Tennis Warehouse: Dunlop SX Playtest

[Matthew Lee]

Dunlop SX 300 Tour Playtest Review

• String and Tension used: I decided to go with Solinco Tour Bite at the 16L gauge, strung at a solid 50 pounds thanks to my university friend. When I popped my strings a couple of weeks after I first began hitting, I strung the racket with the same exact strings, but decided to raise the tension to 52 pounds, which is the same as my current racket of choice. I was initially worried as to whether or not I would have to resort to cutting the strings for the playtest, but I was surprised to find that I was able to hit frequently enough to have the strings pop on their own. Personally, I feel like the racket was not as stiff as I had previously thought it to be, and that pretty much any polyester strings would be suitable for this racket.
• Tennis Experience/Background: I have been playing tennis for almost 8 years now. I played 4 years of high school tennis, and have also played 3 years of college club tennis. While I did not attend many tournaments during my time in high school, I have had the pleasure of being able to go to multiple college club level tournaments in various locations, including USC, CSULB, Irvine, etc.
• Playing Style: As of late, I have transitioned my game from being an aggressive baseliner to a defensive player. Numerous games where I had way too many errors led me to adjust my game so that I try to attack at better times during a match. Despite this, I still find myself approaching the ball aggressively, so I like to think of myself as a hybrid player between an aggressive and defensive baseliner (if that is possible). I also like to incorporate serve and volley tactics, but only in moments to throw off my opponent’s rhythm, so this is somewhat scarce.
• Current Racket/String setup: I have been an avid fan and user of the Yonex EZONE 98, strung with Solinco Tour Bite at 50 pounds. I have also used the EZONE DR 98 and the AI 98 in the past, and have stayed fairly consistent with my racket choices, trying out the VCORE 98 a couple of years ago.
• How many hours did you play with the racket? I played a good amount of tennis with the SX 300 Tour, playing around 35-40 hours over the span of 3 weeks. I think I could have played more tennis, but trying to manage college work and gym workouts was a tad bit difficult. If anything, I was surprised that I was able to get this much tennis in.
  
  
• Groundstrokes: I think that the groundstrokes were the star of the show with this racket. While I do enjoy hitting groundstrokes the most out of every tennis shot, I think that the SX 300 Tour was an excellent racket to rally and/or practice groundstroke intensity. The way that the racket pocketed the ball at contact, and the spin that I was able to generate was both excellent and effortless to produce. While it was not necessarily an issue to hit flat, I felt like I did have to put more thought into my shot preparation to execute an effective flat shot. Along with this, the only other gripe I had with this racket was the lower weight making for a comparatively inconsistent and unstable response to my customized EZONE 98.
• Serves: For the given weight, I felt like the SX 300 Tour was able to pack quite a hefty punch in the serve department. While it definitely would have helped with a bit more weight here and there, I think that the flat serves were decent enough to where it did not actively hinder my game. Slice and kick serves, on the other hand, were definitely above average. The racket did an excellent job of providing some good slice on my serves, with the ball sliding across the court effortlessly. In addition, I found a good response from the racket on my kick serves.
• Volleys: To be quite honest, I was genuinely surprised with this racket when it came to approaching and finishing at the net. For its strung 11.4 ounce weight, I thought that my volleys were handled nicely, and I rarely felt the racket falter at contact when hitting any ball at the net. Maybe the pocketing effect that I noticed with my groundstrokes transitioned with the volleys, but the lack of an inconsistent and sometimes unstable response that I noticed with my groundstrokes was nowhere to be found when hitting volleys. I have no real explanation for this.
• Serve Returns: When it came to returning serves, I think that the racket had no real faults as long as I was able to time the return so that the racket remained in front of me through contact. However, when I backed up and tried to take a bigger swing at the ball from a deeper position on the court, I found that the racket occasionally lost a bit of stability at contact. Adding weight to certain areas of the racket, in my opinion, would definitely play a part in helping the racket take care of this issue, but it could also just be a fault on my own part. Still, a little bit of weight never really hurt anyone. At least, in my case.
  
  
• Power/Control: For the strung weight of this racket, I think that it provided above average power on pretty much every shot. Hitting the ball to a deeper part of the court was not difficult at all, and I was able to rely on the racket to help me out when I was stretched, which was thoroughly pleasing for me. However, I was more surprised with the level of control that I was able to find within this racket. Perhaps it was the spin technology that was integrated into the racket, but I found that placing the ball on different areas on the court was no problem at all, and hitting angles did not require an adjustment on my part.
• Topspin/Slice: The biggest strength of this racket was the amount of topspin that I was able to generate, with the mediocre amount of spin I tried to put on the ball. Due to the fact that I have been used to hitting the ball at a flatter angle, I was genuinely shocked at the amount of spin that my shots were creating. Additionally, I found that my slices were surprisingly effective with this racket. With the racket being one with a moderate weight, I did not think that the slice would feel so nice and solid as it did. Slicing the ball, regardless of higher or lower angles, was somewhat smooth and easy to execute, but I did feel that a bit more weight would help with plow through.
• Comfort: For the stiffness rating of 68, I did not think that the racket would be so plush and comfortable. Regardless of the shot, I did not find the racket to be harsh or uncomfortable at all.
• Feel: I think that this racket was not especially good with feel or touch, considering that it is a racket that was designed mainly to generate easy topspin. It did everything regarding feel and touch at an average level. While I do enjoy hitting the occasional drop shot and go for touch volleys, I did not notice anything exceptionally good with this racket regarding feel.
• Maneuverability: The SX 300 Tour was a very good racket when it came to its easy maneuverability. The strung 11.4 ounce weight was something that I felt was pretty normal and thought it to be, but I thought that the racket definitely swung faster than its 324 swingweight. Maybe it’s because I’m used to a racket that is an ounce heavier, with a swingweight that only the tennis gods know, but this racket was an easy breeze when swinging.
• Stability: The only real “issue” that I can come up with, I felt like the SX 300 Tour was slightly lacking when it came to the overall stability of the frame. While I did not find this issue with the volleys or the serve, I felt like the groundstrokes and the slice could definitely have been helped with some added weight to certain areas of the racket. Regardless, for its given weight and balance, it was above average in stability, with only a small room for improvement.
  
  
• General Reactions/Comments: I thought that the Dunlop SX 300 Tour was an excellent racket to playtest, and I was genuinely surprised by how well the racket played in nearly every department. If I had to guess, I would say that the racket feels like a hybrid between a Babolat Pure Aero and my current racket, the EZONE 98. In my opinion, the “Similar Rackets” tab on the Tennis Warehouse page for this racket has a pretty good selection of rackets most similar to this one. In addition, I felt like the racket looked great and was very eye-catching to others. On a side note, I think that the racket would be most suited for intermediate to advanced players, with higher-level players probably best suited to adding weight to the overall frame for a better response.
  
  
  I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse for having me on this playtest! It was a blast and I am thankful to have been a part of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

[IceBunDemon]

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

The extra half inch changes the Aero a lot, but it's still an Aero. The VS isn't really an Aero at all, but it's a great racket. It's been in a three way tie till recently for me re my stick of choice, and that's why I was curious how the Dunlop SX 300 tour compares.

