Tecnifibre TFX1 98 Review

The Tecnifibre TFX1 is the power line from the French brand. They have now introduced a 98 sq inch racquet. Here is our Tecnifibre TFX1 98 review.

Our Tecnifibre TFX1 98 review was conducted with several play-testers trying the racquet. Daniel, Leah, Roger and Dennis all tried it alongside myself. These are players of various age groups (67 to 23), levels, and preferences. You can check out our Tecnifibre TFX1 98 review video on our YouTube channel.

Before we move into more technical details, I want to reiterate that the TFX1 series is for players looking for extra depth and height from the racquet. This is not for players who crave more control, even if it is 98 sq inches in head size.

Technology

The TFX1 series are stiffer, thicker-beamed racquets that rely on dampening tech called X-Damp. This is a steel part placed in an elastomer pocket in the shaft so that it moves in opposition to the force of each ball impact. The result: 36% less harmful vibrations for the arm and less fatigue. Does it work? Yes, the X-Damp does seem to dampen vibrations, but the racquet is still relatively stiff so it doesn’t mean it is the most elbow-friendly racquet on the market.

The racquet plays faster than its pretty high swing weight metric. The aerodynamic properties seem to work well despite the 24.5 mm thick beam, which is a likely deal-breaker to players who prefer more classic cross sections, but does give the racquet greater power and stability. Tecnifibre claims that their Isoflex tech, which is variable rigidity around the head (not exactly sure what this means in practice), widens the sweet spot.

Specifications

I put the racquet on our Metortune tuning center and was surprised to see a high swing weight of 308 unstrung. This brings the strung racquet close to 340 swing weight, which is too high for most club-level players. For reference, an on-specification Pro Staff RF97 Autograph has a 340-strung swing weight but obviously with a higher static weight. The racquet plays faster than its high swing weight, but I would recommend most players add a little weight to the handle to balance it better. This always depends on preferences and what specifications you get on your racquet.

Playability

As stated above, this racquet is in the power and spin category. You can find other 98-inch spin racquets here. This racquet packs a bit more power than those racquets. You get loads of easy depth and power with the Tecnifibre TFX1 98. One of our play-testers said it almost felt like cheating when you played with this racquet. The easy depth and height makes it a fun racquet to use, but when you get tight in match situations, there is a risk the ball will fly on you unless you really groove with this style of racquet. I think more classically schooled players who hit with flatter trajectories will struggle to rein in the power and the high launch angle, while modern players who take big cuts at the ball with western/semi-western grips, should find themselves more at home.

Daniel, who plays with a heavily customized Babolat Pure Aero VS, really loved the racquet’s performance. He is a picky play-tester, and these days, he values more help from the racquet.

Leah, who uses a Wilson Blade 104 V7, thought the racquet was easy to use, but felt a bit “strange” and “toyish” on impact and wasn’t a fan of the muted feel.

Roger, who is 67 but still plays with a Furi Arma Pro 98 strung with a full bed of Toroline Caviar at 49 lbs, enjoyed the racquet but felt a bit too stiff on the arm and wrist.

Dennis, a Babolat Pure Drive 98 user, was more of a fan and liked the racquet a lot and likened it in many ways to his racquet of choice. He did appreciate the dampening, but thought the ball was flying a bit with a poly around 50 lbs and would prefer it strung at 53 or 55 lbs.

Pros and cons

The Tecnifibre TFX1 98 is a relatively extreme racquet for the head size. It is the most powerful 98 sq inch racquet I have tried, perhaps in close competition to the Pure Drive 98. The Aero 98 is not far from it, but I do feel a bit better confidence with the Aero 98.

Pros +

POWER, great on serve!
SPIN, feels really at home on a clay court
LAUNCH ANGLE, easy depth
FASTER THAN ITS SPECS, aerodynamics work

Cons –

LACK OF CONTROL, too much of the good stuff
CAN BE A TAD UNPREDICTABLE, very open string pattern
HIGH SWING WEIGHT, can be tough to maneuver in some situations

Summary

There are several things to like about the TFX1 98. Its free depth, height, and pace allow you to really push your opponents back and take charge of the points. You can use the power on serve and go for some blistering 1-2-punch combinations.

All this power comes with great responsibility. You must use racquet head speed to whip up enough spin to control the ball. Going for big targets is wise. Alternatively, you really need to shorten up your swings and play with a lot of wrist, but that is not sustainable for most players.

I would have preferred a denser string pattern for better precision. I felt this more acutely at the net, where it was challenging to be exact. However, this is not in the nature of the racquet. It is a pretty extreme racquet, which makes it a lot of fun, but not always reliable, which is why I hesitate, personally, to bring it into a match situation.

A nice stick, with lots to like, but some things to dislike as well. It has plenty of character, that is for sure. If you are looking for more control from Tecnifibre, check out the excellent TF40 or the interesting Tfight 305.

Let me know in the comments what you think of the TFX1 98.