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

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 evaluation of the Dunlop FX 500, this evaluation 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 included Energy Enhance Grommet grooves to boost vibration absorption.

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

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

As talked about in different evaluations, I take pleasure in refined, traditional designs quite 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 FX 500 Playtest

First Impressions

I used to be interested by 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 seen that, in comparison with different fashionable racquets with a 98 Inches head dimension, the FX 500 Tour supplied a extra beneficiant candy spot.

Because of this, I rapidly realised it will enable gamers to generate energy and effortlessly add extra pace to the pictures.

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 pictures.

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 pictures (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 because of the 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 might considerably enhance my spin and management by adapting a distinct string that may enable me to utilise the total energy potential of the racquet with out worrying about dropping accuracy in my pictures.

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

Volleys

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

Its 98 sq in head and 305g weight offered an excellent basis for a profitable sport on the internet. Executing a fast cut up step was sufficient to make me really feel prepared for any problem that got here my method. 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 pictures 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 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, though many gamers might 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 disillusioned by the racquet’s lack of responsiveness. That is possible a consequence of the racquet’s stiffness and vibration-dampening system.

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

Serves

I took a while to give attention to the way in which 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 numerous 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 change from heavy kick quickly serves to quick and insidious slice serves.

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

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

I might switch good pace 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 big quantity of pace and precision if I didn’t have a superbly centred influence on serve. So, I imagine its balanced mixture of management and pop makes this racquet appropriate for exact servers and people who desire highly effective pictures.

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 could be.

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

I loved its excellent potential to mix stability, management and energy, which made me snug going up in opposition to many alternative 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 might end in 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 particular type of participant.

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

If I needed to be extra particular, I might say that massive hitters that depend on quick serves and aggressive pictures might be those to learn essentially the most from selecting the Dunlop FX 500 tour to be their new weapon.

Alternatively, gamers that base their sport on contact pictures and shot placement might endure 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 might not counsel it to beginner gamers since it’s unforgiving and fairly advanced to play with; because of this, they might expertise extra drawbacks than advantages whereas enjoying with it. 

Closing 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 essentially the most manoeuvrable of their rackets and could be very steady for its weight.

The Sonic Core expertise dampens vibrations and improves shock absorption, nevertheless 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.

Execs

Cons

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