Tennis Warehouse: Dunlop SX Playtest

[A_Instead]

Is the new SX grip shape the same or different than the current CX line?

 

[TennisHound]

… Really curious about the new SX300 Tour; I like that it’s a 98 now, but what’s interesting is it has the same beam thickness as the 100. Would love to see how that plays out. Also here’s to hoping their banana is a pretty one

X2. The best thing Dunlop could’ve done was keep the frame width the same. I’m not sure why Babolat didn’t do this with the VSs.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

When will the Tour be released? So far there are only Japanese reviews out there on it. I like the idea that the tour was decreased from 100 to 98 sq as I have a fobia for anything bigger than 97-98. The lowered static weight can only be a positive thing as it leaves more room for customization.

 

[SteveI]

Got a few more hours on the SX300 non Tour. Really easy frame to swing. Very solid. Sweet-spot seems to be higher than other frames I use. Very easy to serve with. I am using a full bed of 17G syn gut and the frame is still a spin machine. Slice serves are wicked as are well struck backhand slices. I have not yet experienced too many balls flying long. Also, opposite of the TW review, I am having nice success driving through the ball and seem to be able to flatten out shots when needed.

The frame defines the term "user friendly". I have to say with out being able to measure the SW of my demo.. I suspect it is not 325 but closer to 310-315. My demo is also more HL than the TW posted value. Power output for me is low to medium and does seem to be a Dunlop 300 series frame. Frame is quite firm...I did not feel that is was too muted and feel was more raw than I was expecting.

 

[SteveI]

When will the Tour be released? So far there are only Japanese reviews out there on it. I like the idea that the tour was decreased from 100 to 98 sq as I have a fobia for anything bigger than 97-98. The lowered static weight can only be a positive thing as it leaves more room for customization.

Not so far from TW. Hopefully there will be one coming.

 

[puppybutts]

btw in case y'all missed it, Kecmanovic had a pretty awesome match against Monfils while wielding the dunlop sx! (not sure if endorsed or off shelf or what...but always happy to see dunlop on court regardless)

 

[TennisHound]

btw in case y'all missed it, Kecmanovic had a pretty awesome match against Monfils while wielding the dunlop sx! (not sure if endorsed or off shelf or what...but always happy to see dunlop on court regardless)

Still using old pj. It looks like he has a lot of lead at 3&9.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

btw in case y'all missed it, Kecmanovic had a pretty awesome match against Monfils while wielding the dunlop sx! (not sure if endorsed or off shelf or what...but always happy to see dunlop on court regardless)

He's a signed Dunlop player since last spring. But he's still playing with the previous iteration, judging by the paintjob.

 

[Molk]

Got a few more hours on the SX300 non Tour. Really easy frame to swing. Very solid. Sweet-spot seems to be higher than other frames I use. Very easy to serve with. I am using a full bed of 17G syn gut and the frame is still a spin machine. Slice serves are wicked as are well struck backhand slices. I have not yet experienced too many balls flying long. Also, opposite of the TW review, I am having nice success driving through the ball and seem to be able to flatten out shots when needed.

The frame defines the term "user friendly". I have to say with out being able to measure the SW of my demo.. I suspect it is not 325 but closer to 310-315. My demo is also more HL than the TW posted value. Power output for me is low to medium and does seem to be a Dunlop 300 series frame. Frame is quite firm...I did not feel that is was too muted and feel was more raw than I was expecting.

My experience so far is similar to what that Stevel has posted... I played with SX 300 in a college alumni match last night. It was played at an indoor club with rebound ace surface, which is slow. I was playing with younger college players who hit the ball harder than I do. I needed the spin to keep the ball on the court. I could flatten out any ball but, it is great to have the spin that the SX 300 can provide. Especially hitting wide serves and low slices. I am going to restring the SX 300 taking out the Dunlop Explosive Tour and using the Dunlop Iconic all. I am also going lower in tension from 52 lbs. to 46 lbs. I will report back... I would also categorize the SX 300 as "very arm friendly and very good control racquet!"... I do not like "launching tennis balls, golf balls, or hockey pucks. The SX 300 is definitely not a "rocket launcher."

 

[SteveI]

This SX300 reminded me more of older Dunlop 300 series but with a higher RA. I was thinking control frame when I was drilling with it. Maybe the reduced SW in my demo is part of that and the fact that is a bit more HL than posted specs. The spin produced was giving my drilling partner more trouble than the ball speed and weight of shot.

Just some early feedback. I did enjoy the extra firmness when trying to drive through the ball.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

According to TW the regular SX 300 is stiffer than the Tour by two points. Somebody please confirm that the Tour is not that stiff and jarring!

 

[time_fly]

Can anyone who played the previous version and this one comment on how much stiffer it feels? The RA went up a few points for the non-Tour model.

 

[fed1]

According to TW the regular SX 300 is stiffer than the Tour by two points. Somebody please confirm that the Tour is not that stiff and jarring!

I am on the playtest for the Tour, it does not feel stiff and jarring. I have it strung up with a full bed of the Dunlop Poly that was provided, tension is 52.

 

[A_Instead]

All of the recent Dunlops have been really comfortable.. the feel is also very nice and imo succeed other manufacturers in most cases...

 

[x_les_x]

Gday from down under! I purchsed a dunlop sx300 tour from tennisonly initially just for the nostalgic value ( i played with a aluminium dunlop with a very similar color scheme as a junior ) Strung it with ALU power at 54 pounds. Current racquet of choice is the aero vs with rpm blast at 54 1g lead at 10 and 2.

To my surprise the SX Tour is a really nice racquet. Didnt feel that stiff to me even with a full bed polly. Probably the best feedback from a string bed from a few racquets i have tested in the past (vcore pro, vcore 95, cx200 tour, pure strike etc). Great sound when hitting the sweet spot. Massive spin on slice and kick serves, slices and have a whippy top spin forehand so the low swingweight complimented my game. Played on grass against a mate who hits predominently hard and flat and was able to return with a breeze. Will take it to a doubles tournament tomorrow and come back with volleys and net play reviews so far so good

 

[time_fly]

I ordered a demo pack with the new SX 300 and SX 300 Tour, with a Boom MP to round it out. I play the original SX 300 with a little lead at 3 and 9 as my normal frame, and have a Tour as well. I have a lot of USTA matches coming up but hopefully I can get at least 2 practice sessions in with the demos and will share my impressions.

