Tecnifibre Carboflex 135 NEO Squash Racket – 12CANEO135

Product description

The Tecnifibre Carboflex 135 NEO is a graphite squash racket developed for players who want to combine explosive power, fast racket handling and confident shot execution. Weighing 135 grams, it offers a solid feel through the ball while remaining manoeuvrable enough for quick reactions, tight spaces and demanding rallies.

Part of Tecnifibre’s redesigned Carboflex NEO collection, this racket benefits from an updated frame structure, improved weight distribution and innovative technologies aimed at increasing swing speed. The result is a performance-oriented racket that helps players accelerate their shots, react quickly under pressure and generate attacking power without sacrificing too much control.

With its 500 cm² head, 14 × 18 string pattern and responsive factory-installed Dynamix VP strings, the Carboflex 135 NEO is designed to support a dynamic, attacking style of squash.

Product number: 12CANEO135

Discover the new Tecnifibre Carboflex NEO range

The Carboflex NEO range represents a new development of Tecnifibre’s established Carboflex squash racket family. Its central objective is to help players increase racket-head acceleration while maintaining the power, responsiveness and stability needed for competitive squash.

In a sport where players frequently have limited time and space to prepare their shots, the ability to move the racket quickly can make a significant difference. Faster racket preparation allows players to respond more effectively to pressure, take the ball earlier and create attacking opportunities from difficult positions.

To achieve this, Tecnifibre has reworked the racket from the head to the shaft. The updated construction focuses on reducing unnecessary weight at the top of the frame, improving the ergonomics of the shaft and refining the way mass is distributed throughout the racket.

The NEO collection features the X-TOP NEO and HEART TECH developments, alongside Extended String Hole technology. Together, these design features aim to deliver a more responsive playing experience, combining quick handling with accessible power and improved comfort.

The range includes several weight options, allowing players to select a racket according to their preferred balance of manoeuvrability, stability and power. The 135 model is the heavier option for players who appreciate a little more substance behind their shots while still wanting the speed required for modern squash.

Technical specifications

• Brand: Tecnifibre

• Model: Carboflex 135 NEO

• Product code: 12CANEO135

• Sport: Squash

• Racket weight: 135 g

• Frame material: Graphite

• Head size: 500 cm² / 78 in²

• Racket length: 67.5 cm

• Balance: 350 mm

• Frame section: 13–18 mm

• String pattern: 14 × 18

• Factory strings: Tecnifibre Dynamix VP

• String type: Polyurethane multifilament

• Supplied strung: Yes

Specifications are based on Tecnifibre’s published product information. The stated 135 g racket weight should not be confused with the total weight of the racket when weighed with all components.

How does the Carboflex 135 NEO perform?

Power and shot penetration

The 135-gram frame gives the racket a substantial feel through contact, helping players produce deep drives, penetrating lengths and attacking shots. Its updated shaft geometry is designed to improve energy transfer and responsiveness, allowing players to combine racket acceleration with a firm impact.

This makes the racket particularly appealing to players who like to put their opponents under pressure with powerful straight drives, aggressive volleys and well-timed attacking shots.

Fast handling and quick reactions

Despite its power-oriented character, the Carboflex 135 NEO is designed to remain easy to manoeuvre. Its revised weight distribution reduces material around the top of the racket, helping the head move more readily through the swing.

This can be useful when defending against fast attacks, taking the ball early or changing direction at short notice. The racket's slightly shorter length compared with other Carboflex models also helps reduce its overall bulk, making it easier to handle in confined positions.

Control and shot placement

The 500 cm² head provides a practical balance between power and stability. Combined with the 14 × 18 string pattern, it supports accurate drives, controlled volleys and a variety of attacking and defensive shots.

The enlarged string holes also allow greater string movement at selected points on the frame. This is intended to improve the response on off-centre contacts and help players create more spin and variation.

Although the racket is built to encourage aggressive play, it remains suitable for players who rely on accuracy and consistency to construct rallies before looking for an opportunity to attack.

