I don't string myself, my frames are strung in a pro shop by a guy that has probably strung tens of thousands of rackets and has worked at ATP tournaments. The machine is an electronic Babolat with 6 mounts.
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Tecnifibre TFight 2025
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
OK, final string job for the last session before my review is due: Razor Soft White 1.25 @ 46/44 lockout (~44/42 constant-pull). First pic is included to show how short the seed set is... barely got the 18th main tie-off knot to pull without having to use an extender. I'd presume the official retail sets will be cut longer (?).
- 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 #4: Tecnifibre Razor Soft White 1.25 full bed @ 46/44 lbs lockout): 334.79g / 31.4cm / 325.0sw / 14.3tw
About to hit the court for a ~2 hour session, which should get me to 10 hours. Will also be observing for any playability/feel oddities related to the hairline crack on main grommet #4 at the top of the frame (per previous post). Update again soon.
- Strung Spec (String Job #4: Tecnifibre Razor Soft White 1.25 full bed @ 46/44 lbs lockout): 334.79g / 31.4cm / 325.0sw / 14.3tw
About to hit the court for a ~2 hour session, which should get me to 10 hours. Will also be observing for any playability/feel oddities related to the hairline crack on main grommet #4 at the top of the frame (per previous post). Update again soon.
smithie
Professional
Looking forward to this, particularly as I've been a fairly strong advocate of Razor Soft White in the 305s on these boards; so much so that I will be stringing my rackets on Thursday in Razor Soft White and sticking with it for the up coming season.OK, final string job for the last session before my review is due: Razor Soft White 1.25 @ 46/44 lockout (~44/42 constant-pull). First pic is included to show how short the seed set is... barely got the 18th main tie-off knot to pull without having to use an extender. I'd presume the official retail sets will be cut longer (?).
- 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 #4: Tecnifibre Razor Soft White 1.25 full bed @ 46/44 lbs lockout): 334.79g / 31.4cm / 325.0sw / 14.3tw
About to hit the court for a ~2 hour session, which should get me to 10 hours. Will also be observing for any playability/feel oddities related to the hairline crack on main grommet #4 at the top of the frame (per previous post). Update again soon.
On a side note (and if you have time), it would be good to get your take on the Pro Player Feel OG, I assume Tecnifibre's alternative to Wilson Pro/Yonex Super Grap?
Alcawrath
Professional
Good question, but also if a racquet can't handle a two point mounting system then the racquet is still flawed.
I was also more concern about the possibility of overtightening with the sidewarms of a 6 point mount. But fair point regardless
I fully agree.
I'm still very junior in my racquet stringing journey, but in under 2 years, I have done nearly 200 frames. I inspect each one, and have only found 1 that had a visible crack. This was probably a 15-20 year old "well loved" Head frame that, knowing the owner, was probably purchased second hand.
Another person I string for is known for throwing racquets, and he's never brought me a cracked frame (he throws them away when that happens, but I know he has brought me several thrown racquets).
I string on an Ektelon Model H with a 2 point mounting system. Reading comments like this make me think that I am lucky to have not had a frame crack on the machine and that my machine is dangerous to racquets despite being widely hailed as phenomenal stringer that has lasted for generations.
Vicious49
Legend
Vicious49
Legend
Thanks. I strung it and threw the packaging away. I was 90% sure it was 16g but wanted to verify.
@adchris2, @smithie and others - Sorry for the delay on this report since the hit on Tuesday. This week is flying by!
So, got the last hit in the books on Tuesday for ~2 hours with Razor Soft White 1.25 @ 46/44 lockout (~44/42 constant-pull), to get me ~10 hours total. I'll just cut right to chase and say that it was noticeably the best overall feeling and playing poly I've tested so far, above that of Co-Focus (mainly in feel) and Swift (mainly in snappy-ness and liveliness balanced with control). Versus most poly's, including most older-gen stuff, RSW is considerably more supple and, dare I say, gut like, in its feel and behavior (like a but more firm Toroline O-Toro), almost to the point of feeling like a completely different string than just a different color of Razor Soft. It just has this extra level of give, and steer-the-ball-wherever-you-need-to factor that I just didn't get quite as much of with RSB. On the flip side, I didn't find this quality to feel overly soft or mushy, the way many softer co-poly's can feel, either straight off the stringer, or as early as 30-60 minutes of play. Rather, RSW felt like it hit the perfect balance between firm and controlled, and soft and powerful, especially at the chosen tension of 46/44 lockout, which I think I nailed (finally, a job where I wasn't left wanting for more/less tension!).
