New Solinco XTD+ Rackets 2024

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MHK1987

New User
I’ve been using a Prince Precision Equipe MP Longbody. I tried a 27.5” racket, but had trouble with the handle being shorter. My best stroke is a 2 handed backhand and I felt jammed trying to hold on to the 27.5” racket.

Can anyone who has tried both Solinco Whiteout 305 XTD+ and Blackout 300 XTD+ give information on the difference between the two?

I’m hesitant to try a demo from TW because both the rackets only have poly for the demos. I’m more used to a multifilament and I don’t want any arm issues. I currently use NXT Power.
 
Both are really nice but I personally think that the Blackout is the gem between the two. Even though it's a 28 inch, thick-beamed 100, it swings super fast, isn't very launchy and is quite connected compared to other modern 100s. I personally didn't find much extra control with the Whiteout 16x19 XTD+ and find the Blackout to be a lot more fun to use, even though my usual racquet is the standard length Whiteout 18x20.
 
I’ve played with Prince Precision Equipe MP 28” longbodies for decades - I’ve got about 12 of them. They’re just a bit too stiff for me these days. Been using a Prince TT95 extended to 28” & a Prince ATS TT95 also at 28” - they’re headlight enough to extend a whole inch - as well as a 2023 Yonex VCore 98+ also extended from 27.5” to 28”. VCore is great & I’m buying more.
Really interested in learning how the Whiteout XTD 28” goes; hard to come by in Melbourne.
 
I played the WO XTD28 as part of a large demo I did lately. Really liked it and almost almost made it out as the winner.
It swings super easy, most people wouldn't even realize it's a 28in just from feel alone.
I had some of my best serves with it.
Super comfortable too.
It is just a bit too unstable for me and didn't want to go down that same rabbit hole as I did in the past with the VC98+, EZ98+ and DR98+. Where the racquet is very good at almost everything but has so little TW that it kills the magic on off center hits. And if you decide to put lead at 3-9 you end up with a very high SW and it loses its magic.

I had no interest on the BO because of the larger thicker frame. The WO is in a very niche place being 28in, thin beamed and comfortable.

I finally decided on the new PA+, but as I said, it was a really close.
 
AMGF said:
I had no interest on the BO because of the larger thicker frame. The WO is in a very niche place being 28in, thin beamed and comfortable.

I finally decided on the new PA+, but as I said, it was a really close.
Click to expand...
Umm….forgive me, but that makes no sense. The dimensions of the Blackout are 23.5mm - 26mm - 23mm. And the dimensions of the PA are…23mm - 26mm - 23mm.

I tried the Blackout XTD+, but 28” just seems a bit too long for me. Serves were great, but everything else felt a bit slow. Maybe I should revisit it when I get on the clay.

But… I can understand staying away from thicker frames as I stayed in the 21.5mm/22.5mm range for decades, and would be all over the Whiteout XTD 18x20 if I weren’t so damn old… Eventually I looked around and saw all my friends were using thicker frames, and realized I was falling behind…especially since I’m 15+ years older than all of them…
 
AMGF said:
I played the WO XTD28 as part of a large demo I did lately. Really liked it and almost almost made it out as the winner.
It swings super easy, most people wouldn't even realize it's a 28in just from feel alone.
I had some of my best serves with it.
Super comfortable too.
It is just a bit too unstable for me and didn't want to go down that same rabbit hole as I did in the past with the VC98+, EZ98+ and DR98+. Where the racquet is very good at almost everything but has so little TW that it kills the magic on off center hits. And if you decide to put lead at 3-9 you end up with a very high SW and it loses its magic.

I had no interest on the BO because of the larger thicker frame. The WO is in a very niche place being 28in, thin beamed and comfortable.

I finally decided on the new PA+, but as I said, it was a really close.
Click to expand...
Thanks as always for the detailed synopsis.(y):)
 
MHK1987 said:
I’ve been using a Prince Precision Equipe MP Longbody. I tried a 27.5” racket, but had trouble with the handle being shorter. My best stroke is a 2 handed backhand and I felt jammed trying to hold on to the 27.5” racket.