 

[Molk]

My experience so far is similar to what that Stevel has posted... I played with SX 300 in a college alumni match last night. It was played at an indoor club with rebound ace surface, which is slow. I was playing with younger college players who hit the ball harder than I do. I needed the spin to keep the ball on the court. I could flatten out any ball but, it is great to have the spin that the SX 300 can provide. Especially hitting wide serves and low slices. I am going to restring the SX 300 taking out the Dunlop Explosive Tour and using the Dunlop Iconic all. I am also going lower in tension from 52 lbs. to 46 lbs. I will report back... I would also categorize the SX 300 as "very arm friendly and very good control racquet!"... I do not like "launching tennis balls, golf balls, or hockey pucks. The SX 300 is definitely not a "rocket launcher."

I strung the SX 300 with the Dunlop Iconic All at 46 lbs. and played with it. First impression is I could have strung it at 42 or maybe 40 and got a little more power and spin... This was the first time I have used Dunlop Iconic All. It feels very similar to Xcel and softer than NXT. The control was excellent! Considering how arm friendly the SX 300 is I would prefer a full string bed of poly for the spin, control and consistency... I let my friend, who is a long-time blade user play with it, and he said, "the control was the same as his blade and the feel was better."

 

[SteveI]

I strung the SX 300 with the Dunlop Iconic All at 46 lbs. and played with it. First impression is I could have strung it at 42 or maybe 40 and got a little more power and spin... This was the first time I have used Dunlop Iconic All. It feels very similar to Xcel and softer than NXT. The control was excellent! Considering how arm friendly the SX 300 is I would prefer a full string bed of poly for the spin, control and consistency... I let my friend, who is a long-time blade user play with it, and he said, "the control was the same as his blade and the feel was better."

What do you think about the power / control level of the frame based on your experiences? What frame(s) might it compare to?

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

 

[time_fly]

Interesting. It seems like if you liked the old SX 300 spec, the new Tour model might be a closer match than the new ”regular” SX 300. It retains slightly more flex and more control than the competing Pure Aero, which were nice features of the old SX 300. It seems like the new SX 300 might be closer to an exact Pure Aero clone. Both of the old versions had some heft in the head which it sounds like has been eliminated, but that just takes a little bit of lead to fix if necessary. I’m looking forward to testing them; hopefully the upcoming storm in the Northeast won’t shut things down too much this weekend.

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Interesting. It seems like if you liked the old SX 300 spec, the new Tour model might be a closer match than the new ”regular” SX 300. It retains slightly more flex and more control than the competing Pure Aero, which were nice features of the old SX 300. It seems like the new SX 300 might be closer to an exact Pure Aero clone. Both of the old versions had some heft in the head which it sounds like has been eliminated, but that just takes a little bit of lead to fix if necessary. I’m looking forward to testing them; hopefully the upcoming storm in the Northeast won’t shut things down too much this weekend.

Yeah it's really nice that the Tour now has some more room for customization. If you liked the previous specs more, you can easily get there by adding some lead.

 

[Molk]

What do you think about the power / control level of the frame based on your experiences? What frame(s) might it compare to?

Most of my experience is with Wilson. I think the power level is lower than an Ultra and Clash just a little more than a Blade. I think the power level is also lower than a Pure Aero. But the Control level is better or as good as any racquet. The big selling point in my opinion is you can string it with Poly and still have an arm friendly racquet with good spin and control. I would compare the frame to a Pure Aero or a blade. The SX 300 plays better with a full bed of Poly.

 

[SteveI]

Most of my experience is with Wilson. I think the power level is lower than an Ultra and Clash just a little more than a Blade. I think the power level is also lower than a Pure Aero. But the Control level is better or as good as any racquet. The big selling point in my opinion is you can string it with Poly and still have an arm friendly racquet with good spin and control. I would compare the frame to a Pure Aero or a blade. The SX 300 plays better with a full bed of Poly.

I will have to try to get my regular set-up in to the SX300 before the end of the test. I use Volkl Cyclone 19G at 52/50. I expect with that set-up the spin will be off the charts. Thanks for your insights.

 

[BurnNotice]

Interesting. It seems like if you liked the old SX 300 spec, the new Tour model might be a closer match than the new ”regular” SX 300. It retains slightly more flex and more control than the competing Pure Aero, which were nice features of the old SX 300. It seems like the new SX 300 might be closer to an exact Pure Aero clone. Both of the old versions had some heft in the head which it sounds like has been eliminated, but that just takes a little bit of lead to fix if necessary. I’m looking forward to testing them; hopefully the upcoming storm in the Northeast won’t shut things down too much this weekend.

This is interesting to read because before the SX line was the lighter Srixon 3.0 which had a very light 316 swing weight and feels like a more tamed pure Aero.

I actually added 4g of lead at 3/9 and brought it up to 330g and ~325 SW which is ironically the same as the stock older SX 300 .

The 98 SX 300 tour is interesting because it might bring the similar power / spin as the MP but in a smaller frame.

 

[time_fly]

My demos arrived today. Both of the Dunlops are brand new with plastic-wrapped handles, but they were clearly strung by different people. The Tour is stenciled, and the knot types are different between the two frames. As is my usual experience with demo frames, the two tensions sound very different as well, with the Tour probably being in the mid 40s and the regular SX in the 30s I would guess. I can get estimates from RacquetTune later.

Comparing the SX 300 to the old model, the new one is more rounded around the edges of the throat area, and the "energy shaft" channel is shallower and wider. The head geometry appears to be roughly the same, but the string pattern is very different. The new version has slightly wider main string spacing. But the bigger change is in the cross string spacing; the old model used the "power grid" setup with very open spacing near the top of the racquet that tapers to very dense spacing in the center and then progressively opens up again. The cross spacing on the new model is much more traditional. Of course the first couple top and bottom crosses are spaced slightly wider, but the rest are pretty evenly spaced.

For those that are curious, the Dunlop's yellow has a slightly more pale green hue to it than the Pure Aero. But you could easily grab the wrong one if you are inattentive.

I'm trying to figure out when I can try these on court. I have a couple of USTA mixed matches coming up this weekend. Those don't really count, and of course my partner wouldn't mind if I messed around with a completely unfamiliar racquet, right?

PS. RacquetTune says 40lbs (regular SX) and 48lbs (Tour) for the two frames, although I'm not sure I have the string completely correct.

 

[time_fly]

I played some point play / "king of the court" games this afternoon with the demo frames. I like to test racquets with point play games because (a) it's all for fun but there is competition, and (b) the format makes me play both the baseline and the net, offense and defense. Also we play five 15-minute rounds after warming up, which is conducive to switching racquets. I warmed up and played the first round with the old SX, played the new SX 300 for one round, then the Tour for two rounds, then circled back to my old SX again.

My guess about the new SX 300 seemed right on: it's much closer to a direct copy of the Pure Aero now. The launch angle is higher, and there is a bit more spin from the open pattern. I'm not sure if it's actually more powerful, but the extra net clearance gives a feeling of easier depth. I found it easy to use and, if it is stiffer, it wasn't enough for me to really notice. The sweet spot seems generous. The demo is strung a little looser than I usually play, so if I used this frame I would probably get some control back by stringing it a little tighter. I didn't notice any stability issues.

