Dunlop Srixon FX 500 Tour Racket Review: Enhancing Power and Control

In 2023, Dunlop launched an replace to their FX racket line, engineered to offer gamers with some additional energy to their sport.

The road consists of the next rackets:

The FX 500 Tour is the racket focused at superior and intermediate gamers, and this replace has a decrease stiffness score than the earlier era but nonetheless retains that energy focus, making them a superb match for these counting on highly effective groundstrokes who like loads of power being returned to the ball.

Following my overview of the Dunlop FX 500, this overview will disclose my expertise with the brand new Dunlop FX 500 Tour, together with my emotions on groundstrokes, volleys and serves. 

Dunlop FX 500 Cosmetics and Options

The Dunlop FX 500 Tour has been designed with an emphasis on straightforward manoeuvrability, stability on contact, and glorious dampening.

To extend the consolation of this racket that’s designed for energy, Dunlop has integrated Energy Enhance Grommet grooves to reinforce vibration absorption.

Despite the fact that skilled male gamers would possibly favor a heavier racquet, I appreciated the lighter-weight body that felt straightforward to deal with whereas being very highly effective.

Furthermore, the mixture of energy, stability and manoeuvrability is accompanied by stunning aesthetics.

As talked about in other reviews, I get pleasure from refined, traditional designs reasonably than flashy, neon-coloured ones.

For that reason, I’m delighted by the intense however aggressive mixture of blue and black characterising your entire FX 500 collection.

Specification and Setup

Dunlop FX 500 Playtest

First Impressions

I used to be inquisitive about making an attempt the Dunlop FX 500 Tour since it’s allegedly probably the most performance-oriented racquet within the FX 500 collection.

I instantly seen that, in comparison with different well-liked racquets with a 98 Inches head dimension, the FX 500 Tour provided a extra beneficiant candy spot.

Due to this, I shortly realised it might permit gamers to generate energy and effortlessly add extra velocity to the photographs.

Furthermore, the marginally smaller head dimension and thinner beam allowed me to really feel extra management of the ball in comparison with my expertise with different FX 500 rackets.

Groundstrokes

The five hundred Tour racquet is designed for aggressive gamers, providing energy and manoeuvrability.

Regardless of its weight being a contact heavier than I usually play with, I discovered it straightforward to swing and generate tempo on my photographs.

Dunlop’s elevated consolation on this replace was evident as I effortlessly hit crisp and quick groundstrokes – most likely due to the elastic foam materials designed to soak up shock.

Nonetheless, I struggled with accuracy on my strategy photographs (particularly on my forehand) when my opponent hit a brief ball.

I typically felt just like the ball shot out of my racquet too shortly as a result of elevated energy of the FX 500 Tour. Whereas I anticipated extra spin and precision, given the burden of the racquet and the 16×19 string sample, I discovered that I had much less management if I didn’t make completely centred contact with the ball.

Nonetheless, I imagine that I may considerably improve my spin and management by adapting a special string that may permit me to utilise the total energy potential of the racquet with out worrying about dropping accuracy in my photographs.

Nonetheless, the racquet carried out admirably when I discovered myself in defensive conditions the place I used to be compelled to hit moonballs and hit sharp angles.

Volleys

As a participant relying closely on volleys to shut some extent, I completely loved my time on the internet with the FX 500 Tour.

Its 98 sq in head and 305g weight offered a superb basis for a profitable sport on the internet. Executing a fast break up step was sufficient to make me really feel prepared for any problem that got here my approach. The FX 500 Tour notably excelled in delivering reactive volleys and explosive overheads.

Moreover, the Dunlop Aerodynamic Energy head form designed to make the racquet manoeuvrable allowed me to comfortably transfer in in the direction of the web even when my opponent tried to hit quick photographs to my physique.

In contrast to my expertise with groundstrokes, the power-control steadiness of the racquet felt spot-on on the internet. The racquet’s stable really feel allowed me to simply hit by means of the ball whereas offering sufficient confidence to experiment with lower volleys and backspin to ship a low ball and even cease my shot proper previous the web.

