squash racquet review

Team Tecnifibre

tecnifibre

The Tecnifibre Carboflex 130 Has become the top selling racket in the new 2009 squash racket range. The new range of Carboflex rackets feature the ‘Isomorph Shaft’ which is an added tendon in the racket’s shaft that increases stiffness up to 25% for extra power. They are also constructed using ‘Basaltex Transmitters, the best compromise between graphite and carbon fibre and materials which are 100% natural (a mineral fibre extracted from volcanic lava stone). This system is located in line for flex control which enhances increased strength, power and ultimate feel. The racket range has been designed especially for modern skillful player of today where power and control are at a balanced level.

Tecnifibre Carboflex 130

carboflex 130

Specification

Construction – Graphite and Basaltex
Weight – 130 g +/- 5 g
Balance – 355 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2 (concave)
String Pattern – 14/18
Beam – 18 mm
Length – 68.5 cm
String – X-1 Biophase 1.18 premium red
Grip – Tec Dry

The Carboflex 130 is not only my favourite racket out of the new Tecnifibre range but is also my overall favourite racket that has been released this year. I have never really given Tecnifibre much thought as I as a racket choice as I only associated them for making great string, but now I feel I might have been missing out. Over the past few year Tecnifibre rackets have created a following and you only have to look at the professional players who use these rackets to realise they are a top brand of premium rackets who are making their mark on world squash.

The Carboflex 130 was so easy to play with and did really feel like an extension of your arm. It gave such a great solid feel on the ball’s impact with effortless power when needed. The weight was just right because of how the racket is balanced which meant I could move and prepare quickly. You also have the added bonus of the premium string strung in as standard so you get the imediate feel of the rackets true potential.

Getting away from the technical stuff, both carboflex models look amazing with their updated design and colours. The pictures do not do the racket’s appearance justice. I am so impressed with the Carboflex 130 I have recently bought two to use as my main rackets which is a massive decision for me as I have played with other brands for over ten years.

Although Tecnifibre have designed these rackets for advanced players they are a very reasonably priced compared to the other well known brands. I would also recommend these rackets to players of intermediate level as I am sure they would feel the benefits of a premium racket and not having to pay the earth.

5 stars 5 star rating – best buy

Click onthe links below for the Carboflex 130 deals.

TECNIFIBRE Carboflex 130 Basaltex Squash Racket

United States

Tecnifibre Carboflex 130 Basaltex Squash Racket

wilson poster wilson

Wilson have released a new technology which has been incorporated into their [K] Factor series squash rackets. The new FX technology features as the ‘Quad Shaft’ construction for extra torsional stability. The ‘Quad Shaft’ is located in the rackets throat area to provide an improved distribution of weight. Quad Shaft basically means that the racket has four shafts leading to the racket head instead of the standard two, which in turn brings better stability. This new FX technology produces 23% extra torsional stability and much better control for the player. There are already four other [K] technologies that make up the [K] Factor FX line which are;

[K]arophite Black

This technology is a proccess at nanoscopic level, it is a network of tiny fibres that are mixed with the silicone dioxide in the older n-code technology which actually bind to the carbon fibres. The rackets end up 40% more stronger and stiffer than the n-code rackets which increases the control through less frame distortion.

K Factor

2 . [K] Zone

This a combination of power holes and power grooves where the strings meet the frame creating a larger sweet spot for more controlled power.

3 . [K]ontour Yoke

The new frame engineering technology that enhances stiffness at key stress points on the racket for improved stability.

4 . [K]ontour Frame

The new industrial design innovation that improves the overall feel and handling for better maneuverability.

Three [K] Factor rackets have been upgraded with the new FX technology including the [K] Sonix, [K] Blade and [K] Sting. Each racket brings a slightly different benefit to game play so the player can decide which one suits their own game type. All rackets are available from May 2009.

Wilson [K] Sonix FX

The new [K] Sonix offers the maximum head size allowed in a squash racket to date and is designed for players seeking extra controlled power.

Specifications

Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 145 g
Balance – 36 cm
String Pattern – 14/18
Beam – 18 mm Dual taper
String – Helixx

Wilson [K] Blade FX

The Wilson Blade FX has a tighter string pattern for extra accuracy and control.

