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The Dunlop FX racquets are built for tennis players who want extra power. Dunlop has several versions of the FX racquet so that beginners, intermediate players, and advanced players alike can all find one with the specs they like.
Below, we’ll review each of the Dunlop FX tennis racquets and suggest the best alternatives to help you find the racquet that best fits you.
Review Summary & Ratings for the Dunlop FX Racquets
Overall, the Dunlop FX is a great racquet for intermediate players, providing plenty of power to help with deep groundstrokes.
See our ratings, plus the pros and cons of the Dunlop FX below for a quick glance at how it performs compared to other tennis racquets.
Our Ratings for the Dunlop FX
- Power: 9
- Control: 6
- Spin: 8
- Serve: 8
- Return: 7
- Groundstrokes: 8
- Volleys: 6
- Price: $$$
Pros
- Very powerful
- Solid spin potential
- Easy depth
- Great for intermediate players
Cons
- Not arm-friendly
- Higher launch angle than normal
Different Versions of the Dunlop FX Racquet
The Dunlop FX comes in several versions varying in weight, head size, and string pattern so players at different levels who want a powerful racquet can all find one that fits their level.
We will review each version in more detail below.
Dunlop FX 500: A Solid Racquet for Power
We’ll start with the standard version, the Dunlop FX 500. Below are the specifications and on-court performance you should expect from this racquet.
Dunlop FX 500 Specifications
- Weight: 11.3 ounces strung
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- Length: 27 inches
- Stiffness: 69
- Balance: 330.2 mm
- String Pattern: 16×19
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Groundstrokes: Effortless Depth
The first thing you notice with the Dunlop FX 500 is the higher launch angle giving you easy depth on your groundstrokes. While the depth is nice, it does take a little adjusting to the higher launch angle if you’re used to creating your own depth. Once you adjust though, the FX 500 provides plenty of power to control the point.
The power also made this racquet great on defense, providing extra depth when in difficult situations. However, it also made it more difficult to keep the ball in the court when flattening out my forehand and backhand. Particularly in doubles, the launch angle on this racquet made the ball go higher over the net making it more susceptible to my opponents poaching if I wasn’t careful.
Serves: Superb Power and Decent Spin
The Dunlop FX 500 is a great serving racquet. It provides plenty of pop and the higher launch angle helps provide depth on second serves. This racquet doesn’t provide the pinpoint accuracy of the Dunlop CX 200, but it does provide a few extra miles per hour instead. The spin on my kick and slice serves was slightly above average as well, making it one of the better racquets for serving available.
Volleys: Decent Stability but Not Where it Shines
Volleys with the Dunlop FX 500 were just okay. The stiff nature gave it decent stability on off-center hits. However, the racquet was not the most maneuverable at the net and didn’t have very good touch. I wouldn’t recommend this racquet to players whose game relies heavily on their volleys.
Returns: Great Defense, Lacking Control on Offense
Returning with the Dunlop FX 500 was a mixed bag. When facing big servers, this racquet provides the stability and depth needed to keep the points starting in a fairly neutral position. However, when swinging out on softer serves, this racquet loses some control. It would benefit from the same spin-generation of the Dunlop SX 300 to keep the balls from sailing long.
Overall, the FX 500 Provides Exceptional Power for Intermediate Players
Overall, the Dunlop FX 500 is a very solid power racquet. Intermediate players who want a little extra oomph on their serves and groundstrokes should definitely give this racquet a try. If this sounds like you, we also recommend looking at some of the best tennis racquets for power.
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Other Racquets in the Dunlop FX Line
| FX 500 Tour | FX 500 LS | FX 500 Lite | FX 700 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smaller 98 square inch head size and lower stiffness of 65. | Lighter 10.6 ounce weight and higher 334.8mm balance point. | Even lighter 10.0 ounce weight. | Larger 107 square inch head size and longer 27.5 inch length. |
| Increased control and feel. | Easier to swing. | Greater maneuverability | Increased power and forgiveness. |
| Retains power in a more arm-friendly frame. | Maintains power with an overall lighter racquet. | Better for slower swings | Lower maneuverability. |
| Great for intermediate and advanced players. | Rising intermediate players who need something a little lighter. | Beginners who want something powerful and spin-friendly. | Beginner to intermediate players who want the extra power and stability of a larger head size. |
| Buy the Dunlop FX 500 Tour on Tennis Warehouse | Buy the Dunlop FX 500 LS on Tennis Warehouse | Buy the Dunlop FX 500 Lite on Tennis Warehouse | Buy the Dunlop FX 700 on Tennis Warehouse |
Who Should Use the Dunlop FX Line of Racquets?
Thanks to the several different versions of the Dunlop FX line of racquets, beginners and advanced players alike can find one that fits their level. It is also one of the best tennis racquets for women on the market right now.
Players who enjoy getting extra power from their racquet should consider trying out the Dunlop FX.
- The FX 500 Tour will be best utilized by intermediate to advanced players wanting a powerful racquet that’s not too stiff.
- The FX 500 and FX 500 LS are a little easier to use and will be enjoyed by intermediate players still building up their swing speed.
- Dunlop also has the FX 500 Lite and FX 700 for beginners or those who want the forgiveness and power of a larger head size.
Best Alternatives to the Dunlop FX Tennis Racquets
Below are several tennis racquets similar to the Dunlop FX line of racquets:
- Babolat Pure Drive – One of the most popular racquets out there with a little more power.
- Wilson Ultra – A slightly stiffer offering from Wilson.
- Solinco Blackout – A more arm-friendly racquet from a newer racquet brand.
- Yonex Ezone – A more forgiving alternative with Yonex’s unique isometric head shape.
My Experience Playing with the Dunlop FX
I played with the Dunlop FX 500 practicing both singles and doubles and during a doubles match.
The Power of the FX was Fantastic
Powerful racquets like the Dunlop FX 500 can be addictive when you first pick them up. I really enjoyed the easy depth I received from the very first shot. I really enjoyed hitting big serves with this racquet as well. While my control suffered a little, I didn’t mind thanks to the extra miles per hour this racquet added to my serve.
The FX Doesn’t Excel in Touch or Feel
While I really enjoyed hitting groundstrokes and serves with this racquet, I didn’t feel very connected to it when it came to shots that rely more on touch, such as volleys and drop shots. It worked well on quick reaction volleys thanks to its stability, but when I wanted to finesse my shots, I just couldn’t hit them as well as I normally do.
The FX was a Mixed Bag on the Return
The doubles team I played against with the FX 500 just so happened to have one very strong server and one with a weaker serve. I actually returned better against the better server with this racquet. When I was outstretched or jammed, the power of the FX 500 came in handy allowing me to still get the ball deep. When the weaker server came up, I began to lose control, hitting a lot of balls beyond the baseline when I tried to play aggressively.
Overall, I recommend the Dunlop FX 500 for intermediate players looking for extra power from their racquet.
The Dunlop FX line as a whole is a racquet line for players at all levels who love power. They perform best hitting groundstrokes and serves. To get the most out of this racquet, I would pair it with one of the best tennis strings, particularly one that is shaped or textured, to increase the spin potential.
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