TECHNIFIBRE 2013 TFight 315 18M Tennis Racquet Review
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Groundstrokes
This racquet is very solid off the ground. The silicone in the handle cuts vibration way down, making even off center shots feel solid. Both of the 315 frames have a lower RA and are more flexible than other TFight frames. The result for me was that I felt like the frame really produced a longer dwell time with the ball. I felt like I could hold ground strokes a bit longer and still direct them to all areas of the court. The lower stock swing weight and head light balance make it easy to generate good racquet head speed in order to keep the ball deep. Players who can generate their own power are going to be able to maximize this racquet. The 18M is more control oriented than its 16M brother so it doesn’t generate quite as much spin. The solid directional control allows you to hit laser like groundstroke from all areas of the court however. It had plenty of stability for me against bigger hitters but some may want to add a touch of lead tape to the top of the hoop for a little more plow through on heavy balls.
Volleys
Volleys with the 18M are just as solid as with the other 315 frame. The head light balance makes it a cinch to maneuver at the net and it is very quick to handle reflex volleys. I felt good punch on put away volleys and had great directional control for hitting angle volleys into the corners. The tighter string pattern of the 18M resulted in not quite as much bite on drop volleys but touch and feel were still excellent.
Serves
This is where I had to make an adjustment. My previous racquet was the same static weight but had a significantly higher swingweight. With this racquet early on, I found I was swinging too hard. Once I focused on serving with a smooth and relaxed motion, serving was great. Directional control on serves is great and you can easily move serves from out wide to up the T. The 18M doesn’t quite match its 16M brother for spin on kick serves but it still produces an amount on par with other 18x20 frames. The 315’s really seem to keep slice serves low and skidding, which for me was a very effective tool out wide in the ad court. I felt the pace and depth on serves was good with the 18M and it leaves plenty of room for players to add some weight if they want to make their serve even heavier.
Comfort
Both the 315 16M and 18M have a different feel from others in the TFight line. They are significantly more flexible. This results in a softer feel and for me, a bit more comfortable package overall. The trade off is that they don’t generate as much of their own power as other frames in the line. Power is there, you just have to be capable of using your mechanics to bring it out.
Overall
The 315 18M, much like the 16M, is an exceptional entry in the player frame category. Players who place a premium on feel and control will have a lot to love in this frame. It is a precision weapon from all areas of the court. Advanced 4.0 and higher players with sound mechanics will get the most out of the lower power, high control orientation of the 315 18M. Its low stock swing weight and head light balance also leave plenty of room for player’s who want to customize to their desired specs.
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