Overall, I think it's a great match for the 305S. That said, considering the level of added face weight and pattern fill, I'd be curious to get a full bed of 1.20 in there, perhaps at 1 pound higher, and see how that does. I bet I might like that even more. Regardless, it's an excellent overall string. With ~2 hours of play, I did notice about 10-15% notching, which I would call normal for all but the more impervious poly's I've played (Head Hawk, etc), but considering the level of playability straight away and absolutely zero break-in period (at least at the tension I strung it at), one notch lower durability is a fine trade to make. Beyond that, I will probably leave the string in the frame, just to see if RSW can break the usual paradigm of TF poly's having shorter playable longevity overall.
As for value, I'm not sure it's worth $19 USD per set, but at $175 sale price for a reel, at $11 a set, that definitely enters the realm of consideration for many. So will be interested to follow the pricing, in both the US and other markets.
Hope that helps give some extra insight for those wondering about RSW. I'll continue to post updates as I play out the current bed.
Now to get this whole 305S review typed up...!
So, got the last hit in the books on Tuesday for ~2 hours with Razor Soft White 1.25 @ 46/44 lockout (~44/42 constant-pull), to get me ~10 hours total. I'll just cut right to chase and say that it was noticeably the best overall feeling and playing poly I've tested so far, above that of Co-Focus (mainly in feel) and Swift (mainly in snappy-ness and liveliness balanced with control). Versus most poly's, including most older-gen stuff, RSW is considerably more supple and, dare I say, gut like, in its feel and behavior (like a but more firm Toroline O-Toro), almost to the point of feeling like a completely different string than just a different color of Razor Soft. It just has this extra level of give, and steer-the-ball-wherever-you-need-to factor that I just didn't get quite as much of with RSB. On the flip side, I didn't find this quality to feel overly soft or mushy, the way many softer co-poly's can feel, either straight off the stringer, or as early as 30-60 minutes of play. Rather, RSW felt like it hit the perfect balance between firm and controlled, and soft and powerful, especially at the chosen tension of 46/44 lockout, which I think I nailed (finally, a job where I wasn't left wanting for more/less tension!).
Overall, I think it's a great match for the 305S. That said, considering the level of added face weight and pattern fill, I'd be curious to get a full bed of 1.20 in there, perhaps at 1 pound higher, and see how that does. I bet I might like that even more. Regardless, it's an excellent overall string. With ~2 hours of play, I did notice about 10-15% notching, which I would call normal for all but the more impervious poly's I've played (Head Hawk, etc), but considering the level of playability straight away and absolutely zero break-in period (at least at the tension I strung it at), one notch lower durability is a fine trade to make. Beyond that, I will probably leave the string in the frame, just to see if RSW can break the usual paradigm of TF poly's having shorter playable longevity overall.
As for value, I'm not sure it's worth $19 USD per set, but at $175 sale price for a reel, at $11 a set, that definitely enters the realm of consideration for many. So will be interested to follow the pricing, in both the US and other markets.
Hope that helps give some extra insight for those wondering about RSW. I'll continue to post updates as I play out the current bed.
Now to get this whole 305S review typed up...!
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Fighting phoenix
Professional
Wow very interesting perspective - I just got a set of RSW 1.20 but wasn’t optimistic since I thought the first grey version of RSW was just okay, and worried that it would feel kind of stiff and not have enough bite. Excited to try that out now!
I liked RSW in my 300s as well. It's a good string that I don't think about much when I'm playing. It doesn't do anything extra for you but provides a reliable response. When I make mistakes, it's my technique, not the strings.
ChrisJR3264
Hall of Fame
My Tfight 305S review :
String and tension used for test: 53 lbs. razor soft white ; 52 lbs razor code.
Tennis experience/background: 23 years - high school college /usta.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): aggressive baseliner
Current racquet/string setups: in between rackets - previous used tfight 305 iso
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 15 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: 8/10. Backhands, this thing is beautiful. Crisp flat backhands cross court and deep middle were precise. I tend to love the 18x19 and 18x20 just because it gives me extra confidence to rip through the backhand. (Can see why medvedev doesn’t miss a backhand
)
This is truly a baseliners frame. Forehands, I was able to spin it. I even had a multi/razor code hybrid and generated some decent top spin. Adding weight to 10 and 2 will help some. I did add some weight for a couple hours then removed the mods to continue with stock.
I still need to reshape the handle to my liking as I’m not the biggest fan of TF rectangular grip.
-Serves: 8.5/10 : slice serves wide and down the T I find deadly. I think if I go with say MSV focus hex soft, it will generate even more bite. (Great string for all tfights from my experience). Second serve kick’s are above average in my opinion. Flat serves and precision were quite good. Overall, the grip shape does not hurt serving. The shifted balance allows more racket head speed in my opinion.
-Volleys: 7.5/10 nothing really to report on here. I’m not a net player. Volleys for me are based on the stability of the frame. It’s ok.
-Serve returns: 7.5/10 : if not facing a heavy flat serve, I feel you can attack the return. Definitely on some second serve kickers if you’re positioned correctly.
