The Dunlop FX Start is a hybrid-shaped racket at a fixed 360 g with a 38 mm profile, listed for beginner and intermediate players. On paper it is a calm, control-leaning all-rounder with nothing extreme. The catch: no reviews exist yet, and the sweet spot meter reads Low, whatever the product page says.
RBy Ruud Caris · facts checked 9 October 2026Choose it if
- you are new to padel or still building your technique and want a racket that does not demand much
- you want a hybrid head with medium balance and a flat face, without a diamond's pointed character
- you play regularly, prefer placing the ball to hitting it hard, and like a racket that stays predictable
Skip it if
- you already hit hard and want extra power, so look at the Dunlop FX Lite, whose power meter reads High
- you need reviews from players who tested the racket before you decide, since none are available yet
- you want a more forgiving hitting zone, because the Dunlop FX Hybrid Team reads Medium on the sweet spot meter while this racket reads Low
How it plays
Line = the average of all rackets ▲ above ▼ below
On paper this is an even, undramatic racket, and the meters mostly sit in the middle.
- Control Medium, helped by the core, the face, the hybrid shape and the medium balance, and the retailer itself calls the racket control-oriented.
- Power Medium, so the carbon-type face and hybrid head give some help but no extra push.
- Comfort Medium, supported by the EVA Pro core that the retailer lists as Soft Touch.
- Handling Medium, as the medium balance keeps the racket from feeling head-heavy in quick exchanges.
- Forgiveness Low, so off-centre hits are the part to watch, whatever the marketing says.
Specifications
Not published by the brand: head size, handle
Specs from padelnuestro.com · checked 24 September 2026 · Spotted a wrong spec? Report it →
Price history
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Two Dunlop FX rackets in 2026, the FX Lite and the FX Pro, are diamonds with a 12K carbon face and an Advanced tag. The FX Start is not one of them. It is the gentle entry in the family, and the specs read that way.
Start in the name: where the FX Start sits among the 2026 FX rackets
The name tells you where the racket sits. The FX Lite and the FX Pro are both diamonds. The FX Lite is tagged Advanced, the FX Pro Advanced / Professional. The FX Hybrid is also tagged Advanced, with a high balance and a 12K carbon face. The FX Start is listed for Beginner / Intermediate, with a hybrid head, Medium balance and a flat face.
That puts it closest to the Dunlop FX Team and the Dunlop FX Hybrid Team, which carry the same level tag. Here is the live family overview:
A large sweet spot, says the product page: the meter reads Low
The product page claims a wide sweet spot that helps on off-centre hits. Treat that as marketing. The sweet spot meter on this page reads Low, and nothing in the specs raises it. These two statements do not fit together neatly.
What does that mean for you? Do not expect the racket to rescue badly struck balls. The 38 mm profile is the same as on several of its siblings, but no measured data describes the hitting zone as generous. If your contact point is still wandering, you will notice it. The fix is simple: slower, shorter swings and more time to get under the ball.
Soft Touch core, flat Glaphite face: why most meters read Medium
The core is EVA Pro, and the retailer describes its density as Soft Touch. That is the main reason the comfort meter reads Medium. The face is listed as Glaphite, a spelling that appears on the retailer page. The frame is graphite. The face is flat, with no surface texture listed.
Control, power and maneuverability also read Medium. Control gets help from the core, the face, the hybrid shape and the balance. Power gets help from the face and the shape only. So the racket has no weak spot in the middle of the profile and no sharp strength either. The retailer's own player profile reads "Controlerend", which means control-oriented. That fits.
360 g, fixed, in a hybrid head: what it asks of a developing arm
The weight is 360 g, with no range. Minimum and maximum are the same, so the racket you receive should match the number. That is lighter than the Dunlop Nanomax Pro at 370 g and the FX Team at 365 g. The difference is small on paper, but a few grams matter over a long session.
A hybrid shape sits between round and diamond. It gives some forgiveness without the pointed character of a diamond. With Medium balance, the racket should not tire your wrist as quickly as a head-heavy one. That helps if you are still learning how to swing a padel racket without forcing it.
FX Start next to the Nanomax Pro and the FX Hybrid Team
The Dunlop Nanomax Pro shares the face, the core and the level tag. It weighs 370 g, and its balance is listed as 265 mm. Its comfort and maneuverability meters read Low, while the FX Start reads Medium on both. If you want the lighter, more manageable option of the two, the specs point to the FX Start.
The FX Hybrid Team is also listed for Beginner / Intermediate at 360 g, but it is a teardrop with a fiberglass face. Its meters all read Medium, including the sweet spot. If a larger-feeling hitting zone matters most to you, that is the sibling to compare. If you prefer a hybrid head and a graphite-type face, stay with the FX Start.
Balance in mm, head size, handle: what is not published
Several specs are missing. The balance in millimetres, the head surface, the handle and the weight system are all not published. Only the label "Medium" is available for balance, and it comes from a retailer. So you cannot judge precisely how head-heavy the racket is. Use the label as a rough guide, and check the grip size in a shop if you can.
No reviews exist yet, and no source has reported playing it. Everything above comes from specs. That makes this a reasoned expectation, not a tested result.
Similar rackets
Questions before you buy
Is the Dunlop FX Start suitable for beginners?
On paper, yes. The retailer lists it for Beginner / Intermediate, it weighs 360 g and its balance is Medium. No reviews have confirmed this on court yet.
How is the FX Start different from the other FX rackets?
The FX Pro, FX Lite and FX Hybrid are tagged Advanced or higher. The FX Start has a hybrid head, a flat face and a Beginner / Intermediate tag. It is the milder choice in the line.
Does the FX Start have a large sweet spot?
The product page says so. The sweet spot meter reads Low, and no measured data backs the claim. Expect it to need reasonably clean contact.
Is the FX Start comfortable for the arm?
The comfort meter reads Medium, helped by the EVA Pro core that the retailer lists as Soft Touch. At 360 g with Medium balance it should not be heavy on the wrist, but no player reports confirm it.
Is the FX Start worth the money right now?
Today's price is labelled "Good value" compared with the rackets that play most alike. Which shops deliver, and what shipping costs, depends on your country. The price comparison shows it for yours.
See all pricesWhat is the closest alternative?
The Siux Diablo Revolution Lite 3 plays most alike. Differences: handling -1.0.
Compare side by side →Who should not buy it?
Skip it if your elbow or shoulder complains (comfort 5.5/10), or if you are still learning: it is not very forgiving (5.0/10).
How heavy is it really?
The brand gives 360 g. That counts as medium. Each racket can differ within that range.
Why a range? →