Can anyone who has tried both Solinco Whiteout 305 XTD+ and Blackout 300 XTD+ give information on the difference between the two?

I’m hesitant to try a demo from TW because both the rackets only have poly for the demos. I’m more used to a multifilament and I don’t want any arm issues. I currently use NXT Power.
Click to expand...
Whiteouts are foam filled like older donnay and diadem nova. They play pretty soft, are spin friendly, and have good power.

Blackouts are sort of like a soft feeling pure drive. Not sure how it's done but feels much softer than the 70 stiffness would indicate. Easy power and spin. I'm currently playing the Blackout XTD and really enjoying it.
 
McLovin said:
Umm….forgive me, but that makes no sense. The dimensions of the Blackout are 23.5mm - 26mm - 23mm. And the dimensions of the PA are…23mm - 26mm - 23mm.

I tried the Blackout XTD+, but 28” just seems a bit too long for me. Serves were great, but everything else felt a bit slow. Maybe I should revisit it when I get on the clay.

But… I can understand staying away from thicker frames as I stayed in the 21.5mm/22.5mm range for decades, and would be all over the Whiteout XTD 18x20 if I weren’t so damn old… Eventually I looked around and saw all my friends were using thicker frames, and realized I was falling behind…especially since I’m 15+ years older than all of them…
Click to expand...
Thickness of the frame was not the main factor in my decision. TW was. Stock TW (Briffidi measured) on the PA+ is about a full 1point more iirc. To get the same stability out of the WO with added lead would bring the SW to 360+. The PA+ I could add some lead and bring the TW in the high 14s and still be around 350sw. If the TW on the whiteout could be brought up in the low 14s stock with a SW at around 350 that would be it for me.

The BO on top of the thicker frame has a very high RDC at 70 and 157hz. The new PA+ is 65/143hz which is really close to my previous Ezone 98+ (64/140). I didn't test the BO but on paper, the thick stiff frame and high vibration frequency just put me off testing it.
 
I am using both BO XTD+ and 2023 VCore100. BO XTD+ is just that much more fun to play with but it is indeed slower to swing. Even serve is harder as it more wobbly given the length. However, with earlier preparation and focus on applying spin (good upward swing motion), every groundstroke is that much more fun. I found that the required earlier preparation actually forced me to build a good habit. The only downsize of playing BO XTD+ is the difficulty to purchase. No backup when string is broken. Also, no other company makes 28" racquet that is "normal" (normal 300g 16x19 100 sq in spec) and half decent.
 
I bought a Blackout XTD 28 and after 3 sessions, the string is fraying and I feel like I don’t have any control on shots that I don’t swing very hard on. Is this normal?

I used Wilson NXT power at 53lbs. Another thing that is kind of weird is when I go to the Solinco website, it says the recommended tension is 45-50lbs, but TW has 50-60lbs.

I don’t want to change to poly bc I have some arm issues from another health problem.

Idk what could be going on bc I have played with a stiffer 28inch racket for many years until trying the BO.
 
MHK1987 said:
I bought a Blackout XTD 28 and after 3 sessions, the string is fraying and I feel like I don’t have any control on shots that I don’t swing very hard on. Is this normal?

I used Wilson NXT power at 53lbs. Another thing that is kind of weird is when I go to the Solinco website, it says the recommended tension is 45-50lbs, but TW has 50-60lbs.

I don’t want to change to poly bc I have some arm issues from another health problem.

Idk what could be going on bc I have played with a stiffer 28inch racket for many years until trying the BO.
Click to expand...
Black out seems like it was intended for some poly whether full or in a hybrid. It's a powerful spin friendly frame that needs poly to tame with spin.

I played the bo xtd 28 with poly main and it chewed through the syn gut cross in record time. I thought it was very control oriented and predictable for a power and spin frame like: pure drive, aero, ezone 100, etc.

I don't think the target audience for this frame are flat hitters or full multi users unfortunately.
 
