Tecnifibre Official - Racquets

M

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
brunomartorelli said:
I have some trouble hitting the SS consistently, mainly due to poor footwork... would I be better off with the TF40 or Blade?

Also, today I play with an Ultra Tour, which specwise is pretty much on par with these two.. haven’t seen reviews pairing the TF40 up with the UT (slightly modded for similar SW of course).. or even comparing the Blade to the UT for that matter.

Anyone care to shed some light?




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if you know you have trouble hitting the sweet spot consistently due to poor footwork, changing racquets is not going to help you. you would be better off sticking with your existing racquet and working on improving your movement and footwork.

here's the main issue with the Blades. Wilson's QC isn't great so you could end up with a high swing weight battle axe or a low swing weight platform stick or something in between. If you end up with a blade with a 340 SW and you prefer a racquet with a 330 SW, there's nothing you'll be able to do to drop 10 pts of SW on your blade. if you're fortunate to get one that is your preferred SW, then I would take the Blade over the UT (modded).

I use a modded UT and love it. Through a good friend, I recently acquired an under spec 2015 Blade 18/20 with an unstrung SW of 291. I replaced the stock grip with a leather grip. This thing is pretty awesome now.

Based on my experience
Power: Blade > modded UT > TF40 305
Trajectory (ball height over the net): Blade > modded UT > TF40 305
Control: modded UT > TF40 305 > Blade
Topspin: Spin is determined by technique. I have no trouble generating topspin with any of the sticks, but the type of spin is different. The spin from the Blade kicks up and forward. The spin from the UT jumps more forward than up. The spin from the TF40 doesn't kick up or jump forward as much as the other 2.
Slice: modded UT > Blade > TF40 305
Volleys: Blade > TF40 305 = modded UT
Feel: modded UT > Blade > TF40 305
Serves: haven't been able to serve w/ the TF40 305 or Blade as these were acquired after i injured my shoulder. I serve well with the modded UT. I had a 2015 Blade 18/20 with a higher SW previously and it was a little sluggish on serves. This under spec Blade should be great on serve especially with more power and higher trajectory than my modded UT
Maneuverability: Blade = modded UT > TF40. TF40 was pretty close to the other 2
Comfort: all 3 are very close in terms of comfort. They are all 18/20 patterns so the string bed by default will feel more firm. The Ultra Tour has more frame flex comfort but the string bed is dense while the Blade has less frame flex but the string bed is more open so there's more "give" in the string. The TF40 frame is more firm but very well dampened and the string bed is dense in the middle and opens up as it moves towards the outside.

My main 2 sticks now are the modded UT and the under spec 2015 Blade 18/20. The TF40 305 was sold.

hope this helps.
 
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M

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
High Lama said:
The TF 40 definitely had more power than the blade and UT that I had. It could have been the bad QC of wilson though.
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Yeah, with Wilson there’s a lot of variability in their sticks.

which Blade are you referring to? Mine Blade is the 2015 18/20 and even then, my latest 291 SW stick plays much better than my previous 2015 one that had a higher SW.
 
tennis347

tennis347

Semi-Pro
brunomartorelli said:
I have some trouble hitting the SS consistently, mainly due to poor footwork... would I be better off with the TF40 or Blade?

Also, today I play with an Ultra Tour, which specwise is pretty much on par with these two.. haven’t seen reviews pairing the TF40 up with the UT (slightly modded for similar SW of course).. or even comparing the Blade to the UT for that matter.

Anyone care to shed some light?




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I have played with the new Blade 98 16 x 19 for a couple of months and just purchased a T40 305. The TF 305 has a better sweet spot IMO. It's just a more solid all around racquet IMO. The Blade has a softer feel but doesn't do anything special IMO. It comes down to personal preference.
 
A

avocadoz

Semi-Pro
High Lama said:
The TF 40 definitely had more power than the blade and UT that I had. It could have been the bad QC of wilson though.
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You're definitely correct. Having played with all 3, I'd say the TF40 has more power than other two, yet somehow better control too. I find the UT very middle of the road racquet, basically meeeh. It doesn't do anything particularly well. Blade & TF40 are superior.
 
M

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
tennis347 said:
I have played with the new Blade 98 16 x 19 for a couple of months and just purchased a T40 305. The TF 305 has a better sweet spot IMO. It's just a more solid all around racquet IMO. The Blade has a softer feel but doesn't do anything special IMO. It comes down to personal preference.
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I agree that TF40 305 is WAY better than the v7 Blade 16/19. The blade 16/19 is a completely different stick compared to the 18/20 though.
 
