Tecnifibre Black Code String Review (Leave a Comment to enter to win a free set)

Welcome to another string review. Today, we are reviewing Tecnifibre's Black Code. I used the 17 gauge version of this string. I strung it up on a Wilson K Blade 104 at 63 lbs in the mains. I crossed this string with Prince Lightning XX Spin 16 gauge at 63 lbs.  I string my racquets using a Top of the Line Wilson Baiardo constant pull machine. I pull my tie off knots at 15% above reference tension to help limit the amount of tension loss when tying knots. I use a Parnell knot for tie offs and a starting knot for my first cross. The Dynamic Tension (DT) according to my Beers ERT 300 was 46. After two weeks of play, the DT was 41.

In the videos below, I decided to rally and have some voice overs during several of the rally's. I also played some point play in the second video and discuss some of the shots I am hitting. The third video is a quick overview of the string.

Here's some of the specifications that this string has to offer. Below is a table showing the Stiffness and Tension loss of this string. String stiffness was measured by the United States Racquet Service Association (USRSA). Typically, the stiffer the string, the less power, but more control. Also, the stiffer the string, the less feel and typically the harsher it will feel on your arm, elbow and shoulder. If you have any arm, elbow or shoulder problems, playing with a stiff string can have a negative impact. Of course, you can hybrid stiffer strings with softer strings to lessen how stiff they feel.




Name                                           Material      Size in (mm)    Stiffness lb/in      Tension Loss
Tecnifibre Black Code 16         Polyester        1.31                      242                     18.08
Tecnifibre Black Code 17         Polyester        1.27                      225                     18.03
Tecnifibre Black Code 18         Polyester        1.18                      220                     18.88

Now, let's talk about some of the pros and cons of this string:

Pro's:

• Power (Provides ample power and a nice soft response)
• Durability (Seems to last fairly long with minimal signs of wear)
• String movement is minimal
• Provides great spin due to its pentagonal shape

Con's:

• Control is good but not great

Ratings are on a scale of 1-100.

Power: (81)

It definitely provides some pop. Although, not as much as natural gut or some multifilament strings, this string is powerful for a poly. During my playtest, I noticed that I could really punish the ball on my groundstrokes and put balls away with ease. I was able to hit out on the ball without fear of over hitting and the ball flew true. I could overhit and hit the ball out if I wasn't completely careful because my racquet is pretty powerful. 

Spin: (88)

I think this string has great spin potential it's soft on the arm, but the pentagonal shape really grabs the ball. Of course, with more spin, I had to be careful because some of my shots would land short. If you are a relatively flat hitter looking for a string to help you add spin to your strokes, then this might be a string for you. 

Comfort: (87)

This string is a poly, so it is going to be stiffer than other string materials. With that being said, I have recently had shoulder surgery (May 2012) and I find that this string is very comfortable on the arm for a poly. I don't have any pain or soreness in my arm, elbow or shoulder after playing with this string. I also didn't notice any fatigue while using this string. 

Control: (80)

I really felt in control with my groundstrokes on this string. When I hit the sweet spot, the ball really came off the stringbed nicely and I was able to hit the ball where I wanted. On mishits though, I felt that the ball could really get away from me. Overall though, I really felt I could swing freely and the ball would stay in the court. I did however notice that some shots had a tendency to land short because of the excellent spin. Spin can definitely help you control your shots but it can also hurt you if you don't get the ball deep.

Serves: (78)

Since this string provides more control, I was really able to hit my spots with my flat serve and the ample power provided allowed me to hit some aces, which I need for my style of play. I was able to get plenty of spin on my kick serve and rarely hit the ball long. I did notice some of my serves hitting the net because of the spin generated, but that was more my fault on not hitting up on the ball then the string not performing.

Volleys: (75)
Volleying was decent, but I didn't hit a ton of volleys with this string. I did notice I had plenty of punch on the volleys and I had pretty good feel as well. As I played more with the string, I was able to get better volleys. Although, this string is not as powerful as some other strings, it still packed plenty of punch.

Durability and Tension Loss: (88)

I am not someone who breaks strings often, but I can tell you that these strings showed minimal wear after 2 weeks of play testing. I average 2 to 3 hours per session and hit about 4 to 5 sessions per week. The strings did not break or show any signs of breaking. The starting DT was 46 and after 2 weeks, the DT was 41. This bodes well for tension loss. I really felt that the string performed well and didn't notice a significant decline in performance as it lost tension. Ironically, the lower tension actually helped add some more power, spin and punch to my volleys.

String Movement: (90)
These strings barely moved. I was really impressed with how little they moved. This is probably why they lasted a good amount of time and showed minimal wear after 2 weeks. The pentagonal profile really helps the string to snap back into place.

Overall Score: (81.25)

Convenient Table:

Category	Rating
Power	81
Spin	88
Comfort	87
Control	80
Serves	78
Volleys	75
Durability and Tension Loss	92
String Movement	88
Overall Average	83.63

Summary:
I think Tecnifibre Black Code is a quality string that can be used by a variety of players. However, because of the strings soft response and great spin potential, I would recommend this string for power players, counter punchers and baseline players. Although the string had plenty of punch for volleys, the all court player and serve and volley player may find they hit some shorter balls and may find themselves in trouble if they aren't careful.

If you are having problems finding the right string or you are curious about what string would best suit your game, I am committed to helping you solve this problem. Please leave a comment below or email me stringrx@gmail.com. I will personally work with you to help you find the best combination for you personally. Yes, just in case you were wondering, I will help you for FREE!!

Please leave a comment below on your thoughts of my review and if you have played with this string. Please include what racquet you strung it in, the tension and your thoughts.

I also plan on giving away one sets of this string, so ensure you leave a comment. Even if you haven't tried this string, leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway. It can be as simple as "Please Enter Me in the Drawing". I will do a random drawing and post a video of the actual random drawing and the winners on YouTube on July 25th 2013. Deadline to enter is July 21st 2013.

Videos:

Part 1 Rally

Part 2 Point Play


Part 3 Review