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 further energy to their recreation.

The road contains 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 wonderful match for these counting on highly effective groundstrokes who like loads of power being returned to the ball.

Following my assessment of the Dunlop FX 500, this assessment 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 simple manoeuvrability, stability on contact, and wonderful dampening.

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

Though skilled male gamers would possibly favor a heavier racquet, I appreciated the lighter-weight body that felt simple 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 different critiques, I get pleasure from refined, basic designs reasonably than flashy, neon-coloured ones.

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

Specification and Setup

 
Dunlop Srixon FX 500 Tour 
My Dunlop Srixon FX 500 Tour 

Head Measurement
98 inch / 632 cm
98 inch / 632 cm 

Size
27 inch / 686 mm
27 inch / 686 mm

Unstrung Weight
305 g
305.7 g

Strung Weight
323 g
321 g

Stability
315 mm
315 mm

Swingweight
317
~

Unstrung Stiffness
65
~

Beam Width
21mm / 23 mm / 22 mm
21mm / 23 mm / 22 mm

Composition
Sonic Core Infinergy / Graphite 
Sonic Core Infinergy / Graphite 

Racket Colours
Blue & Black
Blue & Black

Grip Sort
Dunlop Artificial
Dunlop Artificial – #2

String Sample
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
16 Mains / 19 Crosses

String Stress
20 – 29 kg
22kg (with Head Lynx)

Dunlop FX 500 Playtest

First Impressions

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

I instantly observed that, in comparison with different widespread racquets with a 98 Inches head measurement, the FX 500 Tour supplied a extra beneficiant candy spot.

Because of this, I rapidly realised it might permit gamers to generate energy and effortlessly add extra velocity to the photographs.

Furthermore, the marginally smaller head measurement 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 simple 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 usually felt just like the ball shot out of my racquet too rapidly as a result of elevated energy of the FX 500 Tour. Whereas I anticipated extra spin and precision, given the load 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 consider that I may considerably improve my spin and management by adapting a distinct 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 a degree, I completely loved my time on the web with the FX 500 Tour.

Its 98 sq in head and 305g weight supplied basis for a profitable recreation on the web. Executing a fast cut up step was sufficient to make me really feel prepared for any problem that got here my manner. The FX 500 Tour significantly 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 direction of the web even when my opponent tried to hit quick photographs to my physique.

Not like my expertise with groundstrokes, the power-control stability of the racquet felt spot-on on the web. The racquet’s strong really feel allowed me to simply hit by 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, despite the fact that many gamers may discover this unproblematic, I didn’t benefit from the racquet’s muted feeling of impression. 

As somebody who prefers to really feel related with my volleys, I used to be barely dissatisfied by the racquet’s lack of responsiveness. That is doubtless 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 well worth the hype and consideration.

Serves

I took a while to deal with the way in which the Dunlop FX 500 Tour carried out whereas serving. I’ll start by saying that this racquet shows wonderful 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 glad all my wants, permitting me to modify from heavy kick quickly serves to quick and insidious slice serves.

I consider that that is made doable 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 after I determined to go for an enormous 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 impression.

With that, the ball would lose a big quantity of velocity and precision if I didn’t have a superbly centred impression on serve. So, I consider its balanced mixture of management and pop makes this racquet appropriate for exact servers and people who favor highly effective photographs.

Returns

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

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

I loved its excellent potential to mix stability, management and energy, which made me snug going up in opposition to many various sorts of serves.

It isn’t uncommon for comparatively light-weight racquets to shake and really feel unstable throughout blocks in opposition to 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 strong and sharp response with out inflicting undue pressure on the arm.

Who’s This Racket For?

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

Many intermediate to advanced-level gamers may discover qualities on this racquet to assist convey their recreation 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 could possibly be those to learn essentially the most from selecting the Dunlop FX 500 tour to be their new weapon.

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

Nonetheless, I firmly consider that the Dunlop FX 500 Tour is designed for superior gamers. Thus, I’d not recommend it to newbie gamers since it’s unforgiving and fairly complicated to play with; for that reason, they might expertise extra drawbacks than advantages whereas enjoying with it. 

Ultimate 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 direction of energy, with a head measurement of 98 sq. inches and the thinnest beam of all of the FX 500 line, it’s essentially 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, but it surely 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 presents the precision and management that many gamers search for, so I’d advocate giving it a demo.

Execs

Cons

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