 

[IceBunDemon]

Dunlop SX 300 Tour Playtest Review

• String and Tension used: I decided to go with Solinco Tour Bite at the 16L gauge, strung at a solid 50 pounds thanks to my university friend. When I popped my strings a couple of weeks after I first began hitting, I strung the racket with the same exact strings, but decided to raise the tension to 52 pounds, which is the same as my current racket of choice. I was initially worried as to whether or not I would have to resort to cutting the strings for the playtest, but I was surprised to find that I was able to hit frequently enough to have the strings pop on their own. Personally, I feel like the racket was not as stiff as I had previously thought it to be, and that pretty much any polyester strings would be suitable for this racket.
• Tennis Experience/Background: I have been playing tennis for almost 8 years now. I played 4 years of high school tennis, and have also played 3 years of college club tennis. While I did not attend many tournaments during my time in high school, I have had the pleasure of being able to go to multiple college club level tournaments in various locations, including USC, CSULB, Irvine, etc.
• Playing Style: As of late, I have transitioned my game from being an aggressive baseliner to a defensive player. Numerous games where I had way too many errors led me to adjust my game so that I try to attack at better times during a match. Despite this, I still find myself approaching the ball aggressively, so I like to think of myself as a hybrid player between an aggressive and defensive baseliner (if that is possible). I also like to incorporate serve and volley tactics, but only in moments to throw off my opponent’s rhythm, so this is somewhat scarce.
• Current Racket/String setup: I have been an avid fan and user of the Yonex EZONE 98, strung with Solinco Tour Bite at 50 pounds. I have also used the EZONE DR 98 and the AI 98 in the past, and have stayed fairly consistent with my racket choices, trying out the VCORE 98 a couple of years ago.
• How many hours did you play with the racket? I played a good amount of tennis with the SX 300 Tour, playing around 35-40 hours over the span of 3 weeks. I think I could have played more tennis, but trying to manage college work and gym workouts was a tad bit difficult. If anything, I was surprised that I was able to get this much tennis in.
  
  
• Groundstrokes: I think that the groundstrokes were the star of the show with this racket. While I do enjoy hitting groundstrokes the most out of every tennis shot, I think that the SX 300 Tour was an excellent racket to rally and/or practice groundstroke intensity. The way that the racket pocketed the ball at contact, and the spin that I was able to generate was both excellent and effortless to produce. While it was not necessarily an issue to hit flat, I felt like I did have to put more thought into my shot preparation to execute an effective flat shot. Along with this, the only other gripe I had with this racket was the lower weight making for a comparatively inconsistent and unstable response to my customized EZONE 98.
• Serves: For the given weight, I felt like the SX 300 Tour was able to pack quite a hefty punch in the serve department. While it definitely would have helped with a bit more weight here and there, I think that the flat serves were decent enough to where it did not actively hinder my game. Slice and kick serves, on the other hand, were definitely above average. The racket did an excellent job of providing some good slice on my serves, with the ball sliding across the court effortlessly. In addition, I found a good response from the racket on my kick serves.
• Volleys: To be quite honest, I was genuinely surprised with this racket when it came to approaching and finishing at the net. For its strung 11.4 ounce weight, I thought that my volleys were handled nicely, and I rarely felt the racket falter at contact when hitting any ball at the net. Maybe the pocketing effect that I noticed with my groundstrokes transitioned with the volleys, but the lack of an inconsistent and sometimes unstable response that I noticed with my groundstrokes was nowhere to be found when hitting volleys. I have no real explanation for this.
• Serve Returns: When it came to returning serves, I think that the racket had no real faults as long as I was able to time the return so that the racket remained in front of me through contact. However, when I backed up and tried to take a bigger swing at the ball from a deeper position on the court, I found that the racket occasionally lost a bit of stability at contact. Adding weight to certain areas of the racket, in my opinion, would definitely play a part in helping the racket take care of this issue, but it could also just be a fault on my own part. Still, a little bit of weight never really hurt anyone. At least, in my case.
  
  
• Power/Control: For the strung weight of this racket, I think that it provided above average power on pretty much every shot. Hitting the ball to a deeper part of the court was not difficult at all, and I was able to rely on the racket to help me out when I was stretched, which was thoroughly pleasing for me. However, I was more surprised with the level of control that I was able to find within this racket. Perhaps it was the spin technology that was integrated into the racket, but I found that placing the ball on different areas on the court was no problem at all, and hitting angles did not require an adjustment on my part.
• Topspin/Slice: The biggest strength of this racket was the amount of topspin that I was able to generate, with the mediocre amount of spin I tried to put on the ball. Due to the fact that I have been used to hitting the ball at a flatter angle, I was genuinely shocked at the amount of spin that my shots were creating. Additionally, I found that my slices were surprisingly effective with this racket. With the racket being one with a moderate weight, I did not think that the slice would feel so nice and solid as it did. Slicing the ball, regardless of higher or lower angles, was somewhat smooth and easy to execute, but I did feel that a bit more weight would help with plow through.
• Comfort: For the stiffness rating of 68, I did not think that the racket would be so plush and comfortable. Regardless of the shot, I did not find the racket to be harsh or uncomfortable at all.
• Feel: I think that this racket was not especially good with feel or touch, considering that it is a racket that was designed mainly to generate easy topspin. It did everything regarding feel and touch at an average level. While I do enjoy hitting the occasional drop shot and go for touch volleys, I did not notice anything exceptionally good with this racket regarding feel.
• Maneuverability: The SX 300 Tour was a very good racket when it came to its easy maneuverability. The strung 11.4 ounce weight was something that I felt was pretty normal and thought it to be, but I thought that the racket definitely swung faster than its 324 swingweight. Maybe it’s because I’m used to a racket that is an ounce heavier, with a swingweight that only the tennis gods know, but this racket was an easy breeze when swinging.
• Stability: The only real “issue” that I can come up with, I felt like the SX 300 Tour was slightly lacking when it came to the overall stability of the frame. While I did not find this issue with the volleys or the serve, I felt like the groundstrokes and the slice could definitely have been helped with some added weight to certain areas of the racket. Regardless, for its given weight and balance, it was above average in stability, with only a small room for improvement.
  
  
• General Reactions/Comments: I thought that the Dunlop SX 300 Tour was an excellent racket to playtest, and I was genuinely surprised by how well the racket played in nearly every department. If I had to guess, I would say that the racket feels like a hybrid between a Babolat Pure Aero and my current racket, the EZONE 98. In my opinion, the “Similar Rackets” tab on the Tennis Warehouse page for this racket has a pretty good selection of rackets most similar to this one. In addition, I felt like the racket looked great and was very eye-catching to others. On a side note, I think that the racket would be most suited for intermediate to advanced players, with higher-level players probably best suited to adding weight to the overall frame for a better response.
  
  
  I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse for having me on this playtest! It was a blast and I am thankful to have been a part of it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

I know you said it was a couple of years ago, but any thoughts re how the vcore 98 compares with the SX 300 tour, from your perspective?

 

[IceBunDemon]

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..

My point really was that the SX 300 is in same ball park re stability really as the Aero, maybe not quite as stable but there's a little too much distance between playtests for me with these two rackets to really determine that. But I can compare it to more recent and current racket tests I've done with more accuracy and the SX 300 has no issues with stability. So the natural assumption on my end is that an on spec stock SX 300 should have decent stability compared to other frames at its weight/swing weight. And yes, a 267 SW unstrung is very low. I'll take a guess and says that's somewhere around 300 strung or so? Very low indeed.

 

[SteveI]

My point really was that the SX 300 is in same ball park re stability really as the Aero, maybe not quite as stable but there's a little too much distance between playtests for me with these two rackets to really determine that. But I can compare it to more recent and current racket tests I've done with more accuracy and the SX 300 has no issues with stability. So the natural assumption on my end is that an on spec stock SX 300 should have decent stability compared to other frames at its weight/swing weight. And yes, a 267 SW unstrung is very low. I'll take a guess and says that's somewhere around 300 strung or so? Very low indeed.

Thanks for the explanation. My point is the demo I tested was not as stable as the current Aero. One of the students I was working with was playing the current Aero and I hit a few balls with his frame and compared it to my demo. I did this only about 10 days ago. The SW was not close..from my testing and I have been doing this for a while.

