The history and reputation of Donnay in padel

Donnay is a Belgian brand founded in 1913 by Emile Donnay and began manufacturing tennis rackets fairly quickly. Initially a manufacturer for Wilson in the 1940s, it was from the 1950s onwards that the brand decided to produce and sell all these tennis accessories/rackets itself. However, it was towards the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the Open era that Donnay reached a peak in popularity by sponsoring Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, then in 1974 through its partnership with Bjorn Borg, one of the greatest players in history. During this period, Donnay was at the top and was considered by many to be the best racket manufacturer in the world. 

Subsequently, at the beginning of the 1980s, the way rackets were designed evolved and synthetic materials took over from wood. The Belgian brand therefore had to change the way it designed them and, despite a spectacular start, several factors including significant debts meant that Donnay lost its lustre and gradually faded into obscurity. After bankruptcy in 1988 and several takeovers, Donnay finally returned to tennis in the early 2010s, with padel quickly following suit. The objective was then clear: to use the brand's experience to restore Donnay's reputation. 

The essential features of Donnay padel rackets

Although it has only recently entered the padel market, the brand already has several flagship models that, despite preconceived ideas, can compete with the best-known padel rackets on the market. At Donnay, despite the small number of rackets, every player can find what they need: beginners or advanced players, powerful players or those more focused on control; there is even a racket designed for women. The carbon used for the premium rackets is high quality and provides good rigidity, including 18k carbon on certain padel rackets. 

How do you choose your Donnay racket model? 

In the Donnay range, all types of players can find what they need and choose the racket best suited to their game. Fibreglass rackets for beginners, carbon rackets for more advanced players, round rackets for right-side players who prefer control, or rigid rackets for players who need good power return: it is all available at Esprit Padel Shop! 

Where can you buy a Donnay padel racket? 

To buy a padel racket, several options are available: 

• Go to a specialist padel shop. There are very few in France, but you can receive advice on your game and choose the best racket to improve. Beware of prices, which are above average. 
• Go to your club. Few clubs offer padel rackets for sale, and even fewer offer a wide selection. This is where you should go to receive the best advice. 
• Go to Esprit Padel Shop. As the French leader in online padel equipment retail, you will receive the best advice by phone or email thanks to our club expertise, and you can benefit from the best prices on the market!