Intro

Introducing the Dunlop SX 300 Tour. At 10.9 ounces unstrung, it’s the heaviest of the new SX Series. This racquet features an open 16 x 19 string pattern and uses a variable 23-26-23 millimeter beam for greater power and forgiveness. Like other members of the SX group, the 300 Tour has Spin Boost Grommets and Sonic Core technology with Infinergy to ensure explosiveness and a comfortable hitting response.

The 300 Tour also comes with Dunlop’s new PowerGrid String Tech system, which showcases wider crosses in the upper tier of the stringbed, producing a friendly, responsive feel on balls hit in this area. Since I typically use a lighter racquet, I was curious to see how the 300 Tour would play.

Groundstrokes

I immediately noticed the extra mass and power on display from the baseline. It took some time for me to get used to the heavier swing weight (336) of the SX 300 Tour. I was lacking a bit of touch and feel on my forehands, but on the backhand side, I generated tons of spin and depth. In fact, my topspin backhands pushed my opponent far back without much effort.

When I needed to block the ball back, I felt that the SX 300 Tour was solid and stable. It allowed me to defend against pace, and my defense could quickly transition to offense because of this frame’s natural power. At times, I was able to crank a passing shot down the line to win the point.

Volleys

The SX 300 Tour played solid at the net. The ball seemed to fire off the stringbed, but I could manage the power on volleys and execute with precision. What stood out to me was the delicate touch this racquet has, especially on short volleys. I used a loose grip and allowed lots of give on the racquet, which dropped the ball just a few feet from the net, out of my opponent’s reach. Most punch and drive volleys felt firm and precise, producing enough backspin to land in the court. When I wanted to hit a target, I had easy directional control with this racquet.

Serves

With this stick, I discovered sensational power on my flat first serves and strong spin on my second serves. However, I’d say it’s better on flat serves than it is on kick or slice serves. The pop you get really is remarkable, and the frame will benefit experienced players with aggressive serves who can swing the racquet head fast. It’s especially good for those who have big second serves.

Overall

While I could generate spin from anywhere on the court, the Dunlop SX 300 Tour is a bit too heavy and powerful for my taste. I prefer a slightly lighter frame that has more control. However, this racquet is a unique weapon for advanced or strong intermediate players. It has a firm, precise feel at net and exhibits a graceful touch on drop volleys. Plus, it provides extreme pop on flat serves and benefits those who have a big second serve. If you’re a big aggressive hitter who strikes the ball with a long swing, you should demo the SX 300 Tour.

NOTE: I playtested this racquet using Dunlop Silk Pro strung at 55 lbs.

About the Reviewer: Chris Griesedieck played high school tennis in the St. Louis area and competed in USTA junior tournaments in the Missouri Valley section. Today he is an active 4.5 USTA tournament player and is a PTR certified coach.