Dunlop Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl Blue And Orange 623723 Ofp Padel Racket 2023 Padel Racket Review

Performance Ratings

• Power: 72/100
• Control: 86/100
• Rebound: 75/100
• Maneuverability: 80/100
• Sweet Spot: 78/100

Specifications

Brand

Dunlop

Shape

Teardrop

Balance

Mid

Surface

Smooth

Hardness

Hard

Core

EVA Soft

Game Level

Advanced

Game Type

Control

Year

2023

Expert Review

Quick Verdict

The Dunlop Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl Blue And Orange 623723 Ofp Padel Racket is a control-first teardrop racket built for advanced players who construct points rather than end them early. Its biggest strength is pinpoint accuracy on bandejas and volleys; its biggest weakness is a lack of raw pop on flat smashes for power-hungry finishers.

Introduction

We nearly dismissed this racket after our first warm-up smash. It felt muted, almost polite, compared to the explosive rackets we usually reach for when reviewing anything wearing a "OFP" tag. That first impression, though, turned out to be misleading once we started actually building points with it.

Dunlop clearly built the Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl around a different philosophy than raw power. This is a teardrop padel racket with a Mid balance point, a Hard EVA Soft core, and a Smooth surface finish, all combined to prioritize touch over brute force. It's marketed at the Advanced game level with a Control game type, and that positioning shows up in nearly every rally once you stop swinging for the fences and start playing the ball where it needs to go.

We tested the Dunlop Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl Blue And Orange 623723 Ofp Padel Racket over several sessions on outdoor and indoor courts, rotating through defensive drills, net play, and full matches. What surprised us most was how much better it performed on defense than its power numbers suggested it would.

Performance on the Court

At the Back of the Court (Defense)

Chasing down a heavy smash near the back glass, the teardrop shape combined with the Mid balance gave us just enough maneuverability to get the racket face square in time. It's not the fastest frame we've swung, but it's far from sluggish either.

Digging out low balls and stretching for defensive lobs felt controlled rather than desperate. The sweet spot, rated 78/100, is generous enough that off-center contact on a rushed defensive lob still cleared the net with reasonable depth.

At the Net (Volleys and Smashes)

Block volleys are where this racket earns its keep. Absorbing a hard-hit ball at the net produced a clean, dampened rebound rather than a wild carom, which let us redirect the ball with confidence instead of hoping for the best.

Punch volleys carried decent pace, but full-swing smashes from a defensive lob setup lacked the explosive finish we get from more power-oriented frames. Put a smash right on the sweet spot and it's effective; miss slightly and it noticeably drops off.

Spin and Control (Viboras & Bandejas)

This is where the Smooth surface and Hard EVA Soft core combination genuinely shines. Setting up a bandeja from a mid-court lob, the ball grips the surface just enough to hold a slice trajectory that dies short in the opponent's court.

Vibora attempts felt similarly rewarding, with the racket translating wrist snap into consistent sidespin rather than unpredictable skids. Control-oriented players will notice this immediately during extended cross-court rallies.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The 86/100 control rating tracks with what we felt during cross-court volley exchanges — the ball consistently landed where we aimed it, not just where we swung.
• Teardrop shape combined with Mid balance strikes a workable middle ground between maneuverability and directed power, useful for players who mix defense and attack in the same rally.
• Smooth surface finish grips the ball well during bandeja and vibora setups, letting advanced players shape spin-heavy shots with confidence.
• Sweet spot performance held up on mishits during scrambling defensive exchanges, forgiving enough that a rushed lob still had usable depth.
• Hard EVA Soft core provides a stable, predictable response on block volleys, which matters when facing aggressive net players who hit hard and flat.

Cons

• Power output on flat smashes trails behind the control performance; players relying on that shot as a point-ender will feel the difference immediately.
• The Hard core transmits more feedback through the frame than a softer EVA option would, which players with elbow or wrist sensitivity may find fatiguing over long sessions.
• Maneuverability, while solid at 80/100, isn't quite quick enough for players who like to counter-punch at the net with rapid-fire reflex volleys.
• Advanced-level tuning means intermediate players may struggle to unlock the control benefits without already having consistent technique.

Construction and Materials

The Hard EVA Soft core is the defining material choice here, and it walks a careful line between dampened control and enough rebound to keep rallies moving. On paper "soft" and "hard" sound contradictory, but on court it translates to a core that compresses predictably rather than springing the ball back unpredictably.

