In the latest incarnation of Dunlop’s M-Fil line of racquets, Dunlop brings you the aerogel Pro GT, Ultimate and Elite. All three sport Dunlop’s classic open throat and large head sizes, though the Pro GT head is decidedly smaller at 470cm2 as compared to 500cm2 for the Ultimate and Elite. Though each is labeled as being “head light,” they are actually slightly head heavy when strung—and of course string is pretty critical to hitting the ball!
The Ultimate, carrying World No. 1 Amr Shabana’s signature, is “whippy” and feels lighter than it’s 159g strung weight. The dense string pattern of 16 mains and 19 crosses provides tremendous control on contact, which more than offsets the lack of power. And because it feels light and swings so effortlessly, you will find that you can hold the ball longer and make a complete swing with just your wrist.
The Pro GT is slightly heavier than the Ultimate at 162g strung and also has a lot of flex in the frame. The smaller head size reduces the sweetspot but actually makes for a more solid feel when striking the ball. The string pattern is more open than the Ultimate (14 mains and 18 crosses), which allows for more of a trampoline effect and thus more power.
The Elite, despite weighing 159g strung (like the Ultimate), feels “heavier” in your hand. The head also feels bigger despite being the same size as the Ultimate. With the same number of cross strings as the Pro GT (at 14), the density of the string pattern is slightly greater with 19 crosses to provide a bit more control while maintaining the power.
One interesting factor is that all three sticks are shipped with vibration dampeners. Without them they are actually a few grams lighter, but the vibration is noticeable. The factory strings were a bit “dead,” so we recommend restringing if it bothers you. The issue is that the ball doesn’t “pop” off the strings. But that in itself did not take away from the overall performance.
Check them out at www.dunlopsquash.com.
