Tennis Warehouse: Solinco Racquet Playtest

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

Another month equals another playtest for you guys! We have a limited number of Blackout 300s and Whiteout 305s. Both are available in a grip size 3. This playtest is open to USA Talk Tennis members only.

VERY IMPORTANT: Playtesters will be required to get their test racquet strung. Each racquet will be shipped with a set of Hyper-G 16 and Vanquish 16 strings.

Application period is now closed. Participants will be contact by 5 pm on February 4, 2022 via email.

We have a very limited quantity of racquets to playtest. We select playtesters based on a number of factors, including message board participation and performance on past playtests.

Your review is due by March 11, 2022 at 5 pm PST.

Posting a full review by the deadline is necessary to remain in good standing for future playtests. Reviews lacking sufficient effort will resort in disqualification from the playtest program.

Include the following in your review:

String and tension used for test:
Tennis experience/background:
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Current racquet/string setups:
How many hours did you play with the racquet?

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes:
-Serves:
-Volleys:
-Serve returns:

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control-
Top Spin/Slice-
Comfort-
Feel-
Maneuverability-
Stability-

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

TW Staff

We will delete “request sent” emails, but encourage a lively “pre-game” discussion on the racquets.

 

[taylor15]

This will be a good one! The specs on the Whiteout look to be a great blade competitor.

Does anyone know what the grip shape is like on the Solinco racquets?

 

[djNEiGht]

This will be a good one! The specs on the Whiteout look to be a great blade competitor.

Does anyone know what the grip shape is like on the Solinco racquets?

IIRC a little less round than Wilson.

 

[djNEiGht]

Interested to hear the play testers findings. I had played with the prototype Blackout and the Whiteout (no foam). I'll chime in on my experience to share with the group...granted these are the prototypes and not what is released now.

 

[FoldingChair]

I'm curious about those weighted buttcaps. Is the racquet's target spec 305 without the heavier buttcaps installed? Or is it really like a 295/300 but comes pre-installed with one of the heavier buttcaps?

 

[A_Instead]

"Good times"...once again...TW the place that keeps on giving...

 

[loosegroove]

I'm curious about those weighted buttcaps. Is the racquet's target spec 305 without the heavier buttcaps installed? Or is it really like a 295/300 but comes pre-installed with one of the heavier buttcaps?

Taken from TW's Overview of the Solinco Whiteout:

This racquet's weight and balance can be modified using Solinco's weight control modules (interchangeable butt-cap plates that enable you to add 5 or 10 grams to the stock weight)

I wonder if playtesters will receive the giftbags that include the weight kit. Looking at the Whiteout specs, seems like another 5 grams at the butt would be most bodacious.

 

[McLovin]

…and this is why I skipped the Dunlop play test. That one, to quote Terrance Fletcher, was...

 

[Crimsonchen]

Fan of the solinco strings so I'm curious how their racquets play as well as the buttcaps.

 

[taydbear7]

Love their strings so hopefully their racquet is up to standard. I'm going to follow along on this one.

 

[joah310]

Taken from the TW's Overview of the Solinco Whiteout:

This racquet's weight and balance can be modified using Solinco's weight control modules (interchangeable butt-cap plates that enable you to add 5 or 10 grams to the stock weight)

I wonder if playtesters will receive the giftbags that include the weight kit. Looking at the Whiteout specs, seems like another 5 grams at the butt would be most bodacious.

so kind of like the old donnay buttcaps?

 

[chrian]

Im excited for the blackout 300, hopefully not an arm breaker with the stiffness rating

 

[chrian]

Taken from the TW's Overview of the Solinco Whiteout:

This racquet's weight and balance can be modified using Solinco's weight control modules (interchangeable butt-cap plates that enable you to add 5 or 10 grams to the stock weight)

I wonder if playtesters will receive the giftbags that include the weight kit. Looking at the Whiteout specs, seems like another 5 grams at the butt would be most bodacious.

Man, this is actually nice for people who does not want to put leather grip on their racket

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Willing to try this one. Saving the space here if picked. Whiteout looks good.

 

[LetsPlayKennis]

Massive fan of Solinco strings so I'm very curious to see how these racquets fair. The Whiteout looks right around what I like to hit with spec-wise, and I've been a fan of white racquets for awhile.

 

[BallBasher247]

Very interesting rackets Solinco has, especially the Whiteout which is almost like a Pro Staff with a Blade weight/balance. Love the buttcap idea too.

