A review of the Tecnifibre TF40 305. I compare it to some others in its class - the Yonex Vcore pro 97 HD and the Head Graphene 360+Prestige MP. I discuss its merits at the baseline, at net and on serve.
Amazing racquet, just tried mine (the 305, w Techni Ice Code 17 /1.25 at 52 pounds) today. Excellent stable volley, lots of control & consistent serves. Took about 30 mins to adjust my ground strokes & backhand due to smaller head size after switching from a 100 sq inch Head Youtek Graphene Speed Pro. Very impressed so far. Thanks for the in depth review Andy, very helpful infos to help me decide on it 👍🏻 For those who want a tweener with excellent control & good power (good comfort too), it’s a great option to consider!
Hi, since you mentioned the launch angle and potential benefit of a 16x19 version: I just thought I'd leave a message that my recent demo of the new tf40 305 at 16x19 was super positive, and feels like a potential switch. Great feel, comfort, and balance.
loved this review! Have you tested the new TFight RS 305? I wonder how the 2 compare? looking at the specs and other reviews, the TF40 should still have more control but many seem to have problems getting good court depths due to the lack of power. The TFight RS could be a good compromise, if they managed to increase control in this new version.
I love the feel and stability of this racquet which feels very tempting for me to switch to due to elbow sensitivity and this racquet does not bother my arm at all. However, as a PS 97 user, it's a big switch and don't feel i am ready to commit to the 3pts HL balance
Great to see videos of the actual hitting but any chance you could focus on the angle from above and behind so we can get a sense of the ball trajectory?
Thanks for a great in-depth review. Was also nice to see camera footage with you hitting down the court. Good looking, compact strokes! 👍 There appears to be a current trend towards more polarised frames with higher SW for weight and closer to even balance layups like the TF40, Blade and Gravity rackets. The TF40 is probably the most polarised amongst these and it’s a plow monster indeed. Great classic, sold feel. Shame about the QC variance on the rackets, but at least you have one which you like! Will probably need to weight them up at ~333-335g to get them closely matched and hopefully that will still be in your comfortable spec range. My small concern with these rackets with polarised layups is that the SWs can be pretty high when they miss and that’s not always easy to fix!
Love your reviews. You're so thorough and your voice is soothing. Q. You said you had the 93p 14x18 in your previous video. I am thinking about getting it for myself. Would you recommend it for a modern player that wants to play with lots of topspin? Does it eat string that much? Also would it be better to get it over the other great racquets available like the TF40, which seems to be almost your favorite right now? I was thinking that maybe practicing with a midsize might help with my game, but if not I may just buy the TF40.. quite hard to make a decision.
sam jung hi, thanks for the comment, pleased the reviews are helpful. Yes I have the new 93 p, will review it at some point. It has better spin and a bigger sweet spot than you would expect for a 93 sq inch head (the head is gravity like, pearl). The open pattern version does eat strings a bit. For me, it is lovely to play with but it is hard to play well with it. I would expect most people will play much better with a racket like the TF40. Hope that helps.
Hey Andy great job with your reviews. Keep up the good work and keep them coming. I am switching to the TF40 and am looking for a good poly. When you used the Tourbite Soft did you opt for 16 or 17 gauge. Thanks, Steve
Hey Steve, thanks for the comment. I had 16 and that worked well. Another favourite string of mine at the moment is babolat rpm power. Used by thiem. It’s excellent in my racket of choice and the t f 40. Would recommend that too 👍
Great reviews! How would you say the launch angle is in the TF40 compared to the Wilson Ultra Tour 97? And maybe also compared to the Angell TC 97 18x20 if you have tried that one? I found the launch angle in the UT to be perfect for me but in the TC97 the string spacing was too tight and the launch angle slightly too low.
Roar Nicolaisen hi, thanks for the comment. I would say the launch angle is similar but you can get more and better spin from The TF40 (the grommets I suspect), particularly if you string low tension. I am torn between the two - the ultra tour and the tf40 are very much my go to sticks now. Have not hit the Angell, it is on my list to review though .