Against big servers, I’d say weight is needed or a softer string set up to chip back returns is needed.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control : i cannot speak for power of a frame. Playing with the gravity pro which is less powerful on paper, I still generate the same power with that racket as I do with tfights. That said, I do notice with the lack of weight in the head, you can see it’s less powerful than the previous version on paper. Feel wise, I think I notice it against big servers that you can’t just block back returns as it feels a tad unstable. Racket still requires proper form and full swings.
Control is still good. TF is targeting that “controllable power” range which I think they had with the XTC and RS versions that were more forgiving than say the 95 DCs.
Top Spin/Slice-: I don’t have much to say. I think top spin is string and tension dependent as well as ground strokes/form. This isn’t your spin monster and highly noticeable on clay. I wish I was able to throw in ice code or Msv focus hex during this test as I tend to lean on those for more spin. I’m not really one who uses a slice, but drop shots are not lacking. Get some nice backspin on my cuts.
Comfort- 9/10: this generation does feel a tad more crisp but not uncomfortable. I’m a big fan of a “Chrispy” feeling racket with a “Chrispy” string set up (@chrispystrings follow me on insta). no arm issues. Feel is 10/10.
Feel- 10/10: TF rackets always have that crisp classic feel. Not muted at all and I can get nice feedback. This was not an issue vs most of the head auxetic or updated Yonex lines where I cannot feel the ball at all.
Maneuverability- 9.5/10. This racket whips through the air to generate racket head speed.
Stability- 7/10: The extra weight improves the stability to 8.5 , the extra plow from previous versions was more suitable in stock form. I threw in a multi/poly hybrid and it seemed to feel better. Lead to 10 and 2 and maybe a leather will do the trick to improve stability. First match on clay I noticed in heavier pace rallies, it did not hold up. In stock form, it seems to have mirrored the balance of the speed pro - but remember this is a 305 and speed pro is 310. The extra 5 grams would mean a lot when it comes to added stability stock form.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
I think tecnifibre sought out to increase market share on what is already a popular racket with a favorable string pattern in 18x19 by making it easier to use.
Overall this is a good racket. I see there’s plenty of hype and I think it’s just that. As I got used to it and removed the weight, I can easily toy with medications and use in stock form. But I feel I need a little more weight for the way I play from the baseline.
I will say in stock form, the multi/poly hybrid is indeed much better than razor soft. I noticed my balls had excellent depth swinging pretty loose and relaxed in practice rallies.
Other polys like razor code, razor soft, max power: I’d advise stringing a few pounds lower.
In comparison to the past models, this is definitely easier to use and should sell better than the iso. If I had to be honest, this doesn’t compare to the xtc or even RS model.
The ISO was good but seemed awkwardly balanced with such a heavier SW and too much weight distribution from throat to head area.
Here has potential with 3 grams from 11/1 or 10 and 2, can be a great racket. It kinda reminds me of the Ezone modification where adding 5-6 grains in the handle. 3-4 in the hoop and you have a pretty stable setup.
I’ll continue to add more notes as I play with this further and try different strings.
String and tension used for test: 53 lbs. razor soft white ; 52 lbs razor code.
Tennis experience/background: 23 years - high school college /usta.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): aggressive baseliner
Current racquet/string setups: in between rackets - previous used tfight 305 iso
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 15 hours
Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes: 8/10. Backhands, this thing is beautiful. Crisp flat backhands cross court and deep middle were precise. I tend to love the 18x19 and 18x20 just because it gives me extra confidence to rip through the backhand. (Can see why medvedev doesn’t miss a backhand
) This is truly a baseliners frame. Forehands, I was able to spin it. I even had a multi/razor code hybrid and generated some decent top spin. Adding weight to 10 and 2 will help some. I did add some weight for a couple hours then removed the mods to continue with stock.
I still need to reshape the handle to my liking as I’m not the biggest fan of TF rectangular grip.
-Serves: 8.5/10 : slice serves wide and down the T I find deadly. I think if I go with say MSV focus hex soft, it will generate even more bite. (Great string for all tfights from my experience). Second serve kick’s are above average in my opinion. Flat serves and precision were quite good. Overall, the grip shape does not hurt serving. The shifted balance allows more racket head speed in my opinion.
-Volleys: 7.5/10 nothing really to report on here. I’m not a net player. Volleys for me are based on the stability of the frame. It’s ok.
-Serve returns: 7.5/10 : if not facing a heavy flat serve, I feel you can attack the return. Definitely on some second serve kickers if you’re positioned correctly.
Against big servers, I’d say weight is needed or a softer string set up to chip back returns is needed.
Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control : i cannot speak for power of a frame. Playing with the gravity pro which is less powerful on paper, I still generate the same power with that racket as I do with tfights. That said, I do notice with the lack of weight in the head, you can see it’s less powerful than the previous version on paper. Feel wise, I think I notice it against big servers that you can’t just block back returns as it feels a tad unstable. Racket still requires proper form and full swings.
