DUNLOP LAUNCHES NEW SX SERIES RACKET RANGE
Performance racket range features unique SPIN BOOST technology to enhance spin and deliver industry-leading control and consistency
27th September 2019, Tokyo – Dunlop has unveiled its new SX Series range of rackets, the most advanced range of spin rackets available on the market.
Comprising of five premium performance tennis rackets, the SX Series is the first range to feature Dunlop’s innovative SPIN BOOST technology, which provides players with more spin and significantly increased control and accuracy, allowing them to play spin shots with more confidence.
Dunlop’s global research and development team found that with players hitting harder shots faster than ever, spin is increasingly being used to combat speed and keep the ball ‘in’ when returning aggressive shots. To effectively utilise spin, Dunlop found that players need a more forgiving racket that not only provides more spin, but more control and consistency on off-centre shots.
The SX Series was thoroughly tested by Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) in Kobe, Japan, with the rackets demonstrating 3% more spin and 13% more consistent ball trajectory than its previous spin racket series.
“The SX Series is a result of tireless work by our global research and development team,” said Masahiro Asahino, Head of Tennis Division for SRI. “The end product is a range of spin rackets redefined for the modern game with players benefiting from increased consistency and control. Spin is a significant part of tennis at all levels but it’s not just about more spin, it’s about being able to achieve consistency in your play and the testing has shown that the new technology in these rackets essentially means that your net just got lower and your court just got bigger by delivering more consistent shot trajectory.”
“The SX Series will allow players to express themselves by playing with more consistency,” added Patrick Mouratoglou, Dunlop Global ambassador, founder of the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy and coach of Serena Williams. “Spin is a hugely significant part of any tennis player’s game and the SX Series provides them with a more balanced racket to play spin more effectively. The Sx Series helps you gain control through spin. Thanks to a larger sweetspot, it gives you extra power and extra forgiveness. You need to be able to trust your racket and the SX Series gives you the assurance that you have a racket which plays exactly how you want on every shot.”
The SX Series follows the release of the CX Series racket range in 2019, which focused on providing players with increased control. The name reflects Dunlop’s new Elements of the Game naming concept designed to simplify consumer understanding and reflect the main performance benefit of each racket range; SX – Spin, CX – Control.
DUNLOP SX SERIES – ‘SPIN REDEFINED’
The new Dunlop SX Series range of rackets combines the latest, state-of-the-art technology from the Dunlop Tennis Research and Development Team. After a lengthy development process, the result is a class-leading range of spin rackets that out performs key competitors and redefines the way that players use spin.
The new and innovative Dunlop SPIN BOOST technology is at the heart of the SX Series. The experts behind the rackets provide an exclusive look into the background and key workings of the technology to create a game-changing product.
THE CHALLENGE
Tennis is constantly changing. The advances of equipment technology and the way that players train in recent years means that more time is being spent on the baseline and the classic ‘serve and volley’ is fading from the game.
Increased time on the baseline means that players are striving to out hit their opponents and the speed of groundstroke shots has never been faster. However, speed and power often come at the detriment of control and the chances of hitting the ball off-centre and making errors are noticeably increased.
Dunlop found that players are increasingly having to adapt their game, including an increased use of spin – be that top spin or slicing the ball. As well as changing the trajectory of the ball to ensure it stays ‘in’, spin can help wrestle back control of hard-fought rallies by creating unpredictable bounces of the ball to keep players guessing.
The analysis found that off-centre (spin) shots were twisting the racket on impact, directly leading to inconsistent shots and increased errors. The tangible end results were that shots were going longer and being called out or going shorter and hitting the net.
“Spin is a significant part of tennis at all levels but it’s not just about more spin, it’s about being able to achieve consistency in your play.” Masahiro Asahino, Head of Tennis Division for SRI
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