PRICE $209
HEAD SIZE 110 sq. in.
LENGTH 27.5 in.
WEIGHT 9.8 oz.
FLEXIBILITY Firm
BALANCE 3/10 in. head heavy
BEAM WIDTH 26-28 mm
IDEAL SWING Medium
NTRP 3.0–4.0FIRST TAKE:
One way to increase a racquet’s power is to build a stiff frame that bends less on impact and transfers more energy to the ball. Problem is, a stiff construction can transmit shock to your arm. This intermediate’s racquet is designed to avoid that trade-off.

COMPARE TO:
Dunlop 700G

HOW IT TESTED:
The light game-improvement M-Fil 7 Hundred is forgiving thanks to two soft multifilament materials, chromium and fiberglass, that Dunlop has incorporated into the head. That’s also where the racquet has extra weight. Although this reduces maneuverability, the frame is hardly a frying pan, so you shouldn’t have trouble reacting to volleys. At the baseline, the M-Fil 7 Hundred is powerful, but it has enough control for when you need to move your opponents around. You’ll find, as our playtesters did, that medium-length strokes produce the best blend of power and control, though you can take a longer cut and keep the ball in bounds if your technique is solid. The racquet’s sweet spot is big, and hitting with spin is easy. Just don’t get cute with the slicing, because truncated strokes will cause your shots to land short.

BOTTOM LINE:
If your performance curve is starting to decline, you would do well with this potent racquet.