DUNLOP Biomimetic 200 Tour Tennis Racquet Review
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Groundstrokes
The 200 Tour weighs in at around 12.5 ounces when strung and creates a heavy ball off the ground. You have to be strong and have a fluid stroke in order to handle the weight of this frame. Players with shorter strokes will definitely find this to be a difficult racquet to swing. I found easy access to spin off both sides thanks to the more open 16x18 pattern of the Tour version. The racquet’s mass can do a lot of the work for you if you relax and swing with a nice easy motion. Strong players who can generate racquet head speed are going to find massive payoff with the 200 Tour. The high level of mass also makes the 200 tour very stable and it can easily deal with and re-direct shots from big hitting opponents. The lower flex rating also results in good ball pocketing and the ability to place the ball in all areas of the court. You have to prepare for your shots early as the weight will punish lazy mechanics and make it difficult to get the racquet through the hitting zone once you are behind. I also felt the 200 Tour had a fairly small sweet spot so if you struggle to strike the ball cleanly, the racquet could be a bit jarring or unforgiving.
Volleys
Even though the 200 Tour is a heavy frame, it retains more of a traditional head light balance. This results in it being surprisingly maneuverable. It has great touch and feel for angle and drop volleys. The extra mass also makes it very stable and easy to handle reflex volleys. Volleys are another case where you can let the 200 Tour do the work for you. As long as you can get the racquet into position and set up properly, the racquet has more than enough mass behind it to finish balls off. Over a long match, I found some difficulty handling volleys as a result of the weight of the frame, but it was nothing an adjustment period and some extra time in the gym couldn’t help with.
Serves
Serving with the 200 Tour was a mixed bag for me. It has excellent directional control on serves, allowing you to move the ball around the entire box and keep you opponent off balance. I found good access to spin for slice and kick serves. If you want to flatten out your serve, the 200 Tour can hit on absolute bomb when you connect with the sweet spot. The biggest issue serving was again the weight. Over a long match, it becomes a challenge to accelerate the racquet through the hitting zone. I found myself hitting with less pace and spin at the end of some matches just because of some fatigue. The other issue with serving is that you have to train yourself not to over hit. The racquet has so much mass that a nice relaxed motion pays more dividends than trying to swing as hard as you can.
Comfort
The 200 Tour is a comfortable frame overall. It has offers a great level of feedback without feeling harsh. Its lower RA results in a softer feel as well. The low RA combined with the extra mass result in a pretty arm friendly racquet. The biggest issue players will have is the overall weight. Players not physically strong or with unrefined mechanics will find issues with fatigue and soreness as a result of swinging the 12.5 oz. over the course of a match. Stronger, more developed players will find a very comfortable and rewarding racquet.
Overall
The Dunlop Biomimetic 200 Tour is not for the meek. It is best suited to advanced players who are physically capable of handling the weight. Its combination of comfort, feel and mass make it a potent weapon in the right hands. It provides scalpel like precision from all areas of the court while also having the mass to create some serious power. If you can handle the weight over the course of a long match and have a longer stroke, than the 200 Tour should absolutely be on your “must demo” list.
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