Dunlop Fusion Elite Pro Oro

Pros

• ✓The Soft EVA core paired with a 38mm frame delivers instant ball exit: on blocked volleys and defensive lobs the ball comes off with natural depth, no need to muscle the swing The fibreglass face flexes on contact and soaks up vibration, which players will appreciate over long sessions, especially intermediates who haven't yet nailed the timing on a bandeja smash The teardrop shape with even balance opens up a wide, centred sweet spot: off-centre hits near the tip or the throat barely lose pace and won't sting your arm It lets you swing between control-based rallies and attacking play within the same point, something rare in mid-range rackets built around a single style The manoeuvrability that comes with even balance helps on quick volleys and cross-court defence, getting the racket into position even when your prep is late

Cons

• ✗The soft rubber and fibreglass face cap your power ceiling on the flat smash: if you like to close out points with a sharp x3, you'll notice the ball comes out slower than off a stiffer face The smooth surface means less bite on vibora and cut bandeja shots; backspin drop shots grip less and the ball bounces livelier than you'd expect Being a soft teardrop with such generous pop, high balls near the net are tricky to control for depth and tend to sail long if you don't adjust the contact This isn't the racket for a hard-hitting advanced player: the 38mm frame with Soft EVA deforms under heavy smashes and the feedback turns mushy

The Dunlop Fusion Elite Pro Oro suits intermediate players who already have a technical base and want to progress without jumping to a too-demanding paddle. Its teardrop shape shifts the sweet spot slightly upwards, striking a balance between control and power. The medium balance keeps a balanced behaviour between baseline shots and volleys.

The Dunlop Fusion Elite Pro Oro tackles a very specific intermediate-player problem: getting through a match without having to choose between defending well or attacking well. It's a 38mm teardrop padel racket with a fibreglass face and Soft EVA core, even balance, and a smooth black-and-gold finish.

That combination isn't accidental. Every material choice pulls in the same direction: effortless ball exit, an arm that doesn't suffer, and a wide margin for error on contact.

What does a Soft EVA core actually do in a 38mm frame?

A 38mm profile is the maximum allowed under the rules, and on a teardrop shape it means there's enough material for the core to really do its job. When that core is Soft EVA, the rubber compresses more, and for longer, on every impact.

The practical effect is a very generous ball exit. On a mid-height blocked volley you don't need to push through the shot — the ball comes off with its own depth and gives you the net. The same thing happens on a defensive lob from the back: you reach the glass, pull the ball off the wall, and the lob carries deep without you having to accelerate through it.

The trade-off is an honest one: that same soft rubber eats energy on the flat smash. If your go-to shot is closing points with a sharp x3, this padel racket will give you back less pace than you put in.

Fibreglass vs carbon: why it's more forgiving

A fibreglass face flexes earlier than a carbon weave, and that flex does two things.

First, it filters out vibration. On off-centre hits — like when you're caught out by a cross-court vibora near the throat — the racket doesn't punish your elbow. For a player hitting the court three or four times a week and still building technique, that matters more than an extra couple of km/h on the ball.

Second, it widens the usable hitting zone. Fibreglass on a teardrop shape produces a broad, well-centred sweet spot, not the narrow oval toward the tip you get on stiff diamond shapes.

What fibreglass won't give you is crisp feedback. Don't expect the crack of a high-density carbon face on your bandeja — the feel here is softer, more about carrying the ball than cracking it.

Dunlop Fusion Elite Pro Oro: spec sheet

How it performs shot by shot

Wall exit. This is the standout strength. The soft rubber gives you margin — even arriving late and hitting off-balance, the ball comes off with enough height to get it back deep into the opponent's court.

Bandeja. Comfortable and repeatable. Even balance means the racket gets overhead without lag, and the wide sweet spot forgives a slightly low contact point. It's not a bandeja with much bite — the smooth surface limits that — but it's one that consistently lands in.

Vibora. This is where the first real limitation shows up. The smooth finish grips the ball less than a rough surface, so the sidespin you generate is moderate. The vibora comes out fast but flatter than you'd like.

Smash. Solid on the kick smash and a measured remate por 3, where placement matters more than raw pace. On the flat smash to the back, the Soft EVA takes the edge off your top speed.

Volley. Quick to handle and rock-solid on the block. The risk is on the easy ball near the net — with so much natural pop, if you don't adjust your contact it'll sail long.

Who should be playing with this Dunlop?

This is built for the intermediate player who wants one racket for the whole match. Mid-level, a couple of years on court, technique still developing, and arm health as the priority. It's an especially good fit for backhand-side players who defend a lot and need the ball to come off the wall on its own.

Two player types won't get on with it. Absolute beginners will find more margin with a pure round shape, and hard-hitting advanced players will hit the Soft EVA's ceiling as soon as the pace of the point ramps up.

As a pairing racket, it works well alongside a partner using a stiffer, power-oriented frame: you hold the point and build it, they finish it.

Verdict: genuine versatility, a modest ceiling

The Fusion Elite Pro Oro delivers on its promise — switching between control and attack depending on what the point demands — through a coherent formula: teardrop shape, even balance, soft rubber, flexible face.

What you're buying is comfort, forgiveness on off-centre hits, and a ball exit that bails you out of awkward situations. What you're not buying is raw power or bite off the smooth surface.

If your game is built around defending well, moving forward, and closing points with placement rather than force, this Dunlop makes real sense. If your plan is to smash your way to the finish, look for a denser core and a rough surface instead.