 

[Chezbeeno]

Whiteout falls in line with my preferred specs - of course it seems like that's mostly the case for folks here. Doesn't sound like as many posters are interested in the blackout. Regardless, good luck to everyone!

 

[Bloviator]

Excited about the Blackout and future Blackout XTD

 

[taylor15]

Excited about the Blackout and future Blackout XTD

XTD = extended?

 

[Daddy's]

Wow Solinco Whiteout more popular than the duel taper Blackout, interesting

 

[djNEiGht]

5 grams at the butt would be most bodacious.

In one of the earlier prototype verions (no solinco logo on hoop and no foam), I added about 5g of silicone and it played better for me.

 

[loosegroove]

so kind of like the old donnay buttcaps?

That's immediately what came to mind.

 

[fullwesternforehand]

I wonder if they'll eventually start to venture out into different lines to match thier strings. A hyper G green or all red outlast racquet would be a pretty cool marketing opportunity.

 

[djNEiGht]

Just thought I'd chime in again. I'm withholding my experience till close to the review date. But it's in the Solinco Racquet thread all the same and Tennisnerd and Tennisspin have some videos up on their take of the racquets.

IMO - well...it's not really a secret.

Whiteout would appeal to the Blade, Strike, EZone and maybe even a radical user. The center two mains are really close.

Blackout would be PD/PA/APD, Extreme, vCore. Very open pattern and the grommets are fairly large

 

[A_Instead]

At what point in time will the comparison to Babolat stop and be made to another manufacturer?
Is Babolat still the gold standard?
I don't see it personally.. but I can be wrong and pursuated otherwise..

 

[CGTTT]

interested in the whiteout 305

 

[CGTTT]

Does this include the weight kit?

 

[fed1]

At what point in time will the comparison to Babolat stop and be made to another manufacturer?
Is Babolat still the gold standard?
I don't see it personally.. but I can be wrong and pursuated otherwise..

The Pure Drive is the gold standard of tweener success. Companies have been working for years to try to chip into that market.

 

[djNEiGht]

At what point in time will the comparison to Babolat stop and be made to another manufacturer?
Is Babolat still the gold standard?
I don't see it personally.. but I can be wrong and pursuated otherwise..

IMO, this racquet looks similar to the PA/PD and those are also very popular and some consider as you mentioned...the gold standard

Eitherway...I think it's a decent offering out there for those that like specific models from certain brands

 

[TennisViking]

Some more info about these Solinco racquets:

Racquet Preview: SOLINCO BLACKOUT & WHITEOUT | Tennis.com

The brand best known for its high-performance strings is adding two new racquet lines to its portfolio

www.tennis.com

 

[M Pillai]

I think it is purely because of the popularity. If I compare this new racket with "Solinco Pro 10", I am sure many folks won't be able to relate. Instead most tennis crazy folks (even the PD haters) have hit with PD before and can relate.

Now that being said, one of the most talked about feedback from Solinco Pro 10, was the balance point of it being too unfriendly (4pts HL). I see that whiteout still has the same balance. I hope the reduced mass makes up for it.

Also interestingly both the last protocol versions (Solinco Protocol 300 and Solinco Protocol 325) were 100sqinch head size and now even though Blackout is still 100sqinch Whiteout is 98sqinch. Also noticable that the mass/swing-weight is reduced (300&325 vs 300&305). I assume these changes may have been from feedbacks and general demand.

Now ... let us compare it with "Wilson Blade 98 (16x19)" , if that makes @A_Instead happy.

At what point in time will the comparison to Babolat stop and be made to another manufacturer?

 

[mogo]

I am interested in the Blackout 300 as I have hit with the PD. I like that it is 2pts headlight form the specs listed on TW.

@A_Instead
I think that a lot of companies try to emulate the PD as it is a racquet that is light and has tons of free power. I remember that Wilson came out with the Juice model for power and the BLX Pro Tour 96 which was an 18x20 but had a lot of similarities frame wise to the PD mold. I also hit with some Genesis frames a while back that were similar to the mold of a PD. Maybe not the “gold standard” but a well-recognized and marketed frame. From Moya, Roddick, Clijsters, Muguruza, Fognini, Taro D, Pouille, and many more not mentioned. PD’s have a wide net market wise, but also a reputation of being an elbow killer too with stiffness. Much like the blade market, I think Solinco are pulling from a very big base with both frames. I’m interested to see how these frames do as I am a huge Solinco string user.