My best guess is that I got a low SW frame to demo. It was also 2-3 points more HL than specs which also matters. I know the SX300 non-tour is marketed as an Bab. Aero Pro Drive.. but not the frame I tested. I did not have 3 or 4 SX300s to compare them..I had only the one. Happy hitting. I call them as I see them. Brit also mentioned on the play-test her frame was a bit unstable.

 

[IceBunDemon]

Thanks for the explanation. My point is the demo I tested was not as stable as the current Aero. One of the students I was working with was playing the current Aero and I hit a few balls with his frame and compared it to my demo. I did this only about 10 days ago. The SW was not close..from my testing and I have been doing this for a while.

My best guess is that I got a low SW frame to demo. It was also 2-3 points more HL than specs which also matters. I know the SX300 non-tour is marketed as an Bab. Aero Pro Drive.. but not the frame I tested. I did not have 3 or 4 SX300s to compare them..I had only the one. Happy hitting. I call them as I see them.

Things like static weight and swing weight make a big difference yep. Imagine if I wasn't customising and I got the one, unknowingly, with an unstrung SW of 267 (can't remember the balance and static weight of that specific one now, but I know one of them was 291g unstrung, maybe same racket).... Somebody is going to get that one. I'd discard the SX 300 as a junk racket I'm sure. I can't imagine it playing well with such a low swing weight. And yes of course you have to review what you got as you experienced it.

 

[fishepa]

How do these playtests work? Specifically for people that don't necessarily like the racquet and feel it's not for them. Are they supposed to send it back? I'd love a chance to hit with this racquet it seems right up my alley based on the comments.

 

[TennisHound]

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.

I suspect this one was the Tour

 

[fed1]

Dunlop SX 300 Tour

String & tension used for playtest: I started off the playtest with the Dunlop Explosive Tour that was provided, strung at 52. My normal setup is Solinco Confidential 1.25 strung at 52 and I switched to that about 8 hours into the test.





Tennis experience/background: Tennis Professional/Director. 4.0 USTA League player who participated in Nationals in 2021. Drilling/playing 4-5 times a week.


Describe your playing style: All court player who plays primarily doubles.


Current racquet/string setups: 2022 Yonex Ezone 98 strung with either Solinco Confidential 1.25 or Yonex Poly Tour Strike 1.25 at 52lbs.


How many hours did you play with the racquet? 18-20 hours between drills/practice and match play.


Groundstrokes: When I received the Tour I was worried about the power level and those fears were put to rest after about 5 minutes. Forehand and backhand had plenty of pace and depth. I am not a player who hits with extreme amounts of spin but I did appreciate the easy access to it with the Tour. Launch angle was a tad higher than what I am used to so it forced me to add a bit more spin for safety. The level of ball pocketing was a pleasant surprise as well. I had no problem picking out smaller targets on the court.



Serves: Serving with the Tour was a standout feature for me. I had no problem hitting big flat serves and as a lefty I really felt my serves had a little bit extra slice on them. Kick serves seemed to have a bit more jump than my Ezone 98. Overall a really solid serving racquet.

Volleys: This racquet had the perfect blend of feel and stability. Volleying with this racquet was one of my favorite parts of this test. I had full confidence punching away volleys and the same confidence with touch and angle volleys. I experienced no stability issues at the net.


Serve returns: The 300 Tour was fun racquet to return with. With its whippy feel there was no problem getting around on big first serves. This another area where the frames stability came into play. Backhand chip returns had nice bite and stayed low over the net.


Power/Control: Power and the ability to hit deep penetrating shots into the court was not an issue with this frame. I was happy with how the racquet was able to get me out of defensive/stretched out positions. I thought control might be an issue but I never felt out of control. Placement and accuracy were solid.


Top Spin/Slice: I am not a player who hits with exaggerated spin but I certainly appreciated the extra margin I got with the Tour. Hitting slice backhands maybe have been my favorite shot throughout the test.

Comfort: I never felt that this frame resembled the 68 RA rating, comfort was another standout feature. Shots hit just outside the sweet spot never felt harsh or hollow.


Feel: Being a racquet that’s main focus is spin I thought feel would not be a strength, I was wrong. Feel and touch really stood out for me. Touch volleys and drop shots were easy to execute.



Maneuverability: I enjoyed the whippy feel of this frame on groundstrokes and its quickness around the net. It swung quicker than its 324-325 swing weight.



.

Stability- I am not a player who is going to add weight so for me the stability in stock form was very good. When the pace picked up on baseline exchanges I never felt frame get pushed around, same feelings when at the net.


General reaction/comments on overall performance: This is my first venture to a racquet that’s primary focus is spin and I came away impressed. I found this to be a really nice frame that was super versatile. Great for grinding at the baseline and real pleasant surprise at the net and on serve. This is definitely going to be a winner for Dunlop.
Thanks to Dunlop and TW for the playtest !!!

 

[Matthew Lee]

I know you said it was a couple of years ago, but any thoughts re how the vcore 98 compares with the SX 300 tour, from your perspective?

I think that the VCORE 98 is a slightly stiffer version of the SX 300 Tour. They both provide great power and spin with no real loss of control, but the SX 300 Tour had a more plush feel on contact. I think I personally preferred the SX 300 Tour, but would definitely add weight to both rackets for my own needs.

 

[Gemini]

*******Playtest Update******
2022 Dunlop SX 300

String and Tension: Dunlop Explosive Tour 16 (1.30mm) @ 48 lbs
About Me: Open level player (5.0) that plays a mixture of drills, hitting and league matches -- singles and doubles. I'm playing fewer league matches in the last 3 years or so as injuries (and age) become more of factor.
Playing Style: Baseliner that's VERY comfortable at net. More of a shot-maker than a grinder. Think Marcelo Rios or Hicham Arazi.
Current Racquet: 2021 Yonex Vcore 98+ w/ Tecnifibre 4S @ 48 lbs. (Modified to 11.9 oz and 8 pts HL)
How many hours did I play with it: 30 hours
-----------------------------------
Note: My SX 300 frame was a bit under published specs so I played this racquet in both stock and modified-to-spec forms.

Groundstrokes:
Stock -- The racquet came through the air really fast. This is probably a combination of the shaft/frame shape and the lack of substantial mass. That didn't stop the racquet from delivering a relatively explosive ball off of the string bed on either side. I was able to hit with good speed of shot on both forehands and backhands but I and my hitting partners could tell my shots lacked weight. Access to spin in plentiful but it was nothing mind blowing.

Modified -- Added the necessary weight the head of the racquet and bring the racquet up to the published spec really brought this racquet to life! The racquet had more of a hammer-like effect on my shots and I could feel the ball sink into the string bed a bit more. That extra dwell allowed me to really rip through the ball creating a heavier shot. With the added weight/mass, this is where the spin on my groundstrokes really became noticeable. Before I modified the racquet to spec, the access to spin was obvious but that extra mass made the spin and actual weapon. Balls were actually kicking up and out with greater force according to my hitting partners.

Serves
Stock -- I really didn't care for it on serves. The lack of mass in the frame created timing issues for me and I found myself actually slowing down my swing to try and control the catapult-like response off of the string bed.

Modified -- Again, the extra mass in the head made all the difference. The extra mass allowed me to smooth out my service motion and focus on targeting my serves instead of worrying about how fast the ball would fly off the strings. The combination of the spec weight and balance made it relatively easy to hit kick and slice serves but I struggled to produce a flat delivery.

Volleys
Stock & Modified -- Super maneuverable in both forms. Unmodified the racquet was quick and powerful but I really had to finesse the ball into court with spin. Modified to spec, I was able to easily stick/block volleys with more authority and didn't have to worry as much about the ball flying on me. I dare say this was a real highlight of the racquet.