H

High Lama

New User
The 2015 blade I used had a 305 SW strung so that’s probably why it had less power. My TF 40 305 has a 322 SW. For the UT you have to put lead around the entire hoop to get it to 320. By that point it feels strange. I can’t see the UT having more power than the tf 40 even with mods.
 
W

WillGinRVA

New User
avocadoz said:
Yup, this is where it's superior to the Blade and hence why I made the switch. Both are around the same weight and the TF40 is slightly more head heavy and thicker frame, yet the TF40 manages to be much more manueverable.
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What were the specs on your TF40 and Blade?
 
M

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
High Lama said:
The 2015 blade I used had a 305 SW strung so that’s probably why it had less power. My TF 40 305 has a 322 SW. For the UT you have to put lead around the entire hoop to get it to 320. By that point it feels strange. I can’t see the UT having more power than the tf 40 even with mods.
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Yeah. 305 strung is extremely low!

I have 2 UTs. To get them to 326-328SW: 2.5-3g at 12. 1.5g at 10 and 1.5g at 2. 0.5g at 5 and 0.5g at 7. Poster putty and lead inside the trapdoor. Leather grip + OG. Strung with full bed of 1.25 poly.
 
tennis347

tennis347

Semi-Pro
mad dog1 said:
I agree that TF40 305 is WAY better than the v7 Blade 16/19. The blade 16/19 is a completely different stick compared to the 18/20 though.
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Yes, I would also agree that the v7 Blade 16 × 19 is much different compared to the 18 × 20. From what I hear, there are more favorable reviews of the 18 x 20 version. I am going to stay put with the T40 305 for now. As long as it agrees with my arm, I have no plans in changing. The T40 305 is definitely one of the best racquets of the year.
 
M

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
tennis347 said:
Yes, I would also agree that the v7 Blade 16 × 19 is much different compared to the 18 × 20. From what I hear, there are more favorable reviews of the 18 x 20 version. I am going to stay put with the T40 305 for now. As long as it agrees with my arm, I have no plans in changing. The T40 305 is definitely one of the best racquets of the year.
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I found the Tf40 to be a very good racquet. Solid offering for sure. The problem I have with Wilson due to wild variation in specs is you may have gotten a great stick or a dud but you wouldn’t know unless you were able to compare with a bigger sample size of Wilson sticks.

the ultra tour is a bit different because as a platform stick, all of them start off light weight and need weight added to play well.
 
W

WillGinRVA

New User
avocadoz said:
Not sure. I played both in stock form. The Blade definitely feels heavier to swing.
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Might be you got a Blade with a high SW haha. It’d be interesting to hear comparisons between the racquets where the specs are known. For example my 300 unstrung SW Blade is noticeably easier to swing than my 307 one, while their weight and balance are the same.
 
tennis347

tennis347

Semi-Pro
mad dog1 said:
I found the Tf40 to be a very good racquet. Solid offering for sure. The thing about Wilson due to wild variation in specs is you may have gotten a great stick or a dud but you wouldn’t know unless you were able to compare with a bigger sample size of Wilson sticks.
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I only hit with the T40 305 for one session and got really dialed in quickly. I have 2 v7 Blade 98 16 x 19 and they weigh within a gram of each other and the swing weights are almost identical. I guess I was lucky.

T40 305 is going to be a huge hit this year and into early next year. I was lucky to get one for the sale price. If all goes well, I will buy another one in early Spring. The outdoor season is almost over in NY and I don't play much indoors.
 
M

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
tennis347 said:
I only hit with the T40 305 for one session and got really dialed in quickly. I have 2 v7 Blade 98 16 x 19 and they weigh within a gram of each other and the swing weights are almost identical. I guess I was lucky.

