Dunlop M-FIL300 mini-review

Following my entry reviewing the Babolat Pure Storm Team, I recently demo-ed a very similar racquet in specifications: weight, size, power, balance, etc, the Dunlop M-FIL 300 as used by pro's Amelie Mauresmo, Tommy Haas and Tommy Robredo. You can read some feedback by others at Tennis Warehouse.

I was attracted to this racquet by the low flex rating of 61 shown on the Tennis Warehouse site, since I'm still seeking a cure for my now chronic arm and shoulder problems that is restricting my playing. The flex rating shown on the racquet itself is however 64RA.

The racquet is quite light for a pro's racquet, and whilst it's power rating is low I found it can be lively although this could be the strings it came supplied with in the UK (Dunlop M-FIL Tour 16). Compared to the Pure Storm Team there is less weight in the head, and the swing weight figures bear this out. Therefore the racquet is quite easy to handle at the net or when dealing with high bouncing backhands. It feels quite soft and is arm and shoulder friendly which is what I'm looking for. Certainly after an hours play I was not sore the next day which is encouraging. It's also control oriented, low to medium powered and quite a joy to use as part of an all round game. It was easy to generate lots of topspin off both sides, and I would say is more suited to a topspin stroke player than a flat heavy hitter. I had no problems serving with it but there was nothing special.

Compared to some rackets I've played with, it lacks a feeling of solidity which probably comes from heavier weight and stiffness of those rackets. Its soft flex rating can be felt in the overall damped response. Overall I would say, hmmmm....this racket has prospects, I'm going to stick with the demo a while longer. I think some aspects of it need getting used to, but it could be just what I'm looking for, and its weight and balance is open to some tweaking with lead tape, or a change of strings or string tension would also affect the control/power balance. In other words nothing jumps out that makes you go "wow, awesome racquet", but there's nothing bad about it either.

As one of the reviewers said on the Tennis Warehouse site, this could be one of the best kept racquet secrets around. Certainly the price in the UK, is low, obtainable for around £50 or less. I tried to find more details on the Dunlop Slazenger International web site but it's under construction for re-launch in 2007.

Update: it's going on my Xmas prezzie list!