FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Film it @Trip!
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Tecnifibre TFight 2025
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
That's a great idea! I may do just that.
Oh noooo last thing we need is another tennis youtuber making "unbiased and chockingly honest reviews" LOL
Just kidding
Oh noooo last thing we need is another tennis youtuber making "unbiased and chockingly honest reviews" LOL
Just kidding
Tecnifibre Tfight 300 Review
String and Tension used for test: Razor Soft 17 at 48lbs (10 hours) and Solinco Hyper G Soft 1.25 at 48lbs (12 hours)
Tennis experience/background: Tennis Director/Professional. USTA 4.5 Rating. USTA League Men's and Mixed Nationals participant 2021-2024.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve and volley): I play doubles exclusively with the exception of the hitting sessions I teach. All court player with a one handed backhand. Comfortable from all areas of the court.
Current racquet/string setups: 2025 Babolat Pure Drive 100 (300g) strung with Restring Zero 1.24 at 48lbs.
How many hours did you play with the racquet: 28-30 hours
Groundstrokes: There will be a common theme for this racquet/review and that theme is the maneuverability of this frame. The 300 was easy to get through the air creating nice power and depth. I would say the launch angle was medium/high so net clearance was not an issue. One handed topspin and slice backhand felt good with nice depth and bite. Tough to duplicate the power of a Pure Drive but this was different, I feel I had ample power but I never got scared of the power like sometimes on the PD. The foam filling gives this racquet a great feeling at the point of contact.
Serves: Again coming from the Pure Drive, I was expecting a measurable drop off on pace and spin, not really the case here. This goes back to how easy this frame moves through the air. I had no problem generating pace and my kick and slice were moving!! Nice access to spin for easy net clearance on second serves.
Volleys: My feeling with the 300 around the net was that it was very versatile, it did everything well. Touch and angles were not a problem. The racquet packed enough of a punch to execute finishing volleys with confidence. For its 318sw, I felt the racquet held up to pace well, stability was great. Overall a crisp and quick feeling around the net.
Serve returns: Again that word, maneuverability !!! The quickness of the frame helped with the confidence to attack on returns. When forced to block or chip a big first serve the racquet held up well from a stability standpoint. I was really enjoying the depth as well. For me, this was my surprise area of the playtest. Solid returning racquet.
Power/Control: The 300 had a nice blend of power and control, as cliche as that sounds. While clearly not the same as my racquet of choice, I never felt that I lacked for any free power especially after the string change. As a smaller stature guy, I'm not looking for a frame that has control as it's main attribute, this not case with the 300. Nice, easy access to power while never feeling wild or out of control. I might look to go with an even softer setup, MSV Swift, to see if I can get a few mph's out of it.
Topspin/Slice: I felt that the string pattern was fairly open on this 16X19 so I think the spin was above average. By no means a spin monster like the Pure Aero but I never felt like it lacked in spin generation. Going back to my serve comments, I had no problem with the action on my kick and slice. Slice backhand stayed low and had nice bite. I am not a heavy ball hitter on my forehand or backhand but I felt like I was getting a few more RPM's on both sides. I would certainly attribute that to the overall quickness of the racquet.
Comfort: I will say that when I hit my first ball with the Razor Code Soft I was worried about the comfort. The racquet felt a little stiff but as it broke in that stiffness went away. My switch to Hyper G Soft was eye opening as the comfort was there right from ball one. My thinking is that this frame may be a tad string sensitive so you may go through a trial and error period to find that optimal comfort. I am a massive fan of the foam filling.
Feel: See my posts in comfort, they probably could have bumped lumped together. I am a touch and feel player and I think this racquet checks the box in that category. I just needed the right setup to optimize the racquet. Again, the foam filling of this frame gives it a unique, almost a prostock type of feel.
Maneuverability: I'd give this frame a 9.3/10, one swing everyone knows the rules
, in this category. One of the easiest 300g racquets to move that I've ever hit with. Super quick from every area of the court. A racquet you could use for hours and never feel fatigued.
Stability: For its weight and swing weight, I never had a stability issue with this racquet. Any twisting/fluttering was certainly operator error, not a racquet issue. I used this in 4.5 men's doubles and 8.0 mixed and never felt that it got pushed around.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Big thank you to Tecnifibre and the good people at Tennis Warehouse for this opportunity!! The frame and all the extras were most appreciated.
I feel that if this frame was to get in more players hands it would be a huge success and seller. I'd say this is a more user friendly version of the Blade 100 and more responsive than the Babolat Pure Strike 100. The 300 does everything well. Give it a shot players, you will not be disappointed.
String and Tension used for test: Razor Soft 17 at 48lbs (10 hours) and Solinco Hyper G Soft 1.25 at 48lbs (12 hours)
Tennis experience/background: Tennis Director/Professional. USTA 4.5 Rating. USTA League Men's and Mixed Nationals participant 2021-2024.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve and volley): I play doubles exclusively with the exception of the hitting sessions I teach. All court player with a one handed backhand. Comfortable from all areas of the court.
Current racquet/string setups: 2025 Babolat Pure Drive 100 (300g) strung with Restring Zero 1.24 at 48lbs.
How many hours did you play with the racquet: 28-30 hours
Groundstrokes: There will be a common theme for this racquet/review and that theme is the maneuverability of this frame. The 300 was easy to get through the air creating nice power and depth. I would say the launch angle was medium/high so net clearance was not an issue. One handed topspin and slice backhand felt good with nice depth and bite. Tough to duplicate the power of a Pure Drive but this was different, I feel I had ample power but I never got scared of the power like sometimes on the PD. The foam filling gives this racquet a great feeling at the point of contact.
Serves: Again coming from the Pure Drive, I was expecting a measurable drop off on pace and spin, not really the case here. This goes back to how easy this frame moves through the air. I had no problem generating pace and my kick and slice were moving!! Nice access to spin for easy net clearance on second serves.
Volleys: My feeling with the 300 around the net was that it was very versatile, it did everything well. Touch and angles were not a problem. The racquet packed enough of a punch to execute finishing volleys with confidence. For its 318sw, I felt the racquet held up to pace well, stability was great. Overall a crisp and quick feeling around the net.
Serve returns: Again that word, maneuverability !!! The quickness of the frame helped with the confidence to attack on returns. When forced to block or chip a big first serve the racquet held up well from a stability standpoint. I was really enjoying the depth as well. For me, this was my surprise area of the playtest. Solid returning racquet.
Power/Control: The 300 had a nice blend of power and control, as cliche as that sounds. While clearly not the same as my racquet of choice, I never felt that I lacked for any free power especially after the string change. As a smaller stature guy, I'm not looking for a frame that has control as it's main attribute, this not case with the 300. Nice, easy access to power while never feeling wild or out of control. I might look to go with an even softer setup, MSV Swift, to see if I can get a few mph's out of it.
Topspin/Slice: I felt that the string pattern was fairly open on this 16X19 so I think the spin was above average. By no means a spin monster like the Pure Aero but I never felt like it lacked in spin generation. Going back to my serve comments, I had no problem with the action on my kick and slice. Slice backhand stayed low and had nice bite. I am not a heavy ball hitter on my forehand or backhand but I felt like I was getting a few more RPM's on both sides. I would certainly attribute that to the overall quickness of the racquet.
Comfort: I will say that when I hit my first ball with the Razor Code Soft I was worried about the comfort. The racquet felt a little stiff but as it broke in that stiffness went away. My switch to Hyper G Soft was eye opening as the comfort was there right from ball one. My thinking is that this frame may be a tad string sensitive so you may go through a trial and error period to find that optimal comfort. I am a massive fan of the foam filling.
Feel: See my posts in comfort, they probably could have bumped lumped together. I am a touch and feel player and I think this racquet checks the box in that category. I just needed the right setup to optimize the racquet. Again, the foam filling of this frame gives it a unique, almost a prostock type of feel.
Maneuverability: I'd give this frame a 9.3/10, one swing everyone knows the rules
, in this category. One of the easiest 300g racquets to move that I've ever hit with. Super quick from every area of the court. A racquet you could use for hours and never feel fatigued.Stability: For its weight and swing weight, I never had a stability issue with this racquet. Any twisting/fluttering was certainly operator error, not a racquet issue. I used this in 4.5 men's doubles and 8.0 mixed and never felt that it got pushed around.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Big thank you to Tecnifibre and the good people at Tennis Warehouse for this opportunity!! The frame and all the extras were most appreciated.
I feel that if this frame was to get in more players hands it would be a huge success and seller. I'd say this is a more user friendly version of the Blade 100 and more responsive than the Babolat Pure Strike 100. The 300 does everything well. Give it a shot players, you will not be disappointed.
Vicious49
Legend
TECNIFIBRE T-FIGHT 305S Review - I was not officially on this play test but had already purchased 3 of these frames immediately after demo-ing before the playtest was announced
String and Tension used for test: Cyclone, Ice Code, RPM Blast, Element, Hawk Power, Poly Tour Spin crossed with Poly Tour Pro, Triax - All 17g and all at 45# except the Triax which was strung at 48#. I did not like either of the shaped poly options I tried (Cyclone, or PTS/PTP) at all. Any round poly seemed to be my preference with RPM Blast, Element or Hawk Power all being great. The Element seems to notch and lock up the stringbed quicker than the other 2 though. I did try the Triax for a bit more arm comfort. It played fine but ultimately I still prefer the round poly options.
Tennis experience/background: 48 year old recreational player, USTA 4.0 ranking, 90% singles. I'm self taught for the most part so there are good days and bad days.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve and volley): Eastern FH with a long take back and more of an old school swing that drives through the ball, one-handed backhand. Mainly a counterpuncher/baseliner who tries to use angles to move my opponent around the court.
Current racquet/string setups: I'm a 'holic so too many to list but I was maining the Percept 100D before this frame and the PA98 before that. I'm not that picky on strings so it's usually various poly at 45#.
How many hours you played with the racquet: 40-50 hours
Groundstrokes:
It was a perfect fit for me from the beginning. It seems to work with my flatter strokes. It doesn't require me to adjust my swing to adapt to the racquet. Great control. It's a very point and shoot style racquet. Great stability and much more maneuverable than the last gen 305.
It works naturally with my FH and 1HBH. On days when I'm on, I can rip by FH all over the court. On days when I'm off . . . it's not as forgiving. On the BH side it unlocked my down the line shot which I struggle with some frames. On this one I can go down the line from the BH wing just as easily and with as much success as going cross court.
Serves:
This was the best I've served with any racquet . . . ever. I'm not sure what is accounting for this but I am able to place my serves where I want them. This is especially great for flat serves down the T. If you have a lot more kick on your serves your results may vary as I mainly use flat serves with some slice serves mixed in.
Volleys:
This is the weakest part of my game so take my results here with a grain of salt. I didn't notice any stability or maneuverability issues with it at the net. I'm able to shank my volleys with the occasional great volley just like I can with most frames.
Serve Returns:
When I timed it correctly I was able to rip some returns. Even when blocking, the stability of the frame allows me to return the ball deep. No complaints at all on serve returns.
Power:
I'd call this a low to medium powered frame. It has more power than the Ultra Tour but not as much as the PA98. I like lower powered frames that allow me to swing out without fear of spraying long. Some frames like the UT and old Liquid Metal Radical MP are a bit too low powered and will get me in trouble when trying to block back shots when on defense against better players. This one is low powered enough to allow me to swing out while still having enough power to block back defensive shots and keep a point alive.
Control:
The frame has excellent control. Perhaps not quite there with an 18/20 frame like my Ultra Tours but right up there or better than most other frames. I can go for the lines without fear. Now remember I am a flatter ball hitter that relies quite a bit on moving opponents around the court with angles and not as much with heavy spin.
Topspin / Slice:
I'd label this one as middle of the pack on both top spin and slices. While I label myself as a flatter hitter I've had opponents and my daughters coach tell me I actually get quite a bit of spin. I'm not going for the spin but I guess it just kind of happens as a byproduct of my swing. As a 1HBH player I do rely on the BH slice a lot (just watch the Dimitrov/Monfils match from a few nights ago and it's apparent how much Grigor is slicing from that wing) so it's quite an important shot for me. If I had any niggle or tiny complaint about the frame, this would be it. While it hits better slices than the PA98 it doesn't have the kind of slices that I can place on a dime and use as a weapon like I could with the Percept 100D or the Regna 98. This one will allow me to use the slice to keep a point alive but not as a weapon.
