Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Solinco Whiteout/Blackout XTD

pedrogcr

Semi-Pro
Hope you're right. Like I said I'm not hearing or feeling vibration out of it. I does look like a decal to put the printing on the top of the racquet, I sure didn't notice it before. Must be my expect the worst attitude. The paint chips in the throat must have come from flex on impact with the court. I can't see or feel any damage to the graphite of the frame.Unless it starts to bother me or comes apart I'll keep playing it. Thanks

Yes, I'm sure it's just the paint. I haven't even had the chance to play with it yet, and it has the same marks.

The one in the throat is definitely something else, but doesn't look like it's structural either.
 

Daddy's

Rookie
Thanks, it did seem exceptionally uniform for a crack. The throat is flex paint crack but it did hit the ground hard. You can see it picked up some green from slamming the court. Ive seen people crack the top of the head on serve mishaps but never 9/3 like that.
 

Purestriker

Legend
Weight Updates: hey all, I should have my blackout XTD string up early next week and looking forward to start hitting with it! I decided to have it first strung with my current “regular” string and tension - poly tour rev/48. I’ll use the hyper-g at 48 next. And then plan to use my traditional all time “regular” string last - rpm blast @48. I do have weights and measurements for my racquet unstrung to share:


I received my whiteout extended and I’m five hours in and should have ten hours to twelve hours completed by Sunday for my review. I also weighed the racket and butt cap weight. I was a little surprised that it was actually 13 grams vs the label of 10 grams.
 

shadow01

Professional
I received my whiteout extended and I’m five hours in and should have ten hours to twelve hours completed by Sunday for my review. I also weighed the racket and butt cap weight. I was a little surprised that it was actually 13 grams vs the label of 10 grams.
Needs to be. It’s net +10g. The stock one you replace weighs about 3. Or in my case it’s about net +9.5g
 
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jangotango

Semi-Pro
Finally got a hit in with the Blackout XTD. Dunlop ATP balls on hardcourt. Central TX. One hand backhand.

Coming from a Six.One Team and Iga racquet, launch angle is higher, depth is easier to come by, comfort is great. So far so good. Have not tried it with the weighted buttxap yet.
 

shadow01

Professional
Let me know how you like the REV in it. I just ordered a reel (in purple) and plan on putting it in when I cut out the current string (Laserfibre JB Tour 100).
For sure Rev is worth a try in this racquet. I'll explain my thoughts on the racquet in my full review as I am still hitting with it - but I was really able to swing out and the ball stayed in, even on shots that I felt were definitely going long after leaving the string bed.
 

McLovin

Legend
For sure Rev is worth a try in this racquet. I'll explain my thoughts on the racquet in my full review as I am still hitting with it - but I was really able to swing out and the ball stayed in, even on shots that I felt were definitely going long after leaving the string bed.
Good to hear, because I cut out my first set the other night and put REV in it. I’m playing tomorrow (weather permitting) and Saturday morning. Looking forward to it.

Also, I’ve completed my initial playtest and have moved into “modified mode”:
  • Replaced base grip to increase size (I prefer 4 7/16…)
  • Replaced to butt cap w/ a 4 1/2” butt cap (I like big butts and I cannot lie…)
  • Added some lead in the throat
Hope to have both reviews up before my trip to Florida next weekend.
 

McLovin

Legend
Solinco Blackout XTD Review Intro:
In full disclosure, I should mention that I had demoed this frame alongside the Whiteout XTD and the 2021 Pure Drive Plus about a month before the playtest. I had fully expected to prefer the Whiteout, but found myself gravitating towards the Blackout during my demo session. I didn't care for the demo string/tension, so I was extremely happy to be selected in order to play around w/ different strings. After I had completed my first 2 weeks of the playtest I modified the frame a little to make it a little closer to the specs I lean towards (and will write a 2nd review w/ my mods detailed).​
Unstrung the frame came in at 302g and a balance of 11 1/2pts HL:​
52470440827_98d330c790_z.jpg

String and tension used for test:
  • Laserfibre JB Tour 100 17g/1.25mm strung at 52lbs
Tennis experience/background:
Have been playing for over 45 years (am 54 yrs old). Played D3 college tennis, and have coached high school tennis, as well as assisted at my local club w/ junior clinics.​
Describe your playing style:
Singles: A 4.5/5.0 level player who plays an aggressive baseline style. Two handed backhand, hitting fairly flat shots.​
Doubles: Serve & volley off both serves, attacking returns and looking to get to the net.​
Current racquet/string setups:
2021 Yonex VCORE 98 + w/ 1.25mm Laserfibre JB Tour 100 @ 52lbs​
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
About 12 hours (and counting), with a mix of singles, doubles, and drilling w/ my usual doubles partner.​
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke:
  • Groundstrokes:
In stock form the Blackout XTD really delivered on the forehand side. I was swinging ~ 90% of my "normal" swing (vs the VCORE 98), but was getting the same amount of pace, and a bit more spin. Angled forehands crosscourt seemed effortless.​
On the backhand I felt it was a tad light, and I did feel I got pushed around a little against a couple of heavy hitters. However, when I had time to setup, I was still able to generate good pace & depth.​
Overall, the frame did its best work when I was attacking. When I stepped in & played aggressive shots, I was able to push my opponents back, and control the court. Defending, for me, was good, but I felt like the lighter weight really hindered me when I was pushed back off the baseline. Something I think can be easily remedied w/ a little extra weight.​
  • Serves:
Initially the serve felt a little off. I was having issues generating pace, and the serves were just sitting there for my opponent (My first double match I played, I was broken in the first 2 service games). I think it was the difference in weight/swingweight from my VCOREs, and as I adjusted I was able to get the MPHs up there, even hitting a couple aces in the end. Directional control was effortless, and there was plenty of spin to bring 2nd serves in.​
Obviously the extended length helps a bit on serves, but I've been using extended frames for the past 20+ years, so I'm used to the timing. Being only 5' 9", I need all the help the racquet can provide.​
  • Volleys:
Being as light as it is I was surprised at how solid/stable it was at the net. While not a "scalpel", I was digging out low volleys effortlessly, and fending off body shots with ease. In singles I don't come to the net much, but in doubles its pure "serve & volley"/return attack the net style tennis, so I was getting a lot of work up at the net. Unlike most players I don't "choke up" on the handle at the net, so I can be vulnerable to quick reaction volleys at times, but this frame is very nimble and I found myself coming out on top for most net exchanges.​
Additionally, the few overheads really felt nice. That is probably my weakest shot, but the extra power the frame provides allows me to focus on positioning and just making contact. The racquet will do the rest.​
  • Serve returns:
The return is my probably my "signature shot", especially off the backhand. Even off big servers I'm rarely more than 3-4ft behind the baseline, and am always moving forward attacking the return. On the forehand side the lighter weight allowed me to really take bigger cuts off the return. I never felt late or rushed, and was able to hand hard, flat serves as well as some heavy kickers. On the backhand side, similarly to the groundstrokes, I felt on occasion I was not as stable driving though a heavy serve. But again, given time to setup, I did hit some nice drives, dipping them low at my opponent's feet.​