The Tour feels slightly less powerful than the old SX, although I think the launch angle is still slightly higher despite the smaller head size. The smaller head size but more open string pattern combine to give me around the same level of precision, but the new Tour definitely feels more maneuverable. Therefore I think I'd still give it the edge on touch and feel shots. I think there's some room to put lead at 3 and 9 to boost the stability and plow-through a bit while still retaining enough maneuverability.

Since I was playing points, I wasn't focused on trying to detect subtle differences in the feel of the frames. So they all felt pretty similar to me, despite having slightly different RA ratings. They all play slightly towards the muted side, and I didn't notice any comfort issues with any of them. Even when I mis-hit -- not that that ever happens to me -- none of them gave me any big shocks on the arm.

I hope to play these at least 2 more times before returning them to make sure my first impressions are correct. But overall I'd summarize the new SX 300 as really easy to use, especially from the baseline, but a bit less precise than the outgoing model. The Tour provides a better blend of spin and control with more maneuverability, but the sweet spot is a little smaller and it needs some weight if you want to bring it up to the power levels of the old SX models.

 

[Molk]

I will have to try to get my regular set-up in to the SX300 before the end of the test. I use Volkl Cyclone 19G at 52/50. I expect with that set-up the spin will be off the charts. Thanks for your insights.

Stevel I am going to use Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17G. Let's post to compare notes. It is my opinion that the SX300 is arm friendly enough to allow a full bed of poly without worrying about arm troubles. Although I am stinging at a low tension of 46 because I have hard arm issues from a full bed of poly in the past.

 

[SteveI]

Stevel I am going to use Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17G. Let's post to compare notes. It is my opinion that the SX300 is arm friendly enough to allow a full bed of poly without worrying about arm troubles. Although I am stinging at a low tension of 46 because I have hard arm issues from a full bed of poly in the past.

A full bed of Big Hitter Sliver 17G is quite soft and has good spin production for a round poly. It was my go to string for years. I used to string it 60 / 58 before the lower tension poly trend hit. It is a great price / performer. If you buy a reel and a full bed is about $4.00. Do hybrid with a syn gut.. it comes out about $3.00 per setup.

 

[downs_chris]

Yeah it's really nice that the Tour now has some more room for customization. If you liked the previous specs more, you can easily get there by adding some lead.

Agreed! I liked the previous one, but the SW was already pretty hefty on that one (even on the previous non-tour SX300)....

 

[time_fly]

It is my opinion that the SX300 is arm friendly enough to allow a full bed of poly without worrying about arm troubles.

I virtually guarantee this frame is intended to be used with full poly. The open string pattern and spin grommets would wear through any sort of multi in short order.

 

[IceBunDemon]

I've had one session with the 2022 Dunlop SX 300. Before I share my thoughts I must point out that I have it at my custom spec so this is not my thoughts on the stock base version. My string is Signum Pro Firestorm.

My hitting partner and I came to same conclusion that this is basically a Babolat but with a different feel that comes from a different brand making it, but performance wise it's essentially a Pure Aero. Whoever said this is like a Blade... I don't know how they came to that conclusion. This is basically the opposite of a Blade in terms of the modern spectrum of rackets, with the Blade headlining the control group and the Aero headlining the spin group

So it's a spin machine if you play with a lot of spin. Absolutely wonderful bite I can get with it and the control with that bite is top class, like with an Aero (spin is control for me). Very high launch angle. Shot security on big cuts was really great and I love the distinct feel of this racket at contact. It is an extremely aerodynamic racket. Whips through air faster than say a pure drive at same spec. As a pure drive user I found it awkward momentarily going back.

I feel that any pros and cons I list will essentially be a copy of what I'd say with a pure aero, and the main difference between the two is probably how they feel at contact. The pure aero feels a little more lively whereas the Dunlop feels a little more contained, but I'm not yet sure if that has a live situation impact in terms of what actually happens when you hit the ball and what the opponent feels. It's worth noting on this front that I didn't try it back to back with an Aero, so I'm going by memory with regards to the Aero. I think Dunlop have very much tried to clone the Aero here, and the danger with that is I'm not sure they bring anything new to the table, so why would someone risk trying a Dunlop when they can more safely pick a Babolat in terms of image and selling on at a later date? That said, this for me is every bit as good as the Aero (despite some slight differences re performance and feel), it looks better (higher quality looking paint as well), and it's cheaper.

I've also got to highlight the paintjob again.... I'm not selling this racket. This thing is beautiful.

I hit with the old black one last year and wasn't as impressed as I am with this one. For whatever reason I found the launch angle weirdly unpredictable with the last on, subtly so, but i didn't find my range with it as instinctively as I did with this one. It doesn't really feel any stiffer to me than the older one despite what should be a higher RA, so this is one angle perhaps where the Dunlop could stand out if someone were choosing between the Aero and the Dunlop (the Dunlop feels softer).

Who is the Dunlop SX 300 2022 for?

Play style 1: modern heavy topspin baseliner with semi western / full western forehand who opens up court with pace, depth, spin, and consistency, likely a high level player in this case to gain control through the spin.

Play style 2: players who crave a high launch angle but don't necessarily play with tons of spin. The high launch angle for the right player can provide some margin for error. This can be any level of player almost, even a pro.

Play style 3: beginners and intermediates who are looking for a forgiving racket that offers easy access to depth, height, pace, and a decent sweet spot.

This racket is not for a player, first and foremost, that doesn't like the pure aero. It's not for a player who wants to target small spots on the court. It is also not a racket for players looking for help from the racket to keep their flatter and/or riskier swings in the court. You have to provide your own control with this class of racket, but if you do it has tons of control.

This racket competes well with the Yonex Vcore 100, Pure Aero, and the Head Extreme MP. I were to switch to this spin 100 class I'd consider the Dunlop SX 300 2022 based on my first session with it, as I very much like it's unique feel at contact and of course that slick paintjob that stands above its competitors for me.

 

[time_fly]

I hit with the old black one last year and wasn't as impressed as I am with this one. For whatever reason I found the launch angle weirdly unpredictable with the last on, subtly so, but i didn't find my range with it as instinctively as I did with this one.

I believe this comes from the "Power Grid" string setup in the old version, which places the cross strings very close together at 3 and 9 and then spreads them progressively towards 6 and 12. I've played both the old SX 300 and CX 200, and they both have a surprisingly low and slightly unpredictable launch angle. I did feel like this gave the old version a little bit of an advantage when hitting lower, flatter shots vs. the Pure Aero. But I think Dunlop decided that the unusual response was more of a net disadvantage and decided to go with more conventional open string spacing in this one.

