The MOST UNDERRATED racket in 2023? Solinco Whiteout 18x20 Review

[@tantennis]

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[@Francisyrah]

Spot on review! I had to sell my racket due to painful wrist pain

[@LiamApilado]

Can confirm, solinco whiteout goes through strings the second you pay with it. Tension drops so quick. Also said my gladiators tennis review of the racket

[@tantennis]

Thanks for the insight!

[@mouselim72]

Coach Tan - Could you do a Solinco Blackout review?

[@markmoore5981]

I would LOVE to see a video on the ranking of EXTENDED RACKETS now that the Yonex VCore 100+ has joined the ranks of the Solincos. Really curious to see how YOU like it in particular. I was a fan of the Ezone 100 (2021) for doubles (which I play almost exclusively) and switched to the Solinco Whiteout 18x20 XTD about 8 months ago for the extra control from the denser pattern and the extra plow from the 27.5 inch frame. Really interested to see how the Yonex VCore 100+ fits in the there with the Solincos, Yonexs, and Bablolat extended rackets. How would you now rank all the extended 98 and 100 extended sticks for overall playability?

[@markmoore5981]

Excellent review. Did you playtest the WHITEOUT 18x20 XTD too? If so, which 18x20 did you like better?

[@Game-Set-Match]

I wish they made the 18x20 racket in a black version

[@tantennis]

Dude. You read my mind.

[@AnnettePoon-p8p]

Can you do a review comparing the standard length WO 18x20 with the extended length pls?

[@thedude2750]

can you talk about the solinco 3.0 confidential string? there's not a lot information about it. Really love your content btw.

[@tantennis]

It’s a muted string overall but not as dead as the black confidential. Still low power, control oriented. Better for flatten the ball, not a spin machine, but sure very accessible. Still quite stiff but not to the level that it’s hurting me, but more like soreness after. I think it works in the frame like this that has some vibrations because it will balance that out.

[@experientialtennispickleball]

Here's my feedback about it using the Head Boom Pro: Solinco Confidential 3.0 1.30 (24kg) x Diadem All Court (Extra Duty) Unreleased soft and round-profiled string. Baseline: first half an hour hitting, I didn't get much feedback out of it. It needed more than half an hour to break-in. After that and throughout this playtest, sticking behind the baseline and exchaning groundstrokes with a rather flat trajectory made me feel more comfortable. Power delivery came with clean, fast and big swings. Stiffness was a bit higher than I expected (could be the racket?). Top-Spin assistance was above moderate and I could find short angles especially while being inside the mid-court area or on the run to my right to give arc on the ball. Forehands: Against advanced hitting partner I felt safer hitting super loose and flat. The sweet-spot was relatively small. Slight misshits towards the sides were not forgiving as were not lazy or late forehands. Backhands: on the backhand side both 1hbh and 2hbh felt absolutely great! Couldn't hit long and got some winners! Better sidespin than underspin. Had some difficulties producing underspin that would keep the ball low and long with the Boom Pro, still getting used to it. Netplay: this was its weakest part. The relatively small sweetspot didn't allow me to have good directional control repeatidely, so I prefered hit a half-volley after a cross court forehand or backhand. Conclusions: if released, I'd recommend it being strung at 1.5-2kg lower tension than I did for larger sweetspot and better comfort levels. Other than the mediocre underspin, I was able to keep balls in play against advanced hitting partner and play very good level of tennis. It played its best on the backhand side, I actually couldn't hit long and was able to attack. Lower tension and maybe 100 sq inch racket would be a good combo for this string. Insane snapback! Super stable performance! Comfort: ⭐⭐⭐⭐➖➖ Stiffness: ⭐⭐⭐➖➖➖ Power: ⭐⭐⭐⭐➖➖ Ball bite: ⭐⭐⭐⭐➖➖ Spin: ⭐⭐⭐⭐➖➖ Feel: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ➖

[@rahulkanjani7792]

@@tantennis Are there any other strings that play similar to this? What gauge did you play this at and how was the tension loss? Thanks

[@houhouhou99]

Thanks for the review video, I enjoyed it！ Do you see any difference in the use of the Solinco Whiteout (18 * 20) compared to the Pro Staff X (16 * 19). Which one do you recommend more? Thank you so much!

[@tantennis]

Thanks! I don’t think they fall in the same umbrella due to 10g differences in static weight. If you want a well-round control racket that is user friendly then Whiteout 18/20 is the way. PSX is more precise but way more demanding and underpowered.

[@houhouhou99]

@@tantennis I'm wondering if you mean that although the PSX is 10g heavier compared to the Whiteout, the power of it is weaker than the whiteout. If so, then I'm curious what benefit the PSX brings by being heavier? Stability of the racket?

