Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19

[Mmazzoni]

I grew up playing more traditional players' racquets in denser string beds, but as of late have been loving 16 x 19 string beds. I grown to like the higher launch angles, greater power and easier access to spin that comes with them. Currently, using a 16 x 19 Pure Strike and like it. It suits my game, but feel for what I gain, there is something missing too. I wonder if Technifibre's TF40 is the missing link? I've heard people say it plays more like an 18 x20 when compared to other Blades or Pure Strikes and that seems very very interesting to me. Another reason I'm interested to try this stick is that I heard it feels solid - that is something missing from the Pure Strike IMO. I am hoping TF's RS Sharp constant beam with "foam inside" can deliver that solid feeling dialed in feeling without losing maneuverability. It looks great - clean and fresh so I'm sold on that already. Still, after seeing what everyone has been saying about Solinco's new WhiteOut the TF40 has definitely got some competition!

Im currently playing with the Pure Strike 16x19 (project one7) and have really enjoyed it but it is starting to take a toll on my shoulder. Not sure if its too stiff; people I play with who have used it have switched because of similar issues. I just finished up a demo this past week with the TF40 305 16x19 and thought it played very similar. It does feel a little more solid and I've read a little less free power than the PS but it didn't seem like it. Spin and control were good as shots that I thought may go long were dropping in. Serving I got good depth both on flat spin serves and had good touch on volleys. Overall I enjoyed playing with the racquet and felt it was good for my all around game. I will probably make the switch but may go with the 315 because i do play a lot more doubles and like the idea of just a little more stability with volleys. Am also intrigued with the slightly heavier racquet and lighter swing weight.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Thanks for that! Great feedback for me. I am looking forward to trying this racquet out next time I audition racquets. Seems to have a lot to offer! I'd have to play both weights too.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Looking forward to trying this(if I get picked).

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Me too! When we get picked! Ha!

 

[djNEiGht]

I've checked my inbox, my spambox, my regular mail box, my work email (even though I didn't provide that one) and haven't seen my notice

lol

Congrats on those selected

 

[MattHeup]

This was probably a popular playtest. Hopefully I can get in on one of the string tests and go from there.

 

[PhxRacket]

I've checked my inbox, my spambox, my regular mail box, my work email (even though I didn't provide that one) and haven't seen my notice

lol

Congrats on those selected

That’s funny. I did the same thing yesterday. Maybe next time? TW offers such an incredible opportunity to TT users.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

That’s funny. I did the same thing yesterday. Maybe next time? TW offers such an incredible opportunity to TT users.

Interesting that no one is talking about being selected yet. Anyway interested to see what people think of this offering, especially because it is a racquet that could find its way into my bag!

 

[TennisHound]

I’ll bet there’s quite a few playtests coming up

 

[Devil_dog]

Oh man, I somehow missed the initial confirmation email but luckily I saw it today and THANK YOU Tennis Warehouse folks for allowing me to take part in this playtest. I was fortunate enough to be part of the TFight 305 and I'm excited to compare how these two sticks compare with each other. My current match stick is the Babolat Pure Drive+ and I love it but I've always had an affinity toward Technifibre racquets. I really enjoyed hitting with the TFight and almost considered a move to using it full time. I've heard some good things about the TF40 so I cannot wait to put this racquet to the test.

Thank you, again, TW folks and I cannot wait to post my unboxing, initial impressions and then a thorough playtest. And congrats to the other playtesters, too!

 

[TW Staff]

We have sent out an email to those selected to participate in the Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19 Racquet playtest and received confirmation. For those that have received the email, congrats and we received all your confirmation emails! Your racquets will be shipping by end of day tomorrow and should be arriving within 1-5 business days.

For those that were not selected, thank you so much for applying. We have been blown away by the amount of applicants for each playtest, especially this one! And we will continue to line up playtests for the next couple months and hope to get everyone on something!

We always like to leave these tips here:

Apply for string playtests first and leave detailed, thorough reviews. We generally have a larger amount of strings to send out for playtests and your chances are much higher of being selected. Additionally, it helps if you have a good history on the message board and are participating in a positive way especially in the shoe, string and racquet sections (bonus points if it is in threads related to the specific playtest).

Lastly, we like to make sure to spread the wealth. We try to give members a chance who were not selected to be on one of the last couple major playtests (racquet/shoe). If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at discussadmin@tennis-warehouse.com and we would be happy to help.

