FX Start 2026 Padel Racket

The sensible first racket: a hybrid head with a wide sweet spot, medium balance, and the same Pro-EVA core Dunlop put in their flagship.

Dunlop call it ideal for game improvers, and the geometry backs that up. A hybrid head keeps the sweet spot central and generous rather than pushing it high like a diamond, so a mishit still clears the net. Medium balance at 360g means it doesn’t feel heavy through the swing while your technique is still forming.

The part worth knowing. This racket runs Pro-EVA — the same core as the FX Pro at more than twice the price. Dunlop keep the softer Soft-EVA for their junior frame, not this one. What you’re missing against the more expensive rackets is the technology in the frame and face, not a downgraded core.

Construction is a graphite frame with a straight hole pattern, rather than the drilled Power Holes distribution on the Pro and Team. The face is smooth — no Spin Boost texture — which is the right call at this level, where consistent contact matters more than spin.

Profile is 38mm, the legal maximum, so you get the full hitting surface.

On comfort. Not flagged as arm-friendly. Pro-EVA is a firm core, and while the hybrid shape and medium balance make it forgiving to hit, that isn’t the same as being gentle on an arm. If comfort is your deciding factor, ask us.

Specifications from Dunlop’s own 2026 FX Series product presentation, verified 2026-08-20. Manufacturer weights are a target and vary by around ±10g on every brand.