T40 305 is going to be a huge hit this year and into early next year. I was lucky to get one for the sale price. If all goes well, I will buy another one in early Spring. The outdoor season is almost over in NY and I don't play much indoors.
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The v7 blade 16/19 wasn’t more sluggish than my Ultra Tours but they weren’t as stable nor did they have the control. The TF40 felt much closer in performance to my modded UTs than the v7 blade 16/19. If I didn’t have the Ultra Tours, the TF40 would be an easy choice.
 
tennis347

tennis347

Semi-Pro
mad dog1 said:
The v7 blade 16/19 wasn’t more sluggish than my Ultra Tours but they weren’t as stable nor did they have the control. The TF40 felt much closer in performance to my modded UTs than the v7 blade 16/19. If I didn’t have the Ultra Tours, the TF40 would be an easy choice.
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I heard the Ultra Tour is a good racquet but needs customization. The good thing about the T40 305 is that it needs no customization! I have not had many racquets since I have been playing that didn't need to be customized. The only one I can think of is the Volkl C10 Pro. However, its much too heavy for me these days.
 
T

t_pac

Rookie
The problem I have with Wilson due to wild variation in specs is you may have gotten a great stick or a dud but you wouldn’t know unless you were able to compare with a bigger sample size of Wilson sticks
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And this is why I stay clear of Wilson these days, just too many stories about massive QC variances.

I'm sure Tecnifibre have their variances too but I've measured 2 of my 3 TF40s (third one came with leather grip so will obv be different) - one was 305 bang on, other was flickering the scale between 305 and 306. Balance was perfect on both so assume swing weight was spot on too.
 
B

brunomartorelli

New User
Tennisnerd had a quite bad experiencie with TF40 quality control.. one was 326 SW and the other too hefty at 334 if I’m not mistaken


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W

WillGinRVA

New User
t_pac said:
And this is why I stay clear of Wilson these days, just too many stories about massive QC variances.

I'm sure Tecnifibre have their variances too but I've measured 2 of my 3 TF40s (third one came with leather grip so will obv be different) - one was 305 bang on, other was flickering the scale between 305 and 306. Balance was perfect on both so assume swing weight was spot on too.
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Weight and balance being equal on two rackets doesn't mean swingweight is the same. My two 18x20 Blades have the same on those two measurements but one is +7 SW and it's noticeable.
 
N

n80aoag

New User
djNEiGht said:
As noted you had what seemed to be lower tension...but I would take the 18x20 string bed vs a 16x19 as apples and oranges. I'd be curious to try the 18x20 v7. Have you had a chance to hit with that?
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No experience with the v7 18x20, only the 18x20 CV. I didn't give the CV much of a chance because right away I didn't like the muted feel of it. Weight in stock form of the 18x20 CV was nice in the hand but hitting with it didn't feel very nice.
 
N

n80aoag

New User
tennis347 said:
I had a slightly different experience with the T40 305. I agree that the T40 305 is a bit stiffer than the Blade 98 16 x 19 v7. If you play with poly in the T40 305, I would string at a very low tension around 45lbs. Otherwise, you will destroy your arm. I had my T40 305 strung up with Gamma TNT 16 at 52lbs and the sweet spot is definitely larger than the Blade IMO. I had no problem getting easy depth with the T40 305 even hitting into a heavy wind. There's so much mass in the hoop that drives the ball deep. The slice backhand was a standout feature for me, very heavy and deep with underspin. Topspin was not bad either on the forehand and backhand. With a synthetic string you get a higher launch angle with the T40 305.
The comfort is good considering it's a bit on the firm side.

In comparison, I have played with the Blade 98 16 x 19 v7 for 3 months with a synthetic string set up. Definitely nice and plush feeling. The power and spin is ok but nothing spectacular. IMO the soft flex in the Blade takes away from the power. The controland stability are good but not outstanding. I was attracted to the Blade due to the lower flex.

However, after playing with T40 305 for 1 hitting session in cool and windy, I can say that it's a better all around frame than the Blade. The Blade is only better in comfort and the spin. The T40 305 really hits a heavy ball with less effort than the Blade. I was serving flat bullets with the T40 305. The bottom line is as long it agrees with my arm over the next couple of hitting sessions, I will be making the switch from the Blade to the T40 305. I did not have any arm pain after the first hitting session which is a positive. The key is to string the T40 305 at a lower tension to get superb comfort. It has so much control that you can do that with the 18 ×20 pattern, also with a thin gauge string. I have tried alot of modern racquets but Technifibre has hit a home run with the T40 305. I was dialed in with this racquet right away!! The Blade IMO doesn't do anything special but provide really good feel and arm comfort.
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Definitely agree that the blade v7 offers great comfort compared to the Tf40 305. Hope your arm holds up with it, enjoy
 
tennis347

tennis347

Semi-Pro
n80aoag said:
Definitely agree that the blade v7 offers great comfort compared to the Tf40 305. Hope your arm holds up with it, enjoy
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Thanks! Even for a firm playing frame, the T40 305 is quite comfortable. I will only use a synthetic string otherwise comfort could be an issue for my arm. I will have a better idea if the T40 305 agrees with my arm after a few more hitting sessions.
 