Thanks,
TW Staff

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Didn't get picked but that's fine, looking forward to the reviews.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Very interested to hear what everyone thinks of this racquet!

 

[ngoster]

Big thanks to TW for allowing me to be a part of this playtest. Cosmetically, the racquet looks awesome! Can't wait to string it up and get some hits in.

 

[ngoster]

Ready to go for tomorrow's hit! Strung it up with IsoSpeed Baseline Spin 1.20 mains @ 50# and Gosen OG Micro 17 crosses @ 55# since I'm familiar with the set up. Will try out the Razor Code and Triax after and report back.

 

[Devil_dog]

Ready to go for tomorrow's hit! Strung it up with IsoSpeed Baseline Spin 1.20 mains @ 50# and Gosen OG Micro 17 crosses @ 55# since I'm familiar with the set up. Will try out the Razor Code and Triax after and report back.

You already received the racquet? I’ve yet to get a tracking number. Enjoy the hit with it though!

 

[taydbear7]

Mine should be here tomorrow according to UPS.. I'm going to do FB Razor Code at 50.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Big thanks to TW for allowing me to be a part of this playtest. Cosmetically, the racquet looks awesome! Can't wait to string it up and get some hits in.

BTW not seeing your images - anyone else? Would love to see what it looks like. Thanks

 

[Devil_dog]

You already received the racquet? I’ve yet to get a tracking number. Enjoy the hit with it though!

This always happens: I received my tracking info. I should get the racquet by tomorrow. Yes!

 

[ngoster]

BTW not seeing your images - anyone else? Would love to see what it looks like. Thanks

Really? Weird. I don't know how to fix it but here's a link to the album.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Very nice! A nice clean design. Looking forward to hearing about how it plays, especially in comparison with Pure Strike / Blade / ? Thanks

 

[taydbear7]

Really? Weird. I don't know how to fix it but here's a link to the album.

I'm not seeing the pic either.

 

[ngoster]

I'm not seeing the pic either.

How about now?

 

[djNEiGht]

have fun play testers
Thank you Techinifibre and @TW Staff for bringing these play tests to us

 

[netlets]

Havent tried the v8 but tried all the previous 16x19 blades. Ive got the blades somewhere in the middle between the two.

the TF40 is on the demanding side of that spectrum. definitely one of the two most demanding 305g 16x19 sticks i've hit with. the other one being the blade pro for different reasons. it's got the tightest 16x19 i've seen in a 98" frame. this isn't the same open string pattern as the TF315 LTDs or TF300 RS. it's got a smaller than average sweetspot. the stringbed is a bit bipolar in the sense that the sweetspot is very clearly defined and anywhere outside of that is much less pleasant (similar to the 2021 radical mp). launch angle is predictably very low, but power level is a tad higher than expected. feel is obviously subjective, but i can only describe it as equal parts modern, classic, and hollow. i still think this is more competitive against the 18x20 offerings than other 16x19 sticks. my pair was fairly close to factory specs, but i'm curious to see how much QC variances influence folks' opinions on the racket. it's a good racket, but i don't expect it to meet the high expectations we're seeing on this thread.

the whiteout is the complete opposite. it's got this wide open string pattern and higher flex with tons of pop and spin and a really high launch angle. reminds me of the 360+ speed MP in terms of the ball it produces. it's like a pure strike project one7 with wider mains. it's very good at what it does, but just not my cup of tea.

going back to the blade, the blade is definitely less demanding than the TF40 (assuming SW isn't outrageously high) and is more consistent across the entire stringbed in terms of both feel and stability. i'm generally not a fan of the tight mains and open crosses like the blade and pure strike in 16x19 patterns (i prefer the 18x20 versions of both), but they're still not as erratic as the whiteout. among the 3 rackets, i prefer the TF40 or the blade, with a slight edge to the TF40 in 16x19 pattern versions. i'd choose the 18x20 blade in a heartbeat though.

