Dunlop Boost Attack 2022

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The sweet spot is wide and well-centred for a round racket this weight — it bails you out on rushed volleys and hurried wall exits, even when you catch the ball a bit close to the frame, without dumping it into the net The rough surface really bites into the ball; on cut bandejas and topspin drives from the back it delivers usable spin rather than the cosmetic bite you get from the smoother faces in this range The medium-density Pro EVA core gives an easy, comfortable ball exit on defensive lobs and blocked volleys — you don't need a fast swing to get the ball out from deep in your court The Power Frame flexes just enough on impact to filter out vibration, so long rallies full of smashes and high bandejas are easier on the elbow across a three-set match The medium balance lets it turn quickly in mid-court exchanges — you get to the crossed counter-volley and the vibora without having to start your prep early

Cons

• ✗At 365-375g this round racket runs heavy — coming from a lighter racket you'll feel it in your arm by the third set, and low defensive shots on the backhand will arrive half a beat late The power ceiling is limited; with a medium-density core, the flat smash down the middle doesn't hit the speed the Attack name promises The texture on the faces wears down faster than you'd like on sandy courts, and with it goes some of the bite you get on cut shots and kick serves As a finishing racket from the back wall it falls short — expect to need two or three extra construction shots before you can close out the point

The Dunlop Boost Attack arrived in 2022 with a clear brief: give intermediate players more punch without pulling away their safety net at the net. Hence the spec sheet — round shape, 365-375g, carbon face with fibreglass, medium-density Pro EVA core and Power Frame construction — and hence its built-in trade-offs too.

Is the Dunlop Boost Attack actually a power racket?

This is an attack-minded padel racket built on a forgiving base. "Attack" doesn't mean a missile that only fires from the back of the court — it means a round racket that lets you go on the offensive without punishing you every time you miss the centre.

You supply the power with your arm. The racket holds it together, cleans it up, and above all repeats it: the gap between your best smash and your fifth smash is smaller here than on an aggressive-profile racket with a hard EVA core.

Pro EVA, Hotmelt and Power Frame: how the workload is split

The medium-density Pro EVA core is what defines the racket's character. A medium core doesn't compress as much as a soft one, nor does it snap back as crisply as a hard one — you get an impact with dwell time, the ball sitting on the face a beat longer before it leaves.

That translates into an easy ball exit. On a defensive lob from your corner, the ball climbs without you having to force your wrist — which is exactly why an intermediate player can hold up in long rallies with this racket.

The face blends carbon and fibreglass, and that mix is what stops the racket feeling dead. The fibreglass supplies elasticity and touch; the carbon adds the pinpoint stiffness that keeps the shot from falling apart on fast balls.

The Power Frame manages how tension is distributed through the frame: it flexes on impact and gives some of that energy back instead of sending it all into your forearm. The Hotmelt, meanwhile, seals the join between layers, and you feel its real effect in consistency — the racket sounds and responds much the same whether you strike dead centre or a couple of fingers off it.

Dunlop Boost Attack 2022 specs

Shot by shot: where it delivers and where it falls short

Bandeja. This is its standout shot. The round shape and medium balance let you fine-tune the height of contact without fighting the racket's swing weight, and the rough face does the rest — the ball comes out cut and dies against the glass.

Vibora. It works, with caveats. There's enough bite to generate real sidespin, but it's missing the top-heavy mass that makes a vibora bounce clean out of the court. Good for causing problems, not for finishing points.

Smash. Worth being straight about this one. The flat smash down the middle carries good direction and a generous sweet spot, but the ball speed is that of a medium-core round racket, not a diamond. You'll smash comfortably and often — but not with a killer blow.

Defence and wall exits. This is where the weight cuts both ways. The ball comes off the back wall easily because the core does the pushing, but the 375g upper end of the weight range shows up when you need to get the racket down fast on a ball hugging the glass and you're just a fraction late.

Volleys. Solid, predictable blocking. The frame doesn't vibrate on heavy-ball volleys, and the wide sweet spot means volleys taken with your body out of position still land in.

What level is the Boost Attack built for?

It's built for the intermediate player who's already coming to net with intent and wants to start attacking, but doesn't yet find the centre of the racket every time. The wide sweet spot, medium balance and medium-density core all give you margin for error while you build your smash and bandeja technique.

It's a good fit if:

1. You're coming from a soft racket and want more response without jumping straight to a hard EVA core.
2. You play a lot of cut shots and value a face that genuinely grips the ball.
3. You regularly play long matches and want a racket that won't wreck your elbow.

It's not a good fit if you're an established power hitter who needs a higher ceiling, or if your game is built on quick hands at the net where every gram counts.

As part of a pair, it works better on the backhand side than the forehand — this is a racket for building the point and holding the net, not for finishing it in one shot.

What you're actually buying with this Dunlop

You're buying reliability, not explosiveness. The Dunlop Boost Attack is a forgiving round racket with offensive intent, offering a very accessible ball exit and genuine spin from its rough texture, held back by a weight that's high for its shape and a modest power ceiling.

If your problem is missing the centre and tiring out your arm, this is a sensible buy. If your problem is a lack of pure firepower, this racket won't manufacture it for you.