Thanks for your reviews and racquet tech videos! I am currently testing the TFight 305 XTC and the TF40 305 and having a hard time making a choice between the two. I really love the feel of the TF40, though. Curious if you made the switch to the TF40 or are still considering doing so. Thanks again!
Sid Sandilya hi, both good rackets aren’t they! Tough, as without any competitions, and with playing with a lot of different rackets for reviews it feels like the decision is on hold! What I would say though is that I have been hitting with the Wilson ultra Pro and it will be between that and the TF40 - I will not go back to the xtc now - having been playing long enough again now to be wanting that extra bit of control . Hope that helps, if I was wanting a bit note easy power and pop I would not have switched away from the xtc.
I wonder how the hoop shape is compared to the TFight 305 XTC, a racquet which I think is bigger than 98 in², at least compared to the 98 in² frames I own. I'm a die-hard dense pattern player and own most of the good ones currently available. And I admit, I love their QC, but Yonex *never* has gelled with me-something about the string response/feel that never seems "alive". p.s. When starting with a new frame I highly suggest the Stringway tension advisor to get your dynamic tension correct on the first go: that may have helped you not start too tight as you did with the first string job with the Dunlop. Cheers from California /CoachTJ
Hello, I'm coming from a Babolat APD 2013 GT. I'm looking for a new racket because it feels terribly unstable on my backhand side. I also can't rip fully through the ball without getting to long at my topspin shots. I'm hitting my forehand with a spin oriented topspin technique with a lot if wrist and forearm movement. Also I prefer heavy fast and spin oriented groundstrokes over volleys. I have already tried the blade 2015 16x19 but it was too powerfull and the control suffered. I wasn't comfortable by hitting groubdstrokes, it felt a bit clunky. I found it strangly difficult to generate spin with it. Also tried the HEAD extreme MP but the launch angle seems to high for me to fully rip through the ball. The pure strike 16x19 po7 wasnt too bad but I didn't like the feel it gaves me. Also I found the sweetspot was quiet small. Yonex ai98 felt to unstable with much less plow through. Can you compare the blade 2015 16x19 with the v7 16x19? Or would recommend to go with the 18x20? What's the feel of this TF40 compared to the po7 and the blades? Or is there another raquet you would recommend? All racquets were strung with solinco tour bite 125mm around 23 kg. I'm playing with a semi western forehand grip. I would be more than happy to get a feedback. Many thanks in advance, Jo
Black widow has a somewhat lock stringbed, less snapback which gives a lower launch angle. What works for me are stiffer strings like hyper g or tourbite at low tension on 18x20 somewhere at 40lbs. Gives a better launch angle but still with control
dj Blackwing Hi, for sure, that was certainly the case here. I like the rough nature of black widow for rotations on the ball but it’s not right in the TF40 . Thanks for the comment.
The Tecnifibre spec says +-7g right? Wow, french precision ... ;) unbelievable Really waiting for the Gravity Test, I am right on the way to buy one and give that a chance against my DR 98. Or do you have another advice for me, maybe the vcore pro 97 hd? Thanks for your honest reviews, best wishes from Germany Andre
Andre Zachrau Hi Andre, yes that’s right - on my TFight XTC 305’s they are ver close but the two TF40’s are certainly a bit different! Can easily fix with some customisation. Gravity reviews about a week away! Worth trying the 2020 Ezone, closer to the DR than the previous. Worth hitting with the Vcore Pro HD too, it is good. I do think this TF40 is better though than the Yonex. Thanks for the comment 👍
Hi, is this frame worth getting? I came from old prestige mps and ultra tours. Currently Im using a modified speed pro 360 +. It gave me a combination of control and power but like you Im still on the look out for a viable 97-98 sq inch 18x20 frame. Any recommendation aside from the 360 prestige Mp.
dj Blackwing hi, I think it’s worth looking at yes. I feel like I’m in a long pre season - no tennis to play apart from hits, so no need to decide but what I can say is that I will move away from my xtc to an 18x20, my game has recovered enough now and my racket of choice will be the TF40, blade v7 18x20 or the Ultra Tour modified. They are all super and suited to me. I’m reviewing so many that it doesn’t help but I come back to those 3 all the time. I don’t think it will disappoint you and I have recommended it to about 4 people now who all love it and use it. Cheers, Andy
Curious to know if you did end up switching to this or not? I'm in the market for a tecnifibre racquet and it's between tf40 305 and fight XTC 305 but unfortunately dont have the option to demo either (no one carries them! ) So just going by online pros reviews etc. I'm a baseline player (not many drops) but lots of backspin on both sides, big serve guy. Play more doubles than singles.plz help!