Serve Returns
Stock -- Return of serve was pretty lackluster in the unmodified state. On first serve returns, I was limited to simply sticking the racquet out and chipping shots back due to the lack of mass. Second serve returns required a decent swing at the ball to get good weight of shot.

Modified -- Return of serve was good but still not great. Blocked returns had better penetration and lower trajectory across the net but the overall lack of mass was a detriment to my game as I rely on the combination of mass and swing weight to help me out on stab returns. When I had time to take a full swing, I was able to really create some offensive returns that let me take control of points from the beginning.

Power/Control
Stock & Modified: It's definitely a powerful racquet but the access to spin really helps to tame that power. In the stock form, the ball was quick off the strings but really lacking pace. Modified up to published spec, the racquet became much more of a desirable force for me. I still had access to all that spin but now the extra mass gave me just a bit more time to load weight into the shot. Overall, it's not the most power racquet I've played with but it does have a decent amount of free power.

Topspin/Slice
Stock & Modified: Easy. The weight and balance in both stock and modified forms left the racquet being so maneuverable. The open string bed coupled with the shaft and frame design just made hitting spin an absolute breeze as they say.

Comfort
For 68 rated frame, this is one of the most comfortable racquets I've played with in some time. There were no jarring sensations on off center shots and no soreness after multiple hours on court playing with full poly strings.

Feel
Feel was good but I definitely could have used more feedback on some shots. I wasn't always sure of where the ball was on the string bed which is something I'm very dependent on. But compared to the Pure Aero which seems to be a direct competitor, I welcome the feel of the SX 300. In the feel the department, I'd consider it a much improved Pure Aero.

Maneuverability
Echoing my comments above. Super fast through the air and great movement at net. The highlight of this racquet for me. Loved it at net.

Stability
Dunlop like other manufacturers have come a long way in combining light, fast frames with surprising stability. While this racquet lacked the type of mass I'm used to, it wasn't unstable on any shots as along as I kept up my racquet head speed. When I didn't have that speed, shots lacked pace but I still didn't sense any vibration or flutter in the racquet.

Overall Performance
While not necessarily in my wheelhouse, the SX300 is a very good racquet. I can see it catering to the senior player that likes to play a fast, attacking, quick-exchange type of game but maybe has lost a step in speed and strength. This racquet seems to really lend itself to someone looking for free power and spin with the bonus of a very comfortable response. It's definitely one I'll keep in my bag as solid backup racquet.

 

[TennisHound]

*******Playtest Update******
2022 Dunlop SX 300

String and Tension: Dunlop Explosive Tour 16 (1.30mm) @ 48 lbs
About Me: Open level player (5.0) that plays a mixture of drills, hitting and league matches -- singles and doubles. I'm playing fewer league matches in the last 3 years or so as injuries (and age) become more of factor.
Playing Style: Baseliner that's VERY comfortable at net. More of a shot-maker than a grinder. Think Marcelo Rios or Hicham Arazi.
Current Racquet: 2021 Yonex Vcore 98+ w/ Tecnifibre 4S @ 48 lbs. (Modified to 11.9 oz and 8 pts HL)
How many hours did I play with it: 30 hours
-----------------------------------
Note: My SX 300 frame was a bit under published specs so I played this racquet in both stock and modified-to-spec forms.

Groundstrokes:
Stock -- The racquet came through the air really fast. This is probably a combination of the shaft/frame shape and the lack of substantial mass. That didn't stop the racquet from delivering a relatively explosive ball off of the string bed on either side. I was able to hit with good speed of shot on both forehands and backhands but I and my hitting partners could tell my shots lacked weight. Access to spin in plentiful but it was nothing mind blowing.

Modified -- Added the necessary weight the head of the racquet and bring the racquet up to the published spec really brought this racquet to life! The racquet had more of a hammer-like effect on my shots and I could feel the ball sink into the string bed a bit more. That extra dwell allowed me to really rip through the ball creating a heavier shot. With the added weight/mass, this is where the spin on my groundstrokes really became noticeable. Before I modified the racquet to spec, the access to spin was obvious but that extra mass made the spin and actual weapon. Balls were actually kicking up and out with greater force according to my hitting partners.

Serves
Stock -- I really didn't care for it on serves. The lack of mass in the frame created timing issues for me and I found myself actually slowing down my swing to try and control the catapult-like response off of the string bed.

Modified -- Again, the extra mass in the head made all the difference. The extra mass allowed me to smooth out my service motion and focus on targeting my serves instead of worrying about how fast the ball would fly off the strings. The combination of the spec weight and balance made it relatively easy to hit kick and slice serves but I struggled to produce a flat delivery.

Volleys
Stock & Modified -- Super maneuverable in both forms. Unmodified the racquet was quick and powerful but I really had to finesse the ball into court with spin. Modified to spec, I was able to easily stick/block volleys with more authority and didn't have to worry as much about the ball flying on me. I dare say this was a real highlight of the racquet.

Serve Returns
Stock -- Return of serve was pretty lackluster in the unmodified state. On first serve returns, I was limited to simply sticking the racquet out and chipping shots back due to the lack of mass. Second serve returns required a decent swing at the ball to get good weight of shot.

Modified -- Return of serve was good but still not great. Blocked returns had better penetration and lower trajectory across the net but the overall lack of mass was a detriment to my game as I rely on the combination of mass and swing weight to help me out on stab returns. When I had time to take a full swing, I was able to really create some offensive returns that let me take control of points from the beginning.

Power/Control
Stock & Modified: It's definitely a powerful racquet but the access to spin really helps to tame that power. In the stock form, the ball was quick off the strings but really lacking pace. Modified up to published spec, the racquet became much more of a desirable force for me. I still had access to all that spin but now the extra mass gave me just a bit more time to load weight into the shot. Overall, it's not the most power racquet I've played with but it does have a decent amount of free power.

Topspin/Slice
Stock & Modified: Easy. The weight and balance in both stock and modified forms left the racquet being so maneuverable. The open string bed coupled with the shaft and frame design just made hitting spin an absolute breeze as they say.

Comfort
For 68 rated frame, this is one of the most comfortable racquets I've played with in some time. There were no jarring sensations on off center shots and no soreness after multiple hours on court playing with full poly strings.

Feel
Feel was good but I definitely could have used more feedback on some shots. I wasn't always sure of where the ball was on the string bed which is something I'm very dependent on. But compared to the Pure Aero which seems to be a direct competitor, I welcome the feel of the SX 300. In the feel the department, I'd consider it a much improved Pure Aero.

Maneuverability
Echoing my comments above. Super fast through the air and great movement at net. The highlight of this racquet for me. Loved it at net.

Stability
Dunlop like other manufacturers have come a long way in combining light, fast frames with surprising stability. While this racquet lacked the type of mass I'm used to, it wasn't unstable on any shots as along as I kept up my racquet head speed. When I didn't have that speed, shots lacked pace but I still didn't sense any vibration or flutter in the racquet.

Overall Performance
While not necessarily in my wheelhouse, the SX300 is a very good racquet. I can see it catering to the senior player that likes to play a fast, attacking, quick-exchange type of game but maybe has lost a step in speed and strength. This racquet seems to really lend itself to someone looking for free power and spin with the bonus of a very comfortable response. It's definitely one I'll keep in my bag as solid backup racquet.