Control is still good. TF is targeting that “controllable power” range which I think they had with the XTC and RS versions that were more forgiving than say the 95 DCs.
Top Spin/Slice-: I don’t have much to say. I think top spin is string and tension dependent as well as ground strokes/form. This isn’t your spin monster and highly noticeable on clay. I wish I was able to throw in ice code or Msv focus hex during this test as I tend to lean on those for more spin. I’m not really one who uses a slice, but drop shots are not lacking. Get some nice backspin on my cuts.
Comfort- 9/10: this generation does feel a tad more crisp but not uncomfortable. I’m a big fan of a “Chrispy” feeling racket with a “Chrispy” string set up (@chrispystrings follow me on insta). no arm issues. Feel is 10/10.
Feel- 10/10: TF rackets always have that crisp classic feel. Not muted at all and I can get nice feedback. This was not an issue vs most of the head auxetic or updated Yonex lines where I cannot feel the ball at all.
Maneuverability- 9.5/10. This racket whips through the air to generate racket head speed.
Stability- 7/10: The extra weight improves the stability to 8.5 , the extra plow from previous versions was more suitable in stock form. I threw in a multi/poly hybrid and it seemed to feel better. Lead to 10 and 2 and maybe a leather will do the trick to improve stability. First match on clay I noticed in heavier pace rallies, it did not hold up. In stock form, it seems to have mirrored the balance of the speed pro - but remember this is a 305 and speed pro is 310. The extra 5 grams would mean a lot when it comes to added stability stock form.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
I think tecnifibre sought out to increase market share on what is already a popular racket with a favorable string pattern in 18x19 by making it easier to use.
Overall this is a good racket. I see there’s plenty of hype and I think it’s just that. As I got used to it and removed the weight, I can easily toy with medications and use in stock form. But I feel I need a little more weight for the way I play from the baseline.
I will say in stock form, the multi/poly hybrid is indeed much better than razor soft. I noticed my balls had excellent depth swinging pretty loose and relaxed in practice rallies.
Other polys like razor code, razor soft, max power: I’d advise stringing a few pounds lower.
In comparison to the past models, this is definitely easier to use and should sell better than the iso. If I had to be honest, this doesn’t compare to the xtc or even RS model.
The ISO was good but seemed awkwardly balanced with such a heavier SW and too much weight distribution from throat to head area.
Here has potential with 3 grams from 11/1 or 10 and 2, can be a great racket. It kinda reminds me of the Ezone modification where adding 5-6 grains in the handle. 3-4 in the hoop and you have a pretty stable setup.
I’ll continue to add more notes as I play with this further and try different strings.
2025 Tecnifibre TFight 305S Review
(Part 1 of 3)
(Part 1 of 3)
First off, a big thank you to @TW Staff and Tecnifibre for making this possible, and a repeat thanks to @TW Staff for granting me more time to complete my review (due to my frame not arriving until 2/20).
My review is in an outline format, with the following sections: Playtester Bio & Background; Measured Specs, Racquet Setup & Play Log; Physical Characteristics; On-Court Performance; Summary & Closing.
Please forgive the brevity in spots, but I'm hoping this approach conveys info more effectively than walls of text.
Playtester Background
- Tennis Experience
- 42-yo male; 6'2" 200lbs; 4.0-4.5 NTRP; play 2-4x/month in winter, 1-3x/week in summer. Mostly singles. Rec play. Maybe 1 tournament per year.
- Racquets: >75 models tried; prefer 97-100" players/pleeners, boxier/more-constant-width beams, medium power-to-weight, semi-dense patterns.
- Stringing: 400+ string jobs completed.
- Measurement Ability: Have a Briffidi SW1, so I'm spec-aware and always provide measurements.
