Dunlop FX Start
About the Dunlop FX Start
The teardrop shape gives the FX Start a wide, forgiving sweet spot, and the medium balance keeps its weight distributed rather than loaded toward the head, so it does not demand the timing a head-heavy power racket relies on. For a first racket, that combination matters more than any single spec: it is built to reward a correct, controlled swing rather than punish anything short of a full, committed adult stroke.
Dunlop pairs that shape with a soft-touch Pro EVA core, which softens vibration on contact and prioritises comfort and consistent ball output over raw pace. It is a deliberately gentler build than the rest of the FX range, and the point of it: a beginner learning the game benefits far more from a comfortable, predictable racket than from one chasing maximum power.
Within the FX range, the Start is the clear starting point, sitting below the intermediate-focused Hybrid Team in both balance and core hardness. A player who has learned the fundamentals and wants a racket that adds more attacking capability is the one who should move up to the Hybrid Team next, rather than jumping straight to a power-first model like the Pro.
Questions about the Dunlop FX Start
Who is the Dunlop FX Start built for?
Beginners and recreational players buying their first serious padel racket. Its soft core and even, medium balance are built to reward correct technique rather than raw power, which is exactly what a player still learning the game needs from a racket.
What core does the Dunlop FX Start use?
A soft-touch Pro EVA core, which softens vibration on contact and favours comfort and consistent ball output over outright pace. It suits a beginner learning to control the ball, and anyone concerned about arm strain will find it gentler than the harder cores used higher up the FX range.
Is the Dunlop FX Start good for a complete beginner?
Yes, directly so. It is built around a wide, forgiving sweet spot, an even balance and a soft core specifically to be forgiving of the mistimed and off-centre shots a new player makes, rather than punishing them the way a power-focused racket would.
What is the difference between the Dunlop FX Start and the FX Hybrid Team?
The Start uses a softer core and a more forgiving teardrop shape aimed squarely at beginners, while the Hybrid Team steps up to a hybrid shape and a firmer feel for an intermediate player who already has the basics and wants more attacking range from the racket.
Is the Dunlop FX Start built for control or for power?
Control. The teardrop shape, medium balance and soft core are all chosen to make the racket predictable and comfortable rather than to maximise pace, which is the right priority for a player still developing their swing.
What shape and balance does the Dunlop FX Start use, and what does that mean in play?
A teardrop head shape with a medium, even balance. The teardrop shape keeps the sweet spot large, and the even balance means the weight is not concentrated toward the head, so the racket feels stable and predictable rather than demanding a fast, committed swing.
When should a player move on from the Dunlop FX Start?
Once the fundamentals of technique and ball control feel established, a player typically outgrows the Start's forgiveness and benefits from moving up to the firmer, more attack-capable Hybrid Team, rather than staying on a beginner-focused frame.
Similar rackets from other brands
Matched on shape first, then the rest of the spec sheet — same playing character, different maker.
