TECNIFIBRE TF300PS T-Flash 300 PS - worth the switch from RF97?

[pico]

I currently play with a RF97 but finding that my serves deteriorate as a game progresses due to the heavy weight. I am looking at lighter racquet options and the Technifibre TF300PS is one that stood out due to Chris' review on it. I don't know much about it and well I live in Canada and cannot have access to demo it here. Can anyone compare the this to the RF97 - is it worth making the switch or should I stick with the RF97 and just work on strengthening and conditioning? Thanks.

 

[Bogdan_TT]

I currently play with a RF97 but finding that my serves deteriorate as a game progresses due to the heavy weight. I am looking at lighter racquet options and the Technifibre TF300PS is one that stood out due to Chris' review on it. I don't know much about it and well I live in Canada and cannot have access to demo it here. Can anyone compare the this to the RF97 - is it worth making the switch or should I stick with the RF97 and just work on strengthening and conditioning? Thanks.

Serve "deteriorating" is due to technique. I would stick with the RF97 which will force you to learn better technique on all shots and tire less as a result... my 2 cents.

 

[Anton]

I currently play with a RF97 but finding that my serves deteriorate as a game progresses due to the heavy weight.

Really sounds like you are serving wrong. Try keeping the arm loose and letting the racket begin the fall down behind your back from the trophy position before you jump off and rotate shoulders forward into the court.

If RF97 works for you on everything else, I would stick with it and just figure out the serve.

 

[pico]

Really sounds like you are serving wrong. Try keeping the arm loose and letting the racket begin the fall down behind your back from the trophy position before you jump off and rotate shoulders forward into the court.

If RF97 works for you on everything else, I would stick with it and just figure out the serve.

It is more the second serve that I am referring to. I cannot generate the racquet head speed I want to get a good kicker. Is that cos of the weight?

 

[Anton]

It is more the second serve that I am referring to. I cannot generate the racquet head speed I want to get a good kicker. Is that cos of the weight?

Try what I described about relaxing your arm and letting it begin to fall behind your back from trophy position just prior to your push off and shoulder rotation. This should allow the racket to swing from lower position to the top and make it easier for you to get arch and spin on your serve.

 

[jklos]

I switched to a lighter racquet recently and my technique stays more in form throughout the course of a match because of it. When I'm gassed at the end of a long match I find a heavy racquet is a hindrance to my game, tougher to serve and find myself late on shots. Currently I'm using the new Vcore 98 which is 305g unstrung and the SW is about 320 strung. It's a good weight that works for me.

 

[yoonit78]

I don't have any experience w/ the T-Flash, so can't comment on it specifically. Though Chris' glowing review has me intrigued.
However, the 2 racquets have such different specs, I would be wary of making such a drastic switch blindly.
Could you demo something in a spec similar to the T-Flash, maybe like a Pure Drive, to see if it would be a worthwhile move?

If you are interested in Tecnifibre sticks, the new T-Fight 305 has received a positive video review. It is closer in spec to your RF97 than the T-Flash, and might make an easier transition to a lighter racquet.

 

[pico]

The T-Fight is a 18 x 19 pattern though?

 

[yoonit78]

The T-Fight is a 18 x 19 pattern though?

Correct.
I'm also a 16x19 fan, so that's the only part of the spec that gives me caution.

FWIW, Michelle on the play test team, who uses an RF97, seemed to really like the T-Fight and made no mention of loss of spin.

 

[pico]

It also has a 95 sq. in head???

 

[yoonit78]

It also has a 95 sq. in head???

98 sq in

 

[pico]

How about the TFlash 300 Dynacore ATP?

 

[pico]

I think I am more interested in just trying out a Technifibre as I have only heard good things about them and never played one before.

 

[mike schiffer]

I switched to a lighter racquet recently and my technique stays more in form throughout the course of a match because of it. When I'm gassed at the end of a long match I find a heavy racquet is a hindrance to my game, tougher to serve and find myself late on shots. Currently I'm using the new Vcore 98 which is 305g unstrung and the SW is about 320 strung. It's a good weight that works for me.