I used the Equipe 28 extensively and the Thundbolt 28.5 the Thunderstick 28.5 Longbody, Thunderstorm Longbody, and the prince OG longbody crossbar and the prince 100G LB 28” . I now use the BlackOut XTD which I find superior to all those and still have all those and hit with them. BlackOut is so much quicker through the air, returns, better putaway power, volleys, great on serve, thickish but a rounded taper throat makes it great for 1hbh. Kind of fell in love with the BlackOut XTD the second time I tried it, I had wrist issues so I string this at 45/38 cross and it still had tons of control for that low tension. I think you’ll be very happy with the XTD+ coming from the equipe prince longbodies. The BlackOut had a very predictable medium launch to me. Most 16/19 launch too unpredictable, too high and make short ball approaches too unpredictable, the BlackOut excelled on short balls vs other 16/19


XTD+ is my next demo after I finish the Prince Phantom demo.
 
Last edited:
chrian said:
How do they compare with each other?
Click to expand...
I had probably close to 9 months with BlackOut XTD and 1 week as a demo awhile back that wasn’t my grip and wasn’t strings or tension with Pure Aero +. Then I got it last week and put my strings/tension how I like it. Tough for me to give an accurate comparison with so little time. I think they play pretty similar. I thought the Pure Aero at the same tension and string had a bit more control with the possible denser string configuration and softer flex I thought the balls stay on the strings a bit longer and my serve % was a little better with the Pure Aero. The BlackOut XTD hit some bombs for serves, maybe a bit less stable. I saw the Bryan Bros configuration and the added lead to the throat and 3/9. Peter Smith’s BlackOut also had lead in the throat area so I’m leaning towards trying that.

You can’t go wrong with either racket. I’m going to try to play some more with the Aero+ and record some.

WhiteOut XTD 18x20 was a very good stick as was the 16x19, feel like if I dialed in the strings those would be amazing.
 
jmacdaununder2 said:
I’ve played with Prince Precision Equipe MP 28” longbodies for decades - I’ve got about 12 of them. They’re just a bit too stiff for me these days. Been using a Prince TT95 extended to 28” & a Prince ATS TT95 also at 28” - they’re headlight enough to extend a whole inch - as well as a 2023 Yonex VCore 98+ also extended from 27.5” to 28”. VCore is great & I’m buying more.
Really interested in learning how the Whiteout XTD 28” goes; hard to come by in Melbourne.
Click to expand...
How do you extend them?
 
2ndServe said:
I used the Equipe 28 extensively and the Thundbolt 28.5 the Thunderstick 28.5 Longbody, Thunderstorm Longbody, and the prince OG longbody crossbar and the prince 100G LB 28” . I now use the BlackOut XTD which I find superior to all those and still have all those and hit with them. BlackOut is so much quicker through the air, returns, better putaway power, volleys, great on serve, thickish but a rounded taper throat makes it great for 1hbh. Kind of fell in love with the BlackOut XTD the second time I tried it, I had wrist issues so I string this at 45/38 cross and it still had tons of control for that low tension. I think you’ll be very happy with the XTD+ coming from the equipe prince longbodies. The BlackOut had a very predictable medium launch to me. Most 16/19 launch too unpredictable, too high and make short ball approaches too unpredictable, the BlackOut excelled on short balls vs other 16/19


XTD+ is my next demo after I finish the Prince Phantom demo.
Click to expand...
Did you ever get around to demoing the Blackout xtd 28+?
 
thanu said:
Did you ever get around to demoing the Blackout xtd 28+?
Click to expand...
High on my list, currently just buying rackets so I can get the grip size I want, with my own strings and tension, customized with a little lead. Probably the only way to compare. Already have too many rackets but that’s likely my next racket.
 