My experience is very different with the TF40 305 16x19. You must have strung it differently than me. I get a high launch angle and sufficient amount of pop and excellent spin. I have played with Razor Code at 45lbs, ice code at 52 and think I’ll be settling in with 4S at 45 lbs - all 17g. Ball pocketing is great and control and feel amazing. I did just add a bit of tungsten tape to 3 and 9. Probably a bit more powerful than the Pure Strike now - at least that’s what Tennis University shows after adding the tape. I’m a 5.0 player with semi western FH and 2 handed backhand.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

My experience is very different with the TF40 305 16x19. You must have strung it differently than me. I get a high launch angle and sufficient amount of pop and excellent spin. I have played with Razor Code at 45lbs, ice code at 52 and think I’ll be settling in with 4S at 45 lbs - all 17g. Ball pocketing is great and control and feel amazing. I did just add a bit of tungsten tape to 3 and 9. Probably a bit more powerful than the Pure Strike now - at least that’s what Tennis University shows after adding the tape. I’m a 5.0 player with semi western FH and 2 handed backhand.

This is exactly why there is no 1 perfect racquet for everyone! The spice of life!

 

[netlets]

This is exactly why there is no 1 perfect racquet for everyone! The spice of life!

Exactly. That's why it's important to get many points of view - especially since no-one really knows the style of game we all play and what setup we have been playing with.

 

[taydbear7]

How about now?

Still can't see it.

 

[Devil_dog]

Okay gang, I got my stick today. My initial impressions are below the pics.

Opened up the box and saw this

Initial impressions: I love the raised texture on the Tecnifibre logo. It's a small detail but this is cool.

Got Razor code and Triax strings and a pack of overgrips. Thank you Tecnifibre and TW!

The small details again that I really dig...

Weigh in (unstrung).

And finally, weigh in with overgrip, strings and dampener. Yes, it may be different once it's actually strung up - going to do that today - but I think it will be close.

If you've made it this far, here's my initial impressions. So, as I mentioned my match stick is a Babolat Pure Drive plus (2021), the TF40 straight out of the box seemed more head heavy in balance. It swings nicely though. Feels good in the hand. Frame is more squared off but design and color choices are simply elegant. I'm planning on stringing it up with Razor Code and at my usual tension of 50 lbs. I don't lead up or modify my sticks at all beyond an overgrip and a dampener. My expectations are that it will hit similarly to my other Tecnfibre - the TFight 305 RS. I believe the TF40 offers a little more flex, though. This first hit will be this weekend so I'm excited to put in some swings and record my hitting impressions soon. Thanks again for the opportunity to playtest and offer my impressions, Tennis Warehouse and Tecnifibre!

 

[BillKid]

Okay gang, I got my stick today. My initial impressions are below the pics.

Opened up the box and saw this

Initial impressions: I love the raised texture on the Tecnifibre logo. It's a small detail but this is cool.

Got Razor code and Triax strings and a pack of overgrips. Thank you Tecnifibre and TW!

The small details again that I really dig...

Weigh in (unstrung).

And finally, weigh in with overgrip, strings and dampener. Yes, it may be different once it's actually strung up - going to do that today - but I think it will be close.

If you've made it this far, here's my initial impressions. So, as I mentioned my match stick is a Babolat Pure Drive plus (2021), the TF40 straight out of the box seemed more head heavy in balance. It swings nicely though. Feels good in the hand. Frame is more squared off but design and color choices are simply elegant. I'm planning on stringing it up with Razor Code and at my usual tension of 50 lbs. I don't lead up or modify my sticks at all beyond an overgrip and a dampener. My expectations are that it will hit similarly to my other Tecnfibre - the TFight 305 RS. I believe the TF40 offers a little more flex, though. This first hit will be this weekend so I'm excited to put in some swings and record my hitting impressions soon. Thanks again for the opportunity to playtest and offer my impressions, Tennis Warehouse and Tecnifibre!

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on the TF40 vs 305RS comparison

 

[ngoster]

Part 1 of 2 of Review #1...

Once again, huge thanks to TW and Tecnifibre for affording me the opportunity to be on this playtest. Based on my limited experience with this stick, I anticipate this playtest to be a long term one.

I got in some hitting yesterday and today. The time was split between concurrent playtests, this racquet and the Yonex PolyTour Strike blue on a 2019 Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20. I will use this thread to log my hitting sessions with this racquet. Each piece may not represent my full experience but will as I continue to write about follow up sessions.

I've been encountering issues with posting pictures so they will be provided as embedded pictures and links.

This write-up will focus on my impressions while hitting groundstrokes and volleys over 4.5 hours of hitting.