- First-Strike/All-Court attacker; flatter hitting; Extreme Eastern forehand; Eastern 1HBH; big flat first serve (100 mph+)
- Serve+1's; look for any attackable opening, exploit immediately and try to end the point ASAP
Measured Specs, String/Customization Setups, Playtest Log
- Unstrung Spec (Plastic, Stock & Customized)
- With Grip Plastic (no placard): 306.92g / 31.2cm / 294.2sw
- Fully Stock: 305.04g / 31.35cm / 293.7sw – basically on-spec
- w/ 1 Pro Player Feel over grip: 311.74g / 30.85cm / 293.8sw (+6.7g static, -0.5cm balance)
- w/ 5g lead tape @ 2" up handle + 1 PPF over grip: 316.76g / 30.4cm / 294.4sw
- String Setups & Strung Specs
- #1) Poly: MSV Co-Focus Red 1.23 mains / 1.18 crosses @ 48/46 lbs lockout
- Strung Spec (w/ 1 Pro Player Feel over grip): 328.40g / 31.9cm / 323.5sw / 20.5mgr/i / 165rw
- #2) Poly: MSV Swift White 1.25 full bed @ 46/44 lockout
- Strung Spec (w/ 5g lead @ 2" up handle + 1 PPF over grip): 334.54g / 31.5cm / 324.4sw / 20.6mgr/i / 170rw
- #3) Hybrid: Tecnifibre Multifeel Black 1.25 mains / Toroline Wasabi-X 1.23 crosses @ 50/45 lockout
- Strung Spec (w/ 5g lead @ 2" up handle + 1 PPF over grip): 332.63g / 31.4cm / 321.5sw / 20.6mgr/i / 169rw
- #4) Poly: Tecnifibre Razor Soft White 1.25 @ 46/44 lockout
- Strung Spec (w/ 5g lead @ 2" up handle + 1 PPF over grip): 334.79g / 31.4cm / 325.0sw / 20.5mgr/i / 172rw
- #1) Poly: MSV Co-Focus Red 1.23 mains / 1.18 crosses @ 48/46 lbs lockout
- Testing Log
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2025 Tecnifibre TFight 305S Review
(Part 2 of 3)
Physical Characteristics(Part 2 of 3)
(numeric ratings only where applicable)
- Static Qualities
- Mold & Layup
- Beam Geometry
- Cross-sectional area is just thin/fast enough; constant-width hybrid-box gives good blend of predictability with extra power and torsional stability.
- Weighting & Balance
- At 305g, 31.5cm and low-290's unstrung, nicely balanced mass distribution, pivotability and plow, all together.
- Flex & Rebound Response
- Flex: Medium-firm, a hair lower than a Pro Staff. Uniform, single profile; Prestige-like, gradual, tree-branch bending/bowing. Predictable. Minimal-to-zero tip flutter.
- Rebound: low to moderate pocketing; fairly short dwell time; more "point-and-shoot" than "catch-and-throw".
- Feel
- Very "ceramic", like hitting with a china plate in a way. Direct and connected, while also dampened (but not muted) from the foam fill. Very solid, almost-thuddy.
- Overall
- In somewhat of a Babolat way, the 305S is highly optimized in stock form (ie. I would proceed gradually with customization).
- Beam Geometry
- String Bed
- Channeling / Grommet Design
- Deep string channels, good protection. +1 for the "EzLOCK" tie-off grommets. Narrow-ish grommet mouths = good bed composure. Traditional overall design, but well-proven.
- Drill Pattern
- Partial-parallel drilling. Blends older-school Prestige-like definition/composure with newer-school Blade/Strike forgiveness levels.
- Density: 8-main throat + tighter central mains spacing; 19 medium-spaced crosses give good balance of ball bite to control/consistency.
- Launch Angle
- Medium-higher launch angle for an 18-main, a bit higher than most other 18x19's (Prestige MP included).
- Vs. most 16-main patterns, still slightly lower (noticeably lower than the Strike 100 16x20 or Prestige MP-L, for example)
- Sweet Spot
- Location is lower than one might suspect (at about crosses #7-9 from the top).
- Size is average to slightly above average. Larger than a Radical MP, smaller than a Strike 100.
- Forgiveness - 7.5/10
- Moderate; off-center hits are communicated well, while still retaining more rebound energy than average.
- Consistency - 8/10
- High level of cross-facial consistency, both 12-to-6 and 9-to-3. Slightly less than a VCP/Percept 97D, more than 98" Radical or '21 CX 200.
- Channeling / Grommet Design
- Fit & Finish
- Grip Shape
- Typical Tecnifibre, very Head TK-82 -ish. Better match for more Eastern forehand, Continental 2HBH. IMHO, needs updating to match other vendors. Can mostly remedy by adding material of choice to bevels 3 and 7.
- Paint Job
- Look and finish is excellent; application is questionable (see previous reports of hairline fissures/cracks emanating from grommet drill holes (my playtest sample included).
- Grip Shape
- Quality Control
- Spec Adherence
- My sample was excellent at 305g/31.35cm/294sw, though we've seen unstrung SW's from the mid-upper 280's to the low 300's, so matching service required for serious buyers.
- Material Quality
- Appears decent in quality, but the pending paint cracking issue could highlight something for TF to work on in their next iteration of glossy topcoats.
- Spec Adherence
- Mold & Layup
- General Usability
- Player Fit
- Leans towards full-length, linear mechanics; rounder/swipe-ier strokes are doable though, and can be adjusted for via customization (which there is a decent amount of room for).
- Power - 7.5/10
- Frame
- Medium-high, all things factored in. Velocity and depth come easier than one would think from a 22.5mm 18-main 98 with low-mid 290's unstrung SW.
