Racquet Review: Solinco Blackout 300 v2

Solinco Blackout 300 v2

• Price: $240
• Head Size: 100 sq. in.
• Length: 27 in.
• Weight: 11.3 oz.
• Balance: 6 pts. HL
• Swingweight: 318
• RA Rating: 67
• Beam Width: 23.5mm / 26mm / 23mm
• String Pattern: 16x19

What’s New

The updates to the Blackout are designed to refine the frame’s stability and overall response. The racquet head is now filled with a PU density foam (Foam Tech Core) to reduce vibrations and amplify feel at impact. Arch-2 Construction is a new architecture and carbon fiber layup that bolsters the racquet’s composure when trafficking in faster ball speeds. The look of frame also gets a makeover, taking on a striking Tiger Camo paint job inspired by gaming skins. Returning technologies include 40T Carbon Fiber, Liquid Crystal Technology and the innovative Weight Control Module—interchangeable 5-gram and 10-gram butt-cap plates to fine-tune the racquet’s weight and balance.

What Works

The Blackout 300 v2 offers a more player’s frame experience in a user-friendly, power-oriented model. Changes to the construction produce a smoother, more reliable ride than its predecessor without taking the teeth out of the racquet. As Solinco puts it: you feel it, they fear it.

A drop in frame stiffness means the power level is arguably more tempered than the original model. While top-end speed on serves and ground strokes may not be quite as easy to produce, it’s a welcome tradeoff for the elevated command. There’s still a healthy infusion of energy into shots, but there’s less fear about toning down big cuts to avoid piling up errors.

“Power? Yep. Spin? Yep. Easy to pick up and play? Yep. An excellent stick—right down to the paint job.”Tester Comment

This opens the frame up to a wider audience. Developing players get enough help from the forgiving sweet spot and lively response, while the more advanced crowd can get a boost in power and spin without going overboard. The accuracy isn’t surgical, but it’s a cut above most in the category.

Same goes for its response. Stiff, thick, variable beams are generally hollow which can feel tinny or brittle at impact, especially outside the sweet spot. To compensate many have dampening technology and materials which can aid arm-friendliness, but produce a dulled or muted hitting experience.

The Blackout bridges the gap by having foam injected throughout the frame. Usually reserved for thinner-beamed, more control-oriented racquets—like Solinco’s Whiteout—the addition of foam rewards shots with a richer sound and a more connected, solid feel that separates it from its competitors. Along with the softer flex, it also raises the comfort to ease arm abuse concerns.

The difficulty of filling a thick beam full of foam is the prospect of raising the static or swingweight, or creating an unwieldy balance. However, none of those facets have changed on the Blackout and it maintains a more head light balance than many competitors. This elevates its effectiveness on defense; when stretched and the ball is a bit behind you, all you need to flick a wrist to get the ball deep and keep the point alive.

The ready swing speed also helps with spin production. There’s no specific technology directed at the objective, but the 16x19 string pattern is generously spread and paired with a shaped poly like Solinco’s Hyper-G it’s no trouble putting work on the ball. Spin serves have good action and the frame’s ability to create angles is on par with most in this category.

As is its stability. The inclusion of Arch 2 Construction to the layup makes the frame steadier under fire, resulting in more predictable shots. It’s solid on contact and hardly wavers off-center. You notice it when returning big serves—there’s no buckle and with just a short backswing the shot zips back with impact and direction. And when softer serves offer the chance at more aggression, it’s equal to the task.

That sturdiness is also a benefit at net, where competency wins out. The racquet redirects pace with ease and shines when punching the ball through the court or disposing of an overhead. Touch and subtle shots don’t come as naturally, but it’s not completely useless when being crafty. Besides, racquets like the Blackout attract with muscle, not finesse.

What Needs Work

Even with more flex and the foam filling, the Blackout still plays plenty firm. The racquet does a fine job of minimizing shot damage when contact is off-center, but doesn’t do as much to soften the blow. Depending on your preferences, this could be a feature rather than a bug. However, there are other options in this category that produce a more cushioned response.

The racquet also seems better suited for looping spin versus a tight slice. It’s perfectly capable hitting blocks and chips, but isn’t as efficient when trying to put more bite on the ball. Shots can float and sit up rather than jet through the court. This makes slices off low mid-court ball tricky to bring down into the court, highlighting the racquet’s minor issues producing more delicate shots.

Bottom Line

The new Blackout took the strengths of the original and put it in a more refined, sharp-looking package. In the user-friendly, power and spin racquet landscape it’s a real contender.