The Smooth surface finish, paired with the glossy exterior, adds just enough tack for spin generation without feeling grabby or inconsistent shot to shot. Given the current price of €69.95 against an original listing of €240.00, the build quality here punches well above what we'd expect at this discount tier.

It's not carrying premium carbon layup marketing language, but the on-court behavior doesn't feel like a budget compromise. If you're evaluating When to Replace Your Padel Racket: Signs It's Time for an Upgrade, this racket's solid core integrity suggests it'll hold its performance profile for a good while before you need to think about replacement.

Who Is This Racket For?

This racket suits the right-side player who plays a controlled, all-court style built around bandejas, precise volleys, and patient point construction rather than early smash winners. It rewards players who already have consistent technique and want the ball to go exactly where they intend, session after session.

• Court position: best suited to the right side, where slice-heavy bandejas and controlled cross-court volleys dominate the shot selection.
• Playing style: all-court or net-first players who value placement over pure pace will get the most from this frame.
• Physical profile: comfortable for players without wrist or elbow sensitivity, though the Hard core feedback may bother those managing joint issues.
• Play frequency: works well for competitive players hitting the court 3-4 times a week who need consistent, repeatable shot-making.

This is not a racket for the left-side smasher who lives for flat, explosive overheads to end points quickly — the control-tuned core simply won't deliver that pop. Beginners chasing forgiveness over precision should also look elsewhere, since the Advanced tuning assumes technique is already in place.

How It Compares

Within Dunlop's own lineup, the Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl sits clearly on the control side of the spectrum rather than chasing raw power numbers, which puts it in an interesting spot against budget-friendly teardrop competitors. Against the Akkeron Oro 23, the Dunlop offers noticeably better touch on bandeja and vibora setups, though the Akkeron edges it out slightly on smash power for players who prioritize finishing points quickly.

Compared to the Bullpadel Flow Woman, the Inferno Elite feels more suited to a stronger, more advanced swing given its Hard core and Mid balance, while the Flow Woman leans softer and more forgiving for lighter swing speeds. As a budget teardrop padel racket, the Dunlop's control profile and sweet spot consistency make it a stronger pick for players who already have shot-making fundamentals down, rather than those still building consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Dunlop Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl Blue And Orange 623723 Ofp Padel Racket good for advanced players?

Yes, it's specifically tuned for the Advanced game level with a Control-oriented game type. Advanced players who already generate their own pace and want precise placement on volleys and bandejas will get the most out of it.

Q: Who is the Dunlop Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl Blue And Orange 623723 Ofp Padel Racket actually best suited for?

It's best suited for a right-side, all-court player who plays 3-4 times a week and builds points through spin and placement rather than early smashes. Players without wrist or elbow sensitivity will handle the Hard core's feedback more comfortably during long sessions.

Q: How does the Dunlop Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl Blue And Orange 623723 Ofp Padel Racket compare to Akkeron Oro 23?

The Dunlop delivers noticeably better control on bandejas and cross-court volleys, while the Akkeron Oro 23 has a slight edge in raw smash power. Players who value placement over finishing power should lean toward the Dunlop.

Q: Is the Dunlop Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl Blue And Orange 623723 Ofp Padel Racket still a good buy in 2026 considering its price and performance?

At €69.95 against an original price of €240.00, the control performance and build quality remain relevant well beyond its 2023 release. It's a strong value pick for control-focused players, provided you're comfortable with a Hard core rather than a plusher, more forgiving one.

Final Verdict

We recommend the Dunlop Inferno Elite Lt G1 Hl Blue And Orange 623723 Ofp Padel Racket without hesitation for advanced, control-minded players, but not for those chasing explosive smash power. The standout takeaways from our testing: exceptional cross-court volley accuracy, reliable bandeja and vibora spin generation, and a sweet spot that forgives defensive scrambles better than expected.

Before committing, it's worth pairing this racket with fresh overgrip — check our Padel Racket Grip Replacement Guide: When and How to Change Your Grip for tips on maximizing feel. If you regularly switch conditions between indoor and outdoor courts, our Seasonal Padel Racket Guide: Choosing the Right Racket for Different Conditions is also worth a read alongside this one.

Buy it if you're an advanced, technique-driven player who wants pinpoint control on volleys and spin shots at a fraction of the original price. Skip it if your game revolves around flat, explosive smashes as your primary weapon — this frame simply won't give you that finishing punch.