Weight
88g
Thickness
5.9mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Premier XR
ITC Premier XR is a flagship offensive blade that masterfully blends modern composite technology with a classic, responsive feel. Its 5+2 ply construction features proprietary RedFlex Carbon fiber layers nestled between wood plies, topped with highly elastic Eche wood. This design delivers significant speed and a piercing trajectory for powerful topspins and drives, while the inner carbon placement and material selection provide excellent vibration dampening and a moderately soft, catching sensation. It offers a superb balance of power and control, making it an ideal weapon for skilled offensive players who rely on aggressive topspin play but demand precision and feedback.
The blade uses a 7-ply, 5+2 innerfiber construction. The sequence starts and ends with elastic Eche wood for feel. Inside, Ayous and Kiri wood plies provide the core structure, while two layers of RedFlex Carbon are positioned between them. This inner placement of carbon aims to boost speed and stability from within the blade's core, reducing the harshness associated with outer carbon layers and promoting a more wood-like, controlled playing sensation.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Premier XR is a very fast blade, engineered for powerful offensive play. The synergy between the RedFlex Carbon layers and the elastic Eche outer wood creates exceptional energy transfer, resulting in a high-speed response. Players find it delivers a swift, direct impact, making it highly effective for aggressive drives and heavy topspins that push opponents back.
Despite its high speed, the Premier XR offers remarkable control. Its construction provides a balanced, moderately soft feel that allows for precise ball placement and confident short game play. The blade gives a distinct catching sensation on blocks, making defensive play against fast topspins feel secure and manageable, which is a rare trait in such a powerful setup.
Premier XR provides a balanced, medium feel. The Eche outer wood offers a crisp, elastic touch upon contact, while the inner carbon structure adds a firm foundation. This creates a feedback that is neither too soft nor too hard, offering clear sensation for touch shots while maintaining solidity for powerful strokes.
It produces a medium-high throw angle, ideal for modern offensive play. This characteristic helps in generating deep, arcing topspin loops with a penetrating trajectory. The blade naturally imparts lift on the ball, making it easier to loop backspin and produce aggressive shots over the net.
The blade offers a medium-to-long dwell time. The combination of the elastic Eche outer layer and the vibration-dampening inner carbon allows the ball to stay on the racket face slightly longer, which is beneficial for generating heavy spin on loops and provides that catching feeling crucial for controlled blocks and serves.
Flexibility is medium, striking a deliberate balance. The carbon layers provide underlying stiffness for direct power, while the wood composition, particularly the outer Eche, allows for a controlled flex. This makes the blade effective for both driving through the ball and brushing for spin, without being overly boardy or too trampoline-like.
Vibration is notably low. The RedFlex Carbon is specifically engineered to absorb lateral vibrations, resulting in a very clean, comfortable impact feel. This minimal vibration translates to less harshness on off-center hits and provides consistent, clear feedback to the player's hand.
Craftsmanship on the Premier XR is top-tier, reflecting its flagship status. The finish is impeccable, with smooth, well-sanded plies and a precise handle fit. Attention to detail is evident throughout, resulting in a blade that feels solid, consistent, and built to last, justifying its position as a premium product in the ITC lineup.
Technology
ITC Premier XR utilizes a sophisticated 5+2 innerfiber construction. Its core technology is the proprietary RedFlex Carbon, a composite of soft LCP fiber and elastic carbon fiber designed to absorb vibration laterally while enhancing vertical speed. This is sandwiched between wood layers, with highly elastic Eche wood as the outer plies. This setup aims to harness the power and stability of carbon while preserving the tactile feedback and dwell time of wood, creating a blade that feels connected yet explosively fast. The Eche wood is specifically chosen for its excellent energy transfer, contributing significantly to the blade's overall sensation and performance.
Similar Blades
Adidas Avenger Carbon
Some visual and conceptual similarities have been noted, primarily regarding the use of red-colored carbon fiber in an inner layer construction. However, this is a speculative comparison based on appearance rather than a confirmed performance equivalence. The playing characteristics and feel are likely to differ based on the specific materials and layering used by each brand.
Butterfly Innerforce ZLF
This comparison is often drawn to the slower XF variant, but it hints at a similar design philosophy: an inner fiber construction aimed at balancing speed with feel. The Innerforce ZLF uses Zylon fiber, which offers a distinct flex and feel compared to RedFlex Carbon. Both represent the innerfiber category but will deliver different tactile feedback and playing sensations.