[@tantennis]

@@houhouhou99 Stability, spin, and feel. I still think that PSX is more precise than the Whiteout 18x20.

[@datterone]

Hello and congratulations for the review, I wanted to ask you, given the fairly high rigidity and inertia, how the racket is comfortable, especially in the long term and whether overall it can be used by an intermediate player. Thank you

[@tantennis]

I think it’s around Ezone comfortable. It’s a firm racket, not soft in anyway, but it’s foam filled so the impact most likely wouldn’t hurt you. If comfort is your key point, this is probably not something you would look at.

[@bmxracing7919]

Would you take the Tfight 305 or the whiteout 18/20?

[@ChaCha765-SY]

Love that you play under the roof outdoors. Would you say the Solinco 18/20 is a better racquet than the Aero 98 ?

[@tantennis]

I think both are great rackets, best in 98s. But I prefer the Solinco tho, I think it’s a bit more well-balance.

[@Bambotb]

Can you do solinco whiteout 305 18/20 vs t40 305 18/ 20 vs extreme tour please ??

[@peregrineslim4446]

It seems you got a 16/19 which had too much stiffening material - the 40 T - in the hoop of the racquet.

[@AlexTennisChannel]

Nice review!

[@tantennis]

Thanks!

[@AL-id8of]

Do you think you will ever get around to reviewing the blackout 300?

[@tantennis]

Sure!

[@danzomon5853]

Loving your channel! I'm in BKK now and wondering where I can buy the 18x20?

[@tantennis]

Noah tennis bkk here maps.app.goo.gl/dyDiTMBNjDFShJe16?g_st=ic

[@ryansolomon4178]

Hi. I am picking up my 18x20s this week. I am going to use Wasabi in the mains and Velocity MLT in crosses. What do you think about 47/49? Is that too high? Suggestions?

[@tantennis]

Haven’t played with Wasabi yet

[@sarawooto9296]

Nice reviews as always. BTW, did you experience any vibrations with the Whiteout 18x20?

[@tantennis]

Thanks! Yes I still feel that, but way less than 16x19.

[@sarawooto9296]

@@tantennis Was there any vibration that you felt when using the Gravity Pro and TFight 315?

[@tantennis]

Yes. But Tfight is kinda dampened. Gravity Pro has vibration but it’s plush so no problem.

[@aj4256]

What would you rate the control

[@tantennis]

Very decent. I give it 8/10.

[@Quince-ru7ks]

How does the White Out 18x20 version compare with the Blade v9 18x20?

[@tantennis]

Way more powerful and spinny. Stiffer responsive feel.

[@mrfs4835]

WO 18x20 or Shift 300? I love my Shift 300 from defense, almost every ball gets in. But I have problems when going for the point. Then I miss some control. Does the WO 18x20 comes close the denfense qualities of the shift 300 specially regarding spin?

[@tantennis]

I think Whiteout 18x20 has more control and good for attack. On the defense, no it doesn’t have that high topspin as the Shift 300. The launch angle is much lower than the Shift.

[@ivanjo6478]

How is it compared to the Artengo TR960 Control Tour 18x20?

[@ivanjo6478]

@tantennis I hope you can share some lights between Artengo TR960 CT 16x19 (local decathlon does not carry 18m here) vs Solinco Whiteout 18x20

[@ryansolomon4178]

Great video! So for the 18x20, it can still Produce a really good amount of spin compared to the 16x19? I like spinny racquets but also want some power/control. I was thinking a shaped poly to get a little more launch angle would be good?

[@tantennis]

The spin is crazy on this 18x20. Control is great when hitting flat. It has everything really. I think don’t go with less shaped poly because dense pattern kinda locks the movement, I think go with hex or round are better.

[@ryansolomon4178]

@@tantennis Thanks! Check out Toroline Wasabi round with shaped

[@ryansolomon4178]

@@tantennis Wasabi Pro looks like a great option. Shaped mains with round cross. What would you tension them at, 50?

[@tantennis]

@@ryansolomon4178 I go 46 lbs main and 44 lbs cross with hyper G soft now. Shape main with round cross sounds good to me.

[@ryansolomon4178]

@@tantennis Awesome! I’m using a Vcore 2023 100 at the moment. Had a Ezone 98 2022 and it really hurt my elbow with hyper g 16L. Currently trying Ytex Quadrotwist

[@TheodorosKolokotronis799]

Which are your current top 3 racquets you use ?

[@tantennis]

Now I use Blade 98, ISO 315, and Gravity Pro just came into equation.

[@TheodorosKolokotronis799]

@@tantennis so you prefer gravity pro over whiteout 18x20 ?

[@tantennis]

@@TheodorosKolokotronis799 Yessir! The pops on the Gravity Pro give me easy time on the defense. The downsides are not so much spin and it’s heavy. Whiteout is more maneuverable and more spin. It plays like a 16x19 racket.