(Link)

(Link)

String and tension used for test:
IsoSpeed Baseline Spin 1.20 mains @ 50# / Gosen OG Micro 17 crosses @ 55#

Tennis experience/background:
As of the end of 2021, I have an NTRP rating of 3.5. Prior to that I was 4.0 for two decades playing in leagues with a group of friend for the majority of that time. Every since breaking away from them and hitting with new tennis friends, I feel I'm much closer to 4.5 now than I ever have.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I used to be an all court player in my earlier career but have gravitated towards banging it out from the baseline. I'm in between an eastern and semi-western FH and have a 1HBH. My shots are very flat from both wings but can generate some spin when necessary.

Current racquet/string setups:
I have 3 racquets that I like switching between (PS 85, 2021 CX 200 Tour 16x19 and 2019 CX 200 Tour 18x20). My current favorite is the CX 200 Tour 18x20 with the IsoSpeed/Gosen @ 50#m/55#x setup.

How many hours did you play with the racquet?
Split with the other playtest, I'd estimate 1.25 hours.

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes:
The hitting started out very shaky, notably due to the grip size/shape and racquet balance. I received the L3 (3/8) grip and put an overgrip on it. The bevels were very pronounced and felt almost oval in shape. The butt cap doesn't flare out as much as the Dunlop which made the size feel smaller. This made transitioning to the BH off at times causing me to be in between grips where it didn't feel stable. My wrist would break on both topspin and slice causing me to be late on the topspin and pop up the ball on my slices. The racquet balance was also more head heavy than the Dunlop or other racquets that I'm used to. This gave me the perception that it was a little slower getting it to drop into the slot position making me late on both wings. I had to make a more conscious effort to prepare earlier than usual.

One other odd notable was how I initially gripped the racquet. I normally grip the butt cap leaving 2 fingers hanging off but, for some reason, I was gripping it a little higher than normal. I couldn't pinpoint the reason but I was having a challenging time generating RHS and was suffering in shank-town. It finally clicked during a changeover in the first hitting session. After I adjusted my grip position, the racquet came to life. My review will focus on the post adjustment period.

After 2 sessions, I'd have to say that I wouldn't consider this a forgiving racquet to hit with. It was very on and off for me. There were moments of brilliance and moments where I was wondering what the heck did I do wrong now? There was no being lazy with this. My footwork, maintaining good spacing and watching the ball game had to be on point. Racquets that I consider easy to play with were the 2020 Ezone 98/100 and Clash 100 Pro V2. Playing with them felt effortless to the point where I thought I was cheating.

-Volleys:
Volleys were challenging for me as I felt like it was a little slow. I was catching the ball late and popping it up a lot. I thought maybe this was because I was volleying from a static position so I tried doing some chip and charges to see if it would help. It improved some but I still felt a tad late. There was a clear difference when I switched to the Dunlop. Contact was much more solid.

This led me to think that maybe this racquet was designed primarily for the baseline game.

 

[ngoster]

Part 2 of 2 of Review #1...

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control-
I like to take good hacks at the ball so I favor "dead" control oriented racquets. Considering this, the power here was above average. Once you can get the racquet moving through the hitting zone, the spec'd out 326g swing weight will put some oomph on the ball. It's noticeably more powerful than the Dunlop (with current setup). I know it's not exactly apples to apples but the Dunlop felt dead. I felt that I had to swing harder to generate pace with the Dunlop. With my normal setup, I get decent (I call it sneaky) power. I'm curious to compare the two again with the same setup. Random but when I think of easy power, I think of the Clash 100 Pro V2. Putting a 1 to 10 measure on power, I'd have to say Dunlop = 4, TF40 = 7 and Clash = 10.

One interesting note regarding is that this thing was killing higher bouncing balls. I mean, holy smokes. After thinking about it some, it made sense. The 3 pts HL balance and swinging downward was like swinging an axe. All that mass working with gravity allowed me to pound the heck out of the ball.

Control was good when I felt on, however, I was not confident trading FHs cross court without eventually generating more topspin because the ball seemed to want to go longer and longer with each shot. Hitting down the line shots seemed to have more of an wider outward bend from being late.

The string bed felt a little odd. Most of my shots are struck in the 2 and 3 o'clock zones. Every once in awhile when I hit it dead center, I can feel the ball really sink into the string bed then shoot out like a trampoline going long.

Top Spin/Slice-
Both topspin and slices were not difficult to hit. This is by no means a topspin monster like the Clash line but it was adequate. Slices were nice but didn't have the pace that either CX Tours had. It may have just been a timing issue though.