Blade fx

Specifications

Head Size – 477 cm 2
Weight – 142 g
Balance – 355 mm (head heavy)
Length – 685 mm
Beam – 18 mm Dual taper
String Pattern – 16/19
String – Helixx

Wilson [K] Sting FX

The Wilson [K] Sting FX is a mid head sized racket for a perfect balance of power and control.

sting

Specifications

Head Size – 477 cm 2
Weight – 147 g
Balance – 345 mm (head heavy)
Length – 685 mm
Beam – 18 mm Dual taper
String Pattern – 16/19
String – Helixx

Wilson rackets are relatively new to me as I have never really used them for any length of time. I think the last Wilson I used was a sledge hammer which I broke fairly quickly and put me off buying another. That happened a long time ago so I was interested in how the rackets had progressed since then.

All three rackets felt very similar with only a slight difference in weight and leaning towards head heavy which was fine. They all felt solid with plenty of power and they all seemed very stable on off centre shots which is always good for retrieving. The Blade and the Sting are nicely balanced rackets offering great control but I definitely favoured the Sonix out of the three. It felt better for my game with the larger head size which added a little more power to my shots and hit the ball crisply under pressure. Overall a really nice set of playable rackets which had enough stiffness and stability to control the more powerful shots. The new [K] FX technology certainly gives the rackets a very different but very sturdy feel which offer bags of control and excellent touch.

ktechnology

stars-4

4 Star rating for the FX series

The links below will take you to the best deals I could find for these rackets. (Choose by country).

Wilson [K] FX Sonix Squash Racket

Wilson [K] FX Sting Squash Racket

United States

Wilson [K] Sonix FX Squash Racket

Wilson [K ]Sting FX Squash Racket

prince

The O3 Speedport Series are the latest rackets from Prince although they have been on the market for some time now. Prince has always been a major brand in squash ever since the revolutionary Extender which was a smash hit and used widely by players on the junior and senior scene. Prince have always attracted many top players to join them with sponsorship as the rackets have always used cutting edge technology which steered away from the conventional racket designs. The O3 Speed Port Series were the choice of Peter Nicol, Nicol David and James Willstrop all competing at a top level on the world circuit using these rackets.

Peter Nicol Nicol David

The O3 Speedport Series is no exception to the rule of the Prince racket technology. Prince have achieved rackets that create more power and control in an extremely aerodynamic lightweight frame. The rackets have been specially tested in a wind tunnel that proved they move through the air up to 24% faster than a standard racket. The O3 engineered rackets uses the strongest structure ever found, the arch, which create the frames O Ports. It is these O Ports that stabilize the racket and gives greater control on off centre shots on the racket strings. Laboratories have confirmed that the Speedports strengthen and stabilize for up to a 59% larger sweet spot, which now becomes a sweet zone.

Speedport

sweet zone

There are three rackets in this series the O3 Speedport Black, Tour and Silver. Two of the rackets, the Black and the Tour are much the same apart from their weight and balance so there is a choice for how the player prefers a racket to feel for maximum comfort.

Prince O3 Seedport Black

O3 Speedport Black

Specifications

Head Size – 470 cm 2
String Pattern – 16/16
Weight – 135 g
Balance – 37.5 cm
Length – 68.5 cm
String – Super Syn Gut 17
Grip – Micro Zorb Indoor

Prince O3 Speedport Tour

Specifications

Head Size – 470 cm 2
String Pattern – 16/16
Weight – 145 g
Balance – 36 cm
Length – 68.5 cm
String – Super Syn Gut 17
Grip – Micro Zorb Indoor

I was looking forward to test out these rackets as I haven’t played with a Prince racket since I was a junior, my last was the Extender Elite mark two. They were very stable and reliable rackets so my expectations were high.

It took me a while to get used to the feel of the rackets as they were more powerful than I am used to. Out of the two I preferred the weight and balance of the Tour as it felt more comfortable for me. After a game or so I felt confident with the Tour and attacked the ball using the extra power which it handled with ease. It was very maneuverable around the court and I was able to prepare for quick reaction shots which is great when your looking to dominate the T. The one thing that impressed me the most was that under severe pressure and at full stretch I felt I was still hitting the ball very true. The O Ports certainly make a difference when digging balls out of the corners at a stretch and still managing to hit a straight length. It felt to me the rackets are very forgiving if you’re slightly hitting the ball late and not quite in the centre which proved valuable to the periods where I am struggling to retrieve the ball.

The O3 Speedport Black and Tour were a enjoyable experience for me to test and met my expectations. I can see the benefits they would bring to a players game with the larger sweetzone they almost do the work for you.

