TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Perfect specs, Razor Soft (1.25) adds exactly 35 pts in SW. So, you'll be at 331 SW strung.
Tecnifibre T-Fight ISO
- Thread starter DJTaurus
- Start date
JFrijhoff
Rookie
Put razor code 1.20 in one, was planning to put ice code 1.20 in the other. Will probably also try razor code with ghost wire in the crosses to soften it up a little eventually.
Tranqville
Professional
Revisiting my Tfight ISO - the final review.
This will be a bit more of reflection after extensive play with the frame in practice and competition. I had a wonderful practice today and wanted to share my overal impressions.
Direct Connection
ISO lets me express my intentions on the court directly - keeping direct power, directional, depth, trajectory and amount of spin control. From slowest drop shops to flat forehand screamers DTL, it has linear and predictable response. Recently, I've been working on keeping my arm better connected to the body, so confidence in a connected racquet really helps.
Variety
I'm working on better decision making depending on the incoming ball, court positionts, and score situation. ISO 305 is truly a jack of all trades: flat shots, rally balls, defensive loopy balls, offensive sharp angled slice, you name it - it got it all in the toolbox. And it's not like you have to jump out of your tennis shoes to produce those - it understands your intensions and kind of leaves you margin of execution. This technical confidence really supports tactical growth and delivers competitive results.
Strings
Almost anything works, but my ultimatel competitive preference is Solinco Confidential. For everyday use, Grapplesnake Alpha has been wonderful. I plan to test the silver Mako next, I feel it will be fantastic in the ISO. After all, everything is fantastic in the ISO.
The X factor.
I never called ISO 305 "magical". It's not ultimate experience in anything, be it feel, power, or control. But it's pretty damn good enough in every department. Like a reliable financial director that comes to work at 9 and leaves at 5, with impeccably organized WHITE office. Maybe not a mad creative genius, ok. But gets the job done each and every time. No matter what strings, what surface, opponent. It's there for you. And you only realize how important that person is to your business when she's gone.
ISO 305 is a keeper for me. I will only be demoing occasionally to satisfy my passion about racquets. I will be taking a page out of @socallefty book in staying loyal to what works so perfectly for me on this journey of tennis growth.
This will be a bit more of reflection after extensive play with the frame in practice and competition. I had a wonderful practice today and wanted to share my overal impressions.
Direct Connection
ISO lets me express my intentions on the court directly - keeping direct power, directional, depth, trajectory and amount of spin control. From slowest drop shops to flat forehand screamers DTL, it has linear and predictable response. Recently, I've been working on keeping my arm better connected to the body, so confidence in a connected racquet really helps.
Variety
I'm working on better decision making depending on the incoming ball, court positionts, and score situation. ISO 305 is truly a jack of all trades: flat shots, rally balls, defensive loopy balls, offensive sharp angled slice, you name it - it got it all in the toolbox. And it's not like you have to jump out of your tennis shoes to produce those - it understands your intensions and kind of leaves you margin of execution. This technical confidence really supports tactical growth and delivers competitive results.
Strings
Almost anything works, but my ultimatel competitive preference is Solinco Confidential. For everyday use, Grapplesnake Alpha has been wonderful. I plan to test the silver Mako next, I feel it will be fantastic in the ISO. After all, everything is fantastic in the ISO.
The X factor.
I never called ISO 305 "magical". It's not ultimate experience in anything, be it feel, power, or control. But it's pretty damn good enough in every department. Like a reliable financial director that comes to work at 9 and leaves at 5, with impeccably organized WHITE office. Maybe not a mad creative genius, ok. But gets the job done each and every time. No matter what strings, what surface, opponent. It's there for you. And you only realize how important that person is to your business when she's gone.
ISO 305 is a keeper for me. I will only be demoing occasionally to satisfy my passion about racquets. I will be taking a page out of @socallefty book in staying loyal to what works so perfectly for me on this journey of tennis growth.
JFrijhoff
Rookie
I’m way earlier on the journey than you are, but looking forward to seeing where it may take me. I’ve been holicing between many rackets, main favorite being the gravity Pro 2023. But the ISO305 gives me just some more power and maneuverability, and feels like I play better tennis with it.
@Tranqville - Nice synopsis. Considering where you're at, if you haven't already, you may very much want to load up on ISO 305's and grommets, for I have a feeling that if you've come to love the layup and mass distribution the way you have, then the proceeding 305S stands a majority chance of probably not measuring up, and you'll be left wanting/wishing for more ISO's.
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TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
The ISO 305 is better than the Gravity Pro 2023 & 2025 in all categories, except when it comes to exact volley placements. It is still very good and stable at the net, but the volleys with the Gravity Pro are unmatched.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
If you play tennis properly (good technique, decent footwork, you are on time for your shots etc.) and let the racquet swing through, you need that mass in the hoop. I bought the 305s and could play with it only with 2 to 3 grams more at 12 and a leather grip. Even then, it felt a bit stiffer and I did not feel the nice connection / feedback as with the 305 ISO.