Just finished another couple months trying to decide between the XTD and XTD+. I've settled on the XTD+.
  1. I miss less on both 1st and 2nd serves - I can only guess it's due to how my motion gets along with the more headlight balance of the XTD+ and I think, with the same timing, the ball is hitting closer to the upper sweet spot on the XTD+ versus a bit outside of/above it
  2. Easier depth on rally shots, both on FH and BH. Doesn't necessarily mean it's a heavier ball, but it's just a comfortable frame to swing and achieve depth. I can rally all day with this one. This isn't due to a super high launch angle either, it's just right, maybe medium-high angle.
  3. Slice is slightly better, but great on both.
  4. I don't hit as long as often with the XTD+, and I feel safer going for a shot, which is counter to what I expected. I think there's more flex in the XTD+ and I have slightly better control - surprisingly.
  5. I think about the racquet a lot less with XTD+ - this is a big deal for me. I just play. Tennis is easier with it.
  6. The XTD+ makes me more aware of proper spacing for those moments when I'm inside the court and decide to go for a winner/force-error/weak reply. I'm more aware of this focus compared to the XTD.
All that said, I think either frame, given enough time and focus, work well for my game. I'll be grabbing a couple more 28s.
 
KarmaKorps said:
Just finished another couple months trying to decide between the XTD and XTD+. I've settled on the XTD+.
  1. I miss less on both 1st and 2nd serves - I can only guess it's due to how my motion gets along with the more headlight balance of the XTD+ and I think, with the same timing, the ball is hitting closer to the upper sweet spot on the XTD+ versus a bit outside of/above it
  2. Easier depth on rally shots, both on FH and BH. Doesn't necessarily mean it's a heavier ball, but it's just a comfortable frame to swing and achieve depth. I can rally all day with this one. This isn't due to a super high launch angle either, it's just right, maybe medium-high angle.
  3. Slice is slightly better, but great on both.
  4. I don't hit as long as often with the XTD+, and I feel safer going for a shot, which is counter to what I expected. I think there's more flex in the XTD+ and I have slightly better control - surprisingly.
  5. I think about the racquet a lot less with XTD+ - this is a big deal for me. I just play. Tennis is easier with it.
  6. The XTD+ makes me more aware of proper spacing for those moments when I'm inside the court and decide to go for a winner/force-error/weak reply. I'm more aware of this focus compared to the XTD.
All that said, I think either frame, given enough time and focus, work well for my game. I'll be grabbing a couple more 28s.
Click to expand...
Just curious what your set up is. Any weight anywhere? I have been playing mine mostly stock. I tried some weight at 3 and 9 but took it off. Been using low tensions… mostly 35lbs but I think I may go up in tension. Tried low 50’s with confidential but no power. I got some 10g buttcaps but haven’t gotten around to trying them yet.
 
KarmaKorps said:
Just finished another couple months trying to decide between the XTD and XTD+. I've settled on the XTD+.
  1. I miss less on both 1st and 2nd serves - I can only guess it's due to how my motion gets along with the more headlight balance of the XTD+ and I think, with the same timing, the ball is hitting closer to the upper sweet spot on the XTD+ versus a bit outside of/above it
  2. Easier depth on rally shots, both on FH and BH. Doesn't necessarily mean it's a heavier ball, but it's just a comfortable frame to swing and achieve depth. I can rally all day with this one. This isn't due to a super high launch angle either, it's just right, maybe medium-high angle.
  3. Slice is slightly better, but great on both.
  4. I don't hit as long as often with the XTD+, and I feel safer going for a shot, which is counter to what I expected. I think there's more flex in the XTD+ and I have slightly better control - surprisingly.
  5. I think about the racquet a lot less with XTD+ - this is a big deal for me. I just play. Tennis is easier with it.
  6. The XTD+ makes me more aware of proper spacing for those moments when I'm inside the court and decide to go for a winner/force-error/weak reply. I'm more aware of this focus compared to the XTD.
All that said, I think either frame, given enough time and focus, work well for my game. I'll be grabbing a couple more 28s.
Click to expand...

is the xtd+ a lot harder to swing?
 
My black out 28 is not hard to swing.
Swing weight feels the same as my Ezone 100..
Mine just gives me wrist pain.. but that's not the rackets fault..
 
thanu said:
Just curious what your set up is. Any weight anywhere? I have been playing mine mostly stock. I tried some weight at 3 and 9 but took it off. Been using low tensions… mostly 35lbs but I think I may go up in tension. Tried low 50’s with confidential but no power. I got some 10g buttcaps but haven’t gotten around to trying them yet.
Click to expand...
I had only 1 gram spread between 10 & 2, but took it off - the 10 gram butt cap gives me what I need, which is a bit extra swingweight, stability (increased recoil weight, and noticeable on volleys), and more HL balance.
My serves responded right away with the 10g butt cap.