Comfort-
I wouldn't say this is a plush racquet but it was comfortable. Interestingly, even though it's 1 point stiffer than the CX 200 Tour, it felt softer. This could just be a difference between the string setups but it did feel softer. At times, I felt more flex in the throat.

Feel-
To me, the feedback from this racquet was very good. The string bed did not feel ambiguous at all. Good or bad, I was definitely told the many times when the ball struck the 12 o'clock zone.

Maneuverability-
Maneuverability was nothing to write home about. It's not as whippy as the CX 200 Tours. I struggled a bit on my 1HBH.

Stability-
Honestly, I think this is the weak part of my game. I can't really tell if a racquet has poor stability. I mean, every racquet that I've hit with has had some degree of twisting but I've never complained about it. With that, this racquet seems to fall in line with everything that I've experienced in the past.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
I need to hit more but my initial impressions are:

• Not related to performance but it's a good looking racquet. It is simple but the raised letters adds to the coolness factor.
• This is not beginner friendly. You need to have good technique, timing and be strong-ish. This isn't one of those "let the racquet do the work for you" kind of stick.
• I need more saddle time with this but it may lead to some customizing to make it more head light.

 

[taydbear7]

Got the good yesterday. Very generous from TW Staff. I also have a TF 315 I will compare it to. I know it’s not orange to orange comparison.

https://imgur.com/a/XQ261m7

 

[jmnk]

Returned home from the trip - and here it is, waiting.

Initial impressions:

• Impeccable packaging. Simple yet distinctive paint job on the box.
• Launch Tape Angle - no complains, could be a tad longer overlap on the edges. Could be easily fixed with few additional strips of lead tape scotch tape.
• Stiffness - the box is just sturdy enough for shipping, yet soft to the touch. Pleasure to hold, easy on the elbow.
• Ball pocketing Racket packaging - very, very nice. Carefully tucked within a bubble wrap

• and then for those looking for something extra, that 'it' factor - it came with unexpected and unadvertised 3pack of overgrip

oh wait, I was supposed to give a review of the actual racket?? ok, that's coming.

 

[mstrvol]

So Rinderknech uses the 18x20 I’m guessing?

and 2019 version. Bought 3 more old stock as soon as I finished demoing the new version lol

 

[netlets]

Im currently playing with the Pure Strike 16x19 (project one7) and have really enjoyed it but it is starting to take a toll on my shoulder. Not sure if its too stiff; people I play with who have used it have switched because of similar issues. I just finished up a demo this past week with the TF40 305 16x19 and thought it played very similar. It does feel a little more solid and I've read a little less free power than the PS but it didn't seem like it. Spin and control were good as shots that I thought may go long were dropping in. Serving I got good depth both on flat spin serves and had good touch on volleys. Overall I enjoyed playing with the racquet and felt it was good for my all around game. I will probably make the switch but may go with the 315 because i do play a lot more doubles and like the idea of just a little more stability with volleys. Am also intrigued with the slightly heavier racquet and lighter swing weight.

I agree with you - this racquet plays similar to a Pure Strike but is more comfortable and plush. I thought the Pure Strike was too stiff as it was bothering my arm, but the TF40 16x19 305 does not. I added a bit of lead to 3 and 9 and it actually has a bit more pop than the Pure Strike now. I use a 17g 4S at 45lbs and it feels great. One thing I'm not sure of though, is that the 315 would be more stable. It is a bit heavier but since the balance is more head light, I think the 305 is a better volleying racquet.

 

[ngoster]

One thing I'm not sure of though, is that the 315 would be more stable. It is a bit heavier but since the balance is more head light, I think the 305 is a better volleying racquet.

It's interesting to see varying opinions because given my history with more head light racquets (6 pt to 10 pt HL), I feel the 315 would be better at the net.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

I agree with you - this racquet plays similar to a Pure Strike but is more comfortable and plush. I thought the Pure Strike was too stiff as it was bothering my arm, but the TF40 16x19 305 does not. I added a bit of lead to 3 and 9 and it actually has a bit more pop than the Pure Strike now. I use a 17g 4S at 45lbs and it feels great. One thing I'm not sure of though, is that the 315 would be more stable. It is a bit heavier but since the balance is more head light, I think the 305 is a better volleying racquet.

A better pure strike...that is very appealing. Do they make extended versions of the TF40 ? Will they?