Overall Racquet Performance
  • Power/Control
While billed as a power frame, I didn't feel as if it was 'off the charts' power. Definitely in the 'controlled power' category, and more power than my VCORE 98 +. As mentioned before, I felt that off the ground a 90% swing generated about the same pace as a full swing w/ my other frame. I think most of the "perceived" control comes from the added spin.​
  • Top Spin/Slice
I'm not a huge topspin player, but I definitely felt there was more spin than w/ my VCOREs. The angles I hit, especially off the forehand, would have most definitely gone wide if not for the Blackout's added spin. Slice was good when defending, but I felt as if I floated a few too many when used as an approach shot.​
  • Comfort/Feel
I'm lumping these two together as I think they go hand-in-hand. Like many "modern" frames, the Blackout has a vibration dampening system, which gives it a bit of a muted feel. Luckily for me, I really like that kind of feel, and so had no issues w/ comfort. I'd also say it's a "crisp" feeling frame, but not nearly as stiff as the 70RA would suggest. I played multiple back-to-back days, and had no arm/shoulder/wrist pain to speak of.​
  • Maneuverability/Stability
Again, lumping these two together. The Blackout is extremely maneuverable, especially at the net. Don't even need to add the "for an extended racquet" qualifier. I was never late on a volley, even when getting drilled at by a solid 5.0. It's headlight balance and low swingweight (and here's the "for an extended racquet" qualifier) allow me to bring it around on the forehand side with no issues, but as mentioned before, the backhand could feel a bit "off". For me this has always been a catch-22: If it's really stable on the forehand, the backhand feels a little too light & wobbly. But if it's solid off the backhand, the forehand can seem a little sluggish. For my playing style, this frame falls into the former category. Luckily, that also gives me a little room to work with when it comes to customizing: I can add a little lead here & there until the backhand feels solid/stable, and hope that I didn't go past the "point of no return" on the forehand side.​

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Overall this frame gets an A+ from me. If I didn't know better, I'd say the design engineers have been perusing the forums here: Aesthetically, it's a beautiful frame: Simple black, but a mix of gloss & flat black, with silver lettering and few accents here & there. As an added bonus, pretty much any color string looks good in it (I had silver, purple, and florescent green). Really a sleek looking frame. Stringing was a breeze: No blocked holes, and tieoffs were close to the last grommet.​
Here were my measurements unstrung, strung, and strung w/overgrip & dampener:​
Static weightBalanceSwingweight
Unstrung302g11 1/2 pts HL
Strung317g8 1/2 pts HL320
Grip & dampener326g9 pts HL324
 
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McLovin

Legend
So, I haven’t seen much discussion from other Blackout users. Anyone trying any modifications?

After making the mods I detailed above, I played singles against my usual doubles partner. He’s a recent 5.0 bump, stands ~ 6’ 3”, and plays serve & volley, so you’re always under pressure to come up with good shots. Frame felt much more comfortable off the backhand, and all of good qualities of the forehand detailed above were still there. At some point in the 6th game I floated a slice backhand ~ 1ft long, and he looked up saying “unforced error count: 1”. Confidence was probably at an all-time high.

So, I’m “all in” on the frame. Picked up a 2nd from TW (thanks for the “apply demo credit to purchase” deal). If anyone in the playtest wants to unload their’s, you know where to find me…
 

Soundbyte

Hall of Fame
So, I haven’t seen much discussion from other Blackout users. Anyone trying any modifications?

After making the mods I detailed above, I played singles against my usual doubles partner. He’s a recent 5.0 bump, stands ~ 6’ 3”, and plays serve & volley, so you’re always under pressure to come up with good shots. Frame felt much more comfortable off the backhand, and all of good qualities of the forehand detailed above were still there. At some point in the 6th game I floated a slice backhand ~ 1ft long, and he looked up saying “unforced error count: 1”. Confidence was probably at an all-time high.

So, I’m “all in” on the frame. Picked up a 2nd from TW (thanks for the “apply demo credit to purchase” deal). If anyone in the playtest wants to unload their’s, you know where to find me…

It just now dawned on me that playtesters get to keep the frame if they're selected? That's pretty sweet.
 

shadow01

Professional
So, I haven’t seen much discussion from other Blackout users. Anyone trying any modifications?
I’ve only tried the weighted butt cap. I‘ve been shying away from customizing recently. I’m almost done writing up my review and it should be up today or tomorrow.
 

McLovin

Legend
Other than the provided weighted buttcap, no. I'm just trying to find a good string/tension range. The Hyper G didn't feel so good, and my usual Max Power was too stiff at the tension I put.
I’ve only tried the weighted butt cap. I‘ve been shying away from customizing recently. I’m almost done writing up my review and it should be up today or tomorrow.
Yeah, I didn't use the weighted butt cap only because the frame was already fairly headlight, and I'm not a fan of polarized setups. Adding the buttcap would have required me to add more lead up top to balance it out.

I'm trying to slowly go lighter in my frames, but it's a fine line for me. However with this frame I've been able to drop a good 5 swingweight points, but yet still feel comfortable with all of my strokes.
 

McLovin

Legend
It just now dawned on me that playtesters get to keep the frame if they're selected? That's pretty sweet.
Yeah. You'll quickly see 'for sale' listings once the playtest is done. I'll usually keep mine for a bit, let friends try them out, and eventually give it away (gave my Gravity MP to our local pro, and a PD+ to a friend who used that frame). I just feel guilty selling something that was given to me free of charge (which is why I'll never be a successful businessman).
 

TW Staff

Administrator
Just a friendly reminder, we ask that you do not sell racquet that you have received in playtests in our Classifieds as a courtesy to our vendors. Failure to do so can result in exclusion from future playtests.

TW Staff
 

McLovin

Legend
Solinco Blackout XTD Review Part Deux:
As I alluded to in my first review, I made a few minor mods to my frames (yes, plural):​
  • Added ~ 8g of lead in the throat
  • Replaced the 3/8" butt cap w/ a 1/2" butt cap
  • Replaced base grip w/ a slightly thicker base grip
When I initially weighted them, I didn't try to match (intentionally). I was hoping for a bit of variation because I wanted to see if I preferred one over the other. One was more headlight, and as such had a lower swingweight.​

String and tension used for test:
  • Yonex Poly Tour REV
  • Signum Pro X-perience
Both setups were 17g/1.25mm strung at 52lbs

Tennis experience/background:
See initial review​

Describe your playing style:
See initial review​

Current racquet/string setups:
See initial review​

How many hours did you play with the racquet?
About 4 hours (and counting) with the weighted setup. All singles.​

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke:
  • Groundstrokes:
My first time out I started with the X-perience string. I didn't know which one was the more headlight (intentionally), but from the first swing I knew I was going to like it. During the warmup I immediately I started stepping around my forehand to hit a few backhands, and could feel the stability I was missing previously. Solid through the ball, no wavering. And the forehand still felt just as solid, with no lag. I played about the best set of tennis I've played in a while, hitting outright winners, solid, dipping passing shots, and returning just about every serve, with interest. Additionally, the added weight gave me the defensive groundstrokes I was missing before, especially the stretched-out backhand slice and squash-shot forehand.​
The second set I swapped to the other, which I knew right away was the more headlight frame. Still played great, but it took a little getting used to at first as it was a bit whippy. Still stable, just faster through the shot. I think splitting the difference will give me the stability I crave, and the longevity I'm looking for in a match.​
  • Serves:
In addition to the backhand, the serve was the other noticeable improvement, especially on the 2nd serve. My opponent commented on one second serve that it was "the best second serve you've ever hit", and we've been playing together for over 7 years... The added weight gave me a bit more plow through the ball, and I found I was putting less effort into swing, but getting the same results as before.​
  • Volleys:
Other than warmups, I really didn't hit many volleys. If I play any doubles in Florida this weekend I'll try to update. I did hit a few overheads, and put them away fairly easily, which again, is NOT my strong point (just ask my doubles partner...).​
  • Serve returns:
Can't say enough good things about my returns with this frame after adding the weight. Again, just more stability through the backhand, and no adverse effects on the forehand. Probably the most notable thing was 2 or 3 the stab backhand returns I hit. I was able to keep the ball low, forcing my opponent into difficult situations at the net.​

