate is a very popular racket and was used by Amr shabana during the 2008 season.  The Ultimate is ideal for the intermediate to advanced player, among its features are the widened throat area and longer handle for more control plus the over sized head for extra power. The Ultimate is concentrated on being a pretty much all round racket so it hasn’t been designed to excel in any one area which is great for players who like good touch and some power.

The Dunlop Aerogel Elite

Specifications

1. Construction – Aerogel/M-Fil
2. Head Size – 500 cm 2
3. Weight – 140 g
4. String Pattern – 14/19
5. Balance – Head light
6. String – M-Fil TS
7. String Tension – 20/30 lbs

The Dunlop Aerogel Elite is the same in design as the Ultimate except it  is slightly more heavy and has a different string pattern.  This combination produces more power. Once again it is aimed at the intermediate to advanced players with the the head light pro frame. The racket looks nice finished in gold and plays just as well as the Ultimate and is just down to what you prefer, it is used by selected players on  the PSA world tour.

The Dunlop Aerogel Tour

Specifications

1. Construction – Aerogel/M-Fil
2. Head Size – 470 cm 2
3. Weight – 145 g
4. String Pattern – 14/18
5. Balance String – Extra Head Light
6. String – M-Fil TS
7. String Tension – 20/30 lbs

The Dunlop Aerogel Tour has been tweaked to suit a more advanced player with the 14/18 string pattern and smaller extra light head to enhance the control, touch and feel. The overall weight of the racket is slightly more but the extra light head creates better manoeuvrability and what it loses on power is made up by more control. The Tour was used by former world number one Lee Beechill.

The Dunlop Aerogel Pro

Specifications

1. Construction – M-Fil/Carbon
2. Head Size – 470 cm 2
3. Weight – 140 g
4. String Pattern – 14/18
5. Balance – Even
6. String – M-Fil TS
7. String Tension – 20/30 lbs

The Dunlop Aerogel Pro is once again aimed the more advanced players with the same smaller head as the Tour. This racket has an even balance which means better swing momentum and results in more power to your shots. The Pro fame is the best design and constructed with the graphite carbon for the even balance and pushes the ‘Pro’ frame legacy forward. A very nice racket which performs all round.

The Dunlop Aerogel Pro GT

Specifications

1. Construction – Aerogel/M-Fil
2. Head Size  – 470 cm 2
3. Weight – 137 g
4. String Pattern – 14/18
5. Balance – Head Light
6. String – M-Fil TS
7. String Tension – 20/30 lbs

The Dunlop Aerogel Pro GT is based on the best selling Pro racket and is again aimed at the more advanced player. In addition it has the widened throat area and longer handle and is head light for more control. The Pro GT is the most used racket on the professional word tour. A very nice racket that would suit all types of  players which why it has proved to be so popular.

These rackets have been designed for intermediate to more advanced players who know their game well and can thus pick a racket that suits their style the most. Recent favourites are the Ultimate and the Pro GT simply because of the way they feel, both have great control and are not as powerful as some of the others which is good for the ones who like to play with their skill rather than just explosive power. I am probably more of a shot player and I don’t hit the ball hard all the time so having good control is what I look for in a racket rather than power.
Like I said its all down to personal preference, the rackets are all very similar but when you get to a good standard the different benefits of  each of these rackets can help enhance your game further. You need to pick the racket that is the right weight, the right feel and has the right amount of power. All these rackets have combinations of the above which makes the Dunlop range versatile and the preferred choice of top flight players.