 

[taydbear7]

I got to play 1 doubles match over the weekend. My first impression. It's a very demanding racquet. I strung it with Razor Code at 50 and very powerful. Balls were sailing quite a bit. I need more time on the court. My doubles partner was pretty bad this weekend as he couldn't get any sort of rallies going. Serve game was quite strong and had some nice ace and few block back that was easy put away. Surprisingly my arm wasn't sore after playing in a full bed of poly.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Competitive market for 98" 16x19 rackets?
The stock specs show quite a few similarities, BUT specs are just a starting point Grasshopper! I like my Pure Strike (2nd Gen) but it is not perfect (especially at curing my imperfections). I'd like it to be a bit more solid, less harsh, extended length - but still keeping all the other qualities. That is why this TF40 play-test is so interesting to me!

	unstrung weight / swing weight​	Balance​	RA / Beam​
TF40 305 16 x19	10.7 oz / 321​	6 pt HL​	64 / 22mm / 22mm / 22mm​
Pure Strike 2nd Gen 16 x19	10.8 oz / 323​	4 pt HL​	67 / 21mm / 23mm / 21mm​
Pure Strike 3rd Gen 16 x19	10.8 oz / 327​	4 pt HL​	66 / 21mm / 23mm / 21mm​
Solinco WhiteOut 16x 19	10.8 oz / 327​	4 pt HL​	66 / 21.7mm/21.7mm/21.7mm​

 

[netlets]

I got to play 1 doubles match over the weekend. My first impression. It's a very demanding racquet. I strung it with Razor Code at 50 and very powerful. Balls were sailing quite a bit. I need more time on the court. My doubles partner was pretty bad this weekend as he couldn't get any sort of rallies going. Serve game was quite strong and had some nice ace and few block back that was easy put away. Surprisingly my arm wasn't sore after playing in a full bed of poly.

Curious, why is it demanding for you if you get a lot of power?

 

[netlets]

Competitive market for 98" 16x19 rackets?
The stock specs show quite a few similarities, BUT specs are just a starting point Grasshopper! I like my Pure Strike (2nd Gen) but it is not perfect (especially at curing my imperfections). I'd like it to be a bit more solid, less harsh, extended length - but still keeping all the other qualities. That is why this TF40 play-test is so interesting to me!

	unstrung weight / swing weight​	Balance​	RA / Beam​
TF40 305 16 x19	10.7 oz / 321​	6 pt HL​	64 / 22mm / 22mm / 22mm​
Pure Strike 2nd Gen 16 x19	10.8 oz / 323​	4 pt HL​	67 / 21mm / 23mm / 21mm​
Pure Strike 3rd Gen 16 x19	10.8 oz / 327​	4 pt HL​	66 / 21mm / 23mm / 21mm​
Solinco WhiteOut 16x 19	10.8 oz / 327​	4 pt HL​	66 / 21.7mm/21.7mm/21.7mm​

So the TF40 305 is 3/4 points headlight when strung and 11.4oz with an overgrip and dampener. I put a little lead on 3 and 9 to get to 11.7 and that works great for me and doesn't really move the needle on the head light spec - maybe a shade closer to 3pts headlight than 4.

 

[taydbear7]

Curious, why is it demanding for you if you get a lot of power?

Because if you're technique is off then balls were sailing which was happening to me.

 

[Devil_dog]

I got to play 1 doubles match over the weekend. My first impression. It's a very demanding racquet. I strung it with Razor Code at 50 and very powerful. Balls were sailing quite a bit. I need more time on the court. My doubles partner was pretty bad this weekend as he couldn't get any sort of rallies going. Serve game was quite strong and had some nice ace and few block back that was easy put away. Surprisingly my arm wasn't sore after playing in a full bed of poly.

I played some dubs, too, and I agree the racquet requires a bit more attention than my current match stick: the 2021 Pure Drive plus. But though I also strung Razor Code at 50# - the stick felt low powered to me. My shots were a little flatter, too. To be transparent, I looked up my Project One7 playtest that I did in 2016(!) and my mental notes for the TF40 mirrors my thoughts of the PO7. The TF40 has a bit more flex but otherwise it felt very familiar upon first hit.