Overall Racquet Performance
I won't go into too many details here as my initial review pretty much says it all. Suffice to say that, for my playing style and comfort level, adding just bit of weight really made this frame come alive. I like that it's a lighter, head-light frame in an extended offering as it gives me a bit of room to tinker. Being older (54), I grep up on T-2000s and POGs, so I've always leaned towards heavier sticks. So don't misconstrue this as saying this frame won't work well "stock", because I'm sure it will for younger players with "modern" strokes.​
But for those out there like me thinking "it's too light of a frame", give it a shot. And maybe use the TW customization service if you're not a gear geek like most people here on TT. Or, to quote Troy at TW...slap a leather on it!​

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Wanted to just say a big "Thanks!" to Solinco and TW for this playtest. As I mentioned before, midway through the playtest I picked up a 2nd frame, and am now all in on it:​
52470939161_e3be99f26d_z.jpg
I will be selling my other frames soon (they're not even in the bag anymore). Now the only problem is I'm going to need one of these:​
rs.php
 

PhxRacket

Hall of Fame
Solinco Blackout XTD Review Part Deux:
As I alluded to in my first review, I made a few minor mods to my frames (yes, plural):​
  • Added ~ 8g of lead in the throat
  • Replaced the 3/8" butt cap w/ a 1/2" butt cap
  • Replaced base grip w/ a slightly thicker base grip
When I initially weighted them, I didn't try to match (intentionally). I was hoping for a bit of variation because I wanted to see if I preferred one over the other. One was more headlight, and as such had a lower swingweight.​

String and tension used for test:
  • Yonex Poly Tour REV
  • Signum Pro X-perience
Both setups were 17g/1.25mm strung at 52lbs

Tennis experience/background:
See initial review​

Describe your playing style:
See initial review​

Current racquet/string setups:
See initial review​

How many hours did you play with the racquet?
About 4 hours (and counting) with the weighted setup. All singles.​

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke:
  • Groundstrokes:
My first time out I started with the X-perience string. I didn't know which one was the more headlight (intentionally), but from the first swing I knew I was going to like it. During the warmup I immediately I started stepping around my forehand to hit a few backhands, and could feel the stability I was missing previously. Solid through the ball, no wavering. And the forehand still felt just as solid, with no lag. I played about the best set of tennis I've played in a while, hitting outright winners, solid, dipping passing shots, and returning just about every serve, with interest. Additionally, the added weight gave me the defensive groundstrokes I was missing before, especially the stretched-out backhand slice and squash-shot forehand.​
The second set I swapped to the other, which I knew right away was the more headlight frame. Still played great, but it took a little getting used to at first as it was a bit whippy. Still stable, just faster through the shot. I think splitting the difference will give me the stability I crave, and the longevity I'm looking for in a match.​
  • Serves:
In addition to the backhand, the serve was the other noticeable improvement, especially on the 2nd serve. My opponent commented on one second serve that it was "the best second serve you've ever hit", and we've been playing together for over 7 years... The added weight gave me a bit more plow through the ball, and I found I was putting less effort into swing, but getting the same results as before.​
  • Volleys:
Other than warmups, I really didn't hit many volleys. If I play any doubles in Florida this weekend I'll try to update. I did hit a few overheads, and put them away fairly easily, which again, is NOT my strong point (just ask my doubles partner...).​
  • Serve returns:
Can't say enough good things about my returns with this frame after adding the weight. Again, just more stability through the backhand, and no adverse effects on the forehand. Probably the most notable thing was 2 or 3 the stab backhand returns I hit. I was able to keep the ball low, forcing my opponent into difficult situations at the net.​

Overall Racquet Performance
I won't go into too many details here as my initial review pretty much says it all. Suffice to say that, for my playing style and comfort level, adding just bit of weight really made this frame come alive. I like that it's a lighter, head-light frame in an extended offering as it gives me a bit of room to tinker. Being older (54), I grep up on T-2000s and POGs, so I've always leaned towards heavier sticks. So don't misconstrue this as saying this frame won't work well "stock", because I'm sure it will for younger players with "modern" strokes.​
But for those out there like me thinking "it's too light of a frame", give it a shot. And maybe use the TW customization service if you're not a gear geek like most people here on TT. Or, to quote Troy at TW...slap a leather on it!​

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Wanted to just say a big "Thanks!" to Solinco and TW for this playtest. As I mentioned before, midway through the playtest I picked up a 2nd frame, and am now all in on it:​
52470939161_e3be99f26d_z.jpg
I will be selling my other frames soon (they're not even in the bag anymore). Now the only problem is I'm going to need one of these:​
rs.php
Well done. This one caught my interest. I have a teammate who let me borrow his Whiteout and it was amazing.
 

shadow01

Professional
Racquet Playtested:

Solinco Blackout 300 XTD

String and tension used for test:

Yonex Poly Tour Rev @ 48# and RPM Blast @ 48#. My string of choice for the past year has been RPM Blast @ 48#. However, I have recently been playtesting a few different racquets that were strung with Rev, thus I first strung with Rev to keep it consistent with what I have been hitting with recently to keep my initial thoughts on the frame to be neutral of string choice. I then switched back to RPM Blast to confirm or change my thoughts on the frame. However, my thoughts on the frame were consistent regardless of either string.

Tennis experience/background:

Currently, I am a 3.5+ player that plays two 3.5-4.0 leagues per week and 1 to 2 drills/zones per week for a total of approximately 7-10 hours per week in the colder months and double that in the warmer months. I played varsity high school tennis. After which, I “put the racquet” down for many years before picking back up 5 years ago.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

I play aggressive from the base line looking to create angles if given the opportunity, otherwise hitting the ball with pace “off-middle” to try to force an error. I like to serve big on the first serve and high kick serve on the second trying to get as many free points as I can. I like putting short balls away. My weakness is my net game and overheads. I believe improving on those areas is what can get me into the 4.0 level.

Current racquet/string setups:

Wilson Ultra 100 v2 with RPM Blast @ 48#. I have been extensively playtesting the EZone 98 2022 with Rev @ 48# recently as my technique has improved in the last few years. I am looking to gain more precision/control now instead of having as much power as the Ultra provides.

How many hours did you play with the racquet?

4 drill clinics – 8 hours
2 singles hitting sessions with friends – 4 hours
4 singles BO3 league matches – 6 hours
Total – 18 hours (I am playing 2 more matches this week and will update my review if I have anything else to add after doing so.)

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke:

-Groundstrokes:
If I had to summarize this racquet in one phrase, it would be “controllable power”. As mentioned above, I have been using the Wilson Ultra v2 for many years and recently have been testing the EZone 98. The Ultra is a power stick and the EZone 98, for me, is a control stick. I can really hit out with the EZone, while with the Ultra I have to be more cognizant of my shots so they don’t go long. When I picked up the Blackout 300 XTD, I expected a lot of power and was being conservative with my shots. I was getting tons of spin, but not enough depth. As time went on, I realized I could really swing out like with the EZone 98 and groundstrokes were really on fire! I was getting great pace and control through the access to spin. Specifically on the forehands, I was hitting balls that I thought for sure were going long, but my opponents kept playing them back to me. On the backhands, I usually hit right around the service line and have been working on trying to get more depth. I felt like I was getting somewhere between the service line and base line more consistently. I typically don’t like to modify racquets, but I did try the +10g butt cap mod for an hour. I felt like I could get more whip and would also help get more weight behind the ball if hitting against big hitters. I preferred the normal setup though. The modular flexibility is a great idea however!