 

[IceBunDemon]

I believe this comes from the "Power Grid" string setup in the old version, which places the cross strings very close together at 3 and 9 and then spreads them progressively towards 6 and 12. I've played both the old SX 300 and CX 200, and they both have a surprisingly low and slightly unpredictable launch angle. I did feel like this gave the old version a little bit of an advantage when hitting lower, flatter shots vs. the Pure Aero. But I think Dunlop decided that the unusual response was more of a net disadvantage and decided to go with more conventional open string spacing in this one.

Yep, I remember noticing that with the black one when I first received it in the post. I actually thought the idea was quite good, as in to give a little more directional control on paper and offer something different to competitors in this class. But when it actually came down to hitting with it, it was not as predictable as I would have wanted personally. While I do really like the 2022 one from my first experience with it on court, a lot actually, from a brand perspective, I wonder if what they've done is good for business. It's extremely close to an Aero, this new one, whereas the black one felt somewhat more of its own racket, despite a lot of overlap still with the Aero, maybe more so the older Aero Pro Drives.

So if someone came to me and said they were choosing between a pure aero and a head extreme mp, there's a sufficient difference between the rackets to point out some pros and cons next to each other, what one does better than the other, and this could help someone determine which might suit better. With the 2022 SX 300, I feel it's essentially matching up with an Aero, or thereabouts, in most departments. As I said, I feel the biggest difference is feel at contact. Otherwise, they are so similar that the biggest differences someone else might encounter, other than the different feel, might come down to quality control issues, like one having a higher swing weight etc. I'm somewhat keen to have a back to back test with an Aero and the 2022 SX though to see just how similar they are matched at my spec, as I'm just having to go by memory as I said re the Aero.

 

[Molk]

A full bed of Big Hitter Sliver 17G is quite soft and has good spin production for a round poly. It was my go to string for years. I used to string it 60 / 58 before the lower tension poly trend hit. It is a great price / performer. If you buy a reel and a full bed is about $4.00. Do hybrid with a syn gut.. it comes out about $3.00 per setup.

Stevel as per our previous posts I used
Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 16/1.30 String shaped poly at 46 lbs. The spin production was so much better than the multi–Iconic All but, it did not feel as good as the poly-Explosive Tour. The obvious conclusion to do justice to the SX300 is to use poly. In comparing the SX300 to an Aero, the SX300 is much more arm friendly for poly users... I will have my SX review posted soon.

 

[TennisHound]

Yep, I remember noticing that with the black one when I first received it in the post. I actually thought the idea was quite good, as in to give a little more directional control on paper and offer something different to competitors in this class. But when it actually came down to hitting with it, it was not as predictable as I would have wanted personally. While I do really like the 2022 one from my first experience with it on court, a lot actually, from a brand perspective, I wonder if what they've done is good for business. It's extremely close to an Aero, this new one, whereas the black one felt somewhat more of its own racket, despite a lot of overlap still with the Aero, maybe more so the older Aero Pro Drives.

So if someone came to me and said they were choosing between a pure aero and a head extreme mp, there's a sufficient difference between the rackets to point out some pros and cons next to each other, what one does better than the other, and this could help someone determine which might suit better. With the 2022 SX 300, I feel it's essentially matching up with an Aero, or thereabouts, in most departments. As I said, I feel the biggest difference is feel at contact. Otherwise, they are so similar that the biggest differences someone else might encounter, other than the different feel, might come down to quality control issues, like one having a higher swing weight etc. I'm somewhat keen to have a back to back test with an Aero and the 2022 SX though to see just how similar they are matched at my spec, as I'm just having to go by memory as I said re the Aero.

Good points. I think the tighter strings in the middle might’ve created more resistance to the main strings moving, etc. While I’m not crazy about widening the string pattern, it still doesn’t feel as open as a PA or Extreme MP. Maybe after I hit with my demo some and the strings start moving and sticking, I might feel differently

 

[time_fly]

I’ve played a few sessions with both the SX 300 and SX 300 Tour now and am getting ready to ship them back. Both frames feel good and have excellent access to spin. As I mentioned above there was quite a bit of tension difference between them, with the “regular” SX 300 being much looser and that may have influenced my findings. The SX 300 has a pretty high launch angle and was a bit too powerful for my taste; I usually take a full swing and play with a lot of spin, and those types of shots dropped into the court nicely. But half-volleys, defensive stabs, flat lobs and blocks tended to really sail. It may be that stringing it tighter would help with this issue. On the plus side, the frame was very forgiving with a huge sweet spot. I did end up preferring the SX 300 Tour. I felt like I hit a bit lower and more penetrating ball with it, while still having plenty of spin access. The control, maneuverability, and feel were also excellent. As expected, it was slightly less forgiving off-center than the regular SX. Both versions swung fast and it felt like there was some room to add lead without them becoming too sluggish for middle-aged rec players such as myself.

I also have to give some credit to the strings, which I’m pretty sure are Dunlop Explosive Bite although I can’t find markings on them anywhere. Unlike the older Dunlop Explosive Spin, which somehow I didn’t find very spin friendly, these strings seem to complement the feel and mission of the frame quite well.

Overall, I think Dunlop has a couple winners on their hands. The only downside as far as I’m concerned is that it’s a bit tougher choice between the regular and Tour versions in this generation versus the old edition where the difference was only in the weight.

 

[IceBunDemon]

I’ve played a few sessions with both the SX 300 and SX 300 Tour now and am getting ready to ship them back. Both frames feel good and have excellent access to spin. As I mentioned above there was quite a bit of tension difference between them, with the “regular” SX 300 being much looser and that may have influenced my findings. The SX 300 has a pretty high launch angle and was a bit too powerful for my taste; I usually take a full swing and play with a lot of spin, and those types of shots dropped into the court nicely. But half-volleys, defensive stabs, flat lobs and blocks tended to really sail. It may be that stringing it tighter would help with this issue. On the plus side, the frame was very forgiving with a huge sweet spot. I did end up preferring the SX 300 Tour. I felt like I hit a bit lower and more penetrating ball with it, while still having plenty of spin access. The control, maneuverability, and feel were also excellent. As expected, it was slightly less forgiving off-center than the regular SX. Both versions swung fast and it felt like there was some room to add lead without them becoming too sluggish for middle-aged rec players such as myself.

I also have to give some credit to the strings, which I’m pretty sure are Dunlop Explosive Bite although I can’t find markings on them anywhere. Unlike the older Dunlop Explosive Spin, which somehow I didn’t find very spin friendly, these strings seem to complement the feel and mission of the frame quite well.

Overall, I think Dunlop has a couple winners on their hands. The only downside as far as I’m concerned is that it’s a bit tougher choice between the regular and Tour versions in this generation versus the old edition where the difference was only in the weight.