To quote from my Babolat Project One7 review:

-Groundstrokes:

Right off, I've noticed my shots felt more muted than my (Pure Aero) PA frame. The frame is more flexible than the PA and also carries a heavier swingweight too and that was noticeable in the pace and weight of my shots off the ground. The extra weight initially made me feel sluggish about my shots. But when I adjusted to the weight, my shots felt like they had mass behind them. But they didn't explode off the 16x19 stringbed like I've grown accustomed to on my Pure Aero. The muted feeling, the extra weight and the seemingly tighter string pattern had my shots going back over with less net clearance and less spin. Compared to my PA which is about as "point and shoot" a frame as I've played, the PO7 frame really demanded more of my concentration from the baseline to direct my shots. I really had to work my groundstrokes to a certain degree to get the ball deep. And, for me, spin was only moderate. The muted feel made the stringbed seem less lively too. However on the positive side, the extra mass and swingweight really helped with plow through. The frame is definitely solid. I rarely felt pushed against a heavy ball. The tradeoff though is that it didn't feel as agile as compared to my Pure Aero. Example if I'm pulled out wide on my forehand, I didn't feel like go over the ball and had to bunt back a shot or slice it whereas with my Pure Aero I would typically whip my FH and generate a shot with topspin.

So I did another deep dive and found my Tecnifibre TFight305 review:

-Groundstrokes:

First thing I noticed is the lower launch angle and slightly shallower depth of shots compared to my Babolat PD plus. But after adjusting to the stick, depth wasn’t as much as issue. The difference in weight of the racquet also required some getting used to. It’s definitely heavier than my Pure Drive Plus and the balance gives it a head heavy feel. The dampening of the frame was also an adjustment. After a few balls, the racquet felt plush with decent plow-thru. The solid feel was very nice on my two-handed backhand and slice shots. I had to make some adjustments to my forehand to get better depth and spin but I think the weight and balance just made it a challenge for me to initially get into a groove.
Stringing the TF305 with Volkl Cyclone Tour did restore some of the depth and spin I’m accustomed to experiencing. What I also noticed is that the TF305 is a remarkable counter-punching racquet. During one session, I was dealing heavy shots and the TF305 responded with a strong response while maintaining very good control. Sometimes, I struggled with the 305 because it felt sluggish with its additional heft and 3-point headlight balance. But what really felt nice was the ability to swing away on my groundstrokes and know that the ball would overwhelmingly stay inside the lines. For my level of play, I would say the stick is low-powered and a fantastic control racquet. I know stronger players might say otherwise but compared to the Pure Drive Plus, the TF305 doesn’t swing as fast through the hitting zone for me. I felt like I had to time the ball a little earlier but upon contact, the racquet did a lot of the work with a reassuring and solid shot.

Back to now: I know the TF40 has a lower swingweight and more flex than the TFight305 and the P07. But the TF40 does offer similar match characteristics for plow-thru and stability off the ground. Full swings are definitely rewarded. Heavy shots hit to me were never a problem provided I set up well and was able to take a nice cut. Dampening like the TFight305 was good, as a matter of fact, seemed better than the TFight in that I thought sometime the TFight seemed too dampened, IIRC.

I'll get to the rest later when I get some more hitting time in and possibly restring with my string of choice.

Thanks again Tennis Warehouse and Tecnfibre!

 

[jmnk]

Full review after first time playing with it coming - but we have a problem

This Racket is a keeper!

so what am I to do with the other Yonex and Tecnifibre that I just got?

 

[netlets]

Quick comment - can they name these racquets so people don't have to type a sentence before people know what you mean? TF40 305 16x19 - geesh. How about TF40blu? People would get to know specs like Pure Drive, etc. TF40red could be a different version, etc. Or how about this - if there are different versions: 40Blu - we know it's a Tecnifibre already. I'm a graphic designer, so I work on keeping things simple and concise all day.

 

[OldManStan]

Received my racquet today. Thank you TW for the opportunity to participate in this playtest.

Strung it in a hybrid with Triax in the mains and Razor Code in the crosses at 52/50 respectively. (Should've strung it at 55/53 imo)

Will be posting an extensive review and video after I hit with it some more.

 

[taydbear7]

I got an hour of hard hitting in and have to say this is a really nice racquet. The only downside is my elbow felt it. I can't do a full bed of poly.

 

[Mmazzoni]

It's interesting to see varying opinions because given my history with more head light racquets (6 pt to 10 pt HL), I feel the 315 would be better at the net.

That was my initial thought, more maneuverability? I went ahead a pulled the trigger on the 315 version, hoping to get it soon and hit the courts!

 

[ngoster]

I'm going to get in some actual dubs match play tonight. Looking forward to seeing how it performs in areas other than rallying.