I like that you included both (stock and modified) - Good review

 

[TennisHound]

Edit

 

[Dan007]

Dunlop SX 300 Playtest Review

• String and Tension used: I strung up the SX 300 with Tourna Big Hitter Silver 16g 1.30 due to the especially wide string spacing for a 16x19 pattern
• Tennis Experience/Background: I have played competitively in the juniors then took a 10+ year break from tennis. Just started playing again recently but mostly just hitting with students that I work with occasionally. I would say at the moment, I'm NTRP 4.5
• Playing Style: Aggressive Baseliner that likes to control the point with First serves and with the forehand. I like to hug the baseline and hit relatively flat.
• Current Racket/String setup: I have been hitting a lot with the Boom MP and Yonex EZONE 100 (2022) version for the past few months. Since I'm not really competing these days, I'm gravitating towards easy-to-play rackets that have controllable power and are forgiving. I like to string with softer polys in full bed like Tourna Big Hitter Silver or occasionally, Gut mains and Poly crosses.
• How many hours did you play with the racket? I played around 10 hours. This includes hitting lessons with students and also a set with a student and fellow coach.
  
  
• Groundstrokes: The SX 300 really shined on the groundstrokes. It was stable and quite easy to pick up and start swinging from the baseline. Despite the very wider string spacing and the open pattern, the racket had a controllable launch angle which is one of the biggest attributes I look for in a racket. Rackets like Pure Aero and Pure Drives aren't my cup of tea as I like to drive through the ball and I have difficulty keeping balls in play. With the SX 300, I could hit flat and also hit with heavy spin.
• Serves: Serves were quite solid for its light stock weight. The racket traveled through the air quickly and gave easy pop on flat serves. The spin potential was also there on the slice and kick serves. I honestly preferred hitting slice/kick with this racket over the flat serves.
• Volleys: This is where I was the most disappointed with the racket. I could not for some reason gel with the racket up at the net. I think this has to do more with the weight and low swingweight but the strange thing was, at the baseline when you were swinging the racket and hitting it cleanly, it felt stable. Up at the net, the racket fluttered and felt unstable contradictory to how stable it felt at the baseline. I think some weight at the hoop might fix this issue but I think it was mainly low static and swing weight resulting in trouble blocking volleys.
• Serve Returns: Returning serves was very middle of the road, to be honest. I was able to hit good returns but needed some swing to hit decent returns back. On big first serves I had trouble just blocking the serves back with short backswings. Again, I think this was mainly due to the low static and swing weight just like with the volleys.
• Power/Control: The power level of the SX 300 was good and very typical of modern 300g Tweener frames. I would say the power level is similar to Head Extreme MP but lower than Babolats. The best feature of this racket was its controllable power. Not too much pop but was present when needed and control was better than most tweener frames.
• Topspin/Slice: Even though I'm not a heavy topspin player, I still like to use spin when on defensive and when I try to push my opponents back and add some variety to my shots. Hitting with heavy spin and shape with this racket was extremely easy. I like to use a lot of backhand slices when I play and the racket excelled in that category as well. The ball stayed low and really skidded off the court.
• Comfort: This racket felt very comfortable for a racket with a stiffness rating of 68. I can little bit of soreness when I am using rackets like Babolats and rackets with high 60's and low 70's RA but had no issues whatsoever.
• Feel: I really enjoyed the feel of the SX 300. The feel felt similar to graphene 360+ rackets. Not too muted either like a lot of rackets these days that feel like you are playing with 5 dampeners on the racket. The ball came off the strings really fast and I usually prefer those types of rackets over ones with too much pocketing and dwell time on the string.
• Maneuverability: My SX 300 came in close to 300g unstrung but was more headlight and had a lower swingweight than the ones listed on TW. This made the racket super maneuverable and easy to whip and go for winners. The maneuverability definitely helped get more topspin on the ball as well. Maneuverability helped the racket a lot at the baseline but not on the volleys (will go into this on the stability below)
• Stability: SX 300 was an odd racket when it came to stability. Like I mentioned above, the racket felt very stable for its weight class when hitting groundstrokes but up at the net, I was really struggling to hit half-decent volleys due to how unstable the racket felt. When the racket was swung fast, the racket felt stable but on shots that require more touch and small swings, the racket struggled to withstand any decent incoming pace. Again, I think with some weight, I'm sure this racket would perform better on the volleys but I didn't try customizing it due to how fast I was able to swing from the backcourt and I felt it might diminish its best attributes which is the maneuverability
• General Reactions/Comments: Overall, I think Dunlop did an excellent job at making this SX 300 racket and I think it will be a solid competitor in the 300g Tweener market. I'm usually very picky with rackets and how it performs. I either like it and am able to play decent tennis with it or I won't even give the racket a second look if I'm not quite feeling the racket. The SX 300 was a racket I could pick up start playing without having to adjust anything. I think any strong junior players and/or adult players that are a fan of the Pure Aeros but just want a more comfort/feel and controllable racket with a more predictable launch angle should seriously consider testing this racket out.
  
  I would like to give a big shoutout to Tennis Warehouse for having me on this playtest! It was a very fun playtest and I enjoyed hitting with the frame. Thank you for an awesome opportunity!

 

[Rohith Kolli]

SX 300 or SX 300 Tour?

Sorry, should have specified. I tested the sx 300 tour.

 

[Rohith Kolli]

Tour or regular 300?

Sorry, should have specified. Sx 300 Tour

 

[Rohith Kolli]

I suspect this one was the Tour

Yes that is correct. Edited my original post.

 

[SteveI]

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!

Nice work... Thanks for the great insights.

 

[DJTaurus]

Anyone to compare pa vs to SX 300 tour ?

 

[SteveI]

Anyone to compare pa vs to SX 300 tour ?

PA? State of Pennsylvania?

 

[DJTaurus]

PA? State of Pennsylvania?

Pure Aero VS

 

[Notorious_Junkballer]

Dunlop lists both of these models having an RA of 68 but TW lists the Tour as 66. How is it, is the Tour supposed to be a bit flexier?

 

[time_fly]

Dunlop lists both of these models having an RA of 68 but TW lists the Tour as 66. How is it, is the Tour supposed to be a bit flexier?

I didn’t notice any substantial difference between the two in terms of feeling the racquet flex at impact when I had my demos.

 

[Molk]

PA? State of Pennsylvania?

Comparing the Pure Aero to SX 300, the "flex" is a big part of "the secret sauce." I love the flex of the SX 300. It is predictable and makes the SX 300 "arm friendly." The Pure Aero seems stiffer to me. I am only going by, what I feel and not by the scientific numbers or "science." Yes, I know that SX 330 stiffness is 68 and Pure Aero is 67.
In TW, Michelle's words this is a very "geeky" subject that maybe she, Troy or Brittany could explain?

 

[Gemini]

I like that you included both (stock and modified) - Good review

@TennisHound --Thanks! My racquet came in a bit under spec. I have a Head racquet diagnostic center so I was able to get it pretty close to published spec. At published spec, the racquet really does shine. I think it would be a good alternative to the Pure Aero for the 3.5 to low 4.5 players at those specs. For heavy hitting above that, I think you the weight and swing weight would need to be bumped up just a bit to the upper to maybe 11.5-11.7 oz maybe just under 330 sw. Just my .02.

 

[TennisHound]

Anyone to compare pa vs to SX 300 tour ?

To me, the PAVS is dead feel and the SX is alive feel.

 

[IceBunDemon]

@TennisHound --Thanks! My racquet came in a bit under spec. I have a Head racquet diagnostic center so I was able to get it pretty close to published spec. At published spec, the racquet really does shine. I think it would be a good alternative to the Pure Aero for the 3.5 to low 4.5 players at those specs. For heavy hitting above that, I think you the weight and swing weight would need to be bumped up just a bit to the upper to maybe 11.5-11.7 oz maybe just under 330 sw. Just my .02.

