Yesterday first 3 hours session with DNA M on my forehand, so a review of my first impressions
For some context about what i'm used to, i played with vari spin, mark V GPS, acuda S3, rakza 7 soft, R42, H3N, mantra S, rakza 7. Mostly with my OSP virtuoso that is a off- blade. I play around 1500 USATT if i convert well, and my style is to do as soon as possible a spinny forehand loop then a forehand loop to get the point
My first impression was that the sponge was harder than rakza 7 that I currently play. About the topsheet i'm not sure, i would say slightly firmer. Also it is indeed a thin topsheet rubber, i find it very visible in my opinion
When i bounced it, i was even a bit surprised that it didn't bounce a lot lot. Maybe because it is a bit harder than other rubbers i've played but it didn't felt crazy bouncy without any engagment
Now about the playing characteristics. First i was a bit surprised that i could adapt almost instantly, really no problem. To give an overall impression, i would say it is an all around offensive rubbers. Here i mean i didn't feel the need to engage very hard to play well with the rubbers and i found it pretty forgiving. Because the ball is well gripped (something i really want and like), the sponge is not too hard and the arc of the ball is, i don't know, i would say medium. Maybe even slightly higher than rakza 7
For me the main attribute was the consistency i would say. It wasn't crazy fast at all, similar to rakza but plenty enough i found. Spin wise, it was good but i was not surprised. I didn't played with my usual partners so maybe they would have seen a difference but i played with players above my level and they still shot out most of my spinny topspin on backspin but it's just the same as usual.
So yes, no crazy spin and speed. But i felt very secure and the contact felt very consistent. What i liked is that i could feel well the ball and it was nice to change from more spinny forehand to more speedy forehand. (I hope i'm clear here)
About serve and short game. Also nothing special i would say but very consistent. Easy to keep the ball pretty short as it's not too bouncy, good spin if required, good
I was about to forget blocking. Yes good also, even maybe pretty good. Not too spin sensitive and easy to do
In conclusion, i was not impressed by the speed and spin of the rubbers but i was impressed by how easy it was to play with it. I quickly forgot it we can say and i did not once thought i missed my shot because of it, despite the fact i was doing a lot of matches against opponent stronger than me. For me it's an all around offensive rubbers that is very consistent and safe. More offensive than all around. I think it's a bit the same idea than rakza 7 but more adapted to the plastic ball (i felt the contact was a bit better). One last point, i really liked the gripiness, something that i found lacking of some new generation rubbers (like the R42, the grip was weird to me).
I will keep it for my forehand, it really played like i wanted. If i get very different impression in a few weeks i will do a quick post about it