Comfort:
This is a bit difficult to answer. I don't notice any jarring from it but it also doesn't have a 'plush' feel like you get from the UT, 2025 GT98 or even the PS97. I did notice a bit of tennis elbow while doing this playtest but I was also hitting with the TF 300 and the Head GT98 at the same time. I know the GT98 wasn't the culprit so it had to be one of the TF frames. Over the past few days I've come to believe it's the TF 300 that was responsible for that but I don't want to let the 305s off the hook entirely as I'm not 100% certain.
Feel:
Solid. It doesn't have a soft/plush feel like the UT/GT98/PS97 but also doesn't have a harsh or hollow feel like most older Babolats. I attribute most of this to the foam filling.
Maneuverability:
Mine came in at 319 strung and was very maneuverable. Even short shots in the front court I was able to get low and use my wrists to get them back over using top spin - something I can't do with more clunky frames. The previous gen of this racquet was the exact opposite (at least for me and my skill level). This one fixes all the maneuverability issues that prevented most people from using the ISO305.
Stability:
Excellent stability for a 305g 98" frame. The only frame I would say that is better at similar specs without getting in to a really thick beam is the Regna 98 and technically that's 310g. This outperforms frames like the Blade, Radical, and other similar contenders and it's not even close. You should have no issues even against the heaviest hitters in terms of stability.
General comments on overall performance:
There's few frames that come along that you feel like they were designed for you and your game. This is one of those frames for me and perhaps the best one between the 50 or so frames I've tried over the last however many years. I demo'd this along with the 300, 300s and the Head GT98 and this came out on top. It works for my serve, BH, FH, etc. Now remember that I am more of an eastern FH, flatter swing style type player so it works for me. Someone with a semi-western or western FH who relies on whippier strokes may have an entirely different experience.
I will say that this frame is very spec and string dependent. Most frames I may not notice a gram or two difference or switching between various strings. Mine came in at a SW of 319 strung. I experimented with adding 1g of lead to make it 323 and 2g of lead to make it 326. There was a noticeable difference at each spec level. 326 allowed me to crush balls but quite often I was a bit late on my swing so I settled in at 323. Someone at a higher skill level could absolutely use it at a 326SW and just destroy the ball. I had 3 of these frames so I was able to swap strings around quite a bit. In the end I found round poly around 45# is best in this frame.
The only drawbacks of this frame for some could be the grip shape. I don't notice it all but have heard many complain about the TF grip shape. Also, as I've stated it's very spec dependent so someone that gets a frame that is underspec may feel it's anemic and someone who gets one overspec may feel it's slow or sluggish. The other thing to remember is that this does require a certain skill level and swing speed. On days when I'm playing normal it's great but if I'm tired or having an off day it's not going to give you any free power.
Additional Spec/Setup Info:
I ordered 3 305S hoping I'd find 2 that were somewhat close. In reality all 3 were pretty close but 2 were near identical so I ended up keeping all 3. 2 of them are 307g, 31.0, 288.5 SW. The 3rd one is 305g, 31.25, and 291.3 SW. That was with the plastic on the grip so adjust slightly if you want true specs.
The 2 that were identical the only change I made was adding 1g of lead at 12 to bring the SW up to 292/293 unstrung. The 3rd frame I adjusted slightly to match these 2.
String and Tension used for test: Cyclone, Ice Code, RPM Blast, Element, Hawk Power, Poly Tour Spin crossed with Poly Tour Pro, Triax - All 17g and all at 45# except the Triax which was strung at 48#. I did not like either of the shaped poly options I tried (Cyclone, or PTS/PTP) at all. Any round poly seemed to be my preference with RPM Blast, Element or Hawk Power all being great. The Element seems to notch and lock up the stringbed quicker than the other 2 though. I did try the Triax for a bit more arm comfort. It played fine but ultimately I still prefer the round poly options.
Tennis experience/background: 48 year old recreational player, USTA 4.0 ranking, 90% singles. I'm self taught for the most part so there are good days and bad days.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve and volley): Eastern FH with a long take back and more of an old school swing that drives through the ball, one-handed backhand. Mainly a counterpuncher/baseliner who tries to use angles to move my opponent around the court.
Current racquet/string setups: I'm a 'holic so too many to list but I was maining the Percept 100D before this frame and the PA98 before that. I'm not that picky on strings so it's usually various poly at 45#.
How many hours you played with the racquet: 40-50 hours
Groundstrokes:
It was a perfect fit for me from the beginning. It seems to work with my flatter strokes. It doesn't require me to adjust my swing to adapt to the racquet. Great control. It's a very point and shoot style racquet. Great stability and much more maneuverable than the last gen 305.
It works naturally with my FH and 1HBH. On days when I'm on, I can rip by FH all over the court. On days when I'm off . . . it's not as forgiving. On the BH side it unlocked my down the line shot which I struggle with some frames. On this one I can go down the line from the BH wing just as easily and with as much success as going cross court.
Serves:
This was the best I've served with any racquet . . . ever. I'm not sure what is accounting for this but I am able to place my serves where I want them. This is especially great for flat serves down the T. If you have a lot more kick on your serves your results may vary as I mainly use flat serves with some slice serves mixed in.
Volleys:
This is the weakest part of my game so take my results here with a grain of salt. I didn't notice any stability or maneuverability issues with it at the net. I'm able to shank my volleys with the occasional great volley just like I can with most frames.
Serve Returns:
When I timed it correctly I was able to rip some returns. Even when blocking, the stability of the frame allows me to return the ball deep. No complaints at all on serve returns.
Power:
I'd call this a low to medium powered frame. It has more power than the Ultra Tour but not as much as the PA98. I like lower powered frames that allow me to swing out without fear of spraying long. Some frames like the UT and old Liquid Metal Radical MP are a bit too low powered and will get me in trouble when trying to block back shots when on defense against better players. This one is low powered enough to allow me to swing out while still having enough power to block back defensive shots and keep a point alive.
Control:
The frame has excellent control. Perhaps not quite there with an 18/20 frame like my Ultra Tours but right up there or better than most other frames. I can go for the lines without fear. Now remember I am a flatter ball hitter that relies quite a bit on moving opponents around the court with angles and not as much with heavy spin.
Topspin / Slice:
I'd label this one as middle of the pack on both top spin and slices. While I label myself as a flatter hitter I've had opponents and my daughters coach tell me I actually get quite a bit of spin. I'm not going for the spin but I guess it just kind of happens as a byproduct of my swing. As a 1HBH player I do rely on the BH slice a lot (just watch the Dimitrov/Monfils match from a few nights ago and it's apparent how much Grigor is slicing from that wing) so it's quite an important shot for me. If I had any niggle or tiny complaint about the frame, this would be it. While it hits better slices than the PA98 it doesn't have the kind of slices that I can place on a dime and use as a weapon like I could with the Percept 100D or the Regna 98. This one will allow me to use the slice to keep a point alive but not as a weapon.
Comfort:
This is a bit difficult to answer. I don't notice any jarring from it but it also doesn't have a 'plush' feel like you get from the UT, 2025 GT98 or even the PS97. I did notice a bit of tennis elbow while doing this playtest but I was also hitting with the TF 300 and the Head GT98 at the same time. I know the GT98 wasn't the culprit so it had to be one of the TF frames. Over the past few days I've come to believe it's the TF 300 that was responsible for that but I don't want to let the 305s off the hook entirely as I'm not 100% certain.
Feel:
Solid. It doesn't have a soft/plush feel like the UT/GT98/PS97 but also doesn't have a harsh or hollow feel like most older Babolats. I attribute most of this to the foam filling.
Maneuverability:
Mine came in at 319 strung and was very maneuverable. Even short shots in the front court I was able to get low and use my wrists to get them back over using top spin - something I can't do with more clunky frames. The previous gen of this racquet was the exact opposite (at least for me and my skill level). This one fixes all the maneuverability issues that prevented most people from using the ISO305.
Stability:
Excellent stability for a 305g 98" frame. The only frame I would say that is better at similar specs without getting in to a really thick beam is the Regna 98 and technically that's 310g. This outperforms frames like the Blade, Radical, and other similar contenders and it's not even close. You should have no issues even against the heaviest hitters in terms of stability.
General comments on overall performance:
There's few frames that come along that you feel like they were designed for you and your game. This is one of those frames for me and perhaps the best one between the 50 or so frames I've tried over the last however many years. I demo'd this along with the 300, 300s and the Head GT98 and this came out on top. It works for my serve, BH, FH, etc. Now remember that I am more of an eastern FH, flatter swing style type player so it works for me. Someone with a semi-western or western FH who relies on whippier strokes may have an entirely different experience.
I will say that this frame is very spec and string dependent. Most frames I may not notice a gram or two difference or switching between various strings. Mine came in at a SW of 319 strung. I experimented with adding 1g of lead to make it 323 and 2g of lead to make it 326. There was a noticeable difference at each spec level. 326 allowed me to crush balls but quite often I was a bit late on my swing so I settled in at 323. Someone at a higher skill level could absolutely use it at a 326SW and just destroy the ball. I had 3 of these frames so I was able to swap strings around quite a bit. In the end I found round poly around 45# is best in this frame.
The only drawbacks of this frame for some could be the grip shape. I don't notice it all but have heard many complain about the TF grip shape. Also, as I've stated it's very spec dependent so someone that gets a frame that is underspec may feel it's anemic and someone who gets one overspec may feel it's slow or sluggish. The other thing to remember is that this does require a certain skill level and swing speed. On days when I'm playing normal it's great but if I'm tired or having an off day it's not going to give you any free power.
Additional Spec/Setup Info:
I ordered 3 305S hoping I'd find 2 that were somewhat close. In reality all 3 were pretty close but 2 were near identical so I ended up keeping all 3. 2 of them are 307g, 31.0, 288.5 SW. The 3rd one is 305g, 31.25, and 291.3 SW. That was with the plastic on the grip so adjust slightly if you want true specs.
The 2 that were identical the only change I made was adding 1g of lead at 12 to bring the SW up to 292/293 unstrung. The 3rd frame I adjusted slightly to match these 2.
Last edited:
FrankyRelax
Professional
Technifibre TFight 300S
String and tension used for test:
TruPro Pure Rush 1.23 Mains/Toroline Wasabi X 1.23 Crosses. Strung at 50/48lbs on a Gamma ECP
Tennis experience/background:
I am a 4.0 level player. I started playing at age 7 during the summers and mostly everyday starting in high school. Stopped playing almost altogether through college and grad school. Picked it back up again in 2019 just hitting with a ball machine. Joined my local tennis league to start playing matches again in 2020. I have dabbled in a couple weekend USTA tournaments, but mostly play in my local league for matches twice a week and practice with a ball machine on weekends.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I consider my style a combination between aggressive baseliner and counter puncher. I adjust my playstyle to my opponent. I consider myself speedy on the court for my age and will try to track down most balls. My volley game is below average for my level and will try and stay at the baseline. My strongest shots are my forehand and serve (when it's consistent).
Current racquet/string setups:
Most recently I have been switching between a 2023 Yonex Vcore98 and 2024 Head Extreme Pro. Prior to that I had a stint with the Carve 100 All Court which made me realize I preferred sub 100 inch frames, particularly on the run. My most consistent string set up in the Vcore and the Extreme Pro has been the one used for this test: Pure Rush/Wasabi X
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
18 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke:
Groundstrokes: Ill start by talking about the sweetspot on this frame. It is large but not too large where it totally feels lost when making contact with the ball. Forehands come off with good shape and pace. However it really rewards keeping the racquet speed high. Half strokes or defensive forehands on the run did fly some times. Backhands were my favorite shot with this frame. My 2 hander was complimented by the frame's solid feel and stability. Crosscourt back hands were output with great consistent depth.
