Spec wise, TF40 cannot be less powerful than blade, because it is thicker and stiffer. Blades' power is from plow, I do not think it has more power from string bed.
Nah, just sponsorship deals and Tec doesn’t have many
Will there be a TF40 16x19? Feel is truly sublime
Not according to TF. Or that's what they said a few months ago in this thread.
I find Hyper-G plays very nice in the TF40, I have no experience with the others.
Don’t know Black Knight. I think RS Lyon is a pretty dead feeling poly. Hyper G is just about the nicest poly I’ve ever used in terms of the way it is balanced with power, spin and that cushy response.
Interesting discussions here going on about the TF40 305/315 and indirectly about the TFight 305 XTC....
I have played for a longer time with the TFight 305 XTC (and also 315 XTC) but made the switch to the TF40 305 directly when it was available here in Europe.
I really enjoyed the TFight 305 XTC and the way it performed, and to my opinion it's by far the best stock form playing frame in the whole TFight XTC range.
Stability, control, and plow (due to the high SW) were very impressive, especially for a frame with a static weight of just 305 gram.
The only less positive thing I experienced with it was some lack of speed and maneuverability at net, so I decided to lower the balancepoint 8 mm. with some extra tail weight; achieved by milling out the stock foam filling in the shaft and adding 8 gram of black Sikaflex 221 (known for its low volume/high weight ratio and very good dampening capacity)
After the addition of 8 gram Sikaflex the balancepoint lowered from 33,4 cm (strung + overgrip) to 32,6 cm and the overall static weight raised up to 334,5 gram.
With this customization it was like ''the icing on the cake'' for me and my TFight 305 XTC played great and absolutely well balanced, just the way I wanted.
After a couple of months playing with my TFight 305's I got the chance to buy a new TFight 315 XTC for an interesting and low price, so I decided to buy it to playtest it as a comparison with my TFight 305 XTC.
After just 15 minutes of playing with the TFight 315 XTC it was clear to me that it (despite the higher static overall weight) definitely lacked the stability, control, and plow through of the 305 XTC.
The differences were most noticeable with heavy groundstrokes and returns. Even after adding some lead tape at 3/9 position my slightly customized 305 XTC outperformed the 315 XTC completely in almost all aspects.
When I discussed my experiences with an employee of Tecnifibre (who I know reasonably well) he told me that the 305 XTC is the only frame in the TFight XTC range which has an exeptional addition of three integrated stabilization parts which are located at the 3/9/12 position in the hoop of the frame.
These integrated stabilization parts provides the better stability and plow, but are also the reason for the reasonably high swingweight of the 305 XTC.
I do not know yet (have to ask my Tecnifibre ''source'') if the above mentioned stabilization parts of the 305 XTC are also integrated in the frame of the TF40 305, but I shouldn't surprised if this will be the case, although the difference in swingweight between the TF40 305 vs TF40 315 is smaller than the difference in swingweight between the TFight 305 XTC vs TFight 315 XTC...
In several posts here I read that people mentioned that the difference in swingweight between the TF40 305 and the TF40 315 is minimum, but personally I have the opinion (based on experiences) that even smaller differences in swingweight value are absolutely feelable/noticeable in the playability of a frame, especially with control oriented frames like the TF40 which delivers lots of feel and feedback.
There must be a technical based reason for the better reviews that the TF40 305 is currently receiving, but personally I'm having absolutely no regrets that I went for the 305 gram version.
Even as with the TFight 305 XTC I lowered the balance point of my TF40's with some extra tail weight in the frame shaft to get a bit more maneuverablity and now it's completely according my personal taste and preferences
TFight 305 XTC (before foam removing and filling shaft with 8 gram of black Sikaflex)
Balancepoint (strung + overgrip) of 32,6 cm (instead of 33,4 cm in stock form) after the Sikaflex addition
Swingweight of 337 (stock form, exept the addition of 8 gram tail weight)
Overall (strung, overgrip, plus 8 grams of Sikaflex) static weight of 334,5 gram
Two of my three beloved TF40 305's, one strung with Luxilon Element Rough 1.30 mm. and the other one with Völkl Cyclone 1.25 mm.
These two strings are my personal favorites in the TF40 305 after a test period with Ice Code, Black Code 4S and RS Lyon
I find myself making almost every racquet that I have into 27.25 inches. It really seems to be the goldi-locks length. It makes unmaneuverable extended racquets slightly more easy to wield, and it wonderfully adds plow thru and stability to regular length racquets as much better option than adding lead tape. Sure it also adds power but then you can compensate for that with slightly tighter strings. The Dunlop CX 200s are a bit quirky. The CX 200+s feel "tinny" to me and my friend who also cut his down by 1/4 inch (btw, he would probably sell if offered). The MUCH better option is to extend the CX 200 Tours as it has a way superior feel (even granted that feel is subjective).
The TF40 does NOT need a 16x19 version. It almost is already. People should stop just looking at the paper specs. That is one of the most annoying and wrong points that the TW playtesters alway make. Especially on the TF 40 305, look at how close to the vertical and horizontal edges of the hoop that the strings go to (I am too lazy to upload pics as I look at mine now compared to several of my other racquets, but see for yourself). Since the strings start much closer to the edges, the space between the strings in the HITTING AREA WHERE IT MATTERS is VERY similar to my Yonex Ezone 98, which is 16x19, which is also why a lot of people say their Yonex 16x19 racquets are more accurate than many 18x20 racquets. I have never had an issue with the spin potential of this racquet. Granted, it is not nearly as open as something like the 2019 Pure Aero.
Am glad you like your TF40. Apparently you have not tested the effects of these patterns on the other frames, like the TFights and Tecnifibre was dumb for making those... come' on.
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Yes it would decrease a bit. The leather is 1.5mm and PU probably was around 1.8
Its hard to say until you try it. For example launch angle , string spacing and maybe some other factors I dont know but you dobt see on paper . I tried 16x19 v7 and it had enough power way more then the tw test suggested . And that is the only thing im worried about at tf40 I just need that little extra pop on a bad day .
I added a leather grip, weight @7” spot top of the grip and 3g @12 to bring up frame to 334g strung. Plays more comfy too and feel is excellent.
To adjust for extra pop on a given day, I have rackets with less tension. If I need more control I have ones with more tension. That way I don't worry. Even during a match I may try biasing to defend or attack with the apropriate DT tension.
If you liked the TF DC 18, the TF40 will feel better with wider top sweet area and plenty of power with multi.
Welcome to the high performance world... equipment is always like that... wanna win a race ? get more power, engine lasts less though.
TBD
I have 3 of them. I play with synthetic gut most of the time. Have had multi in the 315 and enjoyed it, but Babolat Spiraltek is my go-to string right now. I do have a bit of lead and also some Gamma head tape on my 315's to give them a bit more oomph.
You can try CoPoly mains and syn gut in crosses. Works for me in the LTD 18M and 16M. Keep mid 40's for CoPoly. Add 1 inch of lead at 9 and 3 for more plow.