If you've tried the pure aero Vs, perhaps my favourite of the spin 98's, how would you compare the SX 300 tour to that? What stood out to me on the specs was the 23/26/23mm beam on the tour, which I've never seen on a 98 before. And I am of course curious about how that feeds into its performance.

 

[IceBunDemon]

Good points. I think the tighter strings in the middle might’ve created more resistance to the main strings moving, etc. While I’m not crazy about widening the string pattern, it still doesn’t feel as open as a PA or Extreme MP. Maybe after I hit with my demo some and the strings start moving and sticking, I might feel differently

I've tested the extreme mp and the pure aero at different points in time, and I don't currently have either of those rackets to directly match and compare in one session unfortunately, although I may find myself a pure aero again in the nearish future. I have the old Aero Pro Drives but I haven't cross examined the string spacing, but my feeling is that the SX 300 is wider than those.

As for performance, just going by memory, the SX 300 is extremely close to the current pure aero, as I've said. While I last tested the extreme MP half a year ago or so, I didn't find at the time much of an increase in spin or launch angle in comparison to my pure drive. The take home vibes were that the extreme MP has more directional control and was better at flattening it out when needed, but the pure drive actually out performed it in the topspin department for me on big cuts. That's not all what I've found with the 2022 SX 300. The SX 300 most certainly from my testing so far has a higher launch angle and bites the ball notably better. It's easier to pull the opponent off the court with that spin allowing for safer but sharper angles and the easier height of the bounce with heavy cuts totally gives me pure aero feelings. I may report back at some point with a direct comparison with matched pure aero where both frames are alternated in one session. There's this little thought when I hit with the SX 300 that's it's possiblity slightly more secure than the aero but the aero might ever so slightly punch a little harder at same spec. Maybe. But it's so close from what I can gather, but it's been a while since I've had a pure aero in my hand.

 

[time_fly]

If you've tried the pure aero Vs, perhaps my favourite of the spin 98's, how would you compare the SX 300 tour to that?

I used the Pure Aero Plus for quite a while, but haven’t tried the VS yet.

 

[time_fly]

The playtests for this thing are due tomorrow, and so far none have posted. I was one of the last reviews on the Yonex EZONE 100 because I posted it on the due date. I guess Yonex got the over-achievers and Dunlop got the slackers.

 

[SteveI]

The playtests for this thing are due tomorrow, and so far none have posted. I was one of the last reviews on the Yonex EZONE 100 because I posted it on the due date. I guess Yonex got the over-achievers and Dunlop got the slackers.

We also got the bad weather. I was aced out of some of my indoor sessions due to really bad weather in the North East in the last 4 weeks. Just having issues getting out of the driveway at times. Most of the play testers are very good about getting quality review posted on time. BTW... I am on the east coast and it took 10 days for the frame to get to me (weather and shipping zones). If I was in So Cal.. it would have been two.

 

[tjanev]

Too bad us Canadians couldn't take part really wanted to try the 300 tour. Need to find a replacement to my old faithful max impact plus (360g strung ). Having problems being consistent with my new Clash tour 100. no plow through, and it's a trampoline. swing hard and the ball takes off, approach the net for a drop shot and it doesn't make the net. Having come back from a 22 year hiatus, it's hard getting used to a lighter racquet with less stability, less plow through, and less consistency demoing racquets is a PITA. local tennis shop that demo's is 20km's away, and it's 10 dollars per racquet to "rent" 10 racquets and you're at half the racquet cost. sorry for hijacking the thread.

 

[SteveI]

Review of Dunlop SX300 V2 (non-tour release) 2/3/2022 SteveI

String and tension used for test: Forten Sweet 17G (white) full bed at 54 lbs. Constant Pull Machine
Tennis experience/background: Played HS tennis and Junior College tennis. Currently a NCAA D3 tennis coach. Have coached public and private high teams - 30 seasons. USTA Junior Team Tennis Captain and League Coordinator. Supervisor and Head Instructor of Town Summer Tennis Camp - 20 years. Been stringing for 30 years.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Playing mostly doubles these days and teaching lessons/coaching. Modern strokes and all court player USTA 4.0.
Current racquet/string setups: Volkl Quantum Scorcher (102) Modified - 11.6 oz / 7 points HL/ 16 x 19 pattern/ Beam 24 mm/ RA 60 - Volkl Cyclone 19G - 52/50.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 10 Hours


-Groundstrokes: This frame is so easy to use. Loved the easy depth and spin produced with very little effort. Even using a full bed of syn. gut, spin was easy to produce. I enjoyed the fact that I could just drop the frame below the ball and produce a shaped and heavy ball that seemed to give my opponents problems. I did not hit that many flyers but a more controlled swing produced less miss hits. The frame was so easy to get going that trying to produce too much RHS seemed to create an inconsistent swing path in my case. I did much better letting the frame do its job. While others have reported that they had trouble driving through the ball, I did not experience that. I was able my making sure hit the ball a bit higher in the string-bed and more out in front, created a flatter ball with less shape. The frame was wonderful in driving a well struck slice backhand and I could create some nice shape off of my OHBD with a smooth swing. When I attempted to swing too fast is when I got in trouble with unforced errors. I think my frame was a bit under spec in both SW and balance point as it seemed very easy to swing even compared to my formal frame. Control / Power was just about right for my game. The frame was not precise but made up for it with massive spin and easy power.

-Serves: Again... so easy to serve with. If you can't hit a great slice serve with this frame you need serious instruction. They just slide off the court and don't seem to bounce at all. Kick serves a dream to produce since you could just whip the frame up into the ball and see the shape and spin as it explodes off the court. I used a hard slice mostly instead of a flat bomb since it was very easy to produce and I never seemed to even think I would miss the court. When I did hit flat serve it was not as heavy as with my regular frame and set-up. Overall, more positive results with "work" on the ball than straight on power in my case.

-Volleys: Getting the frame into position was a dream and the frame was nice and firm with an RA of 68. Volleys pretty much point and shoot but a bit of extra under-spin helped with harder driven balls. The frame was pretty stable for its weight but did twist a bit when a heavy ball was directed at me. 4.5s and up would need some extra weight for match play. For my level and doubles it was really fun to use. Nice touch for a spin effect frame but not a good as my normal frame.

-Serve returns: No problem getting the frame into position for returns. I found getting the frame out in front helped with the stability and control on returns. When I attempted to really take a rip at the ball and not create a smooth swing path I miss hit and errors crept in. There would not be enough mass in this offering to block back higher level and more powerful serves. I think adding lead or moving to the Tour version would do the trick. At my level, I would just get the frame moving and rotate my hips into the ball, taking it early to produce a nice controlled response. Slice OHBH returns were my favorites as they just stayed low and slid thought the courts. I had great control with these returns.