Serves: This was the shot that first made me think that this racquet was ripe for customization. As other's have said this frame swings fast. The balance is such that it is very easy to swing. I usually have my sticks at a balance of about 320mm but I think I could mod this to about 325mm, It took some time to get used to serving as I found some inconsistency with my first serve at its current weight and balance. I began to slow down my swing a bit and was still able to get good pace. 2nd serves did not take as much time to get used to as I was able to get great spin due to the maneuverability. Slice serves were best, as I was able to get great movement across the service box.
Volleys: Admittedly not the best part of my game, but the 300s did a solid job. Once again, its maneuverability helps here. Easy to move around at the net, but with my shanky volleys, I once again thought it could use some weight in the hoop to keep things stable.
Serve returns: Very solid, especially on the backhand side. I was able to get great depth on punch returns. Returning slower serves took some adjusting at stock specs simply because I found myself overswinging a bit. Slice returns were a fun surprise. I was able to keep things low and penetrating.
Comments on racquet performance in each area:
Power/Control: I would put this as having more power than control, but not by much. If you have dialed in the right string set up for you and spec it to your liking I think it can be a master of both. As I played it stock, I found myself with some fliers from time to time. This was particularly true at the beginning side of my 18 hours.
Top Spin/Slice: The medium open string pattern is a great for spin and favors players who hit more spin than flat. Flattening out strokes can be done, but will take time to get used to. Slices were great. On the backhand side, I got balls with great depth, that didn't really sit up for my opponents. I am not usually a slice type player, but I could see myself using this more in my game with this frame.
Comfort: I used to have more of a sensitive arm, so I don't try to play with sticks that are too stiff. I wasn't sure how this frame would feel, but I have had great experience with foam filled frames in the past. This was no different and I found it to be a very comfortable frame. Comfortable enough that I would experiment with stiffer polys that I wouldn't even think about trying in other frames.
Feel: The foam filling in racquets these days is hit or miss and really up to preference when it comes to feel. I personally have loved it, and I think this adds to the great feel of the 300s. Its thumpy and crisp without being jarring and uncomfortable. I don't find it too muted, but I do tend to prefer frames that err on the side of muted. String choice can really affect the feel part with the 300s. I don't think you can go too soft or muted or it would become mushy and numb. Crisper strings would shine in this frame.
Maneuverability: Very very maneuverable. Perhaps too much in stock form for me. It kind of took me by surprise at first. As I mentioned before timing my first serve took a bit of adjusting. Groundstrokes were easier as long as I kept racquethead speed up, which was really easy to do with the 300s.
Stability: Once again the foam fill plus the RS Section (I presume) helps here. Fairly solid in stock form. Not jarring off center and the large-ish sweetspot kept shots deep and consistent. I do think that I would add some weight in the hoop to up the stability just a tad.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
This is a great compromise of a frame. That is in no means a bad thing as it could do most things right for my game. I see it as a nearly perfect platform frame. For my game, I could add some weight in the hoop to increase the swing weight and some under the grip (no trap door lol). The feel and comfort was top notch. 2nd serves and backhand slices were standouts. I will comment on the grip shape as some may be more sensitive to it than others. It was weird at first but I got used to it eventually. I feel it helps on pronation on the serve. Backhands were largely unaffected. On forehands during pressure moments in matches, I did feel it creeping into my mind, just because it felt different. However, I could adjust in the long run. I will say that if you are sensitive to grip size, I think the grip shape could be more of a problem. I have different TF frames in my collection in L4 and the shape feels more pronounced. As far as the future goes: I will customize and play with strings. I think that finding the right stings for the frame can really make it shine. It hasn't dethroned my VC98 as of now, but is easily a solid frame to play around and tune with lead. Pretty excited to do so actually as it has great potential.
Lastly, a great big thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Technifibre for the opportunity to play test. Can't wait to see what others thought of this frame and the rest of the TFight lineup.
String and tension used for test:
TruPro Pure Rush 1.23 Mains/Toroline Wasabi X 1.23 Crosses. Strung at 50/48lbs on a Gamma ECP
Tennis experience/background:
I am a 4.0 level player. I started playing at age 7 during the summers and mostly everyday starting in high school. Stopped playing almost altogether through college and grad school. Picked it back up again in 2019 just hitting with a ball machine. Joined my local tennis league to start playing matches again in 2020. I have dabbled in a couple weekend USTA tournaments, but mostly play in my local league for matches twice a week and practice with a ball machine on weekends.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I consider my style a combination between aggressive baseliner and counter puncher. I adjust my playstyle to my opponent. I consider myself speedy on the court for my age and will try to track down most balls. My volley game is below average for my level and will try and stay at the baseline. My strongest shots are my forehand and serve (when it's consistent).
Current racquet/string setups:
Most recently I have been switching between a 2023 Yonex Vcore98 and 2024 Head Extreme Pro. Prior to that I had a stint with the Carve 100 All Court which made me realize I preferred sub 100 inch frames, particularly on the run. My most consistent string set up in the Vcore and the Extreme Pro has been the one used for this test: Pure Rush/Wasabi X
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
18 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke:
Groundstrokes: Ill start by talking about the sweetspot on this frame. It is large but not too large where it totally feels lost when making contact with the ball. Forehands come off with good shape and pace. However it really rewards keeping the racquet speed high. Half strokes or defensive forehands on the run did fly some times. Backhands were my favorite shot with this frame. My 2 hander was complimented by the frame's solid feel and stability. Crosscourt back hands were output with great consistent depth.
Serves: This was the shot that first made me think that this racquet was ripe for customization. As other's have said this frame swings fast. The balance is such that it is very easy to swing. I usually have my sticks at a balance of about 320mm but I think I could mod this to about 325mm, It took some time to get used to serving as I found some inconsistency with my first serve at its current weight and balance. I began to slow down my swing a bit and was still able to get good pace. 2nd serves did not take as much time to get used to as I was able to get great spin due to the maneuverability. Slice serves were best, as I was able to get great movement across the service box.
Volleys: Admittedly not the best part of my game, but the 300s did a solid job. Once again, its maneuverability helps here. Easy to move around at the net, but with my shanky volleys, I once again thought it could use some weight in the hoop to keep things stable.
Serve returns: Very solid, especially on the backhand side. I was able to get great depth on punch returns. Returning slower serves took some adjusting at stock specs simply because I found myself overswinging a bit. Slice returns were a fun surprise. I was able to keep things low and penetrating.
Comments on racquet performance in each area:
Power/Control: I would put this as having more power than control, but not by much. If you have dialed in the right string set up for you and spec it to your liking I think it can be a master of both. As I played it stock, I found myself with some fliers from time to time. This was particularly true at the beginning side of my 18 hours.
Top Spin/Slice: The medium open string pattern is a great for spin and favors players who hit more spin than flat. Flattening out strokes can be done, but will take time to get used to. Slices were great. On the backhand side, I got balls with great depth, that didn't really sit up for my opponents. I am not usually a slice type player, but I could see myself using this more in my game with this frame.
Comfort: I used to have more of a sensitive arm, so I don't try to play with sticks that are too stiff. I wasn't sure how this frame would feel, but I have had great experience with foam filled frames in the past. This was no different and I found it to be a very comfortable frame. Comfortable enough that I would experiment with stiffer polys that I wouldn't even think about trying in other frames.
Feel: The foam filling in racquets these days is hit or miss and really up to preference when it comes to feel. I personally have loved it, and I think this adds to the great feel of the 300s. Its thumpy and crisp without being jarring and uncomfortable. I don't find it too muted, but I do tend to prefer frames that err on the side of muted. String choice can really affect the feel part with the 300s. I don't think you can go too soft or muted or it would become mushy and numb. Crisper strings would shine in this frame.
Maneuverability: Very very maneuverable. Perhaps too much in stock form for me. It kind of took me by surprise at first. As I mentioned before timing my first serve took a bit of adjusting. Groundstrokes were easier as long as I kept racquethead speed up, which was really easy to do with the 300s.
Stability: Once again the foam fill plus the RS Section (I presume) helps here. Fairly solid in stock form. Not jarring off center and the large-ish sweetspot kept shots deep and consistent. I do think that I would add some weight in the hoop to up the stability just a tad.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
This is a great compromise of a frame. That is in no means a bad thing as it could do most things right for my game. I see it as a nearly perfect platform frame. For my game, I could add some weight in the hoop to increase the swing weight and some under the grip (no trap door lol). The feel and comfort was top notch. 2nd serves and backhand slices were standouts. I will comment on the grip shape as some may be more sensitive to it than others. It was weird at first but I got used to it eventually. I feel it helps on pronation on the serve. Backhands were largely unaffected. On forehands during pressure moments in matches, I did feel it creeping into my mind, just because it felt different. However, I could adjust in the long run. I will say that if you are sensitive to grip size, I think the grip shape could be more of a problem. I have different TF frames in my collection in L4 and the shape feels more pronounced. As far as the future goes: I will customize and play with strings. I think that finding the right stings for the frame can really make it shine. It hasn't dethroned my VC98 as of now, but is easily a solid frame to play around and tune with lead. Pretty excited to do so actually as it has great potential.
Lastly, a great big thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Technifibre for the opportunity to play test. Can't wait to see what others thought of this frame and the rest of the TFight lineup.
Tecnifibre TFight 315S Review
String and tension used for test:
X1 Biphase 1.34mm in the mains at 59 lbs and 1.25mm Razor Soft White at 56 lbs in the crosses
Tennis experience/background:
20+ years of tennis background including three years varsity. Didn't play much during college, but came back to the game pretty shortly after.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
4.0 all courter with an extreme eastern forehand and one handed backhand. My favorite shots are the inside out/in forehand and offensive backhand slice
Current racquet/string setups:
I rotate among the following three racquets with 1.30mm natural gut in the mains and 1.25mm Wilson Revolve with a prestretch in the crosses
Wilson Pro Staff RF97 V11&V12 - 59lbs/56lbs
2014 Pro Staff 90 - 51lbs/48lbs
Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 reissue - 48lbs/45lbs
All my racquets are between 330 SW and 335 SW with a balance of roughly 8-9HL and static weights between 12.7 ounces and 12.9 ounces.
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
10 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes:
First thing to say is my gosh what a crazy launch angle. As a Pro Staff user I'm very used to flatter trajectories, and whatever shape I put on the ball is very intentional. The 315S, particularly on the eastern forehand rally ball, gave me such a crazy shape that I thought I was back in my high school days hitting with a western forehand and APD GT. The crazy things I could do with all the free power and launch angle made me have to adjust my game, but the adjustment definitely made me more competitive. On rally balls I got tons of easy height on both the launch and the bounce off the ground. My opponents were pushed back a lot more than they were used to against me, and as a result they coughed up more errors and short balls. On offense I could aggressively attack tight windows and the ball would miraculously find the court even when I thought it was going way out just because of how much spin gets put on the ball. Both wings were easy to attack off of and defend off of. I never really felt vulnerable on either wing with the 315S because of how forgiving it is compared to my Pro Staffs. I've gotten more comfortable with flat balls too. It's a little more deliberate than with my Pro Staffs, but a flat swing with the 315S is venomous in pace and depth if you can control the racquet head angle through the swing. Compared to my Pro Staffs, the balance is a little less headlight but not in a cumbersome way. I feel like I get more raw RHS with my Pro Staffs, but I hit a heavier ball with the 315S ironically. The 315S also feels a little more fluttery through the forward part of the forehand swing compared to my Pro Staffs, but that's likely due to a combination of the grip shape and having over 1 ounces less weight.
-Serves:
If you're a fellow Pro Staff (or other classic racquet) user like me, the 315S feels like a rocket launcher. My serves were definitely faster on all three serves, and in particular the amount of action I could get on my slice serves was jawdropping for me. I still prefer my Pro Staffs for placement and feel, but with how fast the 315S cuts through the air, I don't really miss the Pro Staff feel on serve.