Nonetheless, although many gamers may discover this unproblematic, I didn’t benefit from the racquet’s muted feeling of influence. 

As somebody who prefers to really feel linked with my volleys, I used to be barely disenchanted by the racquet’s lack of responsiveness. That is probably a consequence of the racquet’s stiffness and vibration-dampening system.

Nonetheless, it’s a minor downside to an in any other case spectacular racquet that’s definitely worth the hype and consideration.

Serves

I took a while to deal with the best way the Dunlop FX 500 Tour carried out whereas serving. I’ll start by saying that this racquet shows glorious potential on the serve.

Whereas serving, I depend on varied spins and instructions to acquire the purpose’s lead from the get-go.

For that reason, I used to be happy to see that the Dunlop FX 500 Tour efficiently happy all my wants, permitting me to modify from heavy kick quickly serves to quick and insidious slice serves.

I imagine that that is made attainable by the racquet’s light-weight design, which enabled me to attain excessive racket head velocity, leading to optimum spins.

Furthermore, the sturdy design of the Dunlop FX 500 Tour allowed me to really feel assured even once I determined to go for a giant flat serve.

I may switch good velocity and weight on the ball with nice accuracy. Nonetheless, the racquet didn’t really feel very “forgiving” on influence.

With that, the ball would lose a major quantity of velocity and precision if I didn’t have a wonderfully centred influence on serve. So, I imagine its balanced mixture of management and pop makes this racquet appropriate for exact servers and those that favor highly effective photographs.

Returns

When testing a brand new racquet, I pay additional consideration to its efficiency on returns. The return is the proper check shot to ascertain how manoeuvrable and dependable a racquet may be.

Playtesting the Dunlop FX 500 Tour, I can confidently say that it performs similar to one may hope it might on return.

I loved its excellent means to mix stability, management and energy, which made me snug going up towards many alternative sorts of serves.

It’s not uncommon for comparatively light-weight racquets to shake and really feel unstable throughout blocks towards highly effective serves – which may lead to quick and weak returns -. Nonetheless, the FX 500 Tour proved an exception and handed this check with flying colors. It balances stiffness and damping, offering a stable and sharp response with out inflicting undue pressure on the arm.

Who’s This Racket For?

Whereas the Dunlop FX 500 Tour might prioritise energy over management, it doesn’t current any precise limitations that may make it not appropriate for a particular form of participant.

Many intermediate to advanced-level gamers may discover qualities on this racquet to assist convey their sport to the subsequent degree. 

If I needed to be extra particular, I’d say that large hitters that depend on quick serves and aggressive photographs may very well be those to profit probably the most from selecting the Dunlop FX 500 tour to be their new weapon.

However, gamers that base their sport on contact photographs and shot placement may undergo a bit from the occasional lack of management. 

Nonetheless, I firmly imagine that the Dunlop FX 500 Tour is designed for superior gamers. Thus, I’d not counsel it to beginner gamers since it’s unforgiving and fairly advanced to play with; for that reason, they may expertise extra drawbacks than advantages whereas taking part in with it. 

Remaining Ideas

The Dunlop FX 500 Tour racket is a high-performance tennis racket and delivers what it guarantees: energy and management on the court docket for superior gamers.

Whereas I discovered it errs extra in the direction of energy, with a head dimension of 98 sq. inches and the thinnest beam of all of the FX 500 line, it’s probably the most manoeuvrable of their rackets and could be very steady for its weight.

The Sonic Core know-how dampens vibrations and improves shock absorption, however it kills a number of the emotions gamers like myself search for.

Whether or not you’re an aggressive baseliner or a flexible all-court participant, the Dunlop FX 500 Tour racket affords the precision and management that many gamers search for, so I’d suggest giving it a demo.

Professionals

Cons

Have you ever tried any rackets within the FX 500 line? Let me know within the feedback.