5 stars

5 Star rating for the speedport range, very impressive.

The Prince O3 Speedport Silver Squash Racket is also now available although I have not tested it yet. It has a different shaped and larger headsize and a slightly less dense string pattern. Looks great finished in silver. Here’s the spec –

Weight – 140 g
Balance – 36.5 cm
Headsize – 485cm 2
String Pattern – 12/17
String – Super Syn Gut 17

Use the links below to go to the the best prices for theses rackets. (choose by country nearest for best postage).

Prince O3 Speedport Black Squash Racket / Racquet

PRINCE O3 Speedport Tour Squash Racket

Prince

Prince O3 Speedport Silver Squash Racket

United States

Prince O3 Speedport Black Squash Racket – with Free thermo bag

Prince O3 Speedport Tour Prestrung Squash Racket with Case

dunlop-sports

The Dunlop Aerogel series proved to be very popular among all standards of players. A complete range of rackets using the new Aerogel technology which incorporates the word’s lightest solid (a strength of 4,000 times its own weight). This produces greater stiffness and increased power without adding extra weight to the racket.

The Next Generation Of Racket Technology

img-aerogel_closeup

The Aerogel construction is coupled with M-Fil (Multi Filament) which is a combination of three types of material which are placed into the hitting zone of the racket head. This 3D braided structure enhances torsional stability at the point of the ball’s impact to create better control and feel.

Enhanced Touch and Feel

img-m_fil_closeup

There are five rackets in the Dunlop Aerogel range – The Ultimate, Elite, Tour, Pro and Pro GT. All the rackets are quite similar weights but have slightly different benefits to suit the type of player. Below are some brief descriptions and some comments on the rackets which I hope you find helpful.

The Dunlop Aerogel Ultimate

The Dunlop Aerogel Ultimate is a very popular racket and was used by Amr shabana during the 2008 season. The Ultimate is ideal for the intermediate to advanced player, among its features are the widened throat area and longer handle for more control plus the over sized head for extra power. The Ultimate is concentrated on being a pretty much all round racket so it hasn’t been designed to excel in any one area which is great for players who like good touch and some power.

Specifications

Construction – Aerogel / M-Fil
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 137 g
String Pattern – 16/19
Balance – Head light
String – M-Fil TS
String Tension – 20/30 lbs

Click on the links to view the best price or purchase the Aerogel Ulimate. (choose by country to get the cheapest postage if any).

Dunlop Aerogel Ultimate Squash Racket

United States

Dunlop Aerogel Ultimate Squash Racket

The Dunlop Aerogel Elite

The Dunlop Aerogel Elite is the same in design as the Ultimate except it is slightly more heavy and has a different string pattern. This combination produces more power. Once again it is aimed at the intermediate to advanced players with the the head light pro frame. The racket looks nice finished in gold and plays just as well as the Ultimate and is just down to what you prefer, it is used by selected players on the PSA world tour.

aerogel_elite

Specifications

Construction – Aerogel/M-Fil
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 140 g
String Pattern – 14/19
Balance – Head light
String – M-Fil TS
String Tension – 20/30 lbs

Click on the links for your country to find the best price on the Aerogel Elite.

Dunlop AeroGel Elite Squash Racket

United States

Dunlop Aerogel Elite Squash Racket

The Dunlop Aerogel Tour

The Dunlop Aerogel Tour has been tweaked to suit a more advanced player with the 14/18 string pattern and smaller extra light head to enhance the control, touch and feel. The overall weight of the racket is slightly more but the extra light head creates better manoeuvrability and what it loses on power is made up by more control. The Tour was used by former world number one Lee Beechill.

aerogel_tour_angled

Specifications

Construction – Aerogel/M-Fil
Head Size – 470 cm 2
Weight – 145 g
String Pattern – 14/18
Balance String – Extra Head Light
String – M-Fil TS
String Tension – 20/30 lbs

Dunlop Aerogel Tour Squash Racket

The Dunlop Aerogel Pro

The Dunlop Aerogel Pro is once again aimed the more advanced players with the same smaller head as the Tour. This racket has an even balance which means better swing momentum and results in more power to your shots. The Pro fame is the best design and constructed with the graphite carbon for the even balance and pushes the ‘Pro’ frame legacy forward. A very nice racket which performs all round.

aerogel_pro_angled

Specifications

Construction – M-Fil/Carbon
Head Size – 470 cm 2
Weight – 140 g
String Pattern – 14/18
Balance – Even
String – M-Fil TS
String Tension – 20/30 lbs

Use the links below to get the best deal on the Aerogel Pro.