- String Bed
- Low-moderate. The 18x19 is not very dynamic, trampoline-like or explosive. Most power will come from the bludgeoning force of the frame itself.
- Frame
- Control - 8.5/10
- Locational Precision
- High to very high. One of the hallmark qualities of this frame. Every shot is, on average, noticeably more precise in terms of target sizing.
- Depth Adjustability
- Good to great, but a bit limited by the frame's firmness and medium-short dwell time (less opportunity to modulate applied power to the ball).
- Locational Precision
- Maneuverability - 8/10
- Medium-high. At 294sw unstrung, it's akin to a Boom Pro or one of my spec'd up Prestige MP-L's.
- Stability - 9/10
- Vs. Swing Weight
- Surprisingly high. At strung SW's from 326 down to 321-322, never found myself wishing for lead, or heavier string beds (even with the hybrid).
- Lateral/Torsional
- Again, high level, even in stock form. Lead not really needed at 9 and 3.
- Collision Absorption / Plow-Through
- High level of the spec. Resistant to all but the highest levels of incoming force.
- Vs. Swing Weight
- Comfort - 7/10
- Arm
- Moderate. Anyone with a history of arm issues, you need to boost recoil weight. Non-optional. Otherwise, I'd consider other options. Everyone else, have at it.
- Shoulder
- Probably fine, provided you buy with a matching service, targeting unstrung swing weight of <= low-290's, and you'll probably be fine.
- Arm
- Player Fit
- Physical Comparisons (Mold & Pattern)
- Strike 100 16x20 – Aux 1.0 Prestige MP-L – TFight 305S – 2019 Tour 100P – '21 CX 200 (click to enlarge):
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2025 Tecnifibre TFight 305S Review
(Part 3 of 3)
Strokes & Playability(Part 3 of 3)
(numeric ratings are on a scale of 1-10; weighting is market-wide, not just in-segment)
- Groundstrokes - 8/10
- Forehands - 8/10
- Overall
- Fluid, solid and unified. High stability level, plus point-and-shoot nature, makes quick targeting easy.
- 18 mains does require conscious upward swipe and higher racquet head speed at all times.
- Shot shaping is surprisingly easy with the 305S; can slap flatter lasers or mix in loopier defensive balls, almost at will.
- Redirection of incoming pace is a highlight, both on return of serve and in ground play.
- Topspin
- Minimal at low RHS, but becomes increasingly available RHS increases.
- Slice (Squash Shot)
- Surprisingly doable; I think the firm response helps get the shot off easier.
- Overall
- Backhands (OHBH) - 8/10
- Overall
- Very solid, very authoritative on the backhand. You can range your targets and find them with high consistency.
- Flatter, drive-ier 1HBH's are a dream, while more rounded, spinier, articulated balls take noticeably more deliberate effort, but are very doable.
- Especially on the 1HBH, you won't get much lift for free, so proper positioning, take-back and full-length, higher-speed, developed strokes are mandatory.
- Topspin
- Similar available as the forehand; with a 1HBH, the fairly high twist weight and good amount of facial density can make it a slight chore. Still very accessible, though.
- Slice
- Excellent, almost perfect, just slightly hampered by the frame's moderately firm layup limiting maximum dwell/pocketing to apply extra guidance. String bed, though, reacts perfectly.
- Excellent, almost perfect, just slightly hampered by the frame's moderately firm layup limiting maximum dwell/pocketing to apply extra guidance. String bed, though, reacts perfectly.
- Overall
- Forehands - 8/10
- Serves - 8.2/10
- Flat - 9/10
- The combo of the hybrid-box beam, good amount of hoop mass, firm flex and accurate, dense string bed = a highly precise, powerful, flat bomb launcher.
- Kick - 7/10
- String bed density and more static nature of the bed limit the extra action to make kick serves really nasty, but for those with 4.5+ level mechanics, this can mostly be overcome.
- Slice - 8.5/10
- Density of the string bed, firmness of flex, hoop mass and a fast-enough beam all combine here. Very close to flat serving prowess. The accuracy as well is a spot-server's dream.
- Density of the string bed, firmness of flex, hoop mass and a fast-enough beam all combine here. Very close to flat serving prowess. The accuracy as well is a spot-server's dream.
- Flat - 9/10
- Overheads - 8.5/10
- Simply put: precise and easy to execute, made easily possible by the mass distribution, point-and-shoot response and firm, stable contact feel.
- Simply put: precise and easy to execute, made easily possible by the mass distribution, point-and-shoot response and firm, stable contact feel.
- Volleys - 7.75/10
- Stab/Punch - 8/10
- Countering hot incoming pass attempts with an equally intense put-away, low and to the corners or tramlines, is this frame's strength when volleying.
- Slightly lower-than-average sweet spot makes the sweetest of volley contact a little challenging when stretched.