I'm still looking for the proper string set-up, though. I've moved away from confidential and tried a hybrid of 17 ga Cyclone mains and luxilon original cross (48/45 lbs). I think I'm onto something with this tension but I can tell this isn't the right string combo.
I'm probably going to try round co-polys, maybe RS lyon or something similar. With the XTD+, I feel like the frame likes dwell time, and it just feels better with lower tensions. The 66 RA keeps it from being too launchy.
 
2ndServe said:
is the xtd+ a lot harder to swing?
Click to expand...
Not at all - seems just as easy to swing as the XTD. It does have a higher swingweight, but is 10pts HL versus 8 on the XTD. True, the 10 G butt cap addition does increase swingweight, but I still consider the XTD+ to be an easy swing. Im going to have their swingweights measured at the tennis shop during the next restring.
 
2ndServe said:
I used the Equipe 28 extensively and the Thundbolt 28.5 the Thunderstick 28.5 Longbody, Thunderstorm Longbody, and the prince OG longbody crossbar and the prince 100G LB 28” . I now use the BlackOut XTD which I find superior to all those and still have all those and hit with them. BlackOut is so much quicker through the air, returns, better putaway power, volleys, great on serve, thickish but a rounded taper throat makes it great for 1hbh. Kind of fell in love with the BlackOut XTD the second time I tried it, I had wrist issues so I string this at 45/38 cross and it still had tons of control for that low tension. I think you’ll be very happy with the XTD+ coming from the equipe prince longbodies. The BlackOut had a very predictable medium launch to me. Most 16/19 launch too unpredictable, too high and make short ball approaches too unpredictable, the BlackOut excelled on short balls vs other 16/19


XTD+ is my next demo after I finish the Prince Phantom demo.
Click to expand...
Good vid - looks like you are handling the XTD just fine here. I've played with a lot of 27.5s and the BO XTD is just easy... it has great feedback and a bit more pop than my CX200+ frames (which are sweet control frames).
That said, I'm glad I wasn't paying attn when I tried to order a second XTD and instead accidentally bought the XTD+, because it's a unique experience. I found the XTD vs XTD+ choice difficult, and in the end it was the serve and slice that steered me to the XTD+ - only by a narrow margin.
 
KarmaKorps said:
Good vid - looks like you are handling the XTD just fine here. I've played with a lot of 27.5s and the BO XTD is just easy... it has great feedback and a bit more pop than my CX200+ frames (which are sweet control frames).
That said, I'm glad I wasn't paying attn when I tried to order a second XTD and instead accidentally bought the XTD+, because it's a unique experience. I found the XTD vs XTD+ choice difficult, and in the end it was the serve and slice that steered me to the XTD+ - only by a narrow margin.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I wish they made an XTD+ in 18x20 or 16x20. Or a 28 with adaptable handle that you could make 27.75 or 18x20 16x20. I know Head and Dunlop tried this but it never caught on.
 
KarmaKorps said:
Not at all - seems just as easy to swing as the XTD. It does have a higher swingweight, but is 10pts HL versus 8 on the XTD. True, the 10 G butt cap addition does increase swingweight, but I still consider the XTD+ to be an easy swing. Im going to have their swingweights measured at the tennis shop during the next restring.
Click to expand...
Adding such a weight to the handle doesn't (or hardly) increase the swingweight.
 
Gee said:
Ah, interesting. So a more than 7-8 grams heavier butt cap does increase the swingweight.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but certainly not a lot... My thought is that it gives just a bit more punch on serve and volleys without the Headlight penalty of adding lead at 12.
 
Do you need 2HBH and or loopy takeback forehand for such extended lengths? I reckon OHBH and flip forehand will be very late/feel sluggish with these rackets
 
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