-Serves: It took a while for me to get dialed into serving with this stick, which is normal for me when changing racquets. Once dialed in, my first serve, which is a flattish serve with slight top spin, definitely had more pop. I was able to hit my spots accurately enough. Regarding my second serve, which is a high kick serve, felt consistent. I like to whip the racquet head to get the high kick, I did feel like the extra length was a little more difficult to manipulate on the second serve. Could just be a mental block though because I didn’t notice any other difficulties with the extra length in other shots (other than volleys – see below). Some straight serve practice sessions would probably get me over that hurdle though. Generally, my first and second serve get a lot of comments from others in my leagues, and the players I did hit with when using the Blackout were commenting that I was serving well. If I had to guess, I would say my first serve was a bit faster (+1-5mph??) with the same first serve percentage.

-Volleys: Caveat, I struggle with volleys! Recently, I have been getting a lot more control and success with volleys by choking up on the handle. This gives me more stability on contact and control over my direction at the cost of reach and power. The extra length of the Blackout 300 XTD definitely helped increase the reach and power, but I was still struggling with control. I would say that this is more of a problem with my technique than it is with the racquet’s performance however. Overheads were very controllable. The racquet moves quick through the air on the overhead motion and you could feel the extra pop. Could be the extra length that’s helping with that.

-Serve returns: I swing through forehand serve returns and play more of a block on the backhand side. For the forehand returns, my experience was the same as the ground strokes. Controllable power. I felt like I was always in control with having access to spin. If I wanted a spinney forehand return, I could get it. On the backhand side, my blocks were pretty good in terms of direction. The racquet’s natural power helped with getting the depth, I was definitely struggling with the EZone 98 in that respect. Compared to the Ultra v2 – I would say it was similar.

Comments on racquet performance in each area:

Power/Control-
As mentioned in this review, after getting used to the racquet, I wasn’t afraid to swing out. I was able to generate enough spin to control the ball and direct the power. I would expect slightly less free power like from an Ultra or Pure Drive. To me, this feels like the perfect racquet for someone that likes a power frame but desires to have just a little more control in exchange for a bit of power.

Top Spin/Slice- Spin is great. I was using this with poly strings (Poly Tour Rev 16L @ 48# and RPM Blast 18 @ 48#) and had great access to spin. Definitely easier to create spin with this racquet than my Ultra v2 and probably similar to what I was experiencing with the Ezone 98.

Comfort- My Ultra is a 72RA and the EZone 98 is 65RA. This racquet definitely hit more like the Ezone than the Ultra. I have recovered from GE and playing more than 2 hours on a stiff racquet (i.e. my Ultra) gives me some soreness that I need to rest out. I had no pain hitting with this stick. I think it is being marketed as 70RA – but I wouldn’t think it’s that stiff.

Feel- I like hitting drop shots and got the right feedback from the racquet on well executed ones. It is muted, which I like, but the racquet tells you when you hit clean. Nice pop sound.

Maneuverability- The extended length is noticeable and took me some time to get used to. But then generating the racquet head speed came naturally. I liked the balance point of the racquet; it suited the extra length well. Around the net – the racquet did its job well, but I didn’t – see my comments in the volley section to understand my comment here.

Stability- Racquet is stable and I had no specific issues with racquet twisting on off center shots. The racquet hit as expected, solid and through the ball.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

This is the first time hitting with an extended length frame. It takes some getting used to, but the learning curve is relatively quick. I enjoyed the benefits of the extended length as mentioned above. However, I think the characteristics of the racquet were largely coming from the racquet and not the extended length. I enjoyed hitting with it and think this is a great racquet for someone that wants something right between a traditional power stick and traditional control stick. It had essences of both which was very apparent to me since I just so happened to be making the transition to a control stick from a power stick. I would highly recommend demoing this racquet if that sounds like you. Personally, since I’m looking hard at a control stick and have been extensively demoing one as noted above, I would love to try out the Whiteout XTD since that is 98 sq.in. If one of the play testers here want to lend me theirs – I’ll give it a try (I’ll pay shipping to me and back to you) – otherwise, I’ll get it from the TW demo program for sure!

Thanks again TW for my first ever racquet play test. As I mentioned early in this thread, I was a play tester for many strings but this is the first racquet I was selected for. I enjoyed thinking through the various aspects of reporting on the play test as I went through the process and look forward to being part of more in the future. Solinco sports - thanks also for the opportunity and replying to my tweet!! That was unexpected.
 

TW Staff

Administrator
Friendly reminder your reviews are due by this Friday, November 4th by 5 pm PST.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
 

shadow01

Professional
I'm surprised that only 2 of us have posted reviews so far and both for the blackout, especially with only 2 days to go. I'm eagerly waiting to read some whiteout reviews! Anyone know how many blackout vs whiteout playtesters were selected?
I played another 2 hours on the racquet yesterday and about to play another 2 hours today. I was really pushing the limits and swinging out during a rally session. Love the pop sound when you hit clean!
 

McLovin

Legend
I'm surprised that only 2 of us have posted reviews so far and both for the blackout, especially with only 2 days to go. I'm eagerly waiting to read some whiteout reviews! Anyone know how many blackout vs whiteout playtesters were selected?
I played another 2 hours on the racquet yesterday and about to play another 2 hours today. I was really pushing the limits and swinging out during a rally session. Love the pop sound when you hit clean!
I was wondering about that also. Usually you get more discussion between testers.

I’m hitting outside on clay tomorrow. I’ll try to update tomorrow night. All of my play has been on hard courts to date.
 

Purestriker

Legend
Solinco Whiteout XTD Playtest Review



String and tension used for test
: I used the provided Solinco Hyper-G 16L strung at 50 pounds. This was the first time using this string and I must admit I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. I also used the provided Solinco over grip.


Tennis experience/background: My experience is all in recreational tennis. I am a USTA rated 3.5 player.


Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I primarily play doubles now and I like to play aggressive and get to the net as fast as possible. I have modern strokes with lots of topspin.


Current racquet/string setups: My current racket setup is a Yonex Ezone 100 strung with RPM blast 17 gauge at 50 pounds.


How many hours did you play with the racquet? A total of 15 hours in a mix of doubles and singles.

Groundstrokes: At first, I was a little late on ground strokes due to the additional swing weight from the extended length of the racket. I have not played with an extended length racket since the Blade 104 v6 so it took me about an hour to adjust and get my timing right. Once adjusted, I found the Whiteout XTD performed exceptionally well. My forehands were crisp, and it was easy to generate spin and depth. My backhands had lots of power and topspin, but it was more difficult to create angles. I do think with more time I will get adjusting to the length and get back the angles that I have with my current frame.


Serves: This is where the Solinco Whiteout XTD really performs. This racket is so easy to serve with and I felt confident with every type of serve. That is not always the case with my current racket setup. But with the Whiteout XTD I was able to place flat serves where I wanted and with lots of power. My slice serves had a ton of spin and really skidded off the court. I also found it every easy to hit kick serves that bounced high and away from the returner.