Tennis warehouse says the average swing weight is 322 and the weight is 300. That's fairly in line with the pure aero. Some of the best players I've ever played with/against have used Aeros. I even knew a player who won a lower end professional tournament in Europe, and they used a stock 2016 Pure Aero. I'm not saying it's not a good idea to customise it, I mean I use a customised Pure Drive and I've been big on customisation for years, but it doesn't necessarily have to be like that for everyone. Unless this SX 300 is weirdly unstable in stock form at the spec it's supposed to be at (I've only tried it matched to my spec so far), it should also do fine in stock form unless the individual feels it needs more of something (of course, under spec ones would likely need to be bumped up if using at higher levels). Just putting my own two cents out there.

 

[IceBunDemon]

To me, the PAVS is dead feel and the SX is alive feel.

So you're saying the SX tour has more launch and, presumably, more power/ease of access to spin? Launch angle?

 

[TennisHound]

So you're saying the SX tour has more launch and, presumably, more power/ease of access to spin? Launch angle?

Yeah, I think so. The frame and string patterns play a big role in this.

I tried the Boom Pro again and both the PAVS and SXT feel more solid and have more stability.

 

[DJTaurus]

Yeah, I think so. The frame and string patterns play a big role in this.

I tried the Boom Pro again and both the PAVS and SXT feel more solid and have more stability.

Very interesting. I was also curious about boom pro. Can you tell us a few words in terms of free power, feel, stability and spin of boom pro compared to SX tour ? I loved PAVS in most of my shots except on my 1HB…. couldn’t gel with it and i wanted better feel for drop shots. Everywhere else it was top notch.

 

[TennisHound]

Very interesting. I was also curious about boom pro. Can you tell us a few words in terms of free power, feel, stability and spin of boom pro compared to SX tour ? I loved PAVS in most of my shots except on my 1HB…. couldn’t gel with it and i wanted better feel for drop shots. Everywhere else it was top notch.

On a scale of 1-10, SXT 7.5, PAVS 7, BP 6.5.

 

[DJTaurus]

On a scale of 1-10, SXT 7.5, PAVS 7, BP 6.5.

Which is your racquet of choice ?

 

[TennisHound]

Which is your racquet of choice ?

I prefer the SXT out of these. I would like a tighter string pattern in the SXT. Second would be the BP and then the PAVS.

But if I had to chose a 95-98 it would be a tossup over the Auxetic Prestige Tour vs V8 Blade 16x19.

 

[IceBunDemon]

Yeah, I think so. The frame and string patterns play a big role in this.

I tried the Boom Pro again and both the PAVS and SXT feel more solid and have more stability.

Yea on paper that's what I was thinking. But then again specs on paper can lie, so nice to get some feedback from users seeing as I haven't tried it myself yet. For instance, the pure aero Vs and the Tecnifibre Trebound 298 IGA (both customised) have around the same power level for me, despite the IGA having a higher stiffness and a thicker frame. And I found, all at same spec, that the pure drive Vs is more powerful than the IGA despite a lower stiffness and a thinner beam.

At this moment, I have three clear favourite 98's: pure aero Vs, vcore 98, and the Tecnifibre Trebound 298 IGA. I play a pressure baseline style with an emphasis on heavy RPMs so rackets like the standard SX 300, pure drive, pure aero, vcore 100, and the above 98's and so on suit my swing a lot. It sounds like the Dunlop SX 300 Tour will join that list for me. Thanks.

 

[DJTaurus]

Yea on paper that's what I was thinking. But then again specs on paper can lie, so nice to get some feedback from users seeing as I haven't tried it myself yet. For instance, the pure aero Vs and the Tecnifibre Trebound 298 IGA (both customised) have around the same power level for me, despite the IGA having a higher stiffness and a thicker frame. And I found, all at same spec, that the pure drive Vs is more powerful than the IGA despite a lower stiffness and a thinner beam.

At this moment, I have three clear favourite 98's: pure aero Vs, vcore 98, and the Tecnifibre Trebound 298 IGA. I play a pressure baseline style with an emphasis on heavy RPMs so rackets like the standard SX 300, pure drive, pure aero, vcore 100, and the above 98's and so on suit my swing a lot. It sounds like the Dunlop SX 300 Tour will join that list for me. Thanks.

Have you settled down between iga and Vs ?

 

[Gemini]

Tennis warehouse says the average swing weight is 322 and the weight is 300. That's fairly in line with the pure aero. Some of the best players I've ever played with/against have used Aeros. I even knew a player who won a lower end professional tournament in Europe, and they used a stock 2016 Pure Aero. I'm not saying it's not a good idea to customise it, I mean I use a customised Pure Drive and I've been big on customisation for years, but it doesn't necessarily have to be like that for everyone. Unless this SX 300 is weirdly unstable in stock form at the spec it's supposed to be at (I've only tried it matched to my spec so far), it should also do fine in stock form unless the individual feels it needs more of something (of course, under spec ones would likely need to be bumped up if using at higher levels). Just putting my own two cents out there.

Hi @IceBunDemon --

The SX 300 does play very stable in its published spec form. My wording may have been off as I should have used the word "might" want to customize to in the the upper 320s (topping out at 330). As you said, "unless the individual feels it needs something more."

 

[IceBunDemon]

Have you settled down between iga and Vs ?

I've actually gone back to my custom pure drives. However, I'm keeping my IGA's and Pure Aero VS as they are most certainly rackets I could go end up going back to. If I had to choose right now between the IGA and the pure aero Vs though I think I'd choose the IGA. Similar pop but has a nicer feel at contact and easier spin potential and height/launch angle. However, I find the Aero VS to be better at being more aggressive with my targeting and finishing points quickly than all of my favourites at the moment, which is why I very nearly made it my racket at the start of January. I look forward to testing the SX 300 tour to see what it brings to the table for me personally. The standard sx 300 but at my spec has been truly impressive so I have high expectations for the tour as well.

 

[badmice2]

@TWStaff - Apologies on the late post; hopefully worth the wait


Dunlop SX 300 Tour Playtest Review 2022

String and tension used for test: RPM Blast 1.20mm @ 52lbs

Tennis experience/background: Competitive 4.0/4.5 in Norcal league. I'm a stringer for a circle of league players as well as several junior college players in my area. PTR L2.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): One handed backhand, all court game with a heavy serve + forehand to setting up my patterns. I have a decent net game that's translatable to strong doubles play.

Current racquet/string setups: 3x Head Gravity MP in stock form. Go to string is a toss between RPM Blast 1.20mm and Volkl Cyclone 1.20mm. I'm also toying with RPM soft @ 1.25, Isospeed Baseline Speed at 1.20

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 25 hours in all


General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Several years ago I moved completely away from player rackets as age caught up to me (approaching mid 40s). I was fortunate enough to playtest last iteration of the Dunlop SX 300, which in certain way, player very modern to the Gravity MP - lighter (~11oz strung), head heavier (2-4 pts headlight), and larger/beefier frame (100 sq in). This SX 300 Tour playtest, on the flip side, turned back my clock. This is a solid player frame with many up-side for competitive players who can generate their own pace, control oriented, racket. From the touch it held and swung slightly beefier and steadier Prostaff 97 v13 (non RF), a bit more swing weight than the Head Radical Graphene360 MP, a more compact version of a Babolat Pure Strike 16x19. While the color choice is bold, the racket delivers a classic touch and feel vibe which brings instant memory of an Original Prostaff 95, 200G Hotmelt, or Yonex RDS 001.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):

-Groundstrokes: Solid, but bring your own pace. While the racket came in with a 325 swing weight, the sweet spot was relatively small. When you can delivery the ball through the sweet spot, the ball will travel well. Any off-center hits, expect it to fall short. From the ground it has excellent directional control without feel like a log. I was able to deliver pin point accuracy with various cross court and down the line short. Stability was a non issue given the relatively high static / swing weight + open string bed.
-Serves: This was the biggest trouble area for me. The smaller sweet spot robbed me of power. While i can deliver some punch through general fluid motion, it does not deliver enough punch to get depth in the box. Swing hard? Risk over sending the ball. Spin up? The ball may kick, but lands shallow and travels to your opponent's wheel house. Finding balance with the serve took several sessions for me; even then, I didn't feel confident.

