Racquet Preview: Dunlop LX Series

The LX line—the L stands for Lite—rounds out Dunlop’s elements of the game series, joining the Control, Force, and Spin franchises. As the name indicates, they are lightweight frames with oversized heads for easy power and extreme forgiveness, intended for players with shorter and slower swings who want the racquet to do the lion’s share of the work.

There are two returning models from the previous generation: the LX 800 is a 110, while the LX 1000’s 115 square-inch head offers an even larger sweet spot. Both frames check in at 9 oz. unstrung and possess thick, stiff beams that produce maximum punch from minimum effort. The matching 16x18 string patterns also provide ready access to spin and a softer string bed.

Under the hood, the LX 800 has a straight stringing system, which uses parallel drill holes and strings to create a larger hitting area and sweet spot.

The LX 1000 sports two unique technologies. The first is called Dynamic Hole, which are concave sections around the grommets that elongates the strings across the hitting zone to enhance the sweet spot. The other is the unique Dual Bridge in the throat, where sprung grommets on the main bridge help give shots extra juice while a secondary bridge underneath it helps dampen vibrations for a more comfortable feel.

Both frames share Vibroshield—highly elastic dampening material for reduced vibrations at contact—and Power Boost Groove—frame geometry designed to increase string movement and enlarge the sweet spot.

All these features, along with elegant looks, give the racquets what Dunlop says is “a touch of luxury.”

New to the lineup is the mid-range LX 107 Team. It has slightly different dimensions than the other models—smaller head, thinner beam, more weight and denser string pattern. It’s still powerful and forgiving, but has a bit more command for improving players with longer swings.

It also carries a modest $129 price tag for casual players who aren't looking to break the bank on a new frame.

The new Dunlop LX Series will be available at tennis specialty retailers starting Aug. 16.