-Volleys:
The balance of the 315S and its stock weight make it pretty comfortable at net. It's never going to rival the touch and feel I get from my Pro Staffs, particularly the 85 and 90, but it has enough that I have some feedback on where the ball is headed. Forehand and backhand volleys are very stable, though I would like to beef up the swingweight to around 330 and raise the balance point a little closer to 8 HL because that's what I'm used to. In general it's a good volleying stick, but the Pro Staffs are just in a class of their own. That being said, the ground game does so much heavy lifting with this frame that when I do come up to net (at least 10 times a set if I can help it), I have made my opponents hit some weak balls that I can easily put away.
-Serve returns:
Free power, free power, and more free power. Off both wings I've hit more neutral balls back in play on the return of serve than I do on average with my Pro Staffs. I don't find myself slicing the ball back in play nearly enough because a flatter return lands behind the service line more often than not thanks to the huge sweet spot. As with the groundstrokes, I can get some pretty wild spinny balls back in play too and put my opponent on his heels if he's a little careless with his second serve placement.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
I know this isn't as powerful as my AeroPro Drive GT from high school, but it just feels like a rocket launcher. I can't imagine why anyone would want a racquet more powerful than this. So much on tap for free. Control gets docked a little bit but only because I still haven't found my comfort zone on dialing in the amount of spin I want. A big part of my game is varying my spin, and while I can go for flat or heavy topspin, I still don't have a feel for that in-between level of moderate spin. If I play with heavy spin, I feel like I can hit just about any spot on the court.
Top Spin/Slice-
Topspin is ludicrous. Launch angle plus spin makes the ball go over 3.5 feet above the net without trying, and you get rewarded with a ball with enough bite to make you feel like Rafa or Iga. Slice is equally absurd from a spin perspective, but I haven't been able to bludgeon my slice as offensively as I can with my RF97. I also haven't gotten the feel down yet on the run, though I think that's because I need a little more time to practice with this racquet.
Comfort-
I find this racquet very comfortable at all levels, though I will say that I like racquets that are more medium stiffness like the 315S. I want feedback from the racquet in the form of vibrations that tell me what the strings are doing. This racquet has a similar crisp comfort as the Pro Staffs, though not as direct in communication. The only place where this racquet feels like it could be discomfortable on me is when I'm in long service games multiple times over a match. It just swings so fast that the vibrations could add up. I'd try to alleviate this by adding a leather grip and a little more weight to the head.
Feel-
The 315S has a relatively clean and direct feedback which lets you feel more connected to the ball. It's not in the same league as a Pro Staff which is a true extension of your arm to the point that you'd think your sensory neurons extend to the racquet and stringbed, but the 315S does do a good enough job of telling you where on the racquet you made contact, how much weight the incoming ball has, and how you struck the ball. It's more vague, but it's still direct enough that I feel like I can adjust my strokes or contact between balls. On slice and volleys I feel like I can place the ball just about wherever I want, but with significantly more spin than I want which has been a little challenging at times.
Maneuverability-
I have absolutely no issues moving the racquet around, whether at net, on groundstrokes, on serve, or on return. 315 grams is pretty light for me, and the racquet is right at the lower bound of my wheelhouse on balance. While I would customize the racquet to make it a little more head light, I still feel like I have very heavy strokes and good reaction times with this racquet.
Stability-
I'm not getting pushed around very much with this racquet. It's no RF97, but even on offcenter shots without any customization I don't feel the racquet twist. That being said, at my level I don't face the same type of ball that 5.0s and up would face, so I would urge players better than me to take my opinion with a grain of salt and try the racquet themselves to see how it holds up at their level.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
This is my first Tecnifibre experience, and if it wasn't obvious, I was very impressed. I do think this is a racquet I could switch to, and I am having a lot of fun hitting with it. While I'm still young at heart enough to pretend I can keep using my Pro Staffs, I'll use them as long as I can, but when it's time to have a serious talk with myself, the 315S is going to be high on my list. This frame is definitely staying in my bag for the days where I just want tennis to be a little bit easier. Things that I wish they would change: give me a Wilson-style grip shape (though I have adjusted to this grip shape on the OHBH and eastern forehand without much issue) and tighten up the string spacing ever so slightly in the middle so that I have an easier time penetrating the court instead of spinning the ball up. Aside from that, I have absolutely no complaints. This playtest has been a true joy to be a part of. Thank you so very much to the TW team for choosing me in this playtest.
String and tension used for test:
X1 Biphase 1.34mm in the mains at 59 lbs and 1.25mm Razor Soft White at 56 lbs in the crosses
Tennis experience/background:
20+ years of tennis background including three years varsity. Didn't play much during college, but came back to the game pretty shortly after.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
4.0 all courter with an extreme eastern forehand and one handed backhand. My favorite shots are the inside out/in forehand and offensive backhand slice
Current racquet/string setups:
I rotate among the following three racquets with 1.30mm natural gut in the mains and 1.25mm Wilson Revolve with a prestretch in the crosses
Wilson Pro Staff RF97 V11&V12 - 59lbs/56lbs
2014 Pro Staff 90 - 51lbs/48lbs
Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 reissue - 48lbs/45lbs
All my racquets are between 330 SW and 335 SW with a balance of roughly 8-9HL and static weights between 12.7 ounces and 12.9 ounces.
How many hours did you play with the racquet?
10 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes:
First thing to say is my gosh what a crazy launch angle. As a Pro Staff user I'm very used to flatter trajectories, and whatever shape I put on the ball is very intentional. The 315S, particularly on the eastern forehand rally ball, gave me such a crazy shape that I thought I was back in my high school days hitting with a western forehand and APD GT. The crazy things I could do with all the free power and launch angle made me have to adjust my game, but the adjustment definitely made me more competitive. On rally balls I got tons of easy height on both the launch and the bounce off the ground. My opponents were pushed back a lot more than they were used to against me, and as a result they coughed up more errors and short balls. On offense I could aggressively attack tight windows and the ball would miraculously find the court even when I thought it was going way out just because of how much spin gets put on the ball. Both wings were easy to attack off of and defend off of. I never really felt vulnerable on either wing with the 315S because of how forgiving it is compared to my Pro Staffs. I've gotten more comfortable with flat balls too. It's a little more deliberate than with my Pro Staffs, but a flat swing with the 315S is venomous in pace and depth if you can control the racquet head angle through the swing. Compared to my Pro Staffs, the balance is a little less headlight but not in a cumbersome way. I feel like I get more raw RHS with my Pro Staffs, but I hit a heavier ball with the 315S ironically. The 315S also feels a little more fluttery through the forward part of the forehand swing compared to my Pro Staffs, but that's likely due to a combination of the grip shape and having over 1 ounces less weight.
-Serves:
If you're a fellow Pro Staff (or other classic racquet) user like me, the 315S feels like a rocket launcher. My serves were definitely faster on all three serves, and in particular the amount of action I could get on my slice serves was jawdropping for me. I still prefer my Pro Staffs for placement and feel, but with how fast the 315S cuts through the air, I don't really miss the Pro Staff feel on serve.
-Volleys:
The balance of the 315S and its stock weight make it pretty comfortable at net. It's never going to rival the touch and feel I get from my Pro Staffs, particularly the 85 and 90, but it has enough that I have some feedback on where the ball is headed. Forehand and backhand volleys are very stable, though I would like to beef up the swingweight to around 330 and raise the balance point a little closer to 8 HL because that's what I'm used to. In general it's a good volleying stick, but the Pro Staffs are just in a class of their own. That being said, the ground game does so much heavy lifting with this frame that when I do come up to net (at least 10 times a set if I can help it), I have made my opponents hit some weak balls that I can easily put away.
-Serve returns:
Free power, free power, and more free power. Off both wings I've hit more neutral balls back in play on the return of serve than I do on average with my Pro Staffs. I don't find myself slicing the ball back in play nearly enough because a flatter return lands behind the service line more often than not thanks to the huge sweet spot. As with the groundstrokes, I can get some pretty wild spinny balls back in play too and put my opponent on his heels if he's a little careless with his second serve placement.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
I know this isn't as powerful as my AeroPro Drive GT from high school, but it just feels like a rocket launcher. I can't imagine why anyone would want a racquet more powerful than this. So much on tap for free. Control gets docked a little bit but only because I still haven't found my comfort zone on dialing in the amount of spin I want. A big part of my game is varying my spin, and while I can go for flat or heavy topspin, I still don't have a feel for that in-between level of moderate spin. If I play with heavy spin, I feel like I can hit just about any spot on the court.
Top Spin/Slice-
Topspin is ludicrous. Launch angle plus spin makes the ball go over 3.5 feet above the net without trying, and you get rewarded with a ball with enough bite to make you feel like Rafa or Iga. Slice is equally absurd from a spin perspective, but I haven't been able to bludgeon my slice as offensively as I can with my RF97. I also haven't gotten the feel down yet on the run, though I think that's because I need a little more time to practice with this racquet.
Comfort-
I find this racquet very comfortable at all levels, though I will say that I like racquets that are more medium stiffness like the 315S. I want feedback from the racquet in the form of vibrations that tell me what the strings are doing. This racquet has a similar crisp comfort as the Pro Staffs, though not as direct in communication. The only place where this racquet feels like it could be discomfortable on me is when I'm in long service games multiple times over a match. It just swings so fast that the vibrations could add up. I'd try to alleviate this by adding a leather grip and a little more weight to the head.
Feel-
The 315S has a relatively clean and direct feedback which lets you feel more connected to the ball. It's not in the same league as a Pro Staff which is a true extension of your arm to the point that you'd think your sensory neurons extend to the racquet and stringbed, but the 315S does do a good enough job of telling you where on the racquet you made contact, how much weight the incoming ball has, and how you struck the ball. It's more vague, but it's still direct enough that I feel like I can adjust my strokes or contact between balls. On slice and volleys I feel like I can place the ball just about wherever I want, but with significantly more spin than I want which has been a little challenging at times.
Maneuverability-
I have absolutely no issues moving the racquet around, whether at net, on groundstrokes, on serve, or on return. 315 grams is pretty light for me, and the racquet is right at the lower bound of my wheelhouse on balance. While I would customize the racquet to make it a little more head light, I still feel like I have very heavy strokes and good reaction times with this racquet.
Stability-
I'm not getting pushed around very much with this racquet. It's no RF97, but even on offcenter shots without any customization I don't feel the racquet twist. That being said, at my level I don't face the same type of ball that 5.0s and up would face, so I would urge players better than me to take my opinion with a grain of salt and try the racquet themselves to see how it holds up at their level.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
This is my first Tecnifibre experience, and if it wasn't obvious, I was very impressed. I do think this is a racquet I could switch to, and I am having a lot of fun hitting with it. While I'm still young at heart enough to pretend I can keep using my Pro Staffs, I'll use them as long as I can, but when it's time to have a serious talk with myself, the 315S is going to be high on my list. This frame is definitely staying in my bag for the days where I just want tennis to be a little bit easier. Things that I wish they would change: give me a Wilson-style grip shape (though I have adjusted to this grip shape on the OHBH and eastern forehand without much issue) and tighten up the string spacing ever so slightly in the middle so that I have an easier time penetrating the court instead of spinning the ball up. Aside from that, I have absolutely no complaints. This playtest has been a true joy to be a part of. Thank you so very much to the TW team for choosing me in this playtest.
Downtheline1
Rookie
Technifibre TFight 315S Racquet Review
First of all, a big thank you to Technifibre and Tennis Warehouse for allowing me to participate in this playtest.
String and tension used: Luxilon Big Banger Rough 16 gauge at 56 lbs.
Tennis Experience/Background: Lifelong tennis player who played with a wood racquet back in the day, so this racquet feels like cheating. Former 5.0, now playing at a 4.5 level due to age. (Years ago (many) was all-state in high school. Not good enough though to get a roster spot at my beloved Georgia Bulldogs although I did enjoy going to practice.)
Playing style: Aggressive all court player. Likes to hit hard serves and forehands; drop shots, and angles. Semi-western grip on the forehand. One handed backhand-mostly hard slice or flat. Likes to be at net. Will serve and volley.
Current racquet/set up: RF 97, Head Prestige Classic, 6.1 95, N Code Pro Staff 90, Prince Response 97.
