Author Archives: RacquetQuest
Tecnifibre T-Fight 315 XTC
Tecnifibre has been making racquets for some time and it has taken some time for the racquets to gain traction! For years the racquets played off of the success of Tecnifibre strings! “If the strings are that good the racquets must be good as well”…was the thinking, I believe.
The racquets are able to stand on thier own and the relationship with the Lacoste brand certainly has helped from a “brand” perspective. Did Lacoste change the logo from the triangle to the stylized TF! I wonder?
The racquet continues the red, white and blue (French colors and the home country of Tecnifibre) graphics package and they look good! The white basic color makes the shaft look a little bulbous, in my opinion, but that has no bearing on performance!
The T-Fight XTC series offers racquet weights of 280, 295, 300, 305, and 315 grams so there is one for every level!
Even Danil Medvedev! If you watched the US Open you saw, in my opinion, one of the best of the year!
Take a look at the specifications then come in and try this racquet!
| Manufacturer | Tecnifibre |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Tecnifibre T-Fight 315 XTC |
| Reference Tension | 53 lbs - 24.0 kg |
| String | Tecnifibre Duramix HD 16 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 51 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 64.5 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 63 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 55 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 384.8 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 338 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.92 |
| Balance, mm | 312 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.28 |
| Length, Cm | 68.85 |
| Length, Inch | 27.106 |
| Head Width | 9.63 |
| Head Length | 12.93 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 631.1 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 97.8 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .627 |
| Main String Grid | 7.62 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.25 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .798 |
| Average Cross String Space | .539 |
| Average Main String Space | .476 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.7 |
| First Moment, Nm | .802 |
| Polar Moment | 333 |
| Torsional Stability | 16 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 317 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.18 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 329 |
| Power, RDC | 50 |
| Control, RDC | 50 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 75 |
| Power, Calculated | 1973.2 |
| Head Points | 10.16 (negative = head heavy) |
| Head Weight, % | 45.3% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.4 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.91 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 28.2 |
| K, Lb/In | 163.4 |
| Recoil Weight | 167.4 |
| Twist Weight | 235.1 |
| End Weight | 148.6 |
| Tip Weight | 192/0 |
| 9 O'Clock | 99.5 |
| 3 O'Clock | 97.2 |
| Butt Cap | 143.5 |
Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD
Have you ever wanted to play with a Yonex Pro racquet but really want a 18 x 20 string pattern? Well your want’s have come true! The new Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD is that racquet and it is here!
The great new green and gold cosmetic creates a “menacing” tool for your game. This is a “thin” beam racquet measuring 20.0mm through out the length which results in a flexible racquet. That flex combined with the “mesh” material in the grip area should make this a comfortable hit with just enough feed-back to be helpful.
The 18 x 20 string pattern, thus the “HD” designation, makes this a control oriented racquet allowing for massive strokes for increased ball rotation. The “HD” should contribute to extended string durability but if this raacquet suits your playing style string durability is not top on list of considerations!
Yonex says “For advanced players looking to play aggressively with added precision, feel, and stability”.
Other VCore Pro 97 racquets wil be here soon but in the meantime take a look at the specifications of the VCore Pro 97 HD.
| Manufacturer | Yonex |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD |
| Reference Tension | 55 lbs - 24.9 kg |
| String | Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 56 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 64.5 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 57 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 50 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 353.8 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 336 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.85 |
| Balance, mm | 322 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.68 |
| Length, Cm | 68.5 |
| Length, Inch | 26.968 |
| Head Width | 9.57 |
| Head Length | 12.54 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 625.8 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 97.0 |
| Number of Main Strings | 18 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .687 |
| Main String Grid | 7.25 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.18 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .783 |
| Average Cross String Space | .509 |
| Average Main String Space | .403 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 37 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 206.94 |
| First Moment, Nm | .831 |
| Polar Moment | 340 |
| Torsional Stability | 16 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 324 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.43 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 348.4 |
| Power, RDC | 42 |
| Control, RDC | 59 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 71 |
| Power, Calculated | 1740.5 |
| Head Points | 6.46 (negative = head heavy) |
| Head Weight, % | 47.0% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.0 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.50 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 28.2 |
| K, Lb/In | 179.5 |
| Recoil Weight | 160.8 |
| Twist Weight | 230.8 |
| End Weight | 139.8 |
| Tip Weight | 196.2 |
| 9 O'Clock | 100.4 |
| 3 O'Clock | 99.6 |
| Butt Cap | 135.6 |
Tecnifibre T-Flash 285
As I was working on this racquet I am thinking about the category in which this will be placed by me, and others probably, and I need to put it in the “game improvement” category!