 

[A_Instead]

I know the long history of the Pure Drive and have owned every single model since the swirly..
I know it's the gold standard based on it's long history.. everybody tries it seems.. but just can't get there I sopose..
I am just curious when or if another manufacturer will claim that spot and become the one that others emulate..
The same argument can be made for the Pure Aero.
I thought the Clash could be.. but..no one strives to emulate it..

Btw..I am not saying the pure drive is bad..
Just surprised that no other has really taken it's spot..

 

[djNEiGht]

Btw..I am not saying the pure drive is bad..
Just surprised that no other has really taken it's spot..

I hear you on this.

what would you say could potentially take the PD/PA spot?

 

[mogo]

The Clash had great marketing from the beginning it launched. But no pros really endorsed it on tour so I think that had a big impact on the consumer side. I could be wrong but just my observation. Who knows maybe Solinco could be next from strings to racquets to rise in the market. Just like another company did before .

 

[TW Staff]

@CGTTT,

Yes, the racquet will come with the weighted butt caps (+5 and +10 grams) to customize.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

 

[djNEiGht]

@CGTTT,

Yes, the racquet will come with the weighted butt caps (+5 and +10 grams) to customize.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

That is really cool!

 

[snoflewis]

got selected for the whiteout 305. it's fairly close in specs to my current stick (ps97 v11), so curious to see what this one is like.

 

[CGTTT]

Thanks, Brittany!

 

[A_Instead]

Let's bring the discussion back to these great Solinco frames...

 

[mad dog1]

As a current user of the 2012 Pure Drive and 2019 Pure Aero, I got selected to the Blackout playtest. I'm super excited to compare the Blackout to the PD12 and PA19. And this is actually one of the very few new racquets I wanted to try.

 

[fullwesternforehand]

Just got notified I am part of the blackout playtest. I’ve always been a pure drive/pure aero person so this should be fun.

Email says it comes with weighted buttcaps. Can someone explain how I install these without having to unstaple the original buttcaps? Or is it a weighted trapdoor? Appreciate any insight, thanks TW!!

 

[joah310]

Just got notified I am part of the blackout playtest. I’ve always been a pure drive/pure aero person so this should be fun.

Email says it comes with weighted buttcaps. Can someone explain how I install these without having to unstaple the original buttcaps? Or is it a weighted trapdoor? Appreciate any insight, thanks TW!!

I'm pretty sure it's just the trap door and not the whole buttcap

 

[mad dog1]

got selected for the whiteout 305. it's fairly close in specs to my current stick (ps97 v11), so curious to see what this one is like.

looks like we'll be able to exchange racquets and offer reviews on both sticks so it'll be bonus for all the TT readers!

 

[colan5934]

I think it is purely because of the popularity. If I compare this new racket with "Solinco Pro 10", I am sure many folks won't be able to relate. Instead most tennis crazy folks (even the PD haters) have hit with PD before and can relate.

Now that being said, one of the most talked about feedback from Solinco Pro 10, was the balance point of it being too unfriendly (4pts HL). I see that whiteout still has the same balance. I hope the reduced mass makes up for it.

Also interestingly both the last protocol versions (Solinco Protocol 300 and Solinco Protocol 325) were 100sqinch head size and now even though Blackout is still 100sqinch Whiteout is 98sqinch. Also noticable that the mass/swing-weight is reduced (300&325 vs 300&305). I assume these changes may have been from feedbacks and general demand.

Now ... let us compare it with "Wilson Blade 98 (16x19)" , if that makes @A_Instead happy.

Interestingly enough, Protocols were just the old pure drive mold and drill pattern - same as the donnay formula 100 with the bronze on the sides. Side by side with OG pre-woofer PD and 2018 PD, string spacing is the same. Mold the same. Grommets even fit besides a tie-off hole here and there.

 

[taylor15]

In for the whiteout 305. Really excited to try this one, especially beside my sons blades. This could be a fantastic stick to have in the bag.

 

[Vicious49]

got selected for the whiteout 305. it's fairly close in specs to my current stick (ps97 v11), so curious to see what this one is like.

In for the whiteout 305. Really excited to try this one, especially beside my sons blades. This could be a fantastic stick to have in the bag.

Same. Cant wait to check out the Whiteout.

 

[smithie]

We need some EU love in these playtests - big tennis envy right now!

 

[McLovin]

XTD = extended?

Yes. @TW Staff stated in a different thread (can't seem to find it now), that the extended versions of both lines will be available later in the year.

 

[taylor15]

Yes. @TW Staff stated in a different thread (can't seem to find it now), that the extended versions of both lines will be available later in the year.

Very cool. I never gel with extended, but great they're offering it for you guys that prefer extended.