Volleys: The extended length of the racket really helps to reach volleys that are usually out of my strike zone. That made it easier to poach and cover the down the line shot. The racket feels very stable, and I found it easy to redirect heavy shots. I also found it very easy to put away high volleys and overheads are a dream.


Serve returns: On return of serve I was able to get the racket in position and block back and or chip big serves. I did struggle with taking larger cuts on forehand and backhand returns. I had a lot of framed miss hits and I think it was due to the head size being slightly smaller than my current racket and extra length of the racket. I do like to chip and charge, and this racket does work well in that regard.



Power/Control- I found it very easy to generate power and depth on groundstrokes with control. I was expecting the racket to be less control oriented due to the open string pattern, but that was not the case. The power on serve was also very impressive while still be controlled enough to allow me to place the ball where I wanted.


Top Spin/Slice- The 16x19 string pattern generates a lot of top spin on ground strokes. My hitting partner told me I kept pushing them back with the topspin from my forehand and backhand. The spin on the backhand slice was good, but I did find the angle a little higher than my current frame. That could just be due to me not quite being totally adjusted to the extended length.


Comfort- This racket is very comfortable. The foam filled technology really makes the racket feel plush. I felt no pain or discomfort from mishits or framed shots.


Feel- I was expecting to lose some of the feel since the racket is filled with foam. But I didn’t’ find that to be the case, I had lots of touch on volleys and felt connected on ground strokes.


Maneuverability- I did find that I lost some maneuverability on my ground strokes due to the extended length of the racket. It was harder to get around the side of the ball to create those massive angles. However, I do think that with some more time to adjust this area will improve.


Stability- This racket is very stable. I didn’t get any racket twist or ever felt like I was being pushed around by bigger hitters. I

General reaction/comments on overall performance. Overall, I think this is a great racket and I really liked the white paint job. The Whiteout XTD just looks sharp. The performance far exceeded my expectations! The XTD is well suited for 3.5 and above players looking for power, spin and comfort. I highly recommend giving this racket a playtest and I am really looking forward to getting more court time with Solinco Whiteout XTD!
 

shadow01

Professional
I was wondering about that also. Usually you get more discussion between testers.

I’m hitting outside on clay tomorrow. I’ll try to update tomorrow night. All of my play has been on hard courts to date.
I hit another 2 hours today and really let loose. Served about 6 aces today. I usually get 1 or 2. Did a few serve and volleys (which is rare for me since I hate the net) but won those points. Was crushing it down the middle baseline rallies. I was playing on green clay and a couple of balls caught the line and bounced high. I didn’t hit those balls with enough spin and they went right into the curtain. My fault and ugly bounce. Timing is definitely key if you are hitting heavy topspin.
 

jangotango

Semi-Pro
jangotango's Solinco Blackout XTD Playtest Review

String and tension used for test
: Kirschbaum Max Power 1.25 strung at 53 pounds on the mains, 51 pounds on the crosses.

Tennis experience/background: Ending my sixth year playing tennis. Played varsity throughout high school, now doing club at college. I guess I'm a 3.5 NTRP.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Semi-western forehand with a significantly better one hand backhand. Baseline counter puncher, not a big server so I focus on the next shot. Healthy amount of topspin but not a lot of drive.

Current racquet/string setups: My current setup is the Wilson Six.One Team 18x20 (the newest model from TWE), strung with Max Power 1.25 gauge at 50 x 48 pounds.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? About 18 hours, most in practice but a few practice sets and tiebreakers thrown in.

Groundstrokes: Boy I missed extended length sticks. I used the Wilson N Tour 2 and Ezone 98+ in high school. There was very little length adjustment for me. The swing weight on my Blackout felt really low, and it was an effortless racquet. Forehands came off heavier with careening topspin. With the weight distribution I could also drive my forehands better, and be aggressive for once. Easy to generate spin and depth, and especially DEADLY on angles. Usually extended racquets do not help one handed backhands, but again the weight distribution helped me more than I expected. Increased depth and heaviness of ball. Great control, not stiff at all, and I liked the solid feel (foam I believe).

Serves: After some timing adjustment, the Blackout is so easy to serve with, it was like I was a new player. I was confident on topspin, slice, and even "nervous" serves. With my Six.One Team I feel as if I have to put in some extra energy to get 80% of what the Blackout produced. I haven't learned how to properly serve flat, but the extra MPHs and spins really helped my serve. Slice serves skidded off the court and safety serves looped up and in with no problem.

Volleys: Being an averagely sized human, the extended length helps to reach volleys that are a touch outside of my zone. While I don't have many opportunities to come to net anyways, the times that I did in sets and practice were effortless and the racquet is super solid. High volleys and overheads are even easier than serves. It really exposed how bad the Six.One Team is at the net.

Serve returns: The stability and length on this stick made it unmatched. I was able to turn, block, hit through, chip, and slice serves with no problem. Whereas I sometimes have some fluttering with the Six.One, or the return goes short with the Wilson, I didn't have that problem with the Blackout.

Power/Control: Great responsive frame. Very easy to whip the racquet to generate power, and just as easy to brush more and take off some pace. The Six.One being a small head and 18x20 wins the control department, especially since the Six.One is far less powerful. In all departments, the Blackout showed me what I was missing.

Top Spin/Slice- Larger headsize and 16x19 opposed to 18x20 naturally means a loopier, more topspin ball. Two of my friends commented that my ball was jumping higher than usual. I like the Six.One because it forces me to commit to the swing, keep my eyes behind the stringbed, and really crank the ball. The Blackout achieves the same, if not better ball with less effort. My backhand slice was excellent, but it definitely sat up a little more compared to the Six.One. I'm sure with practice it'll correct itself. Forehand slice felt a little clunkier because of the extended length, I would have to give the Six.One the edge for the forehand slice.

Comfort- Foam filled tech works, people. More at 9. The racquet felt plush but solid. Not as raw as my Six.One, but better feedback especially at the net. Very forgiving.

Feel- I've hit with foam-filled racquets before (Angell, IGA, Tec RS), and was expecting a smooth sweetspot with a solid outer stringbed. I found that the Blackout mirrored my experiences nicely. It's very forgiving at the net with off center hits, and keeps things comfortable when I'm making awkward contact with the ball on the baseline. Great connection from all areas of the court.

Maneuverability - At the baseline, the low swingweight and headlight balance made up for the expected loss of maneuverability due to the extended length. It was a little bit harder at the net to punch back balls closer to my body and coming low over the net.

Stability- Foam filled racquets are generally more stable, and the Blackout continued the trend. There was very little twisting, and I was able to test the racquet against a flat hitter and a very heavy topspin player. I never felt as if it was being pushed back, as long as the balls met the strings.

General reaction/comments on overall performance. This is one of the best extended length racquets I've used. I've always wanted to hit with an extended length racquets with a low swingweight and headlight balance, and the Solinco Blackout XTD fills that gap perfectly. The all black cosmetic is sharp, and the performance far sharper. I would recommend this racquet to 3.0 level adults and juniors playing school tennis looking for power, comfort, and spin, in that order. Thank you to TW and Solinco for this opportunity, I can't wait for the next one.
 