Hours played: 8 (doubles)
Comments on racquet performance:
Groundstrokes: The 315S is very easy to hit off both sides given the weight, balance, and launch angle. Forehands and backhands are a breeze. The racquet allows you to hit your strokes that you want. It is very good on offense, and light enough to be very good on defense as well.
Serves: Easy to hit first serves (flat, slice, or topspin) making for a high first serve percentage. You can hit hard first serves (just not bombs like with the RF97). Second serves are awesome with this racquet given the spin. You can slide it way out wide on the deuce court. Twist serves had nice movement bouncing high.
Volleys: Again, very easy given the head light balance and 98 head. Solid on both forehand and backhand drive volleys. It performs very well on reaction volleys, angle volleys, and drop volleys.
Serve returns: Very good overall on returns off both wings. Could go for it or chip it back with no problem. Was able to make returns when stretched out wide given the set up. May need weight added to deal with big servers.
Power/Control: The power is there. Very generous sweet spot. Predictable string bed with no hot spots. You can hit hard with this racquet. May need to add weight to get a heavier ball and help with timing on occasion (at least for me). Control is very good both generally and for a 16x19 pattern with regard to location, height and depth.
Topspin/Slice: It is easy to drive the ball hitting it flat, or hitting big looping topspin deep or to create an angle. Hitting a hard BH slice is no problem; the slice does not float, and you can keep it low.
Comfort: This racquet is very comfortable and easy to play with. I had no issues whatsoever. That it is foam filled is a plus. The racquet is plush and not at all mushy.
Feel: The racquet has very good feel thanks to the head light balance. It feels like a real old school racquet. You can hit drop shots, angles, and go for your spots. It did not feel dampened or muted. I felt connected to the ball.
Maneuverability: This racquet is very maneuverable. It is easy to get into position on both groundstrokes and volleys. Very good on defense when stretched out wide.
Stability: The racquet is stable. No vibration on slightly off center hits. May benefit from some added weight between 10 and 2, but that is a personal choice.
Overall Comments: Wow! My first time playing with a Technifibre racquet, and I am very impressed with the playability of this racquet. I think that many players would really enjoy playing with this racquet as it is very easy to use, and you can play very good tennis with it at the same time. I may switch to it.
Vicious49
Legend
Tecnifibre T-Fight 300 Racquet Review
String and Tension Used for Testing:
Playing Style: I employ an Eastern forehand grip with a long backswing, leaning towards a classic swing that drives through the ball. My backhand is one-handed. I primarily play as a counterpuncher or baseliner, aiming to utilize angles to maneuver my opponents across the court.
Current Racquet/String Setups: As a racquet enthusiast, I rotate between many setups. Prior to testing this frame, I primarily used the Yonex Percept 100D and the Babolat Pure Aero 98 (PA98). My string preference leans toward various poly setups at 45 lbs, though I recently transitioned to the Tecnifibre 305S as my primary racquet.
Time Spent with the Racquet: Approximately 15–20 hours.
Groundstrokes: Initially, the racquet felt like a "rocket launcher." My first experience with the frame was during a demo, where the frame was underspec and lacked power, aligning better with my game. However, the playtest frame required adjustments to my swing, incorporating more shape, net clearance, and spin. It performed adequately with both forehand and one-handed backhand strokes but didn’t stand out. On less energetic days, it did provide easier depth with less effort.
Serves: While average in placement, the racquet delivered impressive power on serves. Players who prioritize power over precision may find this racquet highly suitable.
Volleys: Volleys are the weakest aspect of my game, so results here should be taken lightly. The racquet displayed no issues in stability or maneuverability at the net. As with other frames, my volleying results were inconsistent, with occasional excellent results mixed in.
Serve Returns: When properly timed, the racquet allowed for aggressive returns. Even defensive blocks benefited from the frame’s stability, enabling deep returns. No major concerns here.
Power: The T-Fight 300 is a moderately powerful frame, offering more power than the Yonex Percept 100D but less than the Babolat Pure Aero. Players with slower swings (3.0–3.5 levels) looking for added power will appreciate this racquet. However, my preference for lower-powered frames means this didn’t align with my playing style.
Control: The racquet provides respectable control but does not surpass similar frames like the Head Speed MP, Radical MP, or Babolat Pure Aero.
Spin and Slice: With its 16x19 string pattern and 100-square-inch head size, the frame generates solid spin, though it falls short of spin-heavy models like the Pure Aero or Dunlop SX 300. Slices were serviceable.
Comfort: The racquet felt solid, without jarring impacts. However, I experienced some tennis elbow during the playtest, possibly linked to this frame. Although I concurrently tested the Tecnifibre 305S and Head GT98, I’ve ruled out the GT98 as the source of discomfort. I don't believe it was the 305S either but also don't want to completely rule it out.
Feel: The frame delivers a firm, solid feel—neither soft/plush like the Yonex Percept or Wilson Pro Staff series, nor harsh/hollow like older Babolats. The foam-filled construction likely contributes to its balanced feel, though it feels stiffer than the Tecnifibre 305S.
Maneuverability: Maneuverability varied based on swingweight. My demo frame (315 SW) felt more agile, especially on low, short balls, compared to the playtest frame (323 SW). From the baseline, maneuverability was consistent and comparable to the Wilson Blade 100.
Stability: The frame excels in stability, even against heavy hitters. No complaints in this department.
General comments on overall performance: While this frame didn’t ultimately suit my preferences, it’s important to note that my playstyle involves an Eastern forehand grip and flatter strokes, favoring lower-powered frames in the 97–98 square inch range. This preference explains why the Tecnifibre 305S felt like a perfect fit, whereas the T-Fight 300 required more adjustments.
Notably, during my final session, the frame’s power proved beneficial. Having been fatigued from fasting and an unexpected doubles match, the T-Fight 300 helped deliver easy depth and returns, compensating for my slower racquet head speed.
Final Thoughts: This frame’s performance is highly dependent on its specifications. Underspec models may feel underpowered, while overspec versions could be cumbersome. Additionally, players sensitive to grip shapes should note the distinctive Tecnifibre grip, which has received mixed feedback.
This racquet is well-suited for 3.0–3.5 players developing their strokes and seeking easy depth, power, and forgiveness on off-center hits.
Additional Spec/Setup Notes: My playtest frame matched my 305S setup with a swingweight of 323, allowing direct comparison.
Thank you TW and staff for the playtest opportunity.
String and Tension Used for Testing:
- Poly Tour Spin crossed with Poly Tour Pro at 48 lbs
- Solinco Outlast at 48 lbs
Playing Style: I employ an Eastern forehand grip with a long backswing, leaning towards a classic swing that drives through the ball. My backhand is one-handed. I primarily play as a counterpuncher or baseliner, aiming to utilize angles to maneuver my opponents across the court.
Current Racquet/String Setups: As a racquet enthusiast, I rotate between many setups. Prior to testing this frame, I primarily used the Yonex Percept 100D and the Babolat Pure Aero 98 (PA98). My string preference leans toward various poly setups at 45 lbs, though I recently transitioned to the Tecnifibre 305S as my primary racquet.
Time Spent with the Racquet: Approximately 15–20 hours.
Groundstrokes: Initially, the racquet felt like a "rocket launcher." My first experience with the frame was during a demo, where the frame was underspec and lacked power, aligning better with my game. However, the playtest frame required adjustments to my swing, incorporating more shape, net clearance, and spin. It performed adequately with both forehand and one-handed backhand strokes but didn’t stand out. On less energetic days, it did provide easier depth with less effort.
Serves: While average in placement, the racquet delivered impressive power on serves. Players who prioritize power over precision may find this racquet highly suitable.
Volleys: Volleys are the weakest aspect of my game, so results here should be taken lightly. The racquet displayed no issues in stability or maneuverability at the net. As with other frames, my volleying results were inconsistent, with occasional excellent results mixed in.
Serve Returns: When properly timed, the racquet allowed for aggressive returns. Even defensive blocks benefited from the frame’s stability, enabling deep returns. No major concerns here.
Power: The T-Fight 300 is a moderately powerful frame, offering more power than the Yonex Percept 100D but less than the Babolat Pure Aero. Players with slower swings (3.0–3.5 levels) looking for added power will appreciate this racquet. However, my preference for lower-powered frames means this didn’t align with my playing style.
Control: The racquet provides respectable control but does not surpass similar frames like the Head Speed MP, Radical MP, or Babolat Pure Aero.
Spin and Slice: With its 16x19 string pattern and 100-square-inch head size, the frame generates solid spin, though it falls short of spin-heavy models like the Pure Aero or Dunlop SX 300. Slices were serviceable.
Comfort: The racquet felt solid, without jarring impacts. However, I experienced some tennis elbow during the playtest, possibly linked to this frame. Although I concurrently tested the Tecnifibre 305S and Head GT98, I’ve ruled out the GT98 as the source of discomfort. I don't believe it was the 305S either but also don't want to completely rule it out.
Feel: The frame delivers a firm, solid feel—neither soft/plush like the Yonex Percept or Wilson Pro Staff series, nor harsh/hollow like older Babolats. The foam-filled construction likely contributes to its balanced feel, though it feels stiffer than the Tecnifibre 305S.
Maneuverability: Maneuverability varied based on swingweight. My demo frame (315 SW) felt more agile, especially on low, short balls, compared to the playtest frame (323 SW). From the baseline, maneuverability was consistent and comparable to the Wilson Blade 100.
Stability: The frame excels in stability, even against heavy hitters. No complaints in this department.
General comments on overall performance: While this frame didn’t ultimately suit my preferences, it’s important to note that my playstyle involves an Eastern forehand grip and flatter strokes, favoring lower-powered frames in the 97–98 square inch range. This preference explains why the Tecnifibre 305S felt like a perfect fit, whereas the T-Fight 300 required more adjustments.
Notably, during my final session, the frame’s power proved beneficial. Having been fatigued from fasting and an unexpected doubles match, the T-Fight 300 helped deliver easy depth and returns, compensating for my slower racquet head speed.
Final Thoughts: This frame’s performance is highly dependent on its specifications. Underspec models may feel underpowered, while overspec versions could be cumbersome. Additionally, players sensitive to grip shapes should note the distinctive Tecnifibre grip, which has received mixed feedback.
This racquet is well-suited for 3.0–3.5 players developing their strokes and seeking easy depth, power, and forgiveness on off-center hits.
Additional Spec/Setup Notes: My playtest frame matched my 305S setup with a swingweight of 323, allowing direct comparison.
Thank you TW and staff for the playtest opportunity.
Just a footnote that I did get permission to extend to 3/20, per my email request (thank you Brittany!).
thenewbig3
Semi-Pro
adchris2
Rookie
Tecnifibre TFight 300 2025 review. First and foremost, a huge thank you to Tennis Warehouse for the opportunity to be a part of this racquet playtest. This was a really cool experience and I am very grateful to y'all!
PART 1/2
String and tension used for test:
Mains: Solinco Mach-10 1.25, 47 lbs.
Crosses: Solinco Hyper-G Round 1.25, 47 lbs.
(Same setup as in my Pure Drive, for direct comparison)
Tennis experience/background:
NTRP 4.0 C. I have been playing tennis for over 15 years. It started out as biking to the local courts with my dad when I was littler for some pick-up tennis, which grew my love for the sport. I played tennis throughout middle school and high school, although less in college. After college I picked it back up and have been playing USTA team leagues the past several years.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I would describe myself as an "all-court player". I play about 50/50 doubles and singles. I am very comfortable at the net and volleying is a big part of my game. I don't hit the cover off the ball, as they say, but I am pretty even off both sides and tend to hit high-margin topspin with good pace and spin on FH and BH. This style gives me good margin for error and can trouble my opponent with the ball kicking up off the court. I am quick around the court and rely on my speed and net game to finish points.
Current racquet/string setups:
Babolat Pure Drive (2021) with about 6.5g of lead added at the buttcap (total weight a little over 330g including tourna grip). Lately I've been using a full bed of Solinco Hyper-G 1.20 at 47 lbs., but right now it's strung up with Mach-10/HGR 1.25/1.25 at 47 lbs., since I am also on the Mach-10 playtest. I do not typically use a dampener.
