Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19 Racquet Review

Groundstrokes - Score: 85

According to our playtest team, the Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19 provides amazing feel at contact. During difficult matches, the forgiving sweetspot maintains power and depth, promoting player confidence with shot placement. Mark described his experience as "familiar from the get-go." He continued, "Tecnifibre's update to the TF40 305 frame felt very similar to the prior 18-main frame, but the 16x19 pattern added more variety to my game, making it easier to shape my groundstrokes with both arc and spin. Happily, the open pattern is still tight enough to not drastically alter the quality of my backhand slice. I could consistently absorb the pace of my opponent's shots, change the direction of the ball, and occasionally sneak a winner past them."

Chris has extensive experience with previous TF40 models, so he knew what to expect here. He described, "The TF40 305 16x19 was a fun, fun racquet to hit groundstrokes with. The stringbed felt very forgiving, with a plush response and a large sweetspot. The difference in feel between this one and the 18x20 version was starker than expected. Here, the ball felt like it sank into the stringbed much more. I also found a higher trajectory on my topspin groundstrokes and a bit more float to my slices. Getting depth was easier when rallying, but the tradeoff was that it was also easier to miss long when trying to put the ball away. I liked the level of power the racquet offered and was hitting with solid pace. The more I hit with the TF40 305 16x19, the more I appreciated what it had to offer, and my confidence grew. However, going into a match, I'm still going to grab the more precise 18x20 version."

Brittany was excited to try this version because it aligns closely with her preferred specifications. She said, "The racquets that launched in the first generation of the TF40 line were a little out of my spec range, but with the introduction of the 16x19 string pattern, they took a step closer to what I prefer. I was actually surprised when I picked up the racquet and had little to no adjustment period. This racquet offered me plenty of control, and I felt I could be very precise with my groundstrokes. I was able to take more calculated risks by aiming for lower-percentage targets. The 16x19 pattern did offer slightly more power than the 18x20, which I appreciated, but I was still finding a couple more shots coming back (with gusto), especially on approach shots."

Jason added, "What a difference a few strings make! I playtested the original TF40 with the 18x20 string pattern, and although I thought it was a solid racquet, this updated version with the 16x19 string pattern plays really, really nicely and is a better fit for me. I thought it was maneuverable and more forgiving, and of course it had much easier access to spin. One of my favorite shots to hit was my backhand slice. It has a nice mix of power and control; there was enough pop to put a ball away, and I felt like I could swing out 100 percent without fear of losing control."

Volleys - Score: 85

With an optimal balance of speed and stability, the Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19 is a versatile weapon that can handle all aspects of the volley. Brittany explained, "This racquet felt maneuverable and stable. I was never late to the ball, and I never felt like I was being pushed around. There was plenty of feel, and I felt confident hitting a variety of volleys, even some touch volleys to pull my opponent forward. I felt very connected to the stringbed and knew exactly where the ball was going."

Jason noted how the racquet's connected feel provided effortless volley production. He said, "I really liked the feel and feedback this racquet provides, especially up at net. I felt very connected to my volleys. Quick maneuverability, easy pop, spin and good control — there wasn't much to dislike here."

When at net, Mark found that he could let the TF40 305 16x19 do most of the work. He said, "The slightly higher launch angle only required a small adjustment from me at net since I have been playing with lots of tight-patterned frames lately. Once I was used to that aspect, and so long as I got the racquet into position on time, the racquet did the rest of the job for me."

"I liked how this racquet fit my net game," Chris said. "I felt very much in control of my volleys and was placing them well. The response felt great, with a forgiving sweetspot and a plush feel. I thought the TF40 305 16x19 had a nice blend of control and power for volleying. I felt just as confident punching volleys aggressively as I did slicing a delicate angle. The racquet was maneuverable enough to feel quick in my hands, yet also stable enough to stand up to fast incoming shots."

Serves - Score: 85

It's important to take the player's preferences into account when looking at the Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19's serving performance. Those who prefer dense control frames will find easier power with similar control, while those who like open-patterned racquets will need to speed up their swings to achieve their typical serving power. Preferring the former, Chris, who prefers dense control frames, said, "One of my favorite shots to hit with the TF40 305 16x19 was the serve. I felt like I didn't have to work as hard to get the same pace as I get with the 18x20 version. I liked the access to spin and was able to get some nice action on my slice serves. When flattening serves out, I was able to find my targets with solid pace. The racquet felt fast through contact, while the response was plush and comfortable, so there were no complaints from me!"

Though Brittany usually prefers more power-oriented frames on the serve, she still found some success with the TF40 305 16x19. She described, "Similar to groundstrokes, I wasn't hitting my fastest serves with this racquet. However, with the precision and spin potential, I was able to mix up my serve and focus more on targets than pace. I loved serving out wide to the deuce court and down the middle on the ad, and I was still able to maintain a neutral to offensive position. I am happy to say I never experienced any arm fatigue with the racquet, so I was consistent with my second serves. As long as I went up and after the second, the spin would bring it back down."

Mark enjoys serving with Tecnifibre racquets and finds they work well with his game. He said, "I have played with quite a few Tecnifibre frames, and I feel that my serve is complemented by all of them in some way. Specifically, the blend of this frame's weight, balance, stiffness, string spacing, etc., helped my serve to the point where it took some pressure off of my ground game, making both the serve and return my favorite shots to hit with it."

Jason noted that the racquet's other shining benefits make up for the lower power level. He said, "What I loved about serving with this racquet was the combination of three elements: how easy it was to swing and accelerate, the access to spin and the control. Even though this racquet wasn't as powerful as I would've liked, those three aspects still allowed my serve to be quite effective."

Returns - Score: 87

The Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19 is a returning machine, and all of the playtesters had positive remarks on its performance. Chris began by saying, "The TF40 305 16x19 felt like the more forgiving version on returns. I was finding a bigger sweetspot at impact and easier depth on my shots compared to the 18x20 version. I liked that I got the spin and zip close to what I get from the TFight 305 RS but still found that sweet TF40 feel. I was able to rip topspin returns with lots of spin and pace. It also felt like my returns were moving nicely through the court, which I put down to the racquet's healthy swingweight. At first, my slice returns were not as knifing as with the 18x20 version, but as I gave this racquet more time, that shot started feeling almost as natural."

Mark found that the TF40 305 16x19 allowed him to force his opponents into difficult situations off his returns. He explained, "I was able to get pretty sneaky by stepping into the court while returning serve with the TF40 305 16x19. Similar to serving with this racquet, the quality of my return was such that it placed more pressure on my opponent rather than on my groundstrokes."

Brittany could swing big with the TF40 and rely on the racquet's precise response. She said, "I loved this racquet on returns because I didn't feel like I had to hold back. I could swing freely without fear of overhitting. I could go after both first and second serves. Returns are a big part of my game, and if I don't feel confident with them, I can struggle at times. I felt very in control of the ball and where it was going. The Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19 ticks all the boxes."

As with volleys, Jason noted the supreme feel at contact. He said, "I felt like I was able to be aggressive on my returns with this racquet. The whippiness allowed me to take full cuts at the ball. It had enough control and access to spin to help bring my returns down into play. With the great feel, I felt so well connected to my shots that I even attempted, and successfully pulled off, a few drop shot returns."

Overall - Score: 86