The Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour 18x20 tested by our control frame lover Stephan! He needed some time to master this 'Kevin Anderson racket', but then found excellent control, touch and speed!

Tested racket:

Brand: Dunlop Srixon Model: CX 2.0 Tour 18x20 Blade size: 95 sq/inch Weight: 315 gr Balance: 30.5 cm Stringing pattern: 18x20 Length: 27 inch RA: 61 Stringing: Dunlop NT Max Plus 1.25 on 22/21 kg The Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour 18x20 is now available in our webshop!

Tester:

Player name: Stephan Couzijn Level: 5 Player type: 43 year old, all-courter, eastern grip, one-handed backhand, fairly flat strokes Own racket: Yonex EZONE DR 98 , 98 sq/inch, 310 gr, 31.0 cm balance, 16 x 19 stringing pattern Player's racket history: Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 95, Wilson Six-One 95, Head Radical, Dunlop Aerogel 300 Tour, Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT, Wilson Pro Staff 95, Wilson Juice Pro.

Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour 18x20 tested:

After my very positive experience with the Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 I now have the privilege of testing its heavier brother, the Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour. Just like with its lighter brother, playing the Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour is like taking a trip down memory lane. With its small head (95 sq ft), leather grip, slim box beam frame, soft flex (61RA), soft response and low balance (30.5mm) it has the characteristics of an old-school player’s frame. But it is lighter than the classics of yesteryear, with a low swingweight that promotes racquet headspeed, necessary for playing the modern game. It’s a delicate balance that is successful in many ways, but challenging in others. Certain types of players will thrive with these specs, but it won’t be for everyone. If you’re interested in trying out the CX 2.0 Tour, be aware of your limitations.

Speed ​​and agility:

The physical characteristics of the frame and the ultimate headlight balance made for ultra-fast shots. The Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour moves very easily through the hitting zone and is no different from its lighter brother or other more modern frames. The acceleration helped compensate for the fact that the 18x20 string pattern was not overly inviting to spin. The racquet was so fast that I was sometimes even too early with my forehand. With the smaller sweet spot this led to inconsistent contact and missed targets. However, once I got used to the light weight and good balance, the results improved and I was able to exploit the pinpoint control of the frame. Ball contact felt buttery soft and super precise.

Baseline and power/control:

The Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour is a beautifully balanced blade, allowing me to hit my baseline shots freely and fully. Without over-hitting. My slice backhands were also effective and precise. However, I had to be in position and on time to fully enjoy the precision of the racquet. With most modern blades with more power, I find that I make sub-optimal or late contact, which usually results in long or stray balls. With the CX 2.0 Tour, I was rarely late and hardly ever over-hit any balls. When I was late, I got little help from the blade and my balls landed too short for my opponent to hit away. Big hitters will appreciate the control and feel of this blade, but others may crave a bit more power. A bit more weight would give the blade more power, but you will probably lose some maneuverability.

Compare:

Like several other Tour models that have been released recently - Wilson Ultra Tour, Prince Textreme Tour 95 - the Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour plays light and can sometimes have a bit of an underpowered motor. Breaking open a point with a heavy baseline shot or putting a short ball away requires more effort than with other modern blades. On the other hand, you can hardly overheat with the CX 2.0 Tour. Compared to, say, the Wilson Ultra Tour and Prince Textreme Tour 95, I found the CX 2.0 Tour a bit easier to generate pace for. The 95 sq/inch head also feels larger. However, I did notice that on hard incoming shots it is essential to hit the ball in front of you otherwise you will run out of length in your stroke. It seems that these more modern Tours are designed with the intention of allowing players to swing as loosely as possible for maximum maneuverability and racket headspeed, or to provide a platform to add some weight yourself for increased plow through and stability. Personally, I find the Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour 18x20 in “stock” form to handle just fine. In stock form, I was impressed with the amount of speed I got and the placement was practically radar guided, but I can imagine other players wanting a bit more power.

Just:

At the net the Dunlop Srixon Revo CX 2.0 Tour was a joy to play. The maneuverability, control and great ball feel combined with the soft flex resulted in excellent drop volleys, and tight volleys at impossibly sharp angles. Serve-volley players and doubles specialists can do a lot of damage with this CX 2.0 Tour. Only on hard body shots I would have liked a bit more weight in the frame to put these balls away.

Overall:

So players who have become accustomed to a 98 or 100 head may feel a bit limited with this racquet. But as one of the few 95 sq/inch racquets the Dunlop Srixon CX 2.0 Tour feels bigger. Players who already use a demanding compact head will probably have no problems with this racquet. When everything is lined up, the sublime feel and total control make it a surgical weapon, capable of taking opponents apart with ruthless precision. The blade is also suited for critical high level players who like to tweak the specifications of their frames. With this CX 2.0 Tour Dunlop has delivered a perfectly balanced blade that in stock form delivers great results for the more classic player who also wants to play the modern game!