Tennishead March 2022

More spin and control for all playing styles DUNLOP SX 300 (2022)

D unlop launched their SX rackets less than three years ago but have already redesigned the range. They say that as tennis continually evolves, players are demanding more spin even when hitting the ball o-centre. Analysis o the irst edition o the SX range showed the manuacturer that players were happy with the racket’s control but wanted more power when not connecting with the sweet spot. According to Dunlop, the updated SX series eatures some signiicant technological changes, including “spin boost grommets” which are said to “work with a new spin boost string tech pattern to oer players more spin, power and control”. Meanwhile a redesigned string bed is aimed at increasing the power distribution, especially towards the top o the rame. We put a Dunlop SX 300 in the hands o three testers: Julian, who has been playing or 45 years and currently uses a Babolat Pure Drive; Sue, who sees hersel as a “baseline grinder with volleying aspirations” and usually wields a Mantis 300; and Austin, who “likes to win the point at the net” and currently plays with a Babolat Pure Drive 2020. Our testers all thought the racket stood up to Dunlop’s claims over increased spin and control and elt it suited their own individual playing styles. Austin said the racket gave him “good power and control” on his ground strokes. Julian thought the

racket helped him to hit “controlled spin” but elt its power did not match his Babolat’s. Sue liked both the spin the racket could generate and the power rom the sweet spot, but thought it elt a little dead when she hit the ball o-centre. All three testers enjoyed volleying with the SX 300. “I could achieve good slice by cutting underneath the ball, which made it zip through the court with ease,” Austin said. Julian said his volleys came o the racket “reasonably ast and with nice eel and control”. Sue thought her volleys elt “solid” but elt her smashes lacked power i the connection was not out o the sweet spot. Austin and Julian enjoyed the racket’s power on their irst serves but were not so impressed when trying to serve with spin. Sue said her serve elt “latter and airly clean, even though I couldn’t get over the eeling o this rame being chunky but not heavy.” SPECIFICATIONS: RRP $200/£180 // Head size 100 sq in Weight 300g // String pattern 16 x 19 // Length 27 in

TO BUY THIS RACKET

You can buy the Dunlop SX 300 (2022) at AllThingsTennis.co.uk , tennishead’s chosen online retailer

To read this review in ull or to watch our play-test video o this racket please visit TENNISHEAD.NET/TENNIS/GEAR

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