How many hours did you play with the racquet:
Approximately 12-13 hours. The package arrived a little late (Feb 26) due to winter weather delays in my part of the east coast, so this affected the amount of time I was able to spend on court with it, but I would say I had plenty of time to get acquainted with the frame and learn its ins and outs.
~ Let me preface the following items by first listing the different spec modifications I tested with this frame ~
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes:
If I could choose one word to describe groundstrokes with this frame, it would be "predictable". I felt like I was able to produce a consistent ball on both wings with this frame from just about any position on court, whether in stock form or with added mass. I would attribute this to the consistent string bed (maybe isoflex technology actually does what it claims to do). The racquet is quick through the air, and allows for easy racquet head speed, and I would go far as to say I found this racquet to swing slightly quicker through the air than my pure drive. However, this did not necessarily result in a heavier or more driving ball on the other side of the net. It felt like there was less mass behind the ball with this racquet compared to my babolat, despite being the same weight. Typically, I felt I needed to swing harder to get the same hurt on the ball. Groundstrokes on both wings were nevertheless easy to generate heavy topspin with, and I could mix in flatter driving balls as well. It was rare that flatter groundstrokes would fly on me, thanks to the lower launch angle off the stringbed. I felt I had good control in that regard. My biggest gripe with the overall hitting experience of the TFight 300 is that the sweet spot sits rather low in the hoop, which took some major acclimation and/or adjustment. The power decrease moving upward in the hoop from the sweet spot was stark, and this was most noticeable on running forehands/backhands in particular, as my ball would sit right at the service line begging to be punished. Adding weight in the upper hoop really did not solve this issue unfortunately, although I was hoping this could move the sweet spot up a smidge higher. I did not mess around further with adding weight to the hoop, as I wanted to keep the swingweight in a zone I could manage over 2+ hours of consistent hitting. On a closing note regarding groundstrokes, this is a fun racquet to hit around with and be aggressive. This is not necessarily the frame that will help a defensive style player out the most. There are many other options better for that type of player. It encourages you to step into the court and take the ball early, which is when this racquet plays at its best.
-Serves:
All in all, serving was enjoyable with this TFight 300. The balance, even in stock form, was easy to whip overhead and adding additional mass further improved (albeit very minimally) the penetration and weight of serve. The lack of "bludgeoning force" that I felt on groundstrokes at times with this racquet was less noticeable on serve. The tip of the frame seemed to transition efficiently from the loaded position through contact and the follow-through, allowing for fluid serving with good power. Flat serve felt particularly good with this frame, and I was able to hone a surprising amount of control on the flat serve placement. Kick serve and slice serves were adequate, but were not standout points. I could whip effectively through kick serves and get good work on slice serves out wide to the deuce side, and the frame behaved as I wanted it to in this regard.
-Volleys:
For me, volleys were the single brightest aspect of using this frame. Touch and feel with the TFight 300 at net were great. I thought the string spacing (relatively tight for a 100" 16x19) lent itself well to volleying and I was able to place the ball where I wanted on the other side of the net. The launch angle was tame, which allowed for a controlled response when venturing forward. Whether in stock form or with added mass, the racquet felt very consistent on both FH and BH punch and slice volleys. Drop volleys were also relatively easy with this frame. There were maybe one or two occasions where the racquet face felt unstable on the BH volley side, but these instances were few and far between, mostly when I was put in an awkward position at net during doubles. Nonetheless, first volleys taken near the service line and more aggressive finishing volleys closer to the net were predictable thanks to the consistent, tame stringbed.
-Serve returns:
While volleys were decidedly the most enjoyable aspect of playing with this frame, for me serve returns were perhaps the least enjoyable. This is the shot where the low-sitting sweet spot and racquet face instability were most noticeable. Many of the buddies I hit with on a regular basis serve pretty big, and this frame felt rather insignificant when trying to take a cut at returns. Blocking the return back with a slice worked best for me, as it was easier to get the ball deep this way. When I did manage to get the ball right in the sweet spot on topspin returns, on many occasions my ball would just float back over the net and land somewhere around the service line begging to be put away for a winner from my opponent. I attribute this partly to where the sweet spot sits on the stringbed, slightly below the midway point. This makes it difficult to get maximum leverage on the return, and I was punished when making contact higher up in the hoop due to the drop in power.
PART 1/2
String and tension used for test:
Mains: Solinco Mach-10 1.25, 47 lbs.
Crosses: Solinco Hyper-G Round 1.25, 47 lbs.
(Same setup as in my Pure Drive, for direct comparison)
Tennis experience/background:
NTRP 4.0 C. I have been playing tennis for over 15 years. It started out as biking to the local courts with my dad when I was littler for some pick-up tennis, which grew my love for the sport. I played tennis throughout middle school and high school, although less in college. After college I picked it back up and have been playing USTA team leagues the past several years.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I would describe myself as an "all-court player". I play about 50/50 doubles and singles. I am very comfortable at the net and volleying is a big part of my game. I don't hit the cover off the ball, as they say, but I am pretty even off both sides and tend to hit high-margin topspin with good pace and spin on FH and BH. This style gives me good margin for error and can trouble my opponent with the ball kicking up off the court. I am quick around the court and rely on my speed and net game to finish points.
Current racquet/string setups:
Babolat Pure Drive (2021) with about 6.5g of lead added at the buttcap (total weight a little over 330g including tourna grip). Lately I've been using a full bed of Solinco Hyper-G 1.20 at 47 lbs., but right now it's strung up with Mach-10/HGR 1.25/1.25 at 47 lbs., since I am also on the Mach-10 playtest. I do not typically use a dampener.
How many hours did you play with the racquet:
Approximately 12-13 hours. The package arrived a little late (Feb 26) due to winter weather delays in my part of the east coast, so this affected the amount of time I was able to spend on court with it, but I would say I had plenty of time to get acquainted with the frame and learn its ins and outs.
~ Let me preface the following items by first listing the different spec modifications I tested with this frame ~
- Stock form:
- Unstrung: 302g, 32cm balance
- Strung: 325g strung, including tourna grip and thin rubber band dampener
- Mod 1: 1g lead added between 11&1 in the hoop, plus 6g lead added to handle, bringing total mass up to 332g including tourna grip and rubber band dampener
- Mod 2: 7g lead added at the buttcap, bringing total mass to 332g
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes:
If I could choose one word to describe groundstrokes with this frame, it would be "predictable". I felt like I was able to produce a consistent ball on both wings with this frame from just about any position on court, whether in stock form or with added mass. I would attribute this to the consistent string bed (maybe isoflex technology actually does what it claims to do). The racquet is quick through the air, and allows for easy racquet head speed, and I would go far as to say I found this racquet to swing slightly quicker through the air than my pure drive. However, this did not necessarily result in a heavier or more driving ball on the other side of the net. It felt like there was less mass behind the ball with this racquet compared to my babolat, despite being the same weight. Typically, I felt I needed to swing harder to get the same hurt on the ball. Groundstrokes on both wings were nevertheless easy to generate heavy topspin with, and I could mix in flatter driving balls as well. It was rare that flatter groundstrokes would fly on me, thanks to the lower launch angle off the stringbed. I felt I had good control in that regard. My biggest gripe with the overall hitting experience of the TFight 300 is that the sweet spot sits rather low in the hoop, which took some major acclimation and/or adjustment. The power decrease moving upward in the hoop from the sweet spot was stark, and this was most noticeable on running forehands/backhands in particular, as my ball would sit right at the service line begging to be punished. Adding weight in the upper hoop really did not solve this issue unfortunately, although I was hoping this could move the sweet spot up a smidge higher. I did not mess around further with adding weight to the hoop, as I wanted to keep the swingweight in a zone I could manage over 2+ hours of consistent hitting. On a closing note regarding groundstrokes, this is a fun racquet to hit around with and be aggressive. This is not necessarily the frame that will help a defensive style player out the most. There are many other options better for that type of player. It encourages you to step into the court and take the ball early, which is when this racquet plays at its best.
-Serves:
All in all, serving was enjoyable with this TFight 300. The balance, even in stock form, was easy to whip overhead and adding additional mass further improved (albeit very minimally) the penetration and weight of serve. The lack of "bludgeoning force" that I felt on groundstrokes at times with this racquet was less noticeable on serve. The tip of the frame seemed to transition efficiently from the loaded position through contact and the follow-through, allowing for fluid serving with good power. Flat serve felt particularly good with this frame, and I was able to hone a surprising amount of control on the flat serve placement. Kick serve and slice serves were adequate, but were not standout points. I could whip effectively through kick serves and get good work on slice serves out wide to the deuce side, and the frame behaved as I wanted it to in this regard.
-Volleys:
For me, volleys were the single brightest aspect of using this frame. Touch and feel with the TFight 300 at net were great. I thought the string spacing (relatively tight for a 100" 16x19) lent itself well to volleying and I was able to place the ball where I wanted on the other side of the net. The launch angle was tame, which allowed for a controlled response when venturing forward. Whether in stock form or with added mass, the racquet felt very consistent on both FH and BH punch and slice volleys. Drop volleys were also relatively easy with this frame. There were maybe one or two occasions where the racquet face felt unstable on the BH volley side, but these instances were few and far between, mostly when I was put in an awkward position at net during doubles. Nonetheless, first volleys taken near the service line and more aggressive finishing volleys closer to the net were predictable thanks to the consistent, tame stringbed.
-Serve returns:
While volleys were decidedly the most enjoyable aspect of playing with this frame, for me serve returns were perhaps the least enjoyable. This is the shot where the low-sitting sweet spot and racquet face instability were most noticeable. Many of the buddies I hit with on a regular basis serve pretty big, and this frame felt rather insignificant when trying to take a cut at returns. Blocking the return back with a slice worked best for me, as it was easier to get the ball deep this way. When I did manage to get the ball right in the sweet spot on topspin returns, on many occasions my ball would just float back over the net and land somewhere around the service line begging to be put away for a winner from my opponent. I attribute this partly to where the sweet spot sits on the stringbed, slightly below the midway point. This makes it difficult to get maximum leverage on the return, and I was punished when making contact higher up in the hoop due to the drop in power.
adchris2
Rookie
PART 2/2
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control:
This frame does not lean heavily one way or the other in terms of power and control, but rather split fairly 50/50. Like I have mentioned previously, the string spacing is relatively tight/closed for a 16x19 in a 100" racquet face. The stiffness of the beam and head size certainly lend themselves to creating some power for free, which accompany the easy-swinging headlight balance of this racquet. One thing I can say is that there really were never any instances where I was craving more control from this frame. I felt confident swinging for lines believing that I could trust the directional and depth control of the frame. The consistency from the stringbed was more than acceptable and it was easy to find a consistent rally ball pace with the frame. On the contrary, there were several instances where I craved more putaway power from this frame. Yes, I was able to slap some winners, but I felt like my timing had to be absolutely perfect and input more effort than I am accustomed to in order to pull off those shots. Catching the ball slightly higher in the hoop really hampered power with this one, and this happened more often than I would have liked, as the sweet spot sits rather low.
Top Spin/Slice:
Topspin, as I mentioned in the groundstrokes segment, was available in spades. The string bed of the TFight 300 is relatively tight for a 100" 16x19, but the geometry of the beam and easy-to-generate racquet head speed allowed me to get some serious action on the ball. It helps that I had a shaped poly (Solinco Mach-10) strung in the frame, but nevertheless even with a round poly I am confident the result would have been very positive in this regard. This isn't the type of racquet that will "give" you tons of spin for free (like a Vcore or Pure Aero perhaps), but it responds very well to whatever you throw at it. On defensive shots in which I wanted to impart high rpm's on a looping shot to get back into the point, I was able to do just that and never worried about whether or not the racquet would respond as expected.
Slices with the 300 felt very predictable and I would argue this is another strong point of the frame. The tighter 16x19 string bed allowed me to take charge of my slices and mix up the placement of both FH and BH slices. The launch angle on this shot was relatively low and allowed me to create a penetrating, tightly spun slice that was very effective against opponents. However, surprisingly, drop shots were not quite as easy to produce effectively.