-Volleys: Personally, this was where the racket shinned. I had a Head Prestige Classic Mid 600 volleys moment - on command, effortless. The frame was stable from hard hit shots, minimal twists with off center contact, just overall solid.

-Serve returns: Similar to groundstrokes feedback, on center - pack with punches; off center - get ready for the reply. Need some depth? Higher net clearance, take the racket back sooner, or beef up. I do enjoy the stability on returning a speedy serve, I don't worry too much about my hands getting wobbly.

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control- Without a question control is the #1 highlight in my book. I can take reasonable big wind up and delivery a fair amount of margin. On the flip side, it lacks tremendous amount of power (not that I was expecting). This was the complete opposite from the previous SX300 playtest.

Top Spin/Slice - The open string pattern with the thin gauge provided a generous launch angle for top spin. This perhaps is another under rated feature to this racket. Top spin was heavy to the returner's touch (according to my hitting partners). On slices, the ball was bitting the strings really well.
Comfort- Overall feedback: Meh. I had a hard time deciding my comfort to this frame. On good days, the racket was plush to swing; the high RDC provides a firm punch with the harsh rattle to the elbow. On other days, I crave for the buttery feel to yesteryear classic favorites - it would've made this stick legandary.

Feel- Thank goodness it was not hallow! I was anticipating the former SX300, where it felt hallow like the Prostaff 97 v13. The build was solid!

Maneuverability- Given this was 6pt headlight, no problem whatsoever. It swings speedy light through the air on groundies. Diving for volleys was a joy. Although as perviously mentioned, controlling serve swings were a bit of issue (maybe a few grams on the throat will help?).

Stability - My top spin backhand is my crappiest shot in my toolset - I frame a lot. Therefore if there were stability issues to any frames, it will be the most telling on that wing. With that said, racket twisting were minimal even through human errors (framing), I was still able to drive through my shots - firm and stable.

Overall, if i can turn back the clock a few years, I would give this stick a serious go as my go-to. Thin gauge strings will bring you tons of life and feel to the racket; lower tension will likely buy you some cheap power. I would stick to softer poly for strings to add some comfort to offset the stiffness.

 

[TennisHound]

The SX300 Tour reminds me of the Prince Beast 98 - wider beam, open string pattern and pretty HL. The head is narrower, but a lot of similarities.

 

[Matthew Lee]

Played against someone at a higher level than me and I can really feel the weight lacking with the SX 300 Tour. Time for some lead tape under the handle and a bit at the head.

There ain't nothing lead tape can't fix

 

[IceBunDemon]

Further reflections on standard SX 300 but at my custom spec.

I will just compare the SX 300 to the Pure Aero here, a racket I'm sure most tennis players beyond a certain stage in their personal tennis journey have tried at some point, and a racket that, if you're here to get an idea of the standard SX 300, I'd say there's a good chance you're using the Aero or use something similar or want to switch to something like it (or perhaps you just love testing rackets for the fun of it). These two rackets are so similar that I have a hard time thinking of another two rackets that are so close in performance (my personal take, so important to remember it's not necessarily what you may find to be the case as we're all different).

My impressions:

- PA has more power on serve (distinct advantage)
- PA has slight edge at net
- PA has similar to ever so slightly better spin access, but very close (launch angle as well)
- PA has a slightly more powerful feeling on groundstrokes
- PA slightly more stable, but not much in it
- SX 300 has a more consistent response, as in its stringbed is more predictable and controlled
- SX 300 feels and sounds way nicer (plusher)
- SX 300 feels way softer and more comfortable than its RA (if someone told me this was 64 RA and not it's listed 68 RA I'd believe them)
- SX 300, again, looks way better and has a much nicer quality of paint as well
- SX 300 sweetspot maybe slightly better

Using Tennis Warehouse review points, this would be my review for the Pure Aero and then the SX 300. I play a modern topspin baseline game with a full western forehand.

Pure Aero:

Groundstrokes 91
Volleys 87
Serves 89
Returns 84
Power 88
Control 85
Maneuverability 84
Stability 86
Comfort 83
Touch/Feel 82
Topspin 98
Slice 86
Overall 87


Dunlop SX 300 2022

Groundstrokes 90
Volleys 85
Serves 85
Returns 84
Power 87
Control 88
Maneuverability 84
Stability 85
Comfort 88
Touch/Feel 83
Topspin 96
Slice 85
Overall 87

My personal conclusion:

The Pure Aero is perhaps a slightly better option for an advanced competitive player who is very focused on power and spin and pushing opponents back/opening up the court and serving big and finishing points at the net. A slightly better option in my opinion. It's close enough though that I think you could just pick based on brand preferences, whichever is cheaper where you are, and/or whichever looks better to you.

The SX 300 is a better option for a player that loves the Pure Aero but seeks a more consistent response from the stringbed, which can apply to any level. I know I'd be more confident with the SX 300 under pressure in more intense rallies where mistakes are more costly. It's also a better option for those that want a pure aero but would prefer a softer and more comfortable feeling version. This racket could be rebranded as a Babolat Pure Aero Soft .

 

[SteveI]

Further reflections on standard SX 300 but at my custom spec.

I will just compare the SX 300 to the Pure Aero here, a racket I'm sure most tennis players beyond a certain stage in their personal tennis journey have tried at some point, and a racket that, if you're here to get an idea of the standard SX 300, I'd say there's a good chance you're using the Aero or use something similar or want to switch to something like it (or perhaps you just love testing rackets for the fun of it). These two rackets are so similar that I have a hard time thinking of another two rackets that are so close in performance (my personal take, so important to remember it's not necessarily what you may find to be the case as we're all different).

My impressions:

- PA has more power on serve (distinct advantage)
- PA has slight edge at net
- PA has similar to ever so slightly better spin access, but very close (launch angle as well)
- PA has a slightly more powerful feeling on groundstrokes
- PA slightly more stable, but not much in it
- SX 300 has a more consistent response, as in its stringbed is more predictable and controlled
- SX 300 feels and sounds way nicer (plusher)
- SX 300 feels way softer and more comfortable than its RA (if someone told me this was 64 RA and not it's listed 68 RA I'd believe them)
- SX 300, again, looks way better and has a much nicer quality of paint as well
- SX 300 sweetspot maybe slightly better

Using Tennis Warehouse review points, this would be my review for the Pure Aero and then the SX 300. I play a modern topspin baseline game with a full western forehand.

Pure Aero:

Groundstrokes 91
Volleys 87
Serves 89
Returns 84
Power 88
Control 85
Maneuverability 84
Stability 86
Comfort 83
Touch/Feel 82
Topspin 98
Slice 86
Overall 87


Dunlop SX 300 2022

Groundstrokes 90
Volleys 85
Serves 85
Returns 84
Power 87
Control 88
Maneuverability 84
Stability 85
Comfort 88
Touch/Feel 83
Topspin 96
Slice 85
Overall 87

My personal conclusion:

The Pure Aero is perhaps a slightly better option for an advanced competitive player who is very focused on power and spin and pushing opponents back/opening up the court and serving big and finishing points at the net. A slightly better option in my opinion. It's close enough though that I think you could just pick based on brand preferences, whichever is cheaper where you are, and/or whichever looks better to you.