[@TheodorosKolokotronis799]

@@tantennis i didn’t enjoy whiteout 16x19. I found it way too head heavy and kinda thick. Feel was not sth special… harsh and kinda muted. This 18x20 seems overall better

[@tantennis]

@@TheodorosKolokotronis799 it’s better than Whiteout 16x19 for sure in my opinion. But if you don’t like the balance and the feel, then you probably wouldn’t like the 18x20 as well.

[@brunis_m]

Better for spin than a Gravity Pro or Speed Pro even? Those are pretty open 18x20

[@tantennis]

It looks more dense than gravity pro to me but yes it has better spin

[@markmoore5981]

I asked Chris Edwards from Tennis Warehouse which of the top 18x20 racquets he would recommend most and he said, "I’d likely go with the SOLINCO WHITEOUT 18x20 XTD since it offers more power on serves and still felt easy enough to maneuver at net. Both offer more power and a livelier feel (as well as firmer feel) than the Speed and Gravity Pros. If you prefer more of a standard length I still think you’d find ample power from the standard 18x20 version."

[@kaahceeh]

Nice review! where did you get the new conf. 3.0?

[@tantennis]

Thanks! It’s in my local store in Thailand.

[@kaahceeh]

@@tantennis thanks for the answer, maybe you can make a review on that. I liked the Version 2 a lot. Curious if the new version will be softer.

[@Robust2013]

How would the 18x20 compare in spin or power to the Shift 315? Thanks

[@tantennis]

The spin potential of Shift 315 is higher if you can get that fast racket headspeed. But Whiteout is way easier to play with and easier to access the topspin for me.

[@Robust2013]

@@tantennis Thanks!

[@Robust2013]

@@tantennis I really liked the Shift. Only thing was that it was inconsistent when it wanted to flex and when not. I am UTR 9. Was thinking of getting whiteout 18x20

[@TheodorosKolokotronis799]

If you had to choose between this and ps v13 which would be and why ?

[@tantennis]

I chose Whiteout 18x20 for sure. It feels more suitable for 2HBH, and I can get easier power. Static weight is lower as well, a level I can handle for more than an hour.

[@TheodorosKolokotronis799]

@@tantennis you found it easier to play with than ps97 v13. Recently i was amazed by v13. Despite its weight it was quick through the air, more than enough power when you go for it, great spin potential and amazing on volleys. It only didn’t help a lot when on defence….. not enough zip/pop. Is whiteout more quick through the air ? Like blade v8 16x19 ? I have a 1HB and pro staff was AMAZING.

[@tantennis]

@@TheodorosKolokotronis799 I think it’s not as quick as the blade. It’s better on defence than PS97 for sure. But if you have 1HBH, I think you would be better sticking with PS97.

[@ryansolomon4178]

Hey Tan. Is there a Hex or Round poly you suggest for this? I’m using Wasabi but I’m now realizing square is not good.

[@tantennis]

MSV focus hex in thin gauge. Round I would say Solinco Confidential 3.0

[@ryansolomon4178]

@@tantennis Thank you. 17g?

[@ryansolomon4178]

@@tantennis Confidential 3.0 doesn’t seem to exist yet.

[@ryansolomon4178]

I can’t seem to get MSV in Canada. Any thoughts on Toro Toro or Tour M8 as options?

[@steveschaeffer5999]

Do you like it as much at your TFight Iso 315?

[@tantennis]

Nope. Still prefer ISO 315.

[@zhengzhiwang9031]

Great review!! Thank you! I’ve been waiting for this since I am currently using the 16x19 version. Really want to try the 18x20 version. So you feel there’s not much difference between 16x19 and 18x20 in swing weight?

[@tantennis]

The demo racket have SW of 315 on 16x19 and 320 on 18x20. But on the paper I believe it should be around the same. My 18x20 came at 325 tho, right on point of my preference.

[@prophetmargin7497]

Your arm started hurting after only 30 minutes, what was your string setup?

[@tantennis]

Solinco Confidential 3.0 @48lbs on both rackets. I don’t feel the discomfort on the 18x20 tho.

[@prophetmargin7497]

@@tantennis I'm just reading the reviews on the Wilson Shift 315 right now on TW and it looks like a great racket, have you tried it?

[@tantennis]

@@prophetmargin7497 yes I have. I made a video on it. Quick summary is it’s too demanding for me with 330+ SW and the racket requires fast racket head speed to spin the ball. I cannot give that. But I would say it’s the most spinny 18x20 racket I have ever played.

[@prophetmargin7497]

@@tantennis Yes, most of the individual reviews (not the TW play testers) on TW claim you should have a 4.0 or higher rating to get the full potential out of this racket because the sweetspot is small and the swingweight is on the high side!

