Tecnifibre Black Code 4S 18 Review: Excellent Spin and Ball Feel, but Limited Durability

The Tecnifibre Black Code 4S is a revamped version of the popular Black Code, where the pentagonal shape of the original version has been replaced by a sharply angled square shape. This update provides more "ballbite" and excellent tension retention, but the thin 18/1.20 version falls a bit short in the area of ​​durability.

Specifications

• Brand: Tecnifibre
• String: Black Code 4S
• Thickness: 18 (1.20 mm)
• Type: Medium stiff co-polyester string
• Comparable strings: Solinco Tour Bite Soft, Völkl Cyclone Tour, Diadem Solstice Power 17

Tested by

• Name: Mike
• Playing strength: 4/4
• Player type: Classic player, flat groundstrokes, generates little spin himself, recently had shoulder problems
• Racket: Head Graphene Radical MP, 98 sq/inch, 16/19 stringing pattern
• String hardness: 24/24 kg (stringing range: 22-26 kg)
• Test duration: 5 hours

Review Tecnifibre Black Code 4S 18

• Durability: 6
• Voltage retention: 8
• Spin/Slice: 8
• Ball control: 8
• Power: 8
• Control: 7
• Comfort/Arm-friendliness: 8

Stringing the String

Stringing the Tecnifibre Black Code 4S 18 was surprisingly easy, especially considering the angled shape of the string. The thin 1.20 mm version is relatively supple for a polyester string, which makes stringing comfortable. Despite the sharp angles, the string did not cause any additional problems when threading, which is a plus for stringers.

Review Tecnifibre Black Code 4S 18

Spin and Control
The square shape of the Black Code 4S provides a good grip on the ball, which allows for extra spin and slice. This gives you more margin in your strokes, especially when playing with more aggressive swings. Although the string does not offer the extreme "bite" of for example the Diadem Solstice Power 17 , the spin was more than sufficient. The control was however a bit less stable, because the string sometimes felt a bit "jumpy". This can be due to the thin 1.20 mm thickness, and the control would probably be better with a thicker version, such as the 17/1.25 mm.

Ball feel and Power
The ball feel of the Black Code 4S 18 is excellent for a medium stiff co-polyester string. The feedback on contact with the ball is clear and not taxing on the arm, which was important for me because of previous shoulder problems. The string also offers sufficient power, which makes for a pleasant playing experience.

Durability and Voltage Maintenance
Durability is one of the weak points of the Black Code 4S 18 . After about 5 hours of intensive playing the string gave way, which is a bit less than expected for a co-polyester string with a thickness of 1.20 mm. However, the tension retention was good. During the entire test period the string hardly lost any tension, which meant that the playing characteristics remained consistent over time. I can't say much about the phenomenon of "rounding out" (where the contour of the string disappears), because the string gave way after 5 hours of playing.

The Tecnifibre Black Code 4S 18 is a great choice for players looking for extra spin and ball feel. The sharp quadrangular shape of the string offers a great grip on the ball, allowing you to easily generate spin and slice. The ball feel and comfort are also above average for a co-polyester string. However, the durability of the thin 18/1.20 mm version leaves much to be desired, especially when compared to other strings of the same thickness. Players who value control and durability more may be better off choosing the thicker 17/1.25 mm version.

The Black Code 4S 18 offers an excellent combination of spin, ball feel and power, but its limited lifespan makes it less suitable for players who play frequently and intensively.