The Tecnifibre Carboflex X-Top 125 NS is the Nour El Sherbini signature racket from Tecnifibre. This is the successor to the Tecnifibre Carboflex Airshaft 125 NS, which she used previously.
Product Info
Release year: 2022
Price: US $240
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Racket Specs chart
Advertised weight (unstrung): 125 grams
Tecnifibre Carboflex X-Top 125 NS Notes
The X-Top 125 NS has a smaller grip than Mohamed Elshorbagy’s X-Top 125. The smaller grip is something Tecnifibre introduced when they released the very first Carboflex 125 NS, and they have kept it up with the current model. Personally, I really like the smaller grip — partly because I use an overgrip, which adds some thickness back.
Anyway, what matters is Nour likes the smaller grip. Here she is at the Pyramids:
Here she is at the World Champs:
Roburo says
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In my previous comment I forgot to add possibly the most significant find of this racket. Having added the thinnest, lightest overgrip I could find, I was disappointed to discover that my Carboflex 125NS X-Top weighed in at 167 g — a full 10 g heavier than my Carboflex 125.
John says
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I am a long time Carboflex player.
I used the 130S briefly before the X-Speeds came out, then switched to those, and then to Airshaft 125 (non NS) once they came out in 2020, and I just switched over the the new X-Top 125 (non NS).
It is heavier overall compared to Airshaft.
Both the overall weight, and the balance is slightly more towards the head in the new X-Top.
The NS has an even more head heavy balance (both in the Airshaft model and current X-Top) due to the thinner grip; thus weighing less in the handle, thus naturally resulting in more weight towards the head.
I originally wanted to use the NS Airshaft, but due to this increase in head heavy balance I ended up using the regular 125, as I do not like drastic head heavy.
So as you mentioned, this is good for A; more control as the frame is more stable, and less sporadic through the shot, you also get less torsion and frame movement during the swing, also increases power too.
The downside, less maneuverable for reaction volleys, so it really depends on your playing style or how you are playing on the day to determine if it will be best suited for you.
2nd, the owner of this shop told you to put head tape on the X-Top??
This defeats the purpose of the racquet’s main and most important feature, the bumper-less fiber top.
It’s made to cut through the air with less drag, and also it’s designed to be beaten up against walls… With it being covered up you have no access or benefit to this.
This guy was just trying to upsell you more to buy tape you don’t need.
I’ve taken my X-Tops the the walls countless times to scrape off wallpaper tight rails and digging balls out of the corners… yes the top does show some light dings, but it’s insanely tough! This racquet for made for this.
Adding more tape to the head will not only A; Increase your already more head heavy balance in the X-Top NS, it also adds to the frame’s overall weight. If you took off the head tape I bet you’ll be lower to the 160g mark all in on the scale.
The string also plays a big factor in weight.
It’s nice that these come with Dynamix VP… but they come with a 1.25mm….
That’s a bit of a hefty string for squash.
I have 2 X-Top 125’s, one strung in 305 1.10mm. and the other in X-One Biphase 1.18mm, and they weigh 158g and 156g all in on the scale respectively. I do not use overgrips as that adds more unnecessary weight for me, but that is personal preference.
All in all, I’d say it’s probably good you have one of the last generation, and one new one. Depending how you are playing on the day you can can have some options of which one to use to better suit your game that day.
Or else, of you really prefer the Airshaft over X-Top, you’d have no problems likely seeing the X-Top to buy another Airshaft 125 (or perhaps a Airshaft 125NS?)
Roburo says
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I recently purchased this racket. I have been using the previous (non-NS 125) iteration of the Carboflex, for over a year, but almost immediately regretted it because the grip seemed too big for my relatively small hands. So when this new version of the “125NS” came out I thought I’d give it a go, and it definitely feels more comfortable. On first impression, it seems pretty powerful — the ball seems to really ping off the Dynamix VP strings with virtually no vibration (though I seem to remember feeling the same way when I first started using the Carboflex 125). I felt a small gain with respect to control, though I suppose that could be connected to the grip size as much as any structural improvements that have been made. After trying it out for 45 minutes I switched back my Carboflex 125 and was surprised to find it (the Carboflex 125) felt a) lighter and b) more maneuverable as a consequence, especially tight shots from the back of the court. With re to a) the balance is fractionally different between the two (350 in the 125 vs, 355 in the 125NS), which might explain that, and b) I suppose that could be a natural consequence of not wanting to risk whacking the walls on first use (!) but nonetheless it did seem to offer a little more maneuverability, even with the thicker grip. One point of note: the specialist store where I purchased this (whose owner is a former pro squash player) recommended attaching protector tape to the top of the head/rim as it is “liable to chip” when coming into contact with the wall. He did, at the same time, point to a selection of protector tapes he offers for sale, so perhaps better to take this with a pinch of salt, but would be interested to see what others have to say. I was going to wait until I had had more chances to play with the new racket, but thought this first impressions comparison was possibly of greater value. Overall, while I like the NS, I have a feeling it will become an (admittedly expensive) backup racket.
j says
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Has anyone hit with this? verdict?