topspn

topspn

Hall of Fame
I’m finding the TF40 very comfortable even full firm poly like S7T. And I am sensitive to harsh frames/setups. Even the much firmer XTC 300 and to my surprise is not harsh with hyper-g @52lbs
 
taydbear7

taydbear7

New User
High Lama said:
Does anyone know how the xtc limited 18x20 or yonex hd 18x20 compare to the tf 40 315?
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I find that I hit better with 18x20 racquets. I have a Radical 18x20 and Gravity MP 16x20 and always find myself going back to the Radical. I'm trying to find something 18x20 and found T40 305 18x20 and saw they had a sale and then it went away and now I'm upset.
 
tennis347

tennis347

Semi-Pro
taydbear7 said:
I find that I hit better with 18x20 racquets. I have a Radical 18x20 and Gravity MP 16x20 and always find myself going back to the Radical. I'm trying to find something 18x20 and found T40 305 18x20 and saw they had a sale and then it went away and now I'm upset.
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I was lucky enough to take advantage of the sale price. The T40 305 is great all around racquet. I would recommend trying to pick up a gently used one. I normally play with 16 × 19 patterns but tried the T40 305 and was totally impressed right away! The TW review is totally accurate. I have posted my review previously.
 
taydbear7

taydbear7

New User
tennis347 said:
I was lucky enough to take advantage of the sale price. The T40 305 is great all around racquet. I would recommend trying to pick up a gently used one. I normally play with 16 × 19 patterns but tried the T40 305 and was totally impressed right away! The TW review is totally accurate. I have posted my review previously.
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I'm hoping they run another sale but this time I will jump on it. I'm actually going to order their bag. Going from Team Head to Team Technifibre :)
 
Possum

Possum

Rookie
My shop has been with Tecnifibre for over a year, and I'd like to know if or when there may be a chance that a 95" or smaller frame will be coming out. I understand most humans can't play with anything less than 100" these days, but I prefer the feel and control of a smaller racquet head.
 
A

avocadoz

Semi-Pro
Possum said:
My shop has been with Tecnifibre for over a year, and I'd like to know if or when there may be a chance that a 95" or smaller frame will be coming out. I understand most humans can't play with anything less than 100" these days, but I prefer the feel and control of a smaller racquet head.
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The TF305 plays closer to a 95 than a 98. Feel and control is fantastic.
 
taydbear7

taydbear7

New User
Just purchased TF 315 for $55 bucks! I'm stoked! It's a 16x19 so if all goes well I'm going to pick up a 18x20 in the future. I also ordered a the Orange TF bag from here.
 
AJvR

AJvR

New User
Possum said:
My shop has been with Tecnifibre for over a year, and I'd like to know if or when there may be a chance that a 95" or smaller frame will be coming out. I understand most humans can't play with anything less than 100" these days, but I prefer the feel and control of a smaller racquet head.
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It's actually 96.6" instead of 98", and control is similar to a 95".
 
Shangri La

Shangri La

Hall of Fame
I'm glad Tecnifibre didn't make a 16x19 version of the TF40. Because if they did, I'd blind order a couple without demo, based on TW's glorious review of the 305/315.

So many great 16x19 on the market already. I'm happy that Tecnifibre didn't make it more difficult for us to choose one and saved me a few hundred dollars.

Thanks @Tecnifibre Official .
 
A

axnthn

New User
For people who have experience with the v7 Blade 18x20 and TF40 305.. Is the launch angle pretty similar between the two? Also does the TF40 have more power? Thanks.
 
Notorious_Junkballer

Notorious_Junkballer

Rookie
TF40 305 plays really nice with Razor Code White & Wilson Sensation hybrided! Normally I don't like stiff nor round white polys but there's something with Ice Code and this new Medvedev-string that makes them really friendly. Really nice feeling and tremendous directional control and accuracy, let alone good power.

Next time I'll go with a full bed of Razor Code White or hybrid it with HDX.
 
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TennisHound

TennisHound

Legend
Anyone else compare the TFlash 300 CES to the 300 PS? According to the reviews, it sounds like Tecnifibre changed everything that made the 300 PS good.
 
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