Power/Control- The frame as stated above was not precise, but it not really built for that market. Hitting heavy deep balls in the court to bigger targets is what this frame was designed for and in the right hands is a nightmare for the player on the other side of the net. Balls landing near the baseline just drove players to the fence.

Top Spin/Slice- As stated above, even using a full bed of 17G Forten Sweet this thing is a spin machine. Using Cyclone 19G would be almost not fair in this frame. If I was to use this frame as my go to stick, I would use a round 16G soft poly with more a dead response to get max spin and control.

Comfort- For me and my older arm, the frame is a hit firm. I like frames in the lower 60s. I did like the firm solid response and I think the sweet spot was bit higher on this offering compared to my Volkl. No arm issues while testing.

Feel- I know other mentioned the frames muted feel. I felt it had more of raw feeling and I could really feel the ball on the frame. I dd not lose track of where the ball was on the string bed. I was also using a syn. gut known for its great feel and somewhat close to natty gut. I enjoyed the feeling and grip shape fit my hand and optimized my strokes.

Maneuverability- Not much to add... maybe too easy to swing at times. I was never late and sometimes too early. Pretty sure my demo was under spec for SW. Soooo easy to get moving.

Stability- Stable enough for 3.5-4.0 .. young juniors. Not stable enough for 4.5s. They need lead or the Tour version.. or both. Again.. I think my demo was under spec with SW, Balance. The static weight was perfect for me.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Really nice frame for older players with modern strokes, adult intermediates and young juniors. Stronger and better players need more mass and control. Great doubles stick. Loved it and BTW... this demo was very close to my normal setup outside of the extra spin, I had almost no adjustment period. The PJ and build was boss! Thanks so much to TW and Dunlop for letting me part of this experience. I am an older player so younger players might not have similar results or insights. I could play this frame stock as I think it is in my wheel house and I have been playing Dunlop frames since I was 10 years old. Enjoy and happy hitting. Final Note: I played the frame stock outside of a vibration dampener and Wilson Black Comfort over-grip.

 

[IceBunDemon]

Review of Dunlop SX300 V2 (non-tour release) 2/3/2022 SteveI

String and tension used for test: Forten Sweet 17G (white) full bed at 54 lbs. Constant Pull Machine
Tennis experience/background: Played HS tennis and Junior College tennis. Currently a NCAA D3 tennis coach. Have coached public and private high teams - 30 seasons. USTA Junior Team Tennis Captain and League Coordinator. Supervisor and Head Instructor of Town Summer Tennis Camp - 20 years. Been stringing for 30 years.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Playing mostly doubles these days and teaching lessons/coaching. Modern strokes and all court player USTA 4.0.
Current racquet/string setups: Volkl Quantum Scorcher (102) Modified - 11.6 oz / 7 points HL/ 16 x 19 pattern/ Beam 24 mm/ RA 60 - Volkl Cyclone 19G - 52/50.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 10 Hours


-Groundstrokes: This frame is so easy to use. Loved the easy depth and spin produced with very little effort. Even using a full bed of syn. gut, spin was easy to produce. I enjoyed the fact that I could just drop the frame below the ball and produce a shaped and heavy ball that seemed to give my opponents problems. I did not hit that many flyers but a more controlled swing produced less miss hits. The frame was so easy to get going that trying to produce too much RHS seemed to create an inconsistent swing path in my case. I did much better letting the frame do its job. While others have reported that they had trouble driving through the ball, I did not experience that. I was able my making sure hit the ball a bit higher in the string-bed and more out in front, created a flatter ball with less shape. The frame was wonderful in driving a well struck slice backhand and I could create some nice shape off of my OHBD with a smooth swing. When I attempted to swing too fast is when I got in trouble with unforced errors. I think my frame was a bit under spec in both SW and balance point as it seemed very easy to swing even compared to my formal frame. Control / Power was just about right for my game. The frame was not precise but made up for it with massive spin and easy power.

-Serves: Again... so easy to serve with. If you can't hit a great slice serve with this frame you need serious instruction. They just slide off the court and don't seem to bounce at all. Kick serves a dream to produce since you could just whip the frame up into the ball and see the shape and spin as it explodes off the court. I used a hard slice mostly instead of a flat bomb since it was very easy to produce and I never seemed to even think I would miss the court. When I did hit flat serve it was not as heavy as with my regular frame and set-up. Overall, more positive results with "work" on the ball than straight on power in my case.

-Volleys: Getting the frame into position was a dream and the frame was nice and firm with an RA of 68. Volleys pretty much point and shoot but a bit of extra under-spin helped with harder driven balls. The frame was pretty stable for its weight but did twist a bit when a heavy ball was directed at me. 4.5s and up would need some extra weight for match play. For my level and doubles it was really fun to use. Nice touch for a spin effect frame but not a good as my normal frame.

-Serve returns: No problem getting the frame into position for returns. I found getting the frame out in front helped with the stability and control on returns. When I attempted to really take a rip at the ball and not create a smooth swing path I miss hit and errors crept in. There would not be enough mass in this offering to block back higher level and more powerful serves. I think adding lead or moving to the Tour version would do the trick. At my level, I would just get the frame moving and rotate my hips into the ball, taking it early to produce a nice controlled response. Slice OHBH returns were my favorites as they just stayed low and slid thought the courts. I had great control with these returns.

Power/Control- The frame as stated above was not precise, but it not really built for that market. Hitting heavy deep balls in the court to bigger targets is what this frame was designed for and in the right hands is a nightmare for the player on the other side of the net. Balls landing near the baseline just drove players to the fence.

Top Spin/Slice- As stated above, even using a full bed of 17G Forten Sweet this thing is a spin machine. Using Cyclone 19G would be almost not fair in this frame. If I was to use this frame as my go to stick, I would use a round 16G soft poly with more a dead response to get max spin and control.

Comfort- For me and my older arm, the frame is a hit firm. I like frames in the lower 60s. I did like the firm solid response and I think the sweet spot was bit higher on this offering compared to my Volkl. No arm issues while testing.

Feel- I know other mentioned the frames muted feel. I felt it had more of raw feeling and I could really feel the ball on the frame. I dd not lose track of where the ball was on the string bed. I was also using a syn. gut known for its great feel and somewhat close to natty gut. I enjoyed the feeling and grip shape fit my hand and optimized my strokes.

Maneuverability- Not much to add... maybe too easy to swing at times. I was never late and sometimes too early. Pretty sure my demo was under spec for SW. Soooo easy to get moving.