What tensions for strings you mentioned?
Same string for mains/crosses?
Tranqville
Professional
2nd attempt with the 305s continues...
with no leather grip, less static weight, more HL balance, less SW and less TW than the first attempt, now bumped up the tension by a couple of pounds on one of them. had great results last night with the comp matches. will see how it fares in the next couple of weeks.
the TK82 style handle now seems to work okay for me, fingers crossed. lol
with no leather grip, less static weight, more HL balance, less SW and less TW than the first attempt, now bumped up the tension by a couple of pounds on one of them. had great results last night with the comp matches. will see how it fares in the next couple of weeks.
the TK82 style handle now seems to work okay for me, fingers crossed. lol
no.1 - 308g/32.7/305sw
no.2 - 309g/32.65/307sw
both with plastic wrapper on the handle, something like that... lol
Very Blade Pro -esque. Had a similar setup with an overspec Strike 100 16x20, at 307g / 31.8cm / 304sw, albeit balance point was almost a full 1cm lower than your ISO's, so even higher recoil and lower MGR/i, for a really loopy, battle-axe type swing. Was not my favorite. Nevertheless, when connecting with a spinny-enough string setup, WOW did it crank out some RPMs. With those ISO's having the higher balance points, that actual makes them swing a bit more linear, so that plus the 98" head might not actually be that cumbersome to wield, provide you get them moving early enough. I can imagine very heavy output from those.
JFrijhoff
Rookie
Played with them today. 1.20 strings, one razor code (black), one ice code, and the one I already had with T1 black knight/ghostwire, but it had higher swingweight of 334. Definitely notice the difference when it’s just under/up to 330SW, it’s manageable for many hours compared to the 334. The balance is also 0.5-0.7 cm more towards the handle. String wise all were fine, the ice code softer and friendlier.
Also took out the gravity Pro for comparison. The feel and touch are incredible still, but more cumbersome to swing. I do love that you can absolutely whack the ball and it’ll still go in. But still I hit a heavier ball with the ISO305.
Tranqville
Professional
Better bring your batte axe to a T-Fight!
JFrijhoff
Rookie
I’ve only played the v9 16x19. For me it’s more muted and less powerful, and definitely more comfortable than the ISO305. It’s also less stable (though I hear that the 18x20 is more stable, but I would guess not to ISO305 levels). If you get a monster swingweight of the ISO, it’ll be a lot more difficult to keep on swinging than the blade of course.
Tranqville
Professional
Blade v9 is a control-power racquet, and ISO 305 is a pleener (exactly in between power and control categories). Blade used to be a pleener, was more stiff and powerful, as you have observed, but the manufacturer gradually shifted it to a modern control category.
If you want a close alternative to Blade v9 18x20, I highly recommend TF40 305 18x20 - more powerful and, arguably, with better feel.
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TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Cheers! The brand new one or the previous (ISO gen) TF40?
Alcawrath
Professional
Just picked up a TFight ISO 300 courtesy @SupahMan5000 and though I haven't been able to hit it yet, the specs are surprisingly similar to my current PA98 setup. Can anyone speak to how these frames play compared to one another?
TwinCinema
Professional
I demoed both and the biggest difference was stability. The PA98 is way more stable and has a lot more plow. But it’s also more difficult to use even at equal swing weights. Smaller sweet spot, less forgiving, and feels more like a player’s racket than the ISO 300 which is a decent intermediate stick. The ISO has decent power, good access to spin (maybe even as much as the PA which is saying something) and feels similarly stiff. But against opponents who hit heavy balls and serve bombs at you, you’ll want the PA to defend. The ISO is for attacking weaker shots, moonballs, and for volleys.
Alcawrath
Professional
Great stuff, thank you! I can't wait to try it out. I had a league match tonight so I stuck with what I know.
Tranqville
Professional
ISO refers to string spacing in TFight line, I think it's not in TF40. For 2024 TF40 305 18x20, Tecnifibre just updated the paintjob (cammo style), it plays the same as previous generation. So get the previous generation if you can get a good discount, or a new one if you like the paintjob.
What's different about the TFight string spacing? The Tecnifibre website says Isoflex is a variable stiffness around the hoop
Tranqville
Professional
Perhaps, a combination of various stiffness, as you said, string spacing and groomet tech. I don't know what's special about the string spacing.
What's different about the grommet tech between the Tfight and TF40?
T-Fight has the big grommets in the "four corners", TF40 are regular - you can see on Opelka's TF40 paintjob over a T-Fight
Both of my ISO305s measured 22.3mm at the tip, so advertised 22.5mm makes sense.
Tranqville
Professional
ChrisJR3264
Hall of Fame
After hitting with the new 305S , I take back all my complaints on the ISO’s SW.