Could it be Roger is having swing fatigue problems with his new model at that weight....It's a sweet hit but he loses consistency in later stages of matches...he's experimenting as we speak....

 

[jklos]

Could it be Roger is having swing fatigue problems with his new model at that weight....It's a sweet hit but he loses consistency in later stages of matches...he's experimenting as we speak....

Possible. But I doubt he would mess with racquet weight at this point. Could be wrong though.

 

[TennisHound]

I currently play with a RF97 but finding that my serves deteriorate as a game progresses due to the heavy weight. I am looking at lighter racquet options and the Technifibre TF300PS is one that stood out due to Chris' review on it. I don't know much about it and well I live in Canada and cannot have access to demo it here. Can anyone compare the this to the RF97 - is it worth making the switch or should I stick with the RF97 and just work on strengthening and conditioning? Thanks.

Don’t listen to these posters who say that you should be able to swing a super heavy racket, or saying that you should be able to play hours on end with an RF97 and never get tired serving. I have proper technique and I get tired serving with my Wilson Graphite Matrix (12.8oz). When I used the RF97, I got tired serving and playing with it.

 

[A_Instead]

To use the RF97 long into a match,...you almost need to be Roger Federer..

 

[mike schiffer]

Possible. But I doubt he would mess with racquet weight at this point. Could be wrong though.

he went back to "all black" at the Open so something is up....

 

[DavidBart]

It's just crazy enough to work!

It's insane to me that people think they can preform well with the RF97, because Rodger does. I'm not here to criticize... I'm one of those insane people. But I didn't buy it cause I wanted to be like Rodger... well, maybe subconsciously. I tested it and I liked how it forced me to use proper technique and rewarded it. It's sort of a training tool, if you will.

I bought my own RF and started getting pain in my elbow joint immediately and it alarmed me. I made a post about this a few weeks ago. One of the comments suggested the T-Flash 300 PS. It seemed like the furthest thing away from the RF. I decided to demo one anyway, and I'm sold. If I want to win matches, I'm going to use my Tflash. It is easy to get sloppy with it, but your shots will still go in. If I'm just hitting and working on my technique, I will use the RF. If I only use the RF occasionally or for part of my session, I hope it keeps my elbow pain at bay. So after some research, and "soul searching" I decided to keep both.

In this experience with the T-Flash, the phrase It's just crazy enough to work! comes to mind.

 

[hurworld]

It's just crazy enough to work!

It's insane to me that people think they can preform well with the RF97, because Rodger does. I'm not here to criticize... I'm one of those insane people. But I didn't buy it cause I wanted to be like Rodger... well, maybe subconsciously. I tested it and I liked how it forced me to use proper technique and rewarded it. It's sort of a training tool, if you will.

I bought my own RF and started getting pain in my elbow joint immediately and it alarmed me. I made a post about this a few weeks ago. One of the comments suggested the T-Flash 300 PS. It seemed like the furthest thing away from the RF. I decided to demo one anyway, and I'm sold. If I want to win matches, I'm going to use my Tflash. It is easy to get sloppy with it, but your shots will still go in. If I'm just hitting and working on my technique, I will use the RF. If I only use the RF occasionally or for part of my session, I hope it keeps my elbow pain at bay. So after some research, and "soul searching" I decided to keep both.

In this experience with the T-Flash, the phrase It's just crazy enough to work! comes to mind.

Nothing crazy about this. Use the appropriate tool for the occasion.

I use the heavier Phantom 93P for drills and practice hitting. I use my APD2013 for friendly or league match play. If match opponent is a couple of levels lower then I would switch back to using the 93P after winning the first set. The 93P helps me to re-calibrate my techniques and footwork, because I cannot be lazy in either when I use the 93P.

 

[DavidBart]

Nothing crazy about this. Use the appropriate tool for the occasion.

I use the heavier Phantom 93P for drills and practice hitting. I use my APD2013 for friendly or league match play. If match opponent is a couple of levels lower then I would switch back to using the 93P after winning the first set. The 93P helps me to re-calibrate my techniques and footwork, because I cannot be lazy in either when I use the 93P.

So comforting to hear... my friends always make fun of me when I switch out racquets during practice/play.