Another flagship frame hailing from Brasil, the Ipanema 500 is most known for it's iconic orange hues and it's scalpel like control. To those of you hailing from tennis, the Ipanema 500 (hereafter the I5) is the prestige of the tennis world. A blend of power and control, the I5 is a sort of little brother to the powerhouse DX Brasil but fully stands alone and shines on its merits.
Appearance:
The I5 shines out bright orange and will catch any player's eye when they first see it. Using a simple, classic design, Dranix has produced an appealing frame without going overboard. The surface of the paddle is smooth with clean lines. Consistent with the Dranix line, the coating on the paddle will stand up to the normal wear and tear although the clean white rim will naturally pick up the hues of the sand as you play.Construction:
As a player frame, the I5 has a full 100% carbon fiber face coupled with Dranix's proprietary foam. The combination will yield the familiar responsive pop that DX players know and love. Although similar in construction to the Brasil, the I5 gains a bit more feel from the slightly thinner frame. The majority of the frames I have come across weigh in at the mid to high 350g range but are balanced more towards the handle mitigating the weight and facilitating maneuverability. Customizing the I5 is a breeze. The quality of the materials is high and the frames drill nicely. As a control frame, the most common drill pattern is to slightly reduce the power of the frame.Playing Characteristics:
Offensively: Similar to the Brasil, the DX I5 has a very responsive face. Balls will pop off the racquet and it is easy to accelerate the pace of play. Where the I5 differs is that the power is never overwhelming and always has a semblance of control. The prime adjectives that define the I5 are precision and control. Angles come easily to this racquet and smashes are crisp and clean. I found that it was easier to put extra spin on the ball with the I5 as compared to the Brasil and Wild Green but that I had to focus on centering the ball and placing my shots.As a person who relies on big, heavy serves, I had a bit of difficulty finding my range with this frame. I found that shorter tosses with extra spin worked best and allowed me to move the ball around for the best results.
Defensively: Despite keeping to a higher weight, the I5 is among the most maneuverable in the DX line. Returning overheads and drop shots is definitely facilitated by the more head light balance. Return of serve benefits from the control characteristics of the paddle-- it's easy and comfortable to direct the ball where you want or where you need it to be. The benefits gained by the balance are slightly offset by the I5's off center response. Shots to the frame of the paddle will not produce any miracles. Center the ball and you're in a great position to play, catch a frame and the ball will dribble off into the sand. Having said that, keep the ball centered and points will always be competitive.
Final Thoughts:
The I5 is a great Flagship paddle for the DX line. It blends a combination of power and control that will appeal to just about any player picking up the frame. Developing players will enjoy the responsiveness of the paddle while pros will benefit from the control and maneuverability of the paddle. Overall, a great buy and a great play for anyone picking it up. The I5 performs well across the board and it's difficult to find any flaws-- I look forward to seeing more products put out like this one.Pros:
+Powerful but plenty of control.
+Surprising Maneuverability for a 350+ g paddle.
+Pick up and play-- no learning curve
Cons:
- Lack of response on off-center shots.
