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Dunlop powers up the Biomimetic S8.0 Lite

Greenville, SC — ‘Power’ and ‘spin’ are two answers you’ll often get from players when asked how they’d like their racket to help them. Unfortunately, providing power and spin often means making a frame more stiff, which also makes it less comfortable. With its brand new S8.0 Lite, Dunlop has come up with a solution for this common issue. The S8.0 Lite has a rounded, 115” sq. TruOval head, 16x19 string pattern, and is packed with more Biomimetic technologies than any other racket. It’s these technologies, not greater stiffness, that give the S8.0 Lite its additional power and spin, and its flexibility (RA of 66) gives it uncommon feel for a racket its size. “This Biomimetic S8.0 Lite racket is unique to the marketplace,” said Hunter Hines, Director of Marketing and Product for Dunlop Racket Sports. “Typically frames that are 115” and larger are extremely stiff, with some reaching a 75 on the RA scale, in fact. What we’ve engineered with the S8.0 Lite is a racket that has tremendous power, but has a flex rating that falls in line with more control oriented rackets. This gives players lots of feel and comfort on shots, and, more importantly for some, less chance at hurting or re-injuring their arm.”

The technologies that provide the power, begin with a brand new surface texture: Aeroskin Cx. These aerodynamically engineered riblets represent an advancement over the original Aeroskin with their reconfigured shape that more closely resembles the skin of a shark. Aeroskin Cx reduces drag by up to 36%, which enhances a player’s swing speed, resulting in more power and greater access to spin.

Another factor that aids the feel and comfort of the S 8.0 Lite is the use of BioFibres in the shaft of the racket. Stronger than steel and lighter than carbon, BioFibres are made up of stem fibers from plants. These are woven into the throat and handle of the racket, minimizing shock at impact by 18%. This reduction gives players greater feel and control. The third new Biomimetic technology used in the S 8.0 Lite 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. This is another instance where technology, rather than added stiffness, allows the frame to achieve added power.

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 molds. Since the S8.0 Lite is designed for players with shorter or slower swings, it has the S in front.

“Our 2013 racket line signals a new, modern direction for Dunlop,” said Kai Nitsche, V.P. and General Manager of Dunlop Sports Group Americas. “We are breaking out of our traditional mold with new frame shapes, new technologies, and we’re heavily investing in marketing the line in a number of ways: TV advertising, product videos, and a creative social media campaign, in addition to print. The tennis industry landscape is changing rapidly, and we’re in a great position to take advantage.”

Posted on August 24, 2012
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