Hassan Muhammad hi there. Unfortunately had a few rainy days in the UK so not as much court time to decide on the switch. Shame you can’t demo both, they have some similarities but the string pattern does make them different. If a lot of spin it important to you I would go with the TFight, if not so worried about spin, I think the TF40 is the better racket overall. If you go with it make sure you string low and experiment with strings though - I’m still doing so. Hope that helps
I think you should be able to easily match your two racquets with a bit of lead : 2g @12 in the lower SW racquet and 5g in buttcap of the higher SW racquet and you'd be good to go :)
Hi I wonder if you could offer some advice please? I played a lot in my teens on grass and I'm now getting back into tennis in my early 40's and play mostly on clay. I'm starting to play some competitive matches within my club and would like a second racket that gives me more confidence than my current racket which is a Dunlop Aerogel 400 circa 2006. The Dunlop feels great on power and spin (almost too much power) but I don't feel connected and the racket feels a bit panicked and lightweight on contact, I just don't have that 'connected' feel. I would like to have something with better touch and feel that gives me more confidence near the net as I naturally come into the net. Would this TF40 be ok do you think as I saw a review and it seems to tick all the boxes? The swing weight is heavier but I think that might be a good thing for control? Also my favourite shot is the backhand slice is it good at that?
Hi, yes I think that it would be a good option. It could be a fairly big change as I think the Dunlop 400 Aerogel is a 100 sq inch and 16x19 string pattern? If you are looking for more touch and feel, strength at net but still want a 16x19, 100 sq inch then you might want to check out the dunlop fx 500. That is stiffer than your current so watch out for that on your arm. Other great rackets for slice, touch and feel and stable at net - Head Graphene 360 +Prestige MP (my racket of choice), the v 7 blade line is decent too, also the yonex vcore 97 HD could be worth a shot. Hope that helps. Testing and Demo the key i think
@@tenniseuphoria5012 Yes the Dunlop is 100 sq inch and 16x19 but I'm willing to keep my options open. I will try and demo these suggestions. Thanks very much for your help and advice!
Koray Ipek hi, good shout - they are 2 that should compare indeed. I would say similar levels of control, but with the balance and weight distribution of the TF40 you get a feeling of more mass and clout. The TF40 feels a bit more solid and I think you get better spin. I think the Ultra Tour is great if you add a bit of lead at the top, with lead it is close to being as good as the TF40. Both great sticks! (But the TF40 plays well in stock and in stock better than the ultra tour I think).
Tnx for in depth reviews... but can you compare grommets of this n new ezone . Also can you compared the head shapes of this to gravity pro and new ezone 100sq in. Can you overlay the racquet heads to show differences??? Tnxx
Im using the yonex97 hd. But didnt try the TF yet. What did you like better on the TF. I was using dunlop cx200 tour and that was also a good control racket and easy to play with. However i feel like the dunlop lack a bit of power where as the yonex is also more stable and good quality control.
oat oat hi, totally agree with the Dunlop, really nice but lacks some punch, have added tape to mine and improved it. The TF’s feel I preferred, I like the Yonex HD but just trust the TF more, overall, ideal launch angle for me and more precise in the shot. Hope that helps
@@tenniseuphoria5012 yep. Love your channel and review. I also like to add that i used to play with high string tension 60+ but with the 18x20 i changed it to 52lbs and it feels right. Alot of control and feel with comfort and power. Again. Personal preference.
@@tenniseuphoria5012 with yonex. If i over swing the ball. It will shoot abit off the court since it has thin beam and fairly heavy. With dunlop. Its just a light racket what people will really full swing will still make it in. I feel like yonex you have to let the racket do the work and make sure you are accurate and dont over drive the ball. :)