- Drop/Touch - 7.5/10
- The lateral rigidity is the biggest advantage here, helping to cradle and stabilize one's effort.
- Only thing that is a slight limiter is the firmness and almost-thuddy contact response, that can sometimes stifle the finest of touch, especially at lower swing weights. Still, very capable.
- Stab/Punch - 8/10
- Serve Returns - 8.5/10
- Some of the highest returning capability for this level of spec, of any frame on the market.
- Allows confident return punches of almost any level of incoming pace and spin, even in stock form.
- Both power and control on tap with just consistent, well met returns (no high-energy efforts required).
Summary & Closing
- Overall Impression
- Areas Of Strength
- Supremely Well Balanced - Not many frames are as comprehensively good across the board, while also minimizing as many downsides.
- Solid Feel & Connectedness - The TFights are definitely in the unfortunate minority here when it comes to cleaner, more direct feel, and I appreciate that Tecnifibre makes that available.
- Near-Unlimited Playability Ceiling - This is one of those frames that will output in direct relation to what is put in, with no limitation on top-end power, spin or performance.
- Areas Of Uncertainty
- Grip Shape
- Though somewhat easy to address (with material of choice on Bevels 3 and 7), it's a tough sell for a healthy sub-set of players who simply want a pickup-and-play experience with a more square/octagonal shaped grip. I think it's time that Tec fall in with the others and rethink their approach here.
- String Bed
- Yes, this frame offers a surprising amount of versatility for an 18 mains, but even so, its still 18 mains, and will bias towards the nuances of one, namely a lower default launch, less for free out of the string bed and less performance in general off the ground at lower RHS and mechanical quality.
- The sweet spot is also a bit lower than I had initially presumed. After having grown to get used to hitting a bit higher up, I'm curious to see if I can adjust to this better over time.
- Grip Shape
- Areas Of Strength
- Who/What Is This Racquet For?
- Player Profile
- Strong adult male or very strong female, close enough to physical prime, minimal or no injury history
- Skill Level
- Usable around 4.0-ish skill level, but really most worth it for 4.5+ fundamentals, with a solid baseline-centric play style, and an ability to hit imposing offensive balls with consistency.
- Player Looking For...
- A precise but power-boosted control frame, with a semi-firm, direct/connected feel. Provided you're comfortable with 18 mains and a more Eastern-grip friendly handle, this warrants a serious look.
- A precise but power-boosted control frame, with a semi-firm, direct/connected feel. Provided you're comfortable with 18 mains and a more Eastern-grip friendly handle, this warrants a serious look.
- Player Profile
- Further Recommendations
- Purchase Via Matching Service
- As eluded to above, I think most rec players would be disappointed to get one of these around or over 300 unstrung SW, and from the quality control spread, it's certainly possible.
- So for most men, I would recommend they hunt for 288-294 unstrung SW; for most women, mid-280's to 290-ish.
- Purchase Via Matching Service
Finally, a big thank you again to @TW Staff and Tecnifibre for this opportunity!
I hope you've all found my contribution useful, and I will continue to post updates on further string setups, further customizations, material durability over time, and how/when performance changes over time. And of course, if you have any questions about any of my review or anything about the frame in general, don't hesitate to ask!
That's all for now. Cheers and happy hitting!
TwinCinema
Professional
Everyone, now’s your chance to order the leather-bound copy of the first volume of Trip’s Racket Review Collection Anthology, published by Penguin. 25% off on Amazon for $39.99 and the first 100 copies will hopefully be signed by Trip himself. I bought 3, one for the house, one for the tennis bag, one to donate to the Library of Congress.
I think it might be! And it might have looked even better, had it not been for XenForo's frustrating editor/rendering!
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
dgoran
Hall of Fame
I tried 305s for the second time with another string setup (restring zero) and it was much better experience than whatever TW demo was strung with.
After pure drive types of racquets it’s probably the easiest serving racquet out there. Serves much like a stiff racquet at 63 RA.
Returns are also effortless much like the serves. Did not hit too many volleys yet but felt pretty good from the few times I tried.
I am used to plusher flexible racquets so on my groundies it took a bit to adjust. It really reminds me of the old vcore 95d in feel. Raw but comfortable and in the same time offers pop of a stiffer frame.
One thing that I had to adjust is my one hander. Not sure if it’s string pattern or grip or racquet layup but switching between blade 98 18x20 and 305s required me to go more towards western on my backhand otherwise it would launch the ball up like a 16x19 racquet. Kind of strange but I’ll put some more time on this to figure this out.
Anyone else had issues with one hand backhand with this one?
After pure drive types of racquets it’s probably the easiest serving racquet out there. Serves much like a stiff racquet at 63 RA.
Returns are also effortless much like the serves. Did not hit too many volleys yet but felt pretty good from the few times I tried.
