TECHNIFIBRE 2013 TFight 295 TP Tennis Racquet Review
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Groundstrokes
The TFight 295 is still a confidence inspiring frame off the ground. Shots are solid from both wings and the racquet’s 95” head plays more forgiving than other 95’s. While ground strokes don’t feel as heavy as with the more weighty models, there is still enough pop and spin to keep the ball fairly deep into the court, especially on flat shots. The frame’s lighter weight really allows you to accelerate through the hitting zone, but if you come from a heavier racquet, it may take a bit to adjust your timing. Shots hit with lots of topspin seemed to sit up a bit more than with the heavier TFights, but the 295 is very easy to transition from topspin into a flatter shot. I found this racquet to have a cleaner feel off center than some of the other TFights (mostly the 320). The biggest obstacle with the 295 is handling the pace of bigger hitters. I really missed the added mass of the 315, 320 and 325 when I was dealing with players who hit big off the ground. The 295 has a higher tendency to twist in your hand when involved in ground stroke rallies with heavy hitters. This is an issue that could be solved by adding some lead to the frame if desired. Mid range players should be able to find plenty of stability and power with the 295.
Volleys
Volleys with the 295 were a mixed bag for me. The racquet was easy to maneuver due to the light weight and reasonably head light balance. The 295 is not as head light as other models, which is probably a good thing. I think if it was more head light, the frame would be a bit too whippy at the net. Although I enjoyed the maneuverability of the 295 at net, I missed the mass of the heavier models. I felt like volleys had a tendency to float a bit and were not as penetrating as with the higher weight frames in the line. Touch was still adequate and I could execute drop volleys with reasonable success. Similar to my experience with ground strokes, there was a bit of tendency for some touch volleys to sit up for opponents to make a play on. Also like ground strokes, volleying shots from bigger hitters resulted in some twisting and jarring in the frame. This again feels like a result of lower weight as opposed to a fundamental issue with the racquet itself.
Serves
The TFight 295 generates good racquet speed for serving, allowing you to flatten serves out if desired. While the pace is adequate, I found my flat serves were not penetrating as deep into the service box as models with more mass. While I liked the pace, I would have preferred to get the ball deeper into the box to take some time away from the returner. Slice serves were effective with the 295. As a lefty, I found it easy to keep my slice serve low and skidding, especially on the ad side. Kick serves had a decent amount of movement but landed short and seemed to sit up for my opponents. I felt the 295 just didn’t generate the heavy kick of other frames. The spin would come, but it was short enough for opponents to make the necessary adjustments to deal with it. Directional control was good. I had no trouble moving serves from out wide to up the T.
Comfort
The 295 was a comfortable racquet. I prefer racquets with more weight, so at times I felt I was over swinging the 295 in an attempt to compensate for its lighter weight which could lead to some fatigue. I found the 295 to have solid feel on off center shots and be a bit less jarring than other frames in the line, like the 320.
Overall
The TFight 295 is a great choice for the mid range player, developing junior or player who wants to do some customizing. It is solid from the baseline and can perform at the net. It serves with adequate pace and control but serves with spin may sit up for opponents. I feel the 295 is best suited to 3.0-4.0 play or players with medium length strokes in stock form. Players may want to add some weight in order for the 295 to stand up to bigger hitters as they develop.
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