The SX 300 is a better option for a player that loves the Pure Aero but seeks a more consistent response from the stringbed, which can apply to any level. I know I'd be more confident with the SX 300 under pressure in more intense rallies where mistakes are more costly. It's also a better option for those that want a pure aero but would prefer a softer and more comfortable feeling version. This racket could be rebranded as a Babolat Pure Aero Soft .

Really Nice insights. Did you include what your final specs after mods on the SX300 non-tour? I love the "rebranded as a Babolat Pure Aero Soft" .

I loved the SX300 over the Pure Aero. The SX300 was so easy to use. I would have liked a slightly less firm RA... but that is what I am used to and my arm/elbow/shoulder is much happier about 64 and lower. I also stated that I am pretty sure the frame I play-tested was even easier to use since it was a couple of point more HL and the SW was much easier for me handle than the TW listed SW. I was never late with this frame and in fact I was a bit early at times. I wish I had an accurate way to measure SW.
Thanks again for your detailed write-ups and comments. I have played Dunlops for many years and this one seems like a winner to me.

 

[IceBunDemon]

Really Nice insights. Did you include what your final specs after mods on the SX300 non-tour? I love the "rebranded as a Babolat Pure Aero Soft" .

I loved the SX300 over the Pure Aero. The SX300 was so easy to use. I would have liked a slightly less firm RA... but that is what I am used to and my arm/elbow/shoulder is much happier about 64 and lower. I also stated that I am pretty sure the frame I play-tested was even easier to use since it was a couple of point more HL and the SW was much easier for me handle than the TW listed SW. I was never late with this frame and in fact I was a bit early at times. I wish I had an accurate way to measure SW.
Thanks again for your detailed write-ups and comments. I have played Dunlops for many years and this one seems like a winner to me.

Modified specs of my Dunlop SX 300 2022 (strung):
330g. 33cm balance. 334 swing weight.

String:
Signum Pro Firestorm 125 @ 40lbs.

Level:
5.0/5.5

Style:
Aggressive topspin baseliner with a full western grip on the forehand. Modern topspin one handed backhand.

Current setup:
Modified Pure Drive.
Signum Pro Firestorm 125 @ 40lbs.

I had five measured before I took one and the specs were all over the place. Nothing unusual really as its like this generally, but my point is that quality control is a factor in this sense when it comes to performance. Sounds like maybe you got a lower spec one with the swing weight, although I have to say, as I think I've said already, that this is a really whippy frame for its class, much like the pure aero. It cuts through the air very nicely indeed, making it feel lighter than it is.

Yes, I'd say this is a winner from Dunlop in terms of performance. I only hope it has sales numbers worthy of that after this gen has run its course (sadly, it probably won't).

I think it was a good idea to up the RA and generally make it more powerful and spinny than the previous version, seeing how they're after the modern player with this one. Young modern players now typically like stiffer frames with more power and spin potential etc. With the high RA I was expecting a much stiffer response but it actually feels soft for this class and quality of frame. So yea, Pure Aero Soft pretty much sums up my thoughts on it. I wonder if it's too close to the Pure Aero in appearance and performance (although it looks way better in my opinion and performs just as well) to really tempt enough people to give Dunlop a go, for players who are using the more popular brands that is, but just from my perspective it's a racket than I have enjoyed playing with and I'd highly recommend it to players seeking what it has to offer.

 

[Molk]

Further reflections on standard SX 300 but at my custom spec.

I will just compare the SX 300 to the Pure Aero here, a racket I'm sure most tennis players beyond a certain stage in their personal tennis journey have tried at some point, and a racket that, if you're here to get an idea of the standard SX 300, I'd say there's a good chance you're using the Aero or use something similar or want to switch to something like it (or perhaps you just love testing rackets for the fun of it). These two rackets are so similar that I have a hard time thinking of another two rackets that are so close in performance (my personal take, so important to remember it's not necessarily what you may find to be the case as we're all different).

My impressions:

- PA has more power on serve (distinct advantage)
- PA has slight edge at net
- PA has similar to ever so slightly better spin access, but very close (launch angle as well)
- PA has a slightly more powerful feeling on groundstrokes
- PA slightly more stable, but not much in it
- SX 300 has a more consistent response, as in its stringbed is more predictable and controlled
- SX 300 feels and sounds way nicer (plusher)
- SX 300 feels way softer and more comfortable than its RA (if someone told me this was 64 RA and not it's listed 68 RA I'd believe them)
- SX 300, again, looks way better and has a much nicer quality of paint as well
- SX 300 sweetspot maybe slightly better

Using Tennis Warehouse review points, this would be my review for the Pure Aero and then the SX 300. I play a modern topspin baseline game with a full western forehand.

Pure Aero:

Groundstrokes 91
Volleys 87
Serves 89
Returns 84
Power 88
Control 85
Maneuverability 84
Stability 86
Comfort 83
Touch/Feel 82
Topspin 98
Slice 86
Overall 87


Dunlop SX 300 2022

Groundstrokes 90
Volleys 85
Serves 85
Returns 84
Power 87
Control 88
Maneuverability 84
Stability 85
Comfort 88
Touch/Feel 83
Topspin 96
Slice 85
Overall 87

My personal conclusion:

The Pure Aero is perhaps a slightly better option for an advanced competitive player who is very focused on power and spin and pushing opponents back/opening up the court and serving big and finishing points at the net. A slightly better option in my opinion. It's close enough though that I think you could just pick based on brand preferences, whichever is cheaper where you are, and/or whichever looks better to you.

The SX 300 is a better option for a player that loves the Pure Aero but seeks a more consistent response from the stringbed, which can apply to any level. I know I'd be more confident with the SX 300 under pressure in more intense rallies where mistakes are more costly. It's also a better option for those that want a pure aero but would prefer a softer and more comfortable feeling version. This racket could be rebranded as a Babolat Pure Aero Soft .

Very insightful and well stated!

 

[time_fly]

I caved. I have a new SX 300 Tour arriving tomorrow. For now I bought only one; going to give it a longer test ride next to my first-gen SX 300s and see if I want to switch. I do also have a 1st gen SX 300 Tour for comparison, although honestly I use that less than the regular SX because it feels like a lot of the extra weight is in the head.

 

[time_fly]

Specs came in at 309g unstrung, 9pts HL. Seems like maybe a bit of extra weight in the handle out of the gate, but I'm fine with those numbers. Will string with Confidential and give it a go this evening.

 

[IceBunDemon]

Specs came in at 309g unstrung, 9pts HL. Seems like maybe a bit of extra weight in the handle out of the gate, but I'm fine with those numbers. Will string with Confidential and give it a go this evening.

The thread has gone silent but I at least am interested in your thoughts on the tour. If possible, any comparisons to rackets in its class would be appreciated.

 

[badmice2]

The thread has gone silent but I at least am interested in your thoughts on the tour. If possible, any comparisons to rackets in its class would be appreciated.

closest thing in my book is probably a prostaff 97 or a pure strike; though the sweet spot is likely closer to a Prostaff - smaller and less forgiving.

 

[time_fly]

The thread has gone silent but I at least am interested in your thoughts on the tour. If possible, any comparisons to rackets in its class would be appreciated.

Sure thing. I just discovered I am out of Confidential and I strung it with Kirschbaum Xplosive for now. I did hit briefly with it once but want to try a few more sessions before commenting. Unfortunately I have a ton of USTA matches this weekend so I don't want to mess too much with a different frame until I am past that.

 

[time_fly]

So I played my USTA matches this weekend using my normal 1st gen SX 300s and I cracked one clashing with my partner’s frame on a high volley. Figures. I guess I might be switching to the new version sooner than I thought. The old ones are surprisingly hard to find … Dunlop did a good job selling them all before rolling out the new ones.