Dunlop Srixon FX 500 LS: Review A Powerful and Versatile Tennis Racket

This assessment will share my ideas on the up to date Dunlop FX 500 LS designed for intermediate gamers eyeing aggressive tennis play.

This mannequin, weighing 285 grams when unstrung, strikes sooner than its larger brother, the FX 500, making it a good alternative for gamers working to enhance their tempo and spin.

Earlier than enjoying with the LS, I reviewed the FX 500 Tour and FX 500 fashions in complete, and based on Dunlop, the LS is designed as a fast, point-and-shoot possibility for intermediate gamers on the rise, offering a really feel that’s softer and extra arm-friendly.

I’ll scrutinise these claims and options on this assessment to see how properly the racket performs.

Dunlop FX 500 LS Tour Options & Cosmetics

In its 2023 iteration, the FX 500 LS introduces a barely extra versatile beam. This modification ends in a softer, extra arm-friendly response than the sooner model. It’s noteworthy that Dunlop additionally made changes to the grommet system, aiming to facilitate higher vitality return to the ball from the string mattress (learn: potential for extra energy).

Just like the earlier model, the FX 500 LS incorporates Sonic Core w/Infinergy on the higher hoop, aiming to melt the texture upon affect. It additionally options what’s often called Energy Increase Body Geometry. This combines a quick, aerodynamic profile with a broader throat space for stability.

The racket’s shaft additionally incorporates Flex Contact Resin that will increase flex and minimises vibration. A Energy Increase Groove is beneath the grommet strip to boost the tactile suggestions, selling extra vital string motion and snapback.

Furthermore, the racket is aesthetically pleasing. The complete FX 500 sequence has a shocking look, with a mixture of black and blue that by no means will get previous.

Specification and Setup

My FX 500 LS was very near the goal specs, and I had it strung with MSV Swift at 21kg with 2 knots. 

Dunlop FX 500 LS Playtest

First Impressions

As an skilled tennis participant who has performed school tennis numerous hours per week, I’ve turn into accustomed to utilizing heavier and extra highly effective rackets, which provide glorious stability and management throughout gameplay.

Therefore, I used to be initially sceptical when testing the Dunlop FX 500 LS, with its 285-gram weight.

Nonetheless, after I picked up the racket, I used to be pleasantly shocked by its strong and manoeuvrable really feel.

I instantly recognised that Dunlop had considerably superior its new dampening know-how, which they’ve carried out throughout all the FX sequence.

Regardless of the racket’s light-weight design, it provided a degree of stability and precision that I had not anticipated. Nonetheless, I additionally seen that I may have used a bit additional “punch” on all my topspin and flat photographs.

Groundstrokes

After practising groundstrokes with FX 500 LS, I can affirm that my first impression of the racket was spot on.

I discovered it difficult to execute a constant heavy topspin forehand utilizing this racket because of its light-weight building.

Because of this, I had to make use of loads of bodily energy to return a aggressive ball, which is extenuating in the long term.

Furthermore, as soon as my opponent/observe companion picked up the rally tempo, the racket struggled to reply forcefully when dealing with heavy photographs and started to shake on impacts.

To repair the issue, I attempted to cut back reliance on merely leaning on my opponent’s shot to maintain the ball in play and maybe use his tempo in opposition to him.

Nonetheless, this prevented me from constructing the purpose from the baseline with heavy topspin and adjustments in velocity, like I normally do.

Thus, my solely probability to win some factors in the course of the observe tiebreakers was to maintain the ball in play for so long as potential with out being pushed again or making an attempt to go for winners.

Regardless of the difficulties I encountered on my forehand, I discovered the racket’s efficiency satisfying on my backhand.

I exploit my one-handed backhand to steal the opponent’s time with flat, fast, on-the-rise photographs, alternated with chipped photographs and low slices.

Because of this, I recognize a manoeuvrable racket that I can shortly transfer by means of the air. Dunlop FX 500 LS may be very manoeuvrable, making it appropriate for my best backhand.

Nonetheless, I needed to maintain my ft inside/on the baseline to make sure a profitable backhand.

As soon as I bought pushed behind the baseline, I couldn’t switch sufficient weight on the ball to forestall my opponent from taking the lead of the purpose. for topspin backhands, chip returns, and underspin groundstrokes.

Its design enabled me to simply place the racket head beneath the ball and drive it powerfully by means of the courtroom. The five hundred LS is famend for its precision, and I witnessed this firsthand after I executed a “V” formed backhand sample with a crosscourt shot adopted by a down-the-line shot.

Volleys

Rallying from the baseline, I had already seen FX 500 LS’s means to hit exact backspin photographs. Because of this, I used to be curious to see what it may provide on volleys.

At first, I skilled some instability when trying volleys, notably in opposition to high-speed photographs.

Nonetheless, getting used to the light-weight racket solely took a couple of minutes and changing into extra snug on the web.

As soon as I bought snug, I may benefit from the racket’s good contact and precision. Because of its manoeuvrability, I may place deep volleys efficiently and transfer the set to my place.

Then again, I struggled to search out the standard firmness and crispness that I might really feel with many different rackets appropriate for superior gamers.

Because of this, I imagine that FX 500 LS is extra appropriate for novice or intermediate-level web gamers who may recognize its fast response contact that permits them to maintain the ball in play persistently.

Serves

At first, because of its light-weight design, I struggled with timing my serve utilizing the FX 500 LS racket. I hit the web actually because I used to be making contact with the ball too early.

Nonetheless, after a couple of minutes, I bought used to the burden, and I used to be in a position to swing the racket by means of the air effortlessly.

Because of its manoeuvrability, it turned simple to hit spin serves and kick serves persistently, though I couldn’t make my kick serve bounce as excessive as I might have favored.

In the meantime, I used to be not happy with the end result of a flat serve. After I tried to hit quick and highly effective flat serves, I seen that the ball would attain the opposite courtroom with minimal weight, permitting the returner to distinction it and redirect the return away from me shortly. Because of this, I established that I might have had a greater probability to win factors with FX 500 LS if I began by hitting low-slice serves. 

Returns

I used to be impressed with the Dunlop FX 500 LS’s manoeuvrability on returns. Its light-weight body made it simple to maneuver into place and react to incoming photographs shortly. I felt assured and in management whereas returning, though I felt the racket vibrate an excessive amount of on sooner serves.

Furthermore, I might have most well-liked the racket to supply extra energy when returning weaker second serves since I like beginning factors by attacking the serve and pushing again my opponent from the primary shot.

Who’s This Racket For?

The Dunlop FX 500 LS racket is a superb possibility for novice to intermediate gamers in search of a light-weight racket that delivers honest energy and affordable management.

Its manoeuvrability and spin-friendly options make it well-suited for constant baseline gamers who wish to generate tempo and spin with their groundstrokes.

Gamers who depend on their serves and wish to enhance their consistency and spin may even recognize this racket.

Total, the Dunlop FX 500 LS is a flexible possibility that may profit many gamers, from these seeking to take their sport to the subsequent degree to seasoned veterans in search of a performing and arm-friendly software to raise their abilities on the courtroom.

Professionals

Cons