Daddy's

Rookie
My review of the Solinco Whiteout 305 EXD

Include the following in your review:

String and tension used for test: I started off with Genesis Black Magic 16 at 46 lb and it played well. It did really come to life though with the Hyper G at 48/46. With the Hyper G I had more spin power and control . It was almost like I couldn’t miss

Tennis experience/background: Aging 4.0 have been playing regularly for last 12 yrs. 3 hrs doubles for every 1 hr singles. I get in from 9 to 12 hrs. weekly

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Serve and volley is probably an overstatement but I still work to the net in doubles. More big serve, force a weak return and let the net guy put it away. Big forehand OHB slice backhand

Current racquet/string setups: I have too many to choose from. What I’ve had in the bag with the Whiteout is Volkl SG10 Prince XR 17 at 46 and Galaxy S Black Knight/SG hybrid both weight at 11.5 oz.

How many hours did you play with the racquet? Somewhere in the 20s been using it almost exclusively since I got it. I used my racquets only when I loaned the Whiteout to guys I was playing with.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: The strongest part of the test. Very good on heavy cross court exchanges. Stability is a strong point. Controllable power with excellent placement. More spin than I expected. Able to really hit out and still bring it down.

-Serves: Lead me to my only problem with the racquet. I grip the racquet with my pinky up on the butt cap with a lot of snap. On a big slice to the deuce court it just slipped out of my hand. I thought I’d broken it. I feel the butt caps are a little small on these. It couldn’t be me could it? My solution was to install a Tourna silicone cap you slip over the factory one. They weigh about 6 gm. So it got a little more headlight without using the weighted cap. My final specs were 11.5 oz 8 pt. HL
After the mod it was great on slice and kickers good on flat. That .5 in. makes a noticeable difference.

-Volleys: Excellent on volleys. The swingweight makes it stable and responsive without slowing it down too much. The length didn’t seem to be a problem. I may have choked up on it a bit at the net. The only time I got jammed up was on good shots that would jam me no matter what I had.

-Serve returns: No problem getting around on the ball. Enough control to go hard and deep, spin it short cross court or go down the line. Again stability was a positive.

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control-
Good controllable power. Swing out, drive and spin the ball without worrying about hitting the fence. Very accurate in direction and depth.

Top Spin/Slice- Better spin than I expected out of a 98. Just my normal stroke brought it down deep. No need to emphasize spin on the stroke. Good depth on slice.

Comfort- Solinco got it right with this. No vibration or pinging. Just a solid comfortable feel. Feels very much like a serious weapon.

Feel- Solid is the word that comes to mind. No twisting fluttering or wobbling. Not big on cupping feel, but you know where the ball is on the strings.

Maneuverability- Not really outstanding but not a problem either. I guess I'd say neutral. This is not a racquet that you can just flick at the ball and get good results. It won’t hinder you if you do your part.

Stability- Strong part of the stick. I don’t know if it’s the length ,swingweight or the combo of the two. The ball seems almost irrelevant, racquet wins collision. Whiteout is very forgiving of less than perfect contact.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

I'm 6' 4' and never really felt the need for extended length in a racquet but the .5 inch does make a difference. Especially on serves and groundstrokes length gives more action without , for the most part, hindering tight to the body strokes. Excellent racquet for a good player. I don’t feel this would be a good choice for a beginner. Like most racquets footwork and mechanics make the shot. The Whiteout won’t do the work for you but it will do whatever your game lets you play. The swingweight can get kinda heavy in the third set but like I said I'm old by tennis standards. It kinda felt to me like a lighter longer RF97

Thanks to Solinco and TW for the chance to give the Whiteout a try.
 

TAB90

New User
Solinco Blackout XTD


String and tension used for test: Hyper G, 53 lbs

Tennis experience/background: 10 years, high 4.0 NTRP

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Singles and Doubles. Singles play is aggressive baseliner, like to close points at the net

Current racquet/string setups: Head Graphene 360 radical MP, Luxilon ALU power 16L

How many hours did you play with the racquet? 5 hours

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke:

-Groundstrokes:
I felt like a had some easy power on the forehand side, but struggled a little on the backhand side. I hit mostly a flat backhand and my forehand is mostly top spin. After hitting a bit, I wish I would have dropped the tension a bit. Maybe like 48-50. Overall, I enjoyed the feel right away with my groundstrokes.

-Serves: Felt like I had some good pop on my serves. I'm pretty short so I think the extended length might have helped me out a bit. There was no adjustment period which I sometimes feel when I'm trying a different racquet.

-Volleys: Also enjoyed the added length on my volleys. I felt like I was easily able to place the ball with accuracy and precision and good depth. Nice and firm at the net.

-Serve returns: Really easy power without having to swing much. Had great depth and pace on a lot of returns.

Comments on racquet performance in each area:

Power/Control-
Had just the right amount of pop without overhitting. Lots of control and very maneuverable.

Top Spin/Slice- Great top spin with my forehand. I felt I was lacking a bit of power on my slice. But could be due to string tension.

Comfort/Feel- The racquet wasn't too stiff, no elbow or any other issues have come up. Very good mass at impact with the ball. Didn't feel a lot of vibration which I prefer.

Maneuverability- The racquet was very maneuverable and easy to play with. I thought I might have some issues due to the extended length, but that was not the case.

Stability- Felt a bit more stable with this racquet than my normal Head racquet. Seem I was hitting the sweet spot more and shanking less too. No issues with wrist turning. It's a very solid frame.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: I really enjoyed the racquet and wish more brands would do extended lengths. I would go down a grip size if I were to change to this. I think with a bit more time I would definitely switch over to this frame. I liked the easy power I got from it. I would drop the tension a bit to hopefully get a bit more power on the backhand side. But overall, no real big issues and would highly recommend this racquet for anyone looking to get some more power. Thank you to Solinco and Tennis warehouse for the opportunity to playtest this racquet.
 

jwocky

Rookie
The review below is being copy/pasted from my court notes in a spreadsheet. Apologies for any typos.

SOLINCO WHITEOUT 305 XTD
DampenerY
OGY
Tension52/52
String (because I was fresh out of Y PT Rev)Kirschbaum PL Evo 1.30mm
Wt/Bal (w one overgrip and dampener)345g/324mm (355g/312mm with wtd cap)
Tennis experience/background:HS team and intramural tennis through grad school,<life break>, then competitive doubles leagues after kids.

Current Doubles/Singles 70/30
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):All court with variety and point construction.
Current racquet/string setups:Dunlop CX 200 Tour 2021 (18x20)

Head 360+ Prestige Mid (16x19)