Typically “game improvement” racquets are very large, ultra light, head heavy, and stiff! The T-Flash falls into this category because it is stiff! None of the other characteristics apply!
This racquet has a stiffness of RDC 70! This compares to the Wilson Ultra, and the Babolat Pure Drive, except it is not as heavy as either of those racquets.
To me the weight is an issue that can be remedied, and the very open string pattern mitigates the stiffness and keeps the effective stiffness below 30.
If you are considering a “power” oriented racquet this one should be on the list!
Adding Ashaway MonoGut ZX string to the mix assures the player of comfortable hitting!
Take a look at the specifications… then hit with it!
| Manufacturer | Tecnifibre |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Tecnifibre T-Flash 285 |
| Reference Tension | 55 lbs - 24.9 kg |
| String | Ashaway MonoGut ZX |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 51 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 68 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 70 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 56 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 413.8 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 315 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.11 |
| Balance, mm | 336 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.23 |
| Length, Cm | 68.5 |
| Length, Inch | 26.968 |
| Head Width | 9.57 |
| Head Length | 12.92 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 626.4 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 97.1 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .624 |
| Main String Grid | 7.75 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.31 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .823 |
| Average Cross String Space | .543 |
| Average Main String Space | .484 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.7 |
| First Moment, Nm | .822 |
| Polar Moment | 330 |
| Torsional Stability | 14 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 316 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.15 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 355 |
| Power, RDC | 56 |
| Control, RDC | 45 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 76 |
| Power, Calculated | 2147.6 |
| Head Points | 2.05 (negative = head heavy) |
| Head Weight, % | 49.1% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.7 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.91 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 29.5 |
| K, Lb/In | 163.4 |
| Recoil Weight | 142.9 |
| Twist Weight | 216.4 |
| End Weight | 113.0 |
| Tip Weight | 197.1 |
| 9 O'Clock | 95.7 |
| 3 O'Clock | 99.1 |
| Butt Cap | 115.2 |
Brittany Tagliareni: Person…Tennis Player…Friend
We hope you will enjoy this video that was aired recently on The Tennis Channel!
We have been working with Brittany and her Mother, Cathy for several years and they have been the most wonderfuly enlighting years!
What Brittany allowed us to do was try to configure the racquet, grip and string setup that would provide the best tactile feedback and consistency. Brittany is currently using a Yonex SV100 and Ashaway MonoGut ZX string.
If you don’t already know Brittany the following video will get you accquainted.
Tecnifibre TF 40 305
As you know Racquet Quest is always interested in racquet models from any brand and while Tecnifibre is not a new brand it is, in my opinion, just beginning to gain traction in this market.
Tecnifibre has always been associated with some of the best multi-filament strings available.
The racquet we are reviewing today is the Tecnifibre TF 40, 305 gram version. I would place this racquet in the “player” category, if you believe in such categories, and the 21.7mm beam confirms where most “players” find themselves. The 18×20 string pattern also contributes to the categorical placement.
There is a 305 gram version of the TF 40 and a 315 gram version both having the 18×20 string pattern. I believe there needs to be a 16×19 string pattern to complete the TF 40 series.
The TF 40 series is a no-frill approach to racquets. The red, white, blue, and black graphics look good as does the “knurled” outer surface of the racquet head.
Take a look at the “play ready”, string, overgrip, vibration damper, specifications below to see how it stacks up, then come by and try it!
| Manufacturer | Tecnifibre |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Tecnifibre TF 40 305 |
| Reference Tension | 53 lbs - 24.9 kg |
| String | Tecnifibre HD MX 16 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 60 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 69.5 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 60 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 43 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 376.3 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 329 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.61 |
| Balance, mm | 332 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.07 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.008 |
| Head Width | 9.57 |
| Head Length | 12.86 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 623.3 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 96.6 |
| Number of Main Strings | 18 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .670 |
| Main String Grid | 7.625 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.125 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .786 |
| Average Cross String Space | .506 |
| Average Main String Space | .417 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 39 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 218.3 |
| First Moment, Nm | .846 |
| Polar Moment | 337 |
| Torsional Stability | 16 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 321 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.32 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 362.6 |
| Power, RDC | 41 |
| Control, RDC | 61 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 73 |
| Power, Calculated | 1879.3 |
| Head Points | 3.46 (negative = head heavy) |
| Head Weight, % | 48.4% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.5 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.21 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 30.0 |
| K, Lb/In | 192.3 |
| Recoil Weight | 146.3 |
| Twist Weight | 226.0 |
| End Weight | 127.6 |
| Tip Weight | 202.0 |
| 9 O'Clock | 98.7 |
| 3 O'Clock | 100.7 |
| Butt Cap | 127.8 |
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