Stability- Stable enough for 3.5-4.0 .. young juniors. Not stable enough for 4.5s. They need lead or the Tour version.. or both. Again.. I think my demo was under spec with SW, Balance. The static weight was perfect for me.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Really nice frame for older players with modern strokes, adult intermediates and young juniors. Stronger and better players need more mass and control. Great doubles stick. Loved it and BTW... this demo was very close to my normal setup outside of the extra spin, I had almost no adjustment period. The PJ and build was boss! Thanks so much to TW and Dunlop for letting me part of this experience. I am an older player so younger players might not have similar results or insights. I could play this frame stock as I think it is in my wheel house and I have been playing Dunlop frames since I was 10 years old. Enjoy and happy hitting. Final Note: I played the frame stock outside of a vibration dampener and Wilson Black Comfort over-grip.

I've been testing it at my spec. At my spec, it's stability is very good. To be honest, most frames are once you give it a good swing weight for instance. But stability isn't one of its downsides, so I'd say you likely did indeed get a underspec one and that would explain the stability issue you've mentioned with it not being stable enough for 4.5s. Even most 5.5s aren't customising frames with added weight and the Pure Aero is one of the most common rackets I've seen along with the Blade etc. I'm saying this because this racket isn't far off in terms of stability to the pure aero and that's being used in stock by many great non professional players. That said, the average stock swing weight listed for the SX 300 is a little lower than the pure aero is it not?

I had 5 SX 300's measured for weight, balance, and swing weight when I got my test racket so I could pick one and accurately match it to my spec. The measurements were all over the place. One of them had an unstrung SW of 267 for instance, and it simply wouldn't have much stability for most players past a certain level. Again, in case someone reads this and thinks Dunlop have special standards of quality control, well, I've had some wild ones from most brands I've tried.

 

[Rohith Kolli]

SX 300 Tour
String and tension used for test: Dunlop Iconic All 52 lbs.
Tennis experience/background: NTRP 5.0
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am an aggressive baseliner with a big first and second serve. I like to come in when I get my chances and tend to move the opponent around quite a bit.
Current racquet/string setups: Currently using Wilson Blade v7 18 x 20 strung with Head Lynx Tour at 48 lbs.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? I used the racket for about a week. Each day had a session for about 2 hours. Probably around 10 hours.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: I think for groundstrokes, the racket played really well. I was able to hit a lot of balls deep and move the ball around. I wasn't quite able to pick my targets when I was trying to flatten my shots out for a winner. However, everything else played well and was similar to the Babolat pure aero.
-Serves: I thought the serves with this racket was lacking a bit of punch. This could be due to several reasons, swing weight and balance. However, I liked the spin I was able to generate on my second serve or my slice serves. Overall it was good but not my favorite when it comes to hitting flat and picking spots.
-Volleys: Volleys with this racket felt solid and was able to switch between backhand and forehand very quickly. The balance of this racket really helps me stay active near the net and not being late to any volleys. I also liked the stability of my volleys when timed correctly.
-Serve returns: I have mixed opinions on the serve returns. When playing singles, I liked that it was nice and loopy and it gave me time to recover back to the middle. However, I wasn't to punish second serves that well. Not sure what the problem was but I was simply not getting the racket speed that I was hoping for. When playing doubles, I didn't really like how it played since it was hard to hit fast fit it. But, it was maneuverable and easy to swing and I never really felt "late."

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- This racket had decent power and very good control. The spin helped most balls land in as long as I don't hit too flat. The power was ok and maybe could have been a little lower per my personal liking.
Top Spin/Slice- This is where the racket really played well. I use a 18 x 20 Wilson blade and this is a completely different feeling. The launch angle was one thing that stood out the most. My ball was cleaning the net about double what my usual net clearance was. Also, there was a lot more spin when just hitting the ball. However, my hitting partner was telling me that the ball didn't feel as heavy with the dunlop racket.
Comfort- The comfort of this racket was really good. When strung with both strings, the racket felt comfortable and was easy to use.
Feel- The feel of the racket felt alright. It wasn't excellent and it wasn't bad. I liked that you could feel where the ball hit the strings when I was hitting with it, but at times it felt a bit muted.
Maneuverability- This racket was very maneuverable. It felt very whippy, similar to that of the babolat pure aero. I think the swing weight is also slightly lower than I am used to so that also played an impact in it being maneuverable.
Stability- Usually Dunlop Rackets of the past that I have played with don't feel too stable. I really like the stability of this racket. When hitting against heavy tocsin players, I was able to pocket and respond well. I think It may be due to the thicker frame, but overall it felt really good.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
I think this racket played very well overall. I used Dunlop Rackets all throughout my junior days and had to switch to Wilson since I wasn't getting the stability and feel I was looking for. However, this racket was both stable and felt really nice. I personally don't use open string patterns but I think this is a great option for anyone that likes a lot of spin and has more of a loopy swing motions.

 

[Rentege]

String and tension used for test: Dunlop Iconic All 52 lbs.
Tennis experience/background: NTRP 5.0
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am an aggressive baseliner with a big first and second serve. I like to come in when I get my chances and tend to move the opponent around quite a bit.
Current racquet/string setups: Currently using Wilson Blade v7 18 x 20 strung with Head Lynx Tour at 48 lbs.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? I used the racket for about a week. Each day had a session for about 2 hours. Probably around 10 hours.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: I think for groundstrokes, the racket played really well. I was able to hit a lot of balls deep and move the ball around. I wasn't quite able to pick my targets when I was trying to flatten my shots out for a winner. However, everything else played well and was similar to the Babolat pure aero.
-Serves: I thought the serves with this racket was lacking a bit of punch. This could be due to several reasons, swing weight and balance. However, I liked the spin I was able to generate on my second serve or my slice serves. Overall it was good but not my favorite when it comes to hitting flat and picking spots.
-Volleys: Volleys with this racket felt solid and was able to switch between backhand and forehand very quickly. The balance of this racket really helps me stay active near the net and not being late to any volleys. I also liked the stability of my volleys when timed correctly.
-Serve returns: I have mixed opinions on the serve returns. When playing singles, I liked that it was nice and loopy and it gave me time to recover back to the middle. However, I wasn't to punish second serves that well. Not sure what the problem was but I was simply not getting the racket speed that I was hoping for. When playing doubles, I didn't really like how it played since it was hard to hit fast fit it. But, it was maneuverable and easy to swing and I never really felt "late."

