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Greenville, SC — When Dunlop launched its inaugural line of Biomimetic rackets in late 2010, two frames stood out: the 600 and 600 Lite. Featuring one entirely new mold, updated specs, plus distinctive cosmetics, the rackets offered beginner to intermediate players easy access to power and spin in 102” and 105” headsizes. The rackets also enjoyed the benefit of being played by two popular Tour players, Dominika Cibulkova (the 600 Lite) and Tommy Robredo (the 600). Enter late 2012, and Dunlop has improved upon the original 600 and 600 Lite rackets by adding its latest Biomimetic technologies: AeroskinCX, BioFibres and MoS2 grommets. With Dunlop’s new naming convention, the frames are now called the M6.0 and S6.0 Lite, based on the type of player the rackets are designed for (see below for further explanation).

NEW BIOMIMETIC TECHNOLOGIES

AeroskinCX represents an advancement over the original Aeroskin with its reconfigured surface texture that more closely resembles the skin of a shark and reduces drag by up to 36%. AeroskinCX enhances a player’s swing speed, resulting in more power and greater access to spin.

While tennis has evolved to greater levels of power and spin over the past decade, comfort and feel is still as important as ever, so the Dunlop R&D team developed an entirely new dampening system comprised of natural fibers, named BioFibres, that are woven bi-directionally throughout the throat and handle to more widely distribute shock at impact. Stronger than steel and lighter than carbon, BioFibres dampen the shock by 18% and results in a more clean, solid feel at impact.

The third new Biomimetic technology used in the 6.0 rackets makes use of an element often found in aerospace and industrial lubricants: Molybdenite (MoS2). The MoS2 is present in an all-new grommet system. Similar to ball bearings, the MoS2 particles enable easier movement, in this case between the strings and the grommets, decreasing friction by 27%. Reduced string friction with the grommet means more string movement and added power to shots.

NEW NAMING SYSTEM MAKES RACKET SELECTION EASIER

For 2013, Dunlop has renamed all its new rackets to help make the selection process easier. The main change is the addition of a letter prior to the racket number. Each racket name starts with either a ‘F’, ‘M’ or ‘S’, signifying a player’s swing speed and style. ‘F’ stands for Fast/Full, ‘M’ stands for Medium/Moderate, and ‘S’ stands for Short/Slow. Finally, the numbers have been changed from hundreds to a decimal system to signify the new models. So a player who has a slower swing speed would select the S6.0 Lite, while a player with a medium or moderate length swing style, would start with the M6.0.

“It’s imperative we get the message out among players and retailers that the 2013 line of Dunlop Biomimetic rackets have been completely re-engineered, so we’re supporting this launch with our largest marketing campaign in recent memory,” said Hunter Hines, Director of Marketing and Product for Dunlop Racket Sports. “Earlier this year we shot two commercials: one with Fernando Verdasco and Nicolas Almagro, and one with Dominika Cibulkova, supporting the new product. We will be airing those throughout the Fall and into the Spring. We also have print and digital campaigns starting during the US Open. And of course we’ll support our retailers with custom in-store POP and strong promotions.”