@ 27" 685.8mm long, 310mm balance, 365-70 grams with Yonex PT Rev 1.30mm
How many hours did you play with the racquet?Stock: 2 hr S, 2 hr D / Wtd Cap: 6hr S, 7hr D
Received Oct 14 / Strung on Oct 16 / Playtest from Oct 17 to Nov 3
COMMENTS BELOW REFER TO STOCK FORM without the added weight except OG and dampener
-Groundstrokes:Took time to adjusting to swinging with a lighter stiffer stick and had some initial wrist discomfort from stock grip size and stiffness
Excellent, solid, muted feel on ground strokes
No problem with accuracy on ground stroke after abbreviating swing
Executing top spin and flat shots from any part of the court was not an issue
Dipping cross court from baseline into the first third of the court seemed effortless
-Serves:The extra length seemed to add a little extra pop, but more will come after increasing the stick weight a bit.
I was able to hit my serves with location and pace consistently especially the ones wide and down the T.
Both flat and slice serves felt good.
-Volleys:Compared to my regular sticks the lighter mass and stability on volleys was not as noticeable as I expected and attribute to the foam fill and stiffer frame.
The stick felt comfortable on volleys including direct missiles at me while at the net
I did not notice any compromise in maneuverability from the extended length during volleying practice or match play
-Serve returns:The lack of mass was also immediately obvious on return games against big hiiters
This was more apparent on blocked backhand returns.
I addressed it later by using the weighted butt cap and some additional weight in the throat
Power/Control-- there was an adequate level of control although I sprayed some balls early in the playtest
- extra power from the larger sweet spot compared to my normal mid-size (95/93) and stiffness
- I would string multis closer to 60 in this stick.
Top Spin/Slice-Top spin was no issue and the string pattern helped relative to my Dunlop CX 200 Tour
Needed more weight on slices - easily fixed with future mods
Comfort-Had some wrist discomfort in stock form during matches from the lack of mass, but it was fine during warm up.
Very comfortable in the sweet spot and with sufficient feedback on off center shots
I could play with this for extended periods of time and fit it into my rotation
Feel-Excellent, solid, muted feel on ground strokes
Quite muted and even with a square damper felt like there were two Gamma Shockbusters in place.
The combination of the foam and racquet stiffness gives the stick a very nice, consistent feel even on mishits.
Maneuverability-This is about the thickest beam I wouldplay with althought the Babolat PST3 is slightly thicker mid-beam
The length did not seem to have a material effect on maneuverability.
Did not pick head rash from the extended length
Stability-Adding some weight will improve stability
The racquet gets pushed around with hard hitting player, on angling volleys and overheads.
Much of this can be addressed with tweaks.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:Comfortable and muted feel from the foam fill - felt like doubled up Gamma worm dampener
In the 98 head size I still prefer the Babolat Pure Strike Tour from a couple of years ago, but have no problem adding the Whiteout XTD to my rotation for when I am tiring or may have low energy.
The stick is a bit more forgiving than my normal sticks, but I will stick with what I have been playing.
The string pattern is very similar to that of the original RF97 and, with the exception of spacing on a couple of bottom crosses it also similar to that of a Volkl V8 (100 sq in).
The S in the Solinco decal came away with the first knot I tied so that could be a concern for some. Most likely my fault.
The white paint looks great but hope the matte finish lasts the test of time and (gentle) wipe downs especially after matches on clay.
MODS to be considered:- add a leather grip to get to my preferred grip size and weight from the stock L3
Stringing:String Length: Co-poly: 18 ft mains/16 ft crosses / Multi 17ft mains / 15 ft crosses
 

pedrogcr

Semi-Pro
Hey everyone, here is my review of the Solinco Whiteout XTD.

As you will see, I really enjoyed the racquet, and think it has the potential to become my main racquet with a little more time to fix some of the difficulties on my forehand and, most importantly, can find a string combo that let's me play with it pain-free.

String and tension used for test:
I only got to play with the racquet strung with my main setup of:
Ytex Square-X Sharp (mains): 41 pounds
Ytex Square-X White (crosses): 37 pounds

Tennis experience/background:
Male, 42 years old, 4.0 NTRP.
Grew up playing on Red Clay in Brazil and used to play in regional tournaments until age 15. Was out of the game for almost 20 years and returned to play at age 39, already in Florida.
Always enjoyed playing with extended racquets and have modified many regular-length models looking for the perfect stick.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I’m a baseliner who plays a heavy ball with lots of topspin on both sides, with a semi-western forehand grip and a THBH. Been playing mostly doubles now and love to hit cross-court short-angled passing shots and offensive topspin lobs.
I have an inconsistent (to say the least) slice and net game, and limited serve speed due to a shoulder injury.

Current racquet/string setups:
Prince Phantom 100x 290 (extended and weighted up to 340g strung)
Ytex Square-X Sharp (mains): 41 pounds
Ytex Square-X White (crosses): 37 pounds

How many hours did you play with the racquet?

I played for about 12 hours with the racquet.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):

-Groundstrokes:

The racquet felt awesome on groundstrokes, offering a great blend of power and control. My backhand had more power than with my usual setup and I felt really confident in hitting passing shots down the middle in doubles matches.
I did have some difficulty playing my regular high spin groundstroke game on my forehand side though and was shanking at a much higher rate than usual trying to get hit the ball with the same shape I do with my regular racquet.

-Serves:

Flat and slice serves were great! I felt like I had great directional control, so was able to keep the opponent guessing.
As with the groundstrokes, I had some trouble when trying to add more kick to my serves though, and again hit many more shanks than usual.

-Volleys:

I really enjoyed the racquet at net! The racquet felt faster than expected and volleys were solid on both ends, with more power than my usual racquet. I was also able to hit some nice overheads.

-Serve returns:
Serve returns were where I had the most trouble. As with groundstrokes, my backhand returns were working great! I could really control my angles and was able to go down the line when felt like the net opponent was going to poach.

Things were not as smooth on the forehand side though. The racquet really worked well when I had the chance to attack the ball and hit a flatter return. But I was missing much more than usual whenever I had to hit a higher, more defensive top spin shot, as I was not able to hit it cleanly from that side.

Power/Control
Awesome power when attacking the ball on both ends. I felt like I could hit every shot well on my backhand, but tended to lose some control on my forehand. I’m sure I would be able to adjust to it, with more time with the racquet.

Top Spin/Slice

I don’t really hit many slices (lol), but think the racquet has a great solid feel and should work well for people who use it more than I do.
Topspin potential was great, I could hit a very heavy ball from my backhand side, with maybe less height but more weight than my regular setup, so I’m sure my forehand troubles were not caused by the racquet.

Comfort
This is probably my main issue with the Solinco Whiteout. I have a history of both elbow and shoulder problems and, while I use a full bed of poly, I usually play with very soft racquets and string it at a very low tension that usually allows me to play pain-free.
With the Whiteout, even with the same string setup, I could definitely feel some pain in my elbow after longer sessions. Not really an injury, but I will probably have to try a multi or syn-gut hybrid if I decide to use it as my main racquet in the future.

Feel
The racquet is definitely more suited for power than touch, but I felt really connected to my shots.

Maneuverability
The racquet felt really fast for an extended model and really helped my game at the net. My volleys were more solid than usual, probably due to better racquet positioning.

Stability
I was also really impressed by the racquet stability, even for a “lighter” racquet than what I’m used to. I did try the 10g butt cap but felt the racquet played better with the regular one, which was a surprise.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

I really enjoyed this playtest and would like to thank Solinco and Tennis Warehouse for giving me the opportunity to try this awesome racquet! I wish more people will try extended-length racquets, so we continue seeing more great releases like this one!
 

scope

New User
I wanted to offer my review, though its not part of the project. I demo'd the Whiteout XTD when it first came out in July, mostly as a 3rd racket throw in to the demo set which included two Yonex extended rackets which I had demo'd before and was sure I was set to pick one to buy. The WO was immediately a perfect balance of power, control, maneuverability and stability for me. At the time, I was tending to spray the ball a good bit and realized that I was not getting the forgivingness I needed from a racket (and string, but by this point I had tried enough setups to know it was mostly the racket - over and above my own technical issues). The review below will detail my experience with it over the last 4 months. Guess I missed out on the free racket, lol.

String and tension used for test:
Initial demo supposedly strung with the 16g Proto P6 around 53-54. Obviously this setup did well for me as I purchased the racket immediately after the demo.

Purchased with Hyper-G 17g at 51lbs: felt great, felt soft, and as a result I was hitting a lot of balls long.

Head Lynx Tour 17g (champaign) 54 lbs, then 17g (orange) 57 lbs: initially got the same feeling I had with the demo, but quickly got soft and started hitting long again. Decided to restring higher, this time orange was only available color. In no time at all hardly I was hitting long again, which made me thing the orange is possibly softer than the champaign.