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- This racket had decent power and very good control. The spin helped most balls land in as long as I don't hit too flat. The power was ok and maybe could have been a little lower per my personal liking.
Top Spin/Slice- This is where the racket really played well. I use a 18 x 20 Wilson blade and this is a completely different feeling. The launch angle was one thing that stood out the most. My ball was cleaning the net about double what my usual net clearance was. Also, there was a lot more spin when just hitting the ball. However, my hitting partner was telling me that the ball didn't feel as heavy with the dunlop racket.
Comfort- The comfort of this racket was really good. When strung with both strings, the racket felt comfortable and was easy to use.
Feel- The feel of the racket felt alright. It wasn't excellent and it wasn't bad. I liked that you could feel where the ball hit the strings when I was hitting with it, but at times it felt a bit muted.
Maneuverability- This racket was very maneuverable. It felt very whippy, similar to that of the babolat pure aero. I think the swing weight is also slightly lower than I am used to so that also played an impact in it being maneuverable.
Stability- Usually Dunlop Rackets of the past that I have played with don't feel too stable. I really like the stability of this racket. When hitting against heavy tocsin players, I was able to pocket and respond well. I think It may be due to the thicker frame, but overall it felt really good.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
I think this racket played very well overall. I used Dunlop Rackets all throughout my junior days and had to switch to Wilson since I wasn't getting the stability and feel I was looking for. However, this racket was both stable and felt really nice. I personally don't use open string patterns but I think this is a great option for anyone that likes a lot of spin and has more of a loopy swing motions.

Tour or regular 300?

 

[time_fly]

String and tension used for test: Dunlop Iconic All 52 lbs.

SX 300 or SX 300 Tour?

 

[Molk]

Dunlop SX 300 Playtest Review 2022

String and tension used for the test: Dunlop Explosive Tour 16g @ 52 lbs. 6 hrs. of play, Tourna Big hitter Silver 17 g @46 lbs. 5 hrs. of play, and Dunlop Iconic All 16 g @46 lbs. 5 hrs. of play were used for the playtest. Dunlop Explosive Tour was my preference. I hated having to cut it out to play with the other strings. It was predictable, offered very good spin, control and was very arm friendly for a poly. It is my belief that to play to the strengths of the SX 300 poly needs to be used. I did not get the chance to use a hybrid.
Tennis experience/background: I am 62 years old. I played D3 college Tennis at UWEC, former USPTA member and former high school coach. I have been stringing my own racquets and also string for friends for 45 years. I am one year past total knee replacement and hip replacement. I still love the game. I love to play on clay and play mostly doubles. My NTPR rating is now about a 4.0. I will play tennis with anyone including your cat or dog!
Describe your playing style (i.e., serve & volley): I would describe myself as an all-court player. I am a counter puncher and will lob serve returns, hit drop shots or do whatever is needed to stay in the point. I need to hit the slice serve to open up the court and try to hit an occasional topspin serve or “baby twist,” if my back is feeling well and If I can get leg drive.
Current racquet/string setups: My current racquet of choice is the Wilson Ultra 108 Ver 3 strung with Wilson NXT soft 17g. I like the Wilson Ultra 108 Ver 3, but I am shopping. I would like a racquet that I can use poly in for the spin and not worry about hurting my elbow. I would also like more control on groundstrokes and not experience launching the ball long.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 16 hours.
-Groundstrokes: The SX 300 is solid and predictable on groundstrokes. I did not have a problem hitting a flat ball. Spin was very easy to achieve, even with an eastern grip. You could also get good depth without launching the ball long or an uncontrollable tail. I would like just a little more plow through, so I do not have to swing quite so hard. I love “easy power.”
-Serves: The SX 300 is great for wide slice serves. You can serve short on the line and take your opponent wide and off the court. If you have a good topspin or twist serve you will be rewarded with the open string pattern. I would like just a little more power on flat serves.
-Volleys: The touch for volleying is excellent. You do not have to worry about being jammed by a hard shot and having a ball sail out. It is very stable and maneuverable. The touch is there, and you will have the soft hands to hit a drop volley or half volley.
-Serve returns: You can take a “good rip” at short serves and be confident your return is not going to sail or launch. You can also chip and charge or half volley double returns against aggressive poachers since the SX 300 is very maneuverable. You do need a little more plow through or racquet mass to block/half volley returns effectively.
Power/Control- For me there is a good balance of power and control. Spin is a form of control, and the spin is definitely there. I would like a little more "easy power" on all strokes when needed to let the racquet do more of the work. I would classify the SX300 as more of a control racquet than a power racquet.
Top Spin/Slice- The open string pattern is engineered for spin. Anyone can hit an “academy ball” with just about any grip. Slice serves or overheads are fantastic with the SX 300. The spin is there, and it is predictable.
Comfort- The SX 300 stands out with great comfort. You can use poly and get great spin and not have a sore elbow, arm or shoulder. Very few racquets can make that claim.
Feel-The feel is predictable, controlled and comfortable. You feel connected to every shot. I would like to see the sweet spot just a little bigger if that is possible to engineer. You can play with or without a vibration dampener.
Maneuverability- The racquet was very maneuverable. If more mass was added for plow though I would prefer the racquet balance to be more head light to keep the great maneuverability. Racquet acceleration is very easy at the current spec.
Stability-I would prefer just a little more mass for plow through. A slightly bigger sweet spot is sometimes needed against players who hit a heavy ball. In the current spec the SX300 is stable.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Dunlop has another winner! This reminds me of the 300G, now a classic. The SX 300 can be described as a well-engineered, control, spin and an arm friendly racquet with all the technologies working together.
Many thanks to TW and Dunlop for the playtest! It was great to be a part of this!

 

[SteveI]

I've been testing it at my spec. At my spec, it's stability is very good. To be honest, most frames are once you give it a good swing weight for instance. But stability isn't one of its downsides, so I'd say you likely did indeed get a underspec one and that would explain the stability issue you've mentioned with it not being stable enough for 4.5s. Even most 5.5s aren't customising frames with added weight and the Pure Aero is one of the most common rackets I've seen along with the Blade etc. I'm saying this because this racket isn't far off in terms of stability to the pure aero and that's being used in stock by many great non professional players. That said, the average stock swing weight listed for the SX 300 is a little lower than the pure aero is it not?

I had 5 SX 300's measured for weight, balance, and swing weight when I got my test racket so I could pick one and accurately match it to my spec. The measurements were all over the place. One of them had an unstrung SW of 267 for instance, and it simply wouldn't have much stability for most players past a certain level. Again, in case someone reads this and thinks Dunlop have special standards of quality control, well, I've had some wild ones from most brands I've tried.

Thanks for your insights. I tested the frame stock which is what I think was required. I have have owned the played the Blade 98 (18 x 20) and the Bab. Aero Pro Drive. This demo NOT was close in stability to either. I also think I had a demo that was somewhat under spec. My demo was so very whippy indeed. If you modified your demo to your spec. I am sure it was much more stable than mine. My Blade 98 was 340 SW and the Bab Aero Pro Drive was 335. My best guess on the demo I used was 315-320 max. Thanks again for the great feedback and insights. SW of 267 unstrung is pretty low..