I am used to plusher flexible racquets so on my groundies it took a bit to adjust. It really reminds me of the old vcore 95d in feel. Raw but comfortable and in the same time offers pop of a stiffer frame.
One thing that I had to adjust is my one hander. Not sure if it’s string pattern or grip or racquet layup but switching between blade 98 18x20 and 305s required me to go more towards western on my backhand otherwise it would launch the ball up like a 16x19 racquet. Kind of strange but I’ll put some more time on this to figure this out.
Anyone else had issues with one hand backhand with this one?
hdjs94
Rookie
Anyone who plays with a pure drive looking for a little more control should try this racket as their first choice.
dgoran
Hall of Fame
100% this is what pure drive 98 should have been
hdjs94
Rookie
Personally played with a pure drive Roddick since I was a kid and didn't change rackets for a good 15+ years. Picked up tennis back up seriously two years ago and have been on a racket journey trying to find a similar racket in terms of overall feel and playability albeit more control and demoed 20+ rackets and after 2 years of trying different rackets, was so happy to find the 305s.
TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
Has anyone swapped out the tk82 with a tk82s yet?
jguttentag
New User
An Update on my end. I didn’t buy from TW, but I sent in a warranty request and it was approved by Techbifbre so I am being sent a new racket.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.
Additional update regarding my frame crack situation:
Much to my pleasant surprise (and huge kudos to @TW Staff !), I received an outreach from Britanny at TW informing me that Tecnifibre would very much like to get my testing sample back so that they can analyze and potentially correct for any manufacturing issues. Additionally, they would be sending me a brand new replacement frame. Incredible. Huge thank you to both TW and Tecnifibre for that!
Just shipped back the playtest sample today, and will update the thread again as things move forward. Hopefully the replacement frame will be as on-spec as the initial playtest sample (I wouldn't even mind a hair lower swing weight – 290-292 unstrung would be perfect). Fingers crossed! Update again soon!
Much to my pleasant surprise (and huge kudos to @TW Staff !), I received an outreach from Britanny at TW informing me that Tecnifibre would very much like to get my testing sample back so that they can analyze and potentially correct for any manufacturing issues. Additionally, they would be sending me a brand new replacement frame. Incredible. Huge thank you to both TW and Tecnifibre for that!
Just shipped back the playtest sample today, and will update the thread again as things move forward. Hopefully the replacement frame will be as on-spec as the initial playtest sample (I wouldn't even mind a hair lower swing weight – 290-292 unstrung would be perfect). Fingers crossed! Update again soon!
Ryebread
Hall of Fame
Alcawrath
Professional
I'm a little confused by your cross knot placement. I thought the black grommets were specifically designed to accommodate knots so that other grommet holes don't become misshapen and flared. I also am no expert, so could you enlighten me here?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!
@Ryebread - For the 305S, the main skips are indeed 8T and 10T. And the tie-offs, per the EzLock grommet mouths, are 9T for the mains and 7T and 6H for the crosses, but I follow the Richard Parnell method of only knotting crosses to crosses, at the nearest usable grommet, as it's a cleaner look, preferential for certain soft/vulnerable-enough strings (like gut), plus it allows for the rare-but-doable cross or main restring, without having to disturb or risk damaging the cross or main string when cutting away the opposing main or cross string knot tied around it. On that point, I wish Tecnifibre put EzLock grommet mouths in all the possible places where a stringer might chose to tie off the crosses, as I'm sure there have to be enough Parnell disciples like myself doing the same...
@Alcawrath - Funny that you should message on the same thing right after, but my explanation above should answer the same question. (From here forward, I'll footnote all my posted string setups with an abbreviated explanation about that, so as to not confuse others). As for the undesirable effects of flaring the grommet mouth, versus those that are specially provided to accommodate knots, yes, a slightly unfortunate side-effect, but one that, especially if properly prepared with good awl work, can be worked around well enough, to the point of being a decent enough compromise, for the sake of the benefits above. I'm sure you're find varying view points on this, though, but so far, it's worked out with 100% over 500+ string jobs for me. So that's my reference point, at least.
@Alcawrath - Funny that you should message on the same thing right after, but my explanation above should answer the same question. (From here forward, I'll footnote all my posted string setups with an abbreviated explanation about that, so as to not confuse others). As for the undesirable effects of flaring the grommet mouth, versus those that are specially provided to accommodate knots, yes, a slightly unfortunate side-effect, but one that, especially if properly prepared with good awl work, can be worked around well enough, to the point of being a decent enough compromise, for the sake of the benefits above. I'm sure you're find varying view points on this, though, but so far, it's worked out with 100% over 500+ string jobs for me. So that's my reference point, at least.
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thenewbig3
Semi-Pro
..Trip already answered above..
Alcawrath
Professional
Whoops! I should have read the thread all the way to the end before commenting on your picture!
No worries. I didn't really explain it up until you asked, so all good!