[@tantennis]

@@prophetmargin7497 that’s accurate. I mean, I can play with 330 SW On the Blade and PS97 just fine because I can go with medium racket headspeed and use the plow. But on Shift 315, that approach does not work. Fast racket head speed only.

[@Le-Chuck]

Hi. Could you compare this 18/20 with the gravity tour ?

[@tantennis]

Hi. Overall I think whiteout 18/20 is superior than Gravity tour on every aspects except comfort and forgiveness.

[@Le-Chuck]

@@tantennis ok, thx. Are confort and forgiveness far from the grav tour ?

[@tantennis]

@@Le-Chuck I think gravity tour is probably 20-30% softer. Whiteout 18/20 is a firm but solid racket. Need to choose string wisely. On the forgiveness, I think whiteout is pretty easier to hit with, obviously not as much as the gravity but I don’t have any problem with it so far.

[@Le-Chuck]

@@tantennis Thx, it s interesting. All reviews, as yours, tell this frame give a good amount of spin which, on paper is surprising for a 18/20 98 racket. I have to try it !

[@tantennis]

@@Le-Chuck you really have to. It has a very good amount of spin.

[@januarius3361]

how do these compare to the extreme tour auxetic?

[@tantennis]

This one is much more control, less spin potential, less power. Feels better. Extreme tour is a bit easier to play with.

[@aj4256]

So how is the control do the balls fly long ???

[@tantennis]

Not at all. The dense pattern kinda prevents that. And you can also put the topspin on it.

[@aj4256]

how was it on SERVES ??

[@tantennis]

I don’t feel anything special on the serves

[@ls21989]

How would you compare the Whiteout 18x20 to the TF315 ISO?

[@tantennis]

Hmm. I think whiteout has a but better control. Power and spin are probably on the same level. Whiteout is more maneuverable, of course. ISO 315 is more dampened and I think it’s softer, even though the spec says otherwise.

[@ncrov6015]

Why strung weights are too high 332, 331 😱

[@ncrov6015]

U use leather grip?

[@tantennis]

@@ncrov6015 sorry, I misread and thought you talk about the swingweight. Yes I think it’s like 4-5g overweight.

[@svlagonda7417]

Solinco seem to have basically copied the Blade line with these Whiteout racquets... I'd take the Wilson Shift over both!

[@tantennis]

That makes sense. But it seems like the flex and comfort doesn’t follow.

[@derekpappas1556]

there should be a bit poorer results with the 16x19 , since you are using 17 gauge vs an 18x20 17 gauge . Both at 16 gauge would have been more appropriate to test the racquets and strings seperatly , in order to see the results of the patterns towards each other with the strings being equal on these racquets .

[@tantennis]

The reason I use 17 on this playtest is because I normally use 17 on 16x19 rackets. So I should see the difference clearly and theoretically I should prefer 16x19 because my groundstrokes don’t work for 18x20. But this one is different.

[@derekpappas1556]

@@tantennis And yet a 98 inch headed racquet is designed to perform with 16 gauge strings . Therefore optimized test results would occur with a 16 gauge string , on both racquets with a non hybrid .

[@tantennis]

I think it highly depends on racket and string choice. It’s not a one-size fits all.

[@derekpappas1556]

@@tantennis In order to have any non tainted results , one must test the racquets with the proper gauged string for that pattern maintainment . In this case it is 16 gauge on a 98 . Once the better performer is identified by the string types that would best accentuate the racquets , then one can give different options to choose from , in color properties and gauge functionality uniqueness .

[@thehiddenfamily]

@@derekpappas1556 your argument doesn’t make sense. He literally just said he usually plays with at 17g string. If he were to put a 16g string in his play test he is always going to say it plays bad because hell never feel comfortable and won’t have anything to compare it too since he always plays with 17g strings. Too many things to consider when testing racquets and gauge isn’t really something that matters as most people play with 17g in 18x20 to increase the launch angle and spin. I get your trying to make this test objective but most reviewers will string bring some subjective measures to their test. If you follow the channel long enough then those subjective measures are easier to understand and allow the objective measures to be discussed.

[@Javi_C]

👍

[@RickOwensHeelDrag]

Having the word “Out” on a tennis racquet just doesn’t sit right with me

[@tantennis]

Good point!

[@Phoniq]

Reckon it’s a reverse psych thing. ‘WhiteIn’ doesn’t sound right

[@pierredaher9590]

Why is it the most underrated racquet, when as per your opinion it's normal modern racquet? nothing special about it.

[@tantennis]

It’s a great stick and not many people are using it. Not sure why you get the impression of just a normal modern racket. I think I’m positive here. Really have not many things to complain so I put all white paintjob as cons.