Comfort:
This category is a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the first couple outings, this frame felt pretty comfortable and I felt like the foam inside and mid range RA rating were pretty easy on my body. However, after the past few outings with this frame, I might have to eat my words. My wrists have been hurting more here recently than they have in quite a while. I do not believe that's just a coincidence. My pure drive really does not bother my wrists, which may be surprising to some, but it's actually a pretty pleasant frame for me to play with because it has just enough dampening and is rather stable. For some reason the TFight 300 has really flared up my tendinitis, perhaps as a result of very little technology implemented into the frame in the way of dampening. I would be very curious to hear what others have to say about comfort who have hit this frame. It's a shame for me really because it's been an enjoyable racquet to use.
Feel:
I was expecting the racquet to feel slightly more pillowy than it did. I can definitely tell there is foam inside (does not feel hollow, like a babolat per se), but the foam definitely does not magically soften the feel of the racquet kind of like I was expecting. Definitely not muted--I can still feel pretty much everything that's happening on the stringbed of the racquet. The TFight 300 pockets decently as well, but produces a more "direct" feel and response rather than an overly pocketing feeling. Comparing to the 2021 pure drive, the babolat definitely delivers a greater pocketing sensation and a mixture of crisp and muted notes, whereas the TF is more direct and monotone/vanilla in feel.
Maneuverability:
I never once really thought to myself that this frame was difficult to get around. Whether that be on serves, volleys, forehands, backhands, you name it. Especially on stock form, the TFight 300 is very fast through the air and it is quite automatic to bring the tip of the frame rapidly through contact. I never had any issue with fatiguing prematurely at the net or baseline as a result of maneuverability. I'm sure the sub-320 swingweight (stock form) helped in this department. I did make modification to the frame after several outings in stock form, to increase the mass behind the ball and help alleviate some of the lack-of-depth issues I was experiencing as a result of the sweet spot sitting low in the hoop. Obviously adding swingweight typically means slightly more effort will be required to generate the same racquet head speed on groundstrokes/serves or taking the racquet face from point A to point B on volleys, but I never found the frame to be cumbersome in any form.
Stability:
This probably has to be one of the bigger weaknesses of the TFight 300 for me. I thought overall the stability of this frame was average for its weight class, but not elite. It is not as stable as the pure drive, which has an identical total mass and balance and is just crazy stable. I felt if I was late with my timing or footwork and caught the ball slightly late or outside the sweet spot, the result was twisting of the racquet face and a slow sitter at the service line wanting to be punished. That said, the stability of the TFight 300 is more than good enough for the majority of players (and intended audience) in the majority of match situations.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Additional comments that I would like to make include the following.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control:
This frame does not lean heavily one way or the other in terms of power and control, but rather split fairly 50/50. Like I have mentioned previously, the string spacing is relatively tight/closed for a 16x19 in a 100" racquet face. The stiffness of the beam and head size certainly lend themselves to creating some power for free, which accompany the easy-swinging headlight balance of this racquet. One thing I can say is that there really were never any instances where I was craving more control from this frame. I felt confident swinging for lines believing that I could trust the directional and depth control of the frame. The consistency from the stringbed was more than acceptable and it was easy to find a consistent rally ball pace with the frame. On the contrary, there were several instances where I craved more putaway power from this frame. Yes, I was able to slap some winners, but I felt like my timing had to be absolutely perfect and input more effort than I am accustomed to in order to pull off those shots. Catching the ball slightly higher in the hoop really hampered power with this one, and this happened more often than I would have liked, as the sweet spot sits rather low.
Top Spin/Slice:
Topspin, as I mentioned in the groundstrokes segment, was available in spades. The string bed of the TFight 300 is relatively tight for a 100" 16x19, but the geometry of the beam and easy-to-generate racquet head speed allowed me to get some serious action on the ball. It helps that I had a shaped poly (Solinco Mach-10) strung in the frame, but nevertheless even with a round poly I am confident the result would have been very positive in this regard. This isn't the type of racquet that will "give" you tons of spin for free (like a Vcore or Pure Aero perhaps), but it responds very well to whatever you throw at it. On defensive shots in which I wanted to impart high rpm's on a looping shot to get back into the point, I was able to do just that and never worried about whether or not the racquet would respond as expected.
Slices with the 300 felt very predictable and I would argue this is another strong point of the frame. The tighter 16x19 string bed allowed me to take charge of my slices and mix up the placement of both FH and BH slices. The launch angle on this shot was relatively low and allowed me to create a penetrating, tightly spun slice that was very effective against opponents. However, surprisingly, drop shots were not quite as easy to produce effectively.
Comfort:
This category is a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the first couple outings, this frame felt pretty comfortable and I felt like the foam inside and mid range RA rating were pretty easy on my body. However, after the past few outings with this frame, I might have to eat my words. My wrists have been hurting more here recently than they have in quite a while. I do not believe that's just a coincidence. My pure drive really does not bother my wrists, which may be surprising to some, but it's actually a pretty pleasant frame for me to play with because it has just enough dampening and is rather stable. For some reason the TFight 300 has really flared up my tendinitis, perhaps as a result of very little technology implemented into the frame in the way of dampening. I would be very curious to hear what others have to say about comfort who have hit this frame. It's a shame for me really because it's been an enjoyable racquet to use.
Feel:
I was expecting the racquet to feel slightly more pillowy than it did. I can definitely tell there is foam inside (does not feel hollow, like a babolat per se), but the foam definitely does not magically soften the feel of the racquet kind of like I was expecting. Definitely not muted--I can still feel pretty much everything that's happening on the stringbed of the racquet. The TFight 300 pockets decently as well, but produces a more "direct" feel and response rather than an overly pocketing feeling. Comparing to the 2021 pure drive, the babolat definitely delivers a greater pocketing sensation and a mixture of crisp and muted notes, whereas the TF is more direct and monotone/vanilla in feel.
Maneuverability:
I never once really thought to myself that this frame was difficult to get around. Whether that be on serves, volleys, forehands, backhands, you name it. Especially on stock form, the TFight 300 is very fast through the air and it is quite automatic to bring the tip of the frame rapidly through contact. I never had any issue with fatiguing prematurely at the net or baseline as a result of maneuverability. I'm sure the sub-320 swingweight (stock form) helped in this department. I did make modification to the frame after several outings in stock form, to increase the mass behind the ball and help alleviate some of the lack-of-depth issues I was experiencing as a result of the sweet spot sitting low in the hoop. Obviously adding swingweight typically means slightly more effort will be required to generate the same racquet head speed on groundstrokes/serves or taking the racquet face from point A to point B on volleys, but I never found the frame to be cumbersome in any form.
Stability:
This probably has to be one of the bigger weaknesses of the TFight 300 for me. I thought overall the stability of this frame was average for its weight class, but not elite. It is not as stable as the pure drive, which has an identical total mass and balance and is just crazy stable. I felt if I was late with my timing or footwork and caught the ball slightly late or outside the sweet spot, the result was twisting of the racquet face and a slow sitter at the service line wanting to be punished. That said, the stability of the TFight 300 is more than good enough for the majority of players (and intended audience) in the majority of match situations.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Additional comments that I would like to make include the following.
- The cosmetic of this frame is simply great. The paint quality feels premium (maybe not quite Yonex quality, but getting there), and the gloss white looks & feels stunning in hand.
- The grip shape is not bad! I actually really like it. I think the shape almost makes it easier to relax/loosen my grip and let my wrist just flow a little easier through the shot. It's all personal preference, but I was pleasantly surprised.
- This is not anything related to functionality, but dang I have to admit this frame produced the loudest "ping... ping..." sound upon contact of any racquet I've ever hit with. I was getting bothered by it and eventually added a rubber band in lieu of a vibration dampener to filter out the harsh sound just a smidge. I found that the rubber band took away most of the noise, but still allowed me to feel my shots. Regular dampeners mute the response too much for my liking, so the rubber band was the right compromise.
- Lastly, thank you @TW Staff for your generosity and it has been a privilege to be part of this playtest
Last edited:
adchris2
Rookie
Foam inside babolat frames would be a game changer
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Haha, what if she said "No", would you not post a review?It better be extra good... You have set expectations sky high.
Just kidding... Or am I?
Make it 50 words or fewer, or 10 or fewer for true legendary status.
thenewbig3
Semi-Pro
When Trip is asked for recommend a basic string for X racket by a beginner he typically gives a 7 paragraph 2500 word essay with 17 different options even considering latitude and longitude in his calculations. I would bet his will be the longest opinion/review ever - even beyond what @adchris2 (great job @adchris2)
Meanwhile @Trip is like...
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I did the veneer banding (birch) mod today and the grip feels much rounder. I’m looking forward to playing with them this week to see if the change is noticeable. I hope it is. Grip changes are not the smoothest with the stock Tec grip.
The vaneer banding mod was very easy. It added 1.8g of weight to the handle, and since I already had lead on the handle, I just took some of it off to account for the vaneer.
TwinCinema
Professional
In addition to rounding off the shape of the grip (and adding 2g of weight), would you say this increases the size just a bit - maybe by half? I’d think adding to bevels 3 and 7 would turn an L3 into like an L3.5 or even 4.
EggSalad
Hall of Fame
I would think technically it would i crease the grip size. 3.5 might be accurate.
I’ve played with L4 and L3, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Hence, the challenge haha!When Trip is asked for recommend a basic string for X racket by a beginner he typically gives a 7 paragraph 2500 word essay with 17 different options even considering latitude and longitude in his calculations. I would bet his will be the longest opinion/review ever - even beyond what @adchris2 (great job @adchris2)
Meanwhile @Trip is like...
Vicious49
Legend
I counted a total of 10 reviews between the 4 frames (plus Trips upcoming review. I guess there were only 2-3 of each frame sent out for testing (which is still a lot when consider how much each frame costs). Maybe that's the norm as I've never counted before. I was just curious since I was going through all the reviews and was expecting to see more.
305S Session #5, played on Saturday 3/15 for 3 hours on medium-slow outdoor hard court in 55-60 degree weather, bringing total play time to ~8 hours. In an effort to get in as many string beds in as possible, I cut out Swift White 1.25, this time wanting to test a hybrid. I chose Tecnifibre Multifeel Black 1.25 mains / Toroline Wasabi-X 1.23 crosses, at 50/45 lbs lockout (so ~48/43 constant-pull), to try and lower the amount of face weight / swing weight, speed up RHS and get more free pop and snapback-based spin.
- Unstrung Spec w/ 5g lead tape @ 2" up the base grip + 1 Pro Player Feel White over grip: 316.76g / 30.4cm / 294.4sw
- Strung Spec (String Job #3: Tecnifibre Multifeel Black 1.25 mains / Toroline Wasabi-X 1.23 crosses @ 50/45 lbs): 332.63g / 31.4cm / 321.5sw / 14.0tw
Hybrid:
- Lowered the face weight by ~2g (~2-3pts SW), dropped balance by .1cm
- Increased free pop and touch
- Didn't really increase spin all that much
- Definitely a break-in period, so there was a playability change to account for
- Tension and free depth felt perfect from initial hit to end of break-in (~1 hour); after that, balls were flying long (even at ~322sw), so would probably go up to 52/47 or 53/48 for tension next time
305S:
- Its solidness still continues to impress, even with thinner and less weighty strings
- That said, the lowered strung spec of 31.4cm balance and 322sw made the racquet head come through a little too fast on serve and I lost a bit too much tip awareness, causing some issues on certain forehands and second serves; midway through the session, I added 2 grams of TW tungsten tape at 12, to bring swing weight to ~328sw and balance to ~31.6cm, and that felt noticeably better on both serve and ground strokes.
- I finally had the chance to A-vs-B it against some of my more recent 16-main sticks, namely the Auxetic 1.0 Prestige MP-L, '2021 CX 200 and Strike 100 16x20 – mostly the Strike this session – and for as friendly a launch angle and arc manipulation as the 305S has, you can still tell it's an 18-main stick, for sure. Anything less than medium-effort RHS and either a higher-than-average amount of swipe, or perfect racquet face angle if hitting flat, and on most strokes you'll be dumping a ball short and/or too low into the net, and/or lazier racquet face angle on flatter contact will sail balls low or long. Versus most 16-main sticks, there's at least some degree less of an issue in each of those areas, especially trampoline and ball bite.
