Executive Summary
The Dunlop CX 400 Tour is a deliberately positioned hybrid frame — it sits precisely between the CX 200's clinical control-first identity and the FX 500's power-forward personality. The result is a versatile all-court racket that refuses to sacrifice one dimension entirely for the other.
Key Characteristic: A 100 sq in head paired with a 16x19 open string pattern and a 300g unstrung weight creates a frame that generates meaningful free power without abandoning the directional accuracy the CX lineage is known for. At RA 67, the flex profile is moderate — enough to feel connected without punishing off-center strikes.
Key Positioning: This is the CX family's entry point for players graduating from pure power frames (FX 500, Pure Drive variants) who now want more precision, or for all-court 3.5–4.5 level players who find the CX 200 too demanding. It delivers spin-friendly access alongside enough control to construct points tactically rather than just hammering through them.
Performance Profile
The CX 400 Tour leads the CX 200 in power, spin, and maneuverability — while the CX 200 edges ahead in control and touch. For players who want a foot in both camps, the 400 Tour delivers a balanced scorecard that neither frame can match alone.
Performance Comparison: CX 400 Tour vs CX 200
CX 400 Tour leads in power, spin, and maneuverability · CX 200 leads in control and touch
On-Court Playtest
We took the Dunlop CX 400 Tour through a full hitting session strung with a co-poly in the low 50s. Here's how Dunlop's all-court bridge frame plays, shot by shot.
Groundstrokes
Off the ground the CX 400 Tour blends the CX line's control with more accessible power and forgiveness: a controlled but lively ball, with a bigger, more forgiving sweet spot than the pure-control CX 200 Tour. It suits the 3.5–4.5 player who wants precision but also some help with depth, sitting neatly between the control CX 200 and the powerful FX 500.
Serve
On serve it gives a good blend of placement and free pace: flat serves come through with respectable pop and spin serves shape well, with the larger head adding forgiveness.
Volleys & Net
At net the forgiving sweet spot and stable feel make volleys easy and confident, comfortable for an improving all-court game.
Return & Defence
On the return the added power lets you block deep without much effort, and on defence the forgiving frame helps you reset and find depth. It holds up reasonably against pace for its class.
Comfort & Feel
Comfort is good — the CX 400 Tour has a smooth, fairly forgiving feel that suits intermediate arms. A soft poly or hybrid at a sensible tension keeps it comfortable.
Pros & Cons
The quick scannable summary of what we liked — and what to be aware of.
Pros
- Balanced blend of control and accessible power
- Forgiving, stable sweet spot for an improving game
- Versatile all-court frame for the 3.5 to 4.5 player
- Comfortable, smooth feel
- Easier to use than the pure-control CX 200 Tour
Cons
- Less pure control than the CX 200 Tour
- Less raw power than the FX 500
- A jack-of-all-trades rather than a specialist
- Advanced players may want a more defined frame
Model Context
The CX 400 Tour occupies deliberate middle ground in Dunlop's lineup. Understanding the three frames it sits between clarifies whether it fits your current level and trajectory.
CX 400 Tour
The hybrid choice. More power and forgiveness than the CX 200 without abandoning the control feel of the CX line. Ideal for players who want to grow into a precision game without committing fully to a demanding frame.
CX 200
Dunlop's pure control flagship. Smaller head, denser pattern, and heavier frame demand consistent technique and a full swing. Exceptional feel and feedback — not forgiving of imprecise contact.
FX 500 Tour
Dunlop's power-oriented tour frame. The FX series prioritises free pace and depth over surgical precision. Players who want maximum ball speed with a tour-weight frame gravitate here rather than toward the CX 400 Tour.
Technical Must-Knows
Who Plays With This?
The CX 400 Tour has no prominent current pro endorsers — it sits outside the weight and specification range most touring professionals prefer. Its true audience is the club and recreational competition player who recognises their game in the profile below.
Comfortable at the baseline and net, this player constructs points rather than relying on outright pace. They want a frame with enough power to neutralise big hitters but sufficient control to thread passing shots and place serves precisely. The CX 400 Tour delivers exactly that balance.
A player who has grown technically beyond their current power frame — finding that it launches the ball too freely and makes precise placement harder to achieve. The CX 400 Tour offers a natural next step: retaining familiar access to pace while introducing genuine control feedback.
A player drawn to the CX 200's reputation but not yet ready for its demands. The 400 Tour sits in the same family, develops the same control habits, and uses enough of the same feel that transitioning to the CX 200 later becomes a natural progression rather than a shock.
Prefers to rally from the baseline, generating moderate topspin and dictating the pace of exchanges. Values a frame that keeps the ball deep without sending it long on slightly mistimed strikes. The 16x19 pattern and moderate flex make depth and safety coexist effectively.
String Setup Guide
The CX 400 Tour's moderate flex and open 16x19 pattern make it responsive to string selection. The frame rewards setups that enhance its natural spin-and-control balance. Reference range: 48–60 lbs (21.7–27.2 kg).
Quick Start (Most Players)
- Start point (mid-stiffness poly, 1.25mm, full bed): 50–54 lbs (22.7–24.5 kg) — the 16x19 pattern and moderate flex create a balanced response that doesn't need extreme tension adjustments.
- If the ball is flying long: Add 2–3 lbs or try a slightly firmer co-poly. The open pattern produces natural launch; rein it in with tension before changing string type.
- If you want more spin: Drop 2 lbs and try a shaped or textured poly (e.g., Dunlop Black Widow). The 16x19 pattern creates good snapback — an aggressive string shape amplifies it further.
- If your arm is feeling the impact: Drop to 48–50 lbs or move to a hybrid setup (poly mains, multifilament crosses). The RA 67 flex helps considerably already — don't compound any stiffness with very high tension.