Dunlop Aerogel PRO Squash Racket

Dunlop Aerogel Pro Squash Racket

The Dunlop Aerogel Pro GT

The Dunlop Aerogel Pro GT is based on the best selling Pro racket and is again aimed at the more advanced player. In addition it has the widened throat area and longer handle and is head light for more control. The Pro GT is the most used racket on the professional word tour. A very nice racket that would suit all types of players which why it has proved to be so popular.

aerogel_progt_angled

Specifications

Construction – Aerogel/M-Fil
Head Size – 470 cm 2
Weight – 137 g
String Pattern – 14/18
Balance – Head Light
String – M-Fil TS
String Tension – 20/30 lbs

Use the links to find the best deal on the Aerogel Pro gt.

Dunlop Aerogel Pro GT Squash Racket

United States
Dunlop Aerogel Pro Gt Squash Racket

Although the New range of Dunlop rackets are launching this year they will have to do well to live up to this exceptional range which have set the standard very high. I have played with all these rackets and to be honest could pretty much play with any one of them without any real problems. As these rackets are designed for intermediate to more advanced players who know their game well could pick a racket that suits their style the most. My favourites are the Ultimate and the Pro GT simply because of the way they felt, both had great control and were not as powerful as some of the others which was good for me. I am probably more of a shot player and I don’t hit the ball hard all the time so having good control is what I look for in a racket rather than power.

Like I said its all down to personal preference, the rackets are all very similar but when you get to a good standard the different benefits of each of these rackets can help enhance your game further. You need to pick the racket that is the right weight, the right feel and has the right amount of power. All these rackets have combinations of the above which makes the Dunlop range versatile and the preferred choice of top flight players.

dunlop

tecnifibre

As from april 2009 Tecnifibre are launching there new ranges of squash rackets for the 2009/10 season. They are certainly making an impression on the world squash circuit as many of the top players have been using the new models with great success. The new range of rackets looks fresh and exciting combining new compositions for the frame with the well known top quality premium string. There are three main categories for the rackets and I have chosen one from each which are all endorsed by top flight players to overview along with the specifications.

tecnifibre-carbonflex

thierry-lincou

The first category is the ‘carboflex’ series which consists of the 130,140,speed and junior. The 140 however is the choice of Thierry Lincou a well established top player on the world squash circuit who says “Carboflex gives me power and feel to my game and as taken me to the world open and world number one”. The carboflex boasts to incorporate the isomorph shaft technology with basaltex transmitters (a mineral fibre extracted from lava stone) to give the player power when needed but also excellent touch. Extra response is gained by the shaft’s flex benefits so it is appropriately suited to the player of today.

specifications

Composition – graphite and basaltex
Frame weight – 140 +/- 5 grams
Balance – 355 +/-5 mm
Frame – 500 cm2 – 77.5 ins2
String pattern – 14 x 18
Beam – 18 mm
String – x-one biphase 1.18 mm
Grip – tec dry

I have had the opportunity to put this racket to the test and I must say I was quite surprised at how good it felt. It did lack some power but I was impressed with the control and touch. The carboflex obviously does cushion some of the pace on the ball but without any vibration unlike some rackets I have tried. The control is also down to the better quality string which is put in as standard and lasts a lot longer than ordinary cheaper string.

Overall the carboflex 140 is a nice example of a good balanced racket for the alround player. I enjoyed playing with it as it is effortless to swing and feels great when you hit the ball crisply. If you seek lots of power then this racket is not right for you and should look more at the other rackets in the series I have also reviewed.

stars 4 star rating

I feel tecnifibre have come along way with their racket designs and I also feel their new range will be a great success as more players chose tecnifibre over other well known brands. Not only are they competing with all the other top brands with there cutting edge technology but the carboflex line are also reasonably priced which makes them attractive to beginners as well as professionals. Prices vary from shop to shop but expect to pay in the region of £65 to £85 which is a good deal and will fit into many peoples budget, but also look for bogof deals which will prove even cheaper.

Here is a link to the best deal I could find, just click on the image below.

View Carboflex 140

Squash Racket Review

A brief look at the new squash rackets and equipment available for the coming season

All posts tagged squash racquet review

Tecnifibre Carboflex 130 Squash Racket Review

Wilson [K] Factor FX Technology Series Squash Racket Review – Sonix FX – Blade FX – Sting FX – Review

Prince 03 Speedport Series Squash Racket Review – Black – Tour – Silver – Review

The Dunlop Aerogel Range Squash Racket Review-Ultimate-Elite-Tour-Pro-Pro GT-Review

Tecnifibre carboflex 140 Squash Racket Review

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