Solinco Confidential 17g at 55lbs, then 50 lbs: The Confidential was way harsh at 55, but playable. I find it very stiff, but not so boardy if that makes sense. Was much more comfortable at 50 with a similar response. Not hitting anything long with it and has a good power response in the sweet spot. I find it not very forgiving when I'm out towards the top edge of the string bed as I'm apt to do.

Tour Bite 16g at 53 lbs: This seemed to best replicate the original demo response. Feels a little boardy but not as much as the demo string. Seems very consistent across the stringbed. Will likely move forward with this string and try a bit lower tension.

Tennis experience/background:
Mostly good technique from early-life lessons, though I mostly played soccer until my late 20s. I'm a 59 year old man playing at 4.5 now, but hoping to make a push to get back up to 5.0 where I was before I went away from the Pure Drive+. I've been using extended length rackets for about 20 years now, starting with a Volkl Quantum 10.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Formerly more all-courter, getting to be more of a baseliner as I age. This is where I'm looking for more power to assert from the baseline, and have been having trouble with control.

Current racquet/string setups:
Dunlop CX200+ with Head Lynx Tour at 48 lbs

How many hours did you play with the racquet?

About 50 hours total including practice

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):

-Groundstrokes:

In stock form, it can feel a little underpowered, but then the stability and plow kicks in and you're aware that your shots are doing more than you expect. An almost magical blend of power, control, maneuverability, though at the same time, I did find it quite sensitive to string setups and found it too easy to hit long sometimes when catching it phat in the sweet spot. With the right string, very forgiving on off-center hits.

I did use the 10g basecap and found that it was good for a tad bit of pop, otherwise mostly unnoticeable. Added about another 10g to the top and what I got was a ton of easy power with a buttery response. Felt a little sluggish there and I while I think there was some value to that plush, powerful feel, that it takes away from what I believe is the best virtue of this racket - the magical balance of maneuvability, power & control.

-Serves:

I found serving to be easy, though not necessarily easy power. Spin was easy, yet not nearly as much spin as I was generating with the Yonex Ezone extended. I did find control of hitting targets a bit easier with the WOX, and as a result, have aced a good bit more than I have before.

-Volleys:

Hit and miss for me, but mostly solid. This is where I did find some lack of volley power, but I also did find it easy to attack the ball with the WOX. So taking a punch with pace was just adequate, but punishing a softer ball with a putaway was easy with great maneuverability.

-Serve returns:
I find serve returns to be perhaps the best part of my play with the WOX, which I attribute to average plow, better then average stability, and great maneuverability. Blocking back in the sweetspot is wonderful, and mostly well controlled - except for string issues as mentioned earlier.

Power/Control
The balance here is the best attribute with sufficient power and mostly great control, but perhaps a little string sensitive. It CAN feel underpowered, but the inherent stability and plow is more subtle in that you don't feel that as much in the swingweight. The 10g buttcap adds a bit of pop without loss of control. Keeping the balance the same by adding similar weight in the head really gives plush power, but exascerbates the string issue. I do think this racket has a tendency to launch when hit phat in the sweetspot, but most rackets with any power do.

Top Spin/Slice

Topspin felt ordinary for a 16x19 frame, though I would say the maneuverability of the WOX seems to enhance shot making with topspin as needed, especially on deep balls when playing at the baseline, or taking short balls for angled putaways.

I was either not getting much on my slice and dumping them in the net, or hitting long, especially with the aforementioned string issues. While I believe I'm developing more feel there, I still don't think this is the most positive attribute for the WOX and is where I feel a little bit of plow lacking.

Comfort
I have only tried poly in the WOX and have had no issues with harsh feel, with the exception of Confidential, and even then at what was too high a tension. That's not to say that the WOX has a plush, comfy feel, but it is muted and seems to eliminate unnecessary harshness while at the same time offering an adequate level of feel.

Feel
Groundstroke feel is outstanding. Serve feel was good. Volleys was adequate, and so far, touch shots are just adequate, though my belief is that the WOX is a lot more capable of touch shots than was the former PD+, or the current CX200+.

Maneuverability
The specs of the WOX are just a bit lower in all categories from my CX200+, but actual maneuverability is an off the charts difference. Match that with suitable power, stability, and control and its a great mix. I could always hit for power with the Dunlop, but even though its considered a control racket, that aspect wasn't working for me, and I attribute that to lack of maneuverability late in matches.

Stability
Is very good. Its not the most stable, but again, its a great mix with power and control.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

From the beginning, this racket has fit well in my game and allowed me to do what I want to do. Not always with the most power, but with sufficient power, combined with sufficient stability and plow so that I can stay in points to get to a putaway. Just a magical balance that allows me to get the most out of my game. I would say that it seems like a racket that would please a broad spectrum of players and fit into many different styles of play. And I think both the BO and WO are fine examples of understated cosmetics in a field where everyone is building something to stand out, and mostly failing.
 

McLovin

Legend
So...wanted to post an update here on my feelings of this frame 2 months after switching to it.

Cliffs Notes: still going strong, very happy I made the switch.

Detailed notes:
My first couple of weeks I switched back & forth between the X-perience and the REV. After which I decided to go w/ the X-perience: I felt there was more control with the X-perience, and the REV was a bit too muted for this frame. Since then, there's been no looking back: I've played ~ 8 singles matches and 4 doubles matches, winning all singles (and dropping 0 sets), and going 2-2 in doubles (the losses due mainly to me not being quite comfortable at the net yet...not that I would have won had I been comfortable, but the sets would have been closer). Note that these were all 'fun' matches between friends (I've kinda ditched USTA leagues).​
Forehand:​
It just seems to get better & better the more I play. Really driving the ball deep, and getting nice shape on my shots. I don't hit w/ a ton of spin, but I seem to be getting a slightly higher launch angle, but my shots keep dropping in, so it's kinda hard to complain... I've also noticed how stable the frame is (see mods posted above), as I've been stepping in & taking things on the rise more (something I did in my younger days). Lately I'd been 'bunting' a forehand slice instead of driving it as I'm doing now.​
Backhand:​
More of the same: As I develop more & more confidence in the frame, I'm staying in rallies longer, not trying to change direction too quickly. Really stable, driving through my shots. My backhand is a little flatter than my forehand, but I still see a little more shape over the net. No complaints. And the slice has returned, as well as some good feel on the drop shots.​
Serves:​
Again, as I develop confidence in the frame, I'm noticing more free points due mainly to better placement. The speed increase is there I'm sure, but being 5' 9", I've always had to rely on placement for my serve. So hitting "bigger" first serves does me no good if they're not in a good location as my "big serve" is closer to many of my friend's average serve. So putting the 1st closer to the lines with the increased speed is making my service games much easier.​
Volleys:​
Still a work in progress. When I drill, they feel great: Good pop, stable frame, driving through the shot. But in match situations, I'm still learning to trust in it. I give it another 2-3 months (depending on how much doubles I play) before I am confident at the net. And to be clear, I'm not a "volleying machine". I serve & volley off both serves in doubles not because I'm great at it, but because it's doubles, and that's what you're supposed to do...​
Misc:​
To date, no issues w/ any arm or shoulder pain. In fact, because I don't have to swing as hard as I used to, I've found my shoulder lasting longer than w/ previous frames. Paint is holding up really well: No chips or cracks. Overall, just extremely happy I made the switch.​
 
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