Tranqville
Professional
Would you kindly elaborate?
Tranqville
Professional
A comparison of outgoing ISO 305 Vs 305s would help. And is an underspec outgoing ISO in 320-325SW worth upgrading from to 305s?
galapagos
Hall of Fame
I guess I made it for you and @Trip
First I want to say that the new 305s is definitely overhyped frame so be careful and think it through.
But at the same time I like it more than the speed pro, pure aero 98 and blade and this is quite an achievement. But ISO also got this achievement.
Imo it will all come down to spec preference and perhaps ability to customize the frame might be a deciding factor for some gurus here. With the ISO it was all in kinda thing. I still have it with me and hopefully I will measure all my top 5 frames specs to see if there is some common ground besides the design.
I say overhyped because imo it is similarly specialised racquet as the blade or speed pro. Maybe even prestige pro where the rating is kinda trying to push it over to everybody even speed mp users are interested in this racquet and I think they will be disappointed. It’s still a tfight 18x19 frame.
Tranqville
Professional
ISO 305 was definitely underhyped, and the 305s is perhaps slighlty overhyped, I would agree. But that's precisely what Technifibre wanted with the update: generate more interest and ship units. As you rightly observed, making the transition from other manufacturers more straightforward.
I transitioned to ISO 305 from Pure Strike Tour 3G: these frames are similar in design and weight distrubution, though ISO is more well-rounded. Like a better version of the PST.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Great comparison, @galapagos!! It is exactly my impression. The ISO is probably the best frame on the market if you have a "linear" shot and not overdoing it with the wrist.
ChrisJR3264
Hall of Fame
Let’s just say my 95 dynacore was more stable in rallies vs 305S stock.
Tranqville
Professional
@galapagos In a recent video, you mentioned that in the past you focused more on reviewing strings and tried many - at least 70? So, what is your take on the best string setup for the ISO?
ChrisJR3264
Hall of Fame
I will probably agree with this. Not that I don’t enjoy a racket that has more of a 32-32.5 cm balance strung, but a 330 SW is ideal for me.
Part of why I couldn’t gel with the iso is it seemed to have more weight from the throat to the head and lacked mass in handle. Added leather grip and it felt ok. But if you got one off spec in balance or 3 grams higher it’s easily 345SW strung with very little handle weight.
Now 333-335 strung with proper weight to the handle is a bit more ideal. I know tennis spin YouTube channel gets a bit of a bad rap but they also highlighted the odd balance of the frame
galapagos
Hall of Fame
Ye I was reviewing and testing a lot but the frame was Angell tc95 16x19 and it was not on YouTube (maybe I will come back to some strings)That being said I now know within what range of strings I want to stay.
For the ISO my favourites were:
Razor code white 1.25
Toroline KPop hybrid
Genesis Typhoon
Solinco Confidential 1.25
I believe I would also like tour bite soft 1.25 and alu power 1.25 blue color but haven’t tried them in iso.
My usual tension was 22kg/22kg. With Typhoon 22/21. Confidential lower.
People with multiple ISOs, do you notice the change of colour?
One of my ISO305s have turned very slight beige tinge - not very obvious, but can definitely see the difference when both are side by side, and lioking for it. lol . Tried to capture with the phone camera, but no luck.
One of my ISO305s have turned very slight beige tinge - not very obvious, but can definitely see the difference when both are side by side, and lioking for it. lol . Tried to capture with the phone camera, but no luck.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Well, the first I purchased was also at 345 SW. It was fun to practice with as it feels like pro stock frame, but I got punished during matches. I recently purchased 3 from Tennis Only (TW affiliate in Australia) with a SW ranging from 331 to 335. I added a Yonex leather grip and 2 OGs (first without and second with overlap) to bring the balance to 32 cm. With these specs, the ISO 305 is just FANTASTIC!! That's when I switched to it. Yes, a SW of 335+, but also 328-, with a 33+ cm balance mess up the playability of it!
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
Yep, already two of the three brand new ones I recently purchased were not 100% white: as you said almost beige-white. I presume that they were hanging in the store for quite a while. It's not a big deal for me, since I am sure that a good rinse can bring them back to their original white color.
I tried to clean/wipe it with baby wet wipes, but it seems to have “stained” the PJ…. Probably because of the matt finish PJ…
Tranqville
Professional
ChrisJR3264
Hall of Fame
Yeah I hear you.
I am currently finding love with the 2023 gravity pro and just picked up 2 to switch to. I’m on the new 305S playtest too and that doesn’t compare.
The specs on the gravity are near perfect for me too. Getting more spin than the tfight.
TNNSDR
Semi-Pro
GPro 2023 is a great racquet, indeed!! I only struggle with three little / tiny issues with it: OHBH maneuverability, control of the frame on very windy days, and serve power!
