If you are already making a solid power oriented racquet line and an outstanding control oriented series, what’s the only logical thing left to do? Players looking for a fast blend of power and control should take a strong look at the new Dunlop Srixon Revo CZ 100S. On this racquet, Dunlop uses a Z-Fusion frame design with a control minded box beam throat and a power focused rounded hoop beam. Synchro Charge carbon in the hoop gives the frame better vibration dampening and stability off center. The hoop also uses Sonic Core VG, a blend of rubber, silicone and urethane. This provides additional dampening as well as higher energy return on contact. The drill pattern also uses their Straight String System, for more comfort and string movement (spin!). With this racquet focused on not making me choose between power and control, I was looking forward to taking it out for a hit and seeing how it performed.

Groundstrokes
Much like its CZ 98D brother, the 100S was incredibly fast off the ground. The 10.5oz strung weight and headlight balance made it easy to whip the frame through contact, ratcheting up the pace from both sides. The firmly built 23/24/22mm beam offered solid power on tap at all times and I was able to hit winners from both wings. With all that power readily available, I was impressed by the amount of control I had over. Depth was easy to create without over hitting and there was enough accuracy to go for the lines reliably. The open 16x18 string pattern made adding spin to any stroke a breeze. I was able to get impressive lift on my backhand, use spin to pull the ball down at the baseline and put air under defensive shots so I could reset the point. The racquet struggled a bit more against bigger hitters where the lack of mass reared its head. Intermediate players should be comfortable with the stability level but more advanced hitters would likely need a bit more mass to keep pace.

Volleys & Serves
Speed and offense were the hallmarks of volleying with the Revo CZ 100S. It felt incredibly quick to maneuver and was consistently in the right spot on time, ready to play an aggressive ball. It was a snap to use the frame’s power to end points at the net and I punished anything left sitting up for me. The slightly larger head gave me a bit more reach and forgiveness on volleys I was stretched out for. The control of the 100S was on display again at the front of the court. The ball was easy to direct around the court without floating it or over hitting it long. I also found success creating angles to move opponents off the court. The racquet could have used a bit more mass to deflect hard hit balls but overall it had enough stability to stay in the majority of exchanges at the net.

The Revo CZ 100S continued to display its versatility on serves. Its easy swinging nature provided plenty of racquet head speed for serving with pace. The mid level weight and firm beam gave it enough pop to snag some free points with flat serves that came in fast. The accessible pace paired well with the solid accuracy the frame had. I could easily go from hitting serves out wide to slamming one down the T. M y spin serves also benefitted from the open 16x18 pattern and easy acceleration. My favorite second serve was hitting a kick that bounced up to shoulder height on opponents, making it difficult for them to return aggressively. I wanted a bit more mass to keep my slice serve really low but overall it tailed away well enough to give me plenty of looks at an open court to hit to.

Feel/Comfort
Just like it blended the performance attributes of other Dunlop lines, the Revo CZ 100S combined their feel characteristics as well. There was a firm but not harsh feel on contact with just a little bit of flex from the box beam throat design. The dampening technologies utilized gave a clean response across the string bed with only a small increase in brassiness at the edges of the hoop. The Dunlop CX line was still the most comfort oriented but the CZ 100S acquitted itself well in the comfort category. The combo of Sonic Core and Synchro Charge materials soaked up vibrations without muting out the feedback I wanted in order to know what the ball was doing as it came off the string bed. If paired with softer strings and lower tensions, the 100S should be playable for many players, even those with more sensitive arms.

Overall
Dunlop is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to gain back market share in the racquet industry. The Revo CZ 100S is another high quality offering with properties that should appeal to a wide audience. It has plenty of power from the baseline but can also transition to the net with ease. With a surprising amount of control and responsiveness, the Dunlop Srixon Revo CZ100S is a great choice for players who want power and control without sacrificing either but need it in a setup that is easy to swing and highly maneuverable.

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.