- Transitioning from power frames: Start at the lower end of the range (49–51 lbs) to ease the adjustment. The CX 400 Tour feels tighter than a pure power frame at the same tension.
Recommended Setups by Goal
| Goal | Recommended Setup | Starting Tension | What You'll Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced | Mid-stiffness poly (full bed), 1.25mm | 50–54 lbs (22.7–24.5 kg) | Clean response, natural spin, precise directional control |
| More spin | Shaped poly (Black Widow or Hyper-G), 1.25mm | 48–52 lbs (21.7–23.5 kg) | Aggressive bite, high launch angle, heavy topspin margin |
| More control | Firmer poly or thicker gauge (1.30mm) | 53–57 lbs (24–26 kg) | Low flat trajectory, precise placement — requires clean ball striking |
| More comfort | Poly mains + multifilament crosses (hybrid) | Mains 49–52 lbs (22.2–23.5 kg) | Significantly softer feel, better pocketing, reduced arm stress |
| Natural gut hybrid | Poly mains + natural gut crosses | Mains 49–52 lbs | Premium touch and feel combination — control from poly, comfort from gut |
Maintenance Rule
- Restring before the string bed dies. The CX 400 Tour's moderate flex means a dead poly feels noticeably mushy rather than simply less powerful. Once the pocketing disappears and the response flattens, the frame loses its control advantage. Proactive restringing every 20–30 hours of play keeps it performing at its best.
Top 3 Recommended Strings
These strings consistently complement the CX 400 Tour's hybrid character. The 16x19 pattern and RA 67 flex reward strings that prioritise spin bite and controlled feel over raw launching power.
Best for: Players wanting to maximise the CX 400 Tour's natural spin-and-control balance with a brand-matched string.
The natural pairing for a Dunlop frame. Black Widow's angular shape creates aggressive string bite that amplifies the 16x19 pattern's snapback. It's a firm string — string it at the lower end of the range (49–51 lbs) in the CX 400 Tour to keep the feel lively. The result is heavy topspin with enough directional precision to use the court's full geometry.
Best for: Players prioritising precise directional control and excellent tension maintenance over outright spin generation.
ALU Power's aluminum-alloy composition creates a defined, crisp response that enhances the CX 400 Tour's control credential. Compared to Black Widow, it produces less raw spin bite but offers superior directional precision and longer-lasting consistent performance. String 2–3 lbs lower than you normally would to offset ALU's firm feel in the 400 Tour's moderate-flex frame.
Best for: Players with arm sensitivity, seniors, or those returning from injury who want the CX 400 Tour's control without a firm poly string bed.
Wilson NXT is the benchmark multifilament for comfort and feel. In the CX 400 Tour it creates a noticeably softer, more arm-friendly experience — the RA 67 flex and NXT's elasticity combine to absorb impact effectively. Expect slightly less precise directional response than a poly, but far greater comfort and a natural, lively ball feel that many players prefer for recreational play.
Full Specifications
| Specification | CX 400 Tour | CX 200 | FX 500 Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Size | 100 sq in (645 cm²) | 98 sq in (632 cm²) | 98 sq in (632 cm²) |
| Weight (Unstrung) | 300g / 10.6oz | 305g / 10.8oz | 305g / 10.8oz |
| Weight (Strung) | 325g | ~330g | ~330g |
| Length | 27 in | 27 in | 27 in |
| Balance | Head Light | Head Light | Head Light |
| String Pattern | 16x19 (open) | 16x18 (dense control) | 16x19 (open) |
| Stiffness (RA) | 67 | ~65 | ~69 |
| Swingweight | 318 | ~330 | ~320 |
| Strung Swingweight | 325 | ~338 | ~328 |
| Target Player | All-Court 3.5–4.5 | Advanced Control 4.5+ | Power-Oriented 3.5–4.5 |
Our Verdict
The CX 400 Tour is Dunlop's all-court bridge — control with accessible power and forgiveness, built for the improving player who wants both precision and depth.
It's the frame we'd recommend to intermediate players (3.5–4.5) who want control but also some help with power and forgiveness, and who don't want a demanding pure-control frame. You give up the CX 200 Tour's precision and the FX 500's raw power, but as a versatile, comfortable all-court frame for a developing game it hits a useful middle ground. Choose the CX 200 Tour for more control, the FX 500 for more power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dunlop CX 400 Tour good for beginners?
It is more accessible than the pure-control CX 200 Tour and works for improvers with a developing full swing, thanks to its forgiving sweet spot and accessible power. Complete beginners may still prefer a lighter, more powerful frame first.
Dunlop CX 400 Tour vs CX 200 Tour — which should I buy?
Choose the CX 400 Tour if you want more forgiveness and accessible power in an easier all-court frame. Choose the CX 200 Tour if you are an advanced player who wants pure control, stability and a flat penetrating ball. The 400 Tour is the more forgiving bridge; the 200 Tour is the precision instrument.
Is the Dunlop CX 400 Tour arm-friendly?
Yes, reasonably. It has a smooth, fairly forgiving feel that suits intermediate arms. Pair it with a soft poly or a multifilament hybrid at a sensible tension for the best comfort.
What string and tension is best for the Dunlop CX 400 Tour?
A co-polyester in the low 50s lbs is a good all-round starting point. For more comfort use a softer poly or multifilament; for more control go a touch tighter; for more spin use a shaped poly.
Is the Dunlop CX 400 Tour a control or power racquet?
It is an all-court frame that blends control with accessible power — more forgiving and powerful than the pure-control CX 200 Tour, but more precise than the power-oriented FX 500.
Who is the Dunlop CX 400 Tour best for?
It is best for intermediate all-court players (3.5–4.5) who want a balance of precision, forgiveness and accessible power in one versatile, comfortable frame.