Since partnering with racquet maker Srixon, Dunlop has returned to its roots of producing a strong lineup of control oriented, player frames. For players seeking traditional levels of control and feel in a faster, easier to use setup, there is the new Dunlop Srixon Revo CX 2.0 LS. While built with classic specs like a 98 inch head and 21/21/20mm beam, this model also boasts state of the art manufacturing. The hoop leverages a blend of silicone and urethane known as Sonic Core for more dwell time and energy return. Synchro Charge graphite is more elastic and improves feel and stability off center. Dunlop also looks to improve comfort by using its vibration absorbing HR grommets. I was eager to see how all the innovations would work in this lighter, faster version of a player oriented racquet.

Groundstrokes
Similar to the heavier versions of the CX lineup, the 2.0 LS emphasized control over outright power from the baseline. The 10.7oz strung weight and 21/21/20mm beam offered reasonable power but wasn’t anything that blew my opponents off the court. The headlight nature allowed me to generate high levels of racquet head speed in an effort to add more pace to my groundstrokes. What I couldn’t get with power, this racquet made up for with excellent precision. I was able to utilize pinpoint targeting to hit tight windows and aggressive targets consistently. Spin production was solid from the 16x19 string pattern on this model. I was able to utilize topspin to improve the depth of my shots since the low power level left more balls short. I added plenty of margin, especially on the backhand side, and then used the racquet’s solid control to flatten out a short ball whenever I could. Stability was a bit weaker than the 2.0 and 2.0 Tour models and I felt more flutter when I was trying to fend off big hitting opponents. Players used to this weight class should find decent stability but more advanced players would likely customize to improve the racquet’s stability.

Volleys & Serves
I loved volleying with the CX lineup and the 2.0 LS was no different. A headlight, 98 inch head is my day to day frame I felt right at home at the net with this racquet. The lower power and weight of this model did make me have to attack volleys as aggressively as possible. Anything I wasn’t fully committed to drifted a bit more and gave opponents another shot at the ball due to the reduced mass. The outstanding control of the frame ensured I could put volleys on a dime and create all the angles needed to put opponents on the run. Touch and drop volleys were also supremely enjoyable with the CX2.0 LS. The added flex and soft feel gave me the confidence to lightly drop the ball over the net and drive people crazy with volleys that would die right after crossing the net.

Serving with the Revo CX 2.0 LS was like real estate: location, location, location. Even though the racquet accelerated well through contact, there just wasn’t enough mass to make flat serves as dangerous as they were with heavier models. While I found adequate pace, my flat serve just did not penetrate the court enough to truly do damage and win me free points. Rather than trying to muscle big serves out, I focused on using the racquet’s excellent control to my advantage. I was able to target any location in the box consistently and the volume of targets I had available was what paid dividends. The 16x19 pattern provided enough spin for me to mix spin serves into my arsenal. While kick serves didn’t explode like they did with “tweener” frames, I was able to get the ball moving enough to give me some weak replies that I could attack. Regardless of the type of serve, I was at my most dangerous when I emphasized the location of the serve and attacked behind strong spot serving.

Feel/Comfort
The Revo CX 2.0 LS exhibited the same outstanding, classic feel of the rest of the CX model line. The mid 60s RA flex and thinner beam had a clean feel and offered a high dose of ball pocketing. Having played for years with similar frames, it was great to hit a current frame that offered that same level of feel and flex. The power level dropped noticeably on off center contact but the feel itself stayed consistent. I didn’t experience any comfort ssues with the 2.0 LS. I haven’t been a fan of all the extremely muted frames coming out recently so I thought the Sonic Core filled hoop of this racquet struck a nice balance of dampening vibrations while still allowing me to feel the ball. Any comfort issues with this frame would likely arise from technique issues or something preexisting. Players should be able to utilize any string type and configuration in this racquet without creating comfort problems.

Overall
Fans of traditional player frames have a renaissance option in the Dunlop Srixon Revo CX family. As the lightest in the range, the 2.0 LS offers all of the control and feel of the heavier versions in a package that is easy to swing and supremely maneuverable. While it won’t hit anyone off the court with raw power, the Dunlop Srixon Revo CX 2.0 LS provides precise targeting, solid spin and excellent touch for all court attacking in a racquet that is light enough to be used by a wide variety of players.

About the Reviewer: Matt Locke currently serves as the Junior Programs & Development Coordinator for USTA-Idaho and is an active USTA League and Tournament player.