Dunlop FX Start Gun Metal/Cyan/Metallic Silver

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The Straight Holes layout widens the usable hitting zone: a backhand volley that catches the frame edge still comes back with direction instead of dying in the net The medium-density Pro EVA core sends the ball back with barely any effort, which you'll feel on defensive lobs from the back of the court and on wall exits when your body's closed off The fiberglass face flexes more than a stiffer weave and soaks up a good chunk of impact vibration, sparing your elbow and wrist over long sessions At 360g with a balance that doesn't load up the head, the racket gets to fast net exchanges in time without forcing you to prepare early The 38mm frame maxes out the profile's thickness and adds stability for blocking smashes that come in hard at your body

Cons

• ✗The surface is smooth and grips little: lifting a vibora or slicing a bandeja with real spin demands clean technique, since the racket won't add rotation on its own Power is deliberately capped; on a flat smash you have to generate your own pace, and players who already close out points from overhead will feel it fall short It only comes in 360g, with no weight range: anyone after a lighter padel racket to last a two-hour match has no alternative within the model The fiberglass-and-medium-EVA combo loses definition once you start really hitting through the ball: aggressive shots feel comfortable but lack the crisp response of a harder core

Straight Holes, a 38mm frame, a Pro EVA core and a fiberglass face: the Dunlop FX Start packs a no-nonsense beginner recipe into a fixed 360g build. There's no weight range to pick from, and no stiff carbon face to punish your arm. This is a racket built to get the ball out even when your contact isn't clean.

Who should actually be playing with the Dunlop FX Start?

It's built for true beginners and for anyone one or two seasons in who wants to keep progressing without wrecking their arm. The fiberglass face, medium-density Pro EVA core and enlarged sweet spot all prioritise forgiveness over raw power, giving it an all-round character that doesn't force you to choose between attack and defence.

That's why the racket performs just as well at the back of the court as at the net: it doesn't excel at one particular shot, it excels at not punishing you when a shot comes out average.

Straight Holes: what it really changes on off-centre hits

Straight Holes technology reorganises the holes across the hitting surface to spread frame tension more evenly. The practical effect is a wider sweet spot and a more consistent response away from the geometric centre.

On court that shows up in very specific moments. A backhand volley struck near the frame edge still comes back with direction instead of dying in the tape. A shot caught on the frame's fingers still crosses the net. For a player still finding their form, that tolerance is worth more than an extra twenty kilometres an hour on the smash.

Fiberglass over Pro EVA: why the ball comes off on its own

The fiberglass face flexes noticeably more than a carbon weave. It deforms on contact and returns energy, giving a trampoline-like effect that cuts down how much power you need to put in to send the ball deep.

The medium-density Pro EVA core pulls in the same direction: it cushions the shot rather than snapping it back. Ball exit is this padel racket's standout strength, and it really shows on long defensive lobs and wall exits, where you don't need extra time or a full swing to lift the ball over your opponent.

The 38mm frame pushes the profile to its maximum thickness and adds lateral stiffness, which stabilises your block when a smash comes straight at your body. The trade-off is a softer feel: comfort, yes; crisp feedback, no.

Dunlop FX Start: specs at a glance

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

1. **Wall exits.** Its best terrain. The medium EVA and the flex of the face lift the ball with half a swing, even when you're rushed and can't open your shoulder.
2. **Bandeja.** Comfortable and predictable, with a stable face and weight arriving on time. The smooth surface limits slice, so the ball comes off flatter and spin is left entirely to your technique.
3. **Vibora.** The shot that suffers most. With no grip on the surface, sidespin depends entirely on your wrist.
4. **Flat smash.** Comes off clean but without extra pace. It'll close out points against similar-level opponents, not against someone defending well from the back.
5. **Volleys.** Manageable in fast exchanges, with plenty of margin for a slightly off-centre hit.
6. **Defence.** The wide sweet spot and easy ball exit make the long lob a reliable weapon from day one.

What this Dunlop model won't give you

This isn't a racket for players who already hit hard. The fiberglass-and-medium-core combo soaks up part of the energy on an aggressive swing, and players with an established smash will miss a more defined response.

There's no room to customise weight either: 360g is the only option available. And the smooth surface leaves spin entirely down to technique rather than the material.

Player profile: who the FX Start suits

It suits first- or second-year players who aren't yet hitting the centre of the racket consistently, anyone returning to padel after an elbow injury who needs a gentler feel, and social players putting in two matches a week who value comfort over peak power.

As a doubles pairing, it works well alongside a partner who takes on the offensive load from the net: the FX Start lets you sustain the rally, send up lobs and not miss the transition volley while your partner closes out points.

Is the Dunlop FX Start worth it as a first racket?

It's worth it if you want a racket that teaches you to play long points without punishing your joints. It delivers on its promise: wide forgiveness, instant ball exit and comfortable handling at 360g.

What you shouldn't expect is for it to keep up once your level rises. As soon as you start chasing spin and hitting with real intent, the smooth surface and medium core will show their ceiling, and it'll be time to move up to a more demanding build.