Additionally, before I added some tip weight, I unavoidably came through too fast on a few serves, framing some off the frame tip / top-grommets, and by mid-session, I noticed a hairline fracture in the paint, emanating away from the 4th main string drill mouth, probably right around where I made contact on one of those shanks. My guess is the shock from the impact caused the crack, which seems to have fissured outward. Quite the "artifact"... After the fracture, I could swear I could feel the frame buzz a little more on contact, but I'm not 100% sure, and that was right around when I swapped it out for the Strike 100 16x20 anyways. I'm hoping it's not a crack in the frame itself, but perhaps you guys can be the judge (click to enlarge):
I'm planning on one more hit on Tuesday, to try and get to 10 hours, this time finally with Razor Soft White 1.25, probably strung in the low 40's. After that, I'll work on my full review.
Hope you guys have found these ongoing reports useful!
- Unstrung Spec w/ 5g lead tape @ 2" up the base grip + 1 Pro Player Feel White over grip: 316.76g / 30.4cm / 294.4sw
- Strung Spec (String Job #3: Tecnifibre Multifeel Black 1.25 mains / Toroline Wasabi-X 1.23 crosses @ 50/45 lbs): 332.63g / 31.4cm / 321.5sw / 14.0tw
- Lowered the face weight by ~2g (~2-3pts SW), dropped balance by .1cm
- Increased free pop and touch
- Didn't really increase spin all that much
- Definitely a break-in period, so there was a playability change to account for
- Tension and free depth felt perfect from initial hit to end of break-in (~1 hour); after that, balls were flying long (even at ~322sw), so would probably go up to 52/47 or 53/48 for tension next time
305S:
- Its solidness still continues to impress, even with thinner and less weighty strings
- That said, the lowered strung spec of 31.4cm balance and 322sw made the racquet head come through a little too fast on serve and I lost a bit too much tip awareness, causing some issues on certain forehands and second serves; midway through the session, I added 2 grams of TW tungsten tape at 12, to bring swing weight to ~328sw and balance to ~31.6cm, and that felt noticeably better on both serve and ground strokes.
- I finally had the chance to A-vs-B it against some of my more recent 16-main sticks, namely the Auxetic 1.0 Prestige MP-L, '2021 CX 200 and Strike 100 16x20 – mostly the Strike this session – and for as friendly a launch angle and arc manipulation as the 305S has, you can still tell it's an 18-main stick, for sure. Anything less than medium-effort RHS and either a higher-than-average amount of swipe, or perfect racquet face angle if hitting flat, and on most strokes you'll be dumping a ball short and/or too low into the net, and/or lazier racquet face angle on flatter contact will sail balls low or long. Versus most 16-main sticks, there's at least some degree less of an issue in each of those areas, especially trampoline and ball bite.
Additionally, before I added some tip weight, I unavoidably came through too fast on a few serves, framing some off the frame tip / top-grommets, and by mid-session, I noticed a hairline fracture in the paint, emanating away from the 4th main string drill mouth, probably right around where I made contact on one of those shanks. My guess is the shock from the impact caused the crack, which seems to have fissured outward. Quite the "artifact"... After the fracture, I could swear I could feel the frame buzz a little more on contact, but I'm not 100% sure, and that was right around when I swapped it out for the Strike 100 16x20 anyways. I'm hoping it's not a crack in the frame itself, but perhaps you guys can be the judge (click to enlarge):
I'm planning on one more hit on Tuesday, to try and get to 10 hours, this time finally with Razor Soft White 1.25, probably strung in the low 40's. After that, I'll work on my full review.
Hope you guys have found these ongoing reports useful!
Last edited:
Someone on this forum mentioned fixing frame cracks with (I think) baking soda and super glue. You might whip up some of that concoction and apply on that crack.
Found it: https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/you-too-can-fix-a-cracked-racket.647268/
Found it: https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/you-too-can-fix-a-cracked-racket.647268/
@Cowboy - Thanks very much. Yeah, I may prep with rubbing alcohol, then, per @graycrait's suggestion in that thread, apply some IC-2000, and call it good. We'll see.
thenewbig3
Semi-Pro
What a bummer... doesnt speak very highly about the QC... I suppose. Or is this unfair to even bring up?
Never had this happen before, let alone on a frame with only 5 hours and 3 string jobs... so yeah a bummer indeed. As for QC being an issue, not sure that typical QC could have caught such a thing. Then again, I'm sure there has to be some level of inspection before the cooled hairpins are moved on for painting, so who knows. Whether unfair, not sure, but if I'm a product chief at Tecnifibre, I think I would prefer to at least know about these things, so maybe they can look back into their layup, baking/cooling and/or painting processes, and see if there are any issues there?
Curious: what makes you think that? The fact that the crack emanates from both sides of the drill hole?
jguttentag
New User
I got the same crack on mine!305S Session #5, played on Saturday 3/15 for 3 hours on medium-slow outdoor hard court in 55-60 degree weather, bringing total play time to ~8 hours. In an effort to get in as many string beds in as possible, I cut out Swift White 1.25, this time wanting to test a hybrid. I chose Tecnifibre Multifeel Black 1.25 mains / Toroline Wasabi-X 1.23 crosses, at 50/45 lbs lockout (so ~48/43 constant-pull), to try and lower the amount of face weight / swing weight, speed up RHS and get more free pop and snapback-based spin.
- Unstrung Spec w/ 5g lead tape @ 2" up the base grip + 1 Pro Player Feel White over grip: 316.76g / 30.4cm / 294.4sw
- Strung Spec (String Job #3: Tecnifibre Multifeel Black 1.25 mains / Toroline Wasabi-X 1.23 crosses @ 50/45 lbs): 332.63g / 31.4cm / 321.5sw / 14.0tw
Hybrid:
- Lowered the face weight by ~2g (~2-3pts SW), dropped balance by .1cm
- Increased free pop and touch
- Didn't really increase spin all that much
- Definitely a break-in period, so there was a playability change to account for
- Tension and free depth felt perfect from initial hit to end of break-in (~1 hour); after that, balls were flying long (even at ~322sw), so would probably go up to 52/47 or 53/48 for tension next time
305S:
- Its solidness still continues to impress, even with thinner and less weighty strings
- That said, the lowered strung spec of 31.4cm balance and 322sw made the racquet head come through a little too fast on serve and I lost a bit too much tip awareness, causing some issues on certain forehands and second serves; midway through the session, I added 2 grams of TW tungsten tape at 12, to bring swing weight to ~328sw and balance to ~31.6cm, and that felt noticeably better on both serve and ground strokes.
- I finally had the chance to A-vs-B it against some of my more recent 16-main sticks, namely the Auxetic 1.0 Prestige MP-L, '2021 CX 200 and Strike 100 16x20 – mostly the Strike this session – and for as friendly a launch angle and arc manipulation as the 305S has, you can still tell it's an 18-main stick, for sure. Anything less than medium-effort RHS and either a higher-than-average amount of swipe, or perfect racquet face angle if hitting flat, and on most strokes you'll be dumping a ball short and/or too low into the net, and/or lazier racquet face angle on flatter contact will sail balls low or long. Versus most 16-main sticks, there's at least some degree less of an issue in each of those areas, especially trampoline and ball bite.
Additionally, before I added some tip weight, I unavoidably came through too fast on a few serves, framing some off the frame tip / top-grommets, and by mid-session, I noticed a hairline fracture in the paint, emanating away from the 4th main string drill mouth, probably right around where I made contact on one of those shanks. My guess is the shock from the impact caused the crack, which seems to have "fishered" outward. Quite the "artifact"... After the fracture, I could swear I could feel the frame buzz a little more on contact, but I'm not 100% sure, and that was right around when I swapped it out for the Strike 100 16x20 anyways. I'm hoping it's not a crack in the frame itself, but perhaps you guys can be the judge (click to enlarge):
I'm planning on one more hit on Tuesday, to try and get to 10 hours, this time finally with Razor Soft White 1.25, probably strung in the low 40's. After that, I'll work on my full review.
Hope you guys have found these ongoing reports useful!
adchris2
Rookie
Yes, and the fact that it is such a clean cut. Makes me think it is below the surface
@jguttentag - Wow... I know it's only a sample size of two (so far...), but maybe we've stumbled onto something here? Curious: where along the frame did it happen for you? (Mine was at the top of one of the 4th mains).
Would love to be able to put my frame under a CT scanner to see if it's a clean break and/or if there was a void there to be begin with...
@TW Staff - Are you guys seeing reports of this happening at all with any 305S's that you've tested or sold so far, and/or any other models from the current refresh (300S, 315S, 300, etc)?
Yeah... identical to @jguttentag's... Not very confidence-inspiring.
Would love to be able to put my frame under a CT scanner to see if it's a clean break and/or if there was a void there to be begin with...
@TW Staff - Are you guys seeing reports of this happening at all with any 305S's that you've tested or sold so far, and/or any other models from the current refresh (300S, 315S, 300, etc)?
Last edited:
jguttentag
New User
Also top of the frame, but 3rd grommet on the mains. I don’t know exactly when it happened but discovered last week. I can hear a rattle on some miss hits. I posted pictures on the 10s subreddit and everyone thinks it’s just a paint crack.
jguttentag
New User
I’ve had it for a month. Do you think I could get a warranty claim or is it not worth it?
TW Staff
Administrator
@Trip @jguttentag ,
Let me follow up with Tecnifibre and will reach out to you guys shortly (most likely will ask for additional info). We have not had any issues from customers on our side.
Thanks,
Brittany, TW
Let me follow up with Tecnifibre and will reach out to you guys shortly (most likely will ask for additional info). We have not had any issues from customers on our side.
Thanks,
Brittany, TW
OK, I thought my case was just back luck and a faulty racket, so I didn't post about it, but now I see I am not the only one. I had the same cracks on the 305S:
They appeared without even playing, just after stringing. Two different spots, at 12 and 10/11. I hit with the racket for 5 minutes just to see whether it was still playable, but in my opinion it wasn't. I could definitely feel rattling, strange vibration and sounds, especially when hitting closer to the top of the frame.
They appeared without even playing, just after stringing. Two different spots, at 12 and 10/11. I hit with the racket for 5 minutes just to see whether it was still playable, but in my opinion it wasn't. I could definitely feel rattling, strange vibration and sounds, especially when hitting closer to the top of the frame.
Vicious49
Legend
I just checked all 3 of mine that I bought from TW back in January. Mine seem fine so far. No cracks I could see or feel and I've probably put more hours in than most since I main this frame now (although my hours are split up amongst 3 frames).
Thanks Brittany. Appreciate your help, and happy to give whatever info to whomever requires it. Also, if it comes to it, happy to send the frame back for further inspection. Just let me/us know.
@maciej84 - From what I can see, it looks like you've got a 1-sided crack on main #1 at the top of the frame and a 2-sided crack on main #5 at the top (interior from the "EzLOCK" grommet). Correct? And both cracks are on the same frame?
Curious to see how widespread this might be... Can't help but get some Percept vibes, though that issue was in the necks and bridges and was definitely a structural problem. The TFight issue seem more related to the finish. My initial theory is grommet contact from the ball (via a shank) can press the grommet mouth hard enough against the drill opening that it literally cracks through the "shell" of the paint/gloss right around its weakest point, the inside edge of the drill hole. From there, it fissures up and out into these cracks, probably aided by all the shock and frame flex. Plausible? Haha.
Not sure how accurate that might be, but we'll probably find out soon enough, one way or another.
Last edited:
smithie
Professional
I've just checked my frames and none have these cracks. Although based on the pictures above, I would think they are superficial and likely a crack in the gloss finish/paint given how straight they are. Pictures I've seen of cracks in the actual frame (granted from other manufactures) are much less linear and more jagged. I guess the only way to really know will be to try to remove the paint to see.
No, they were both two-sided. The photo just doesn't show it. Both were on the same frame and like I said, they appeared after stringing (20kg). What is more, I had an impression that after hitting for 5-10 minutes, they got slightly bigger.