Feel, responsiveness and comfort

The factory-installed Dynamix VP strings are designed to provide a lively response at impact. Their multifilament construction contributes to the racket's responsive character, helping players generate pace without needing to rely entirely on physical effort.

Tecnifibre's bumper-free X-TOP construction also replaces conventional plastic protection with a fibre-based structure. This design is intended to reduce unwanted vibration while retaining the protection needed for regular play.

As with any squash racket, the actual feel depends on the player's technique, string condition, preferred tension and playing style.

Technologies explained

1. X-TOP NEO – reduced weight at the racket head

X-TOP NEO is one of the key innovations in the updated Carboflex range. Instead of using a conventional plastic bumper along the top of the racket, Tecnifibre has redesigned the head protection and surrounding eyelets to reduce the amount of plastic used.

Three separate eyelets are visible at the 12 o'clock position. According to Tecnifibre, the redesign removes approximately 2–3 grams of plastic from the upper part of the racket.

This reduction is significant because mass located far from the player's hand can affect how quickly the racket accelerates and changes direction. By reducing weight at the tip, the design aims to make the racket feel quicker and more responsive during preparation and execution.

The protective structure uses aramid fibres, selected for their resistance to impact, together with a PTFE surface treatment. PTFE helps the frame slide against walls and the floor, reducing friction and abrasion when accidental contact occurs.

The bumper-free design also creates a smoother frame profile, which is intended to reduce air resistance during the swing.

Main benefits: quicker racket-head acceleration, a smoother aerodynamic profile and durable head protection.

2. HEART TECH – redesigned shaft geometry

HEART TECH focuses on the shape and ergonomics of the racket's shaft. In the NEO generation, the shaft is approximately 3% thicker and has a more rounded profile than the previous design described by Tecnifibre.

This revised geometry is intended to improve the racket's responsiveness and power potential. The shaft is an important part of the frame because its shape and stiffness influence how the racket behaves during acceleration and impact.

For the player, the aim is a more direct and reactive feel, helping combine quick preparation with strong, confident contact.

Main benefits: improved responsiveness, enhanced power potential and updated shaft ergonomics.

3. Extended String Hole technology – improved string movement

The Carboflex 135 NEO incorporates Extended String Hole technology, which uses 12 enlarged eyelets at selected positions around the frame, specifically at 3, 9 and 12 o'clock.

These openings give the strings additional freedom to move when the ball makes contact with the string bed. Greater string movement can influence the way energy is transferred to the ball and how the strings return to position after impact.

The intended result is a more forgiving response on shots that do not strike the exact centre of the string bed, along with additional potential for spin and shot variation.

For regular players, this can be useful when retrieving difficult balls or attempting precise shots while under pressure.

Main benefits: increased string movement, greater tolerance on off-centre hits and improved potential for spin.

4. Graphite frame construction

The racket uses graphite as its principal frame material. Graphite is widely used in performance squash rackets because it offers a useful combination of low weight, structural stiffness and responsiveness.

In the Carboflex 135 NEO, the graphite frame provides the foundation for the racket's power and handling characteristics. It allows Tecnifibre to shape the frame and shaft to complement the weight distribution and ergonomic changes introduced in the NEO generation.

Main benefits: a lightweight structural platform, responsive performance and a balance of strength and stiffness.

5. Dynamix VP strings – responsive multifilament performance

The Carboflex 135 NEO is supplied with Tecnifibre Dynamix VP strings. This polyurethane multifilament string is designed to provide a responsive feel and efficient energy return at impact.

The string bed plays an important role in how a racket performs. A responsive string can help the player generate pace while maintaining a connected feel for the ball, particularly during fast exchanges and attacking shots.

Because the racket arrives pre-strung, players can use it without arranging an initial restring. More experienced players can subsequently adjust their preferred string tension to suit their individual needs.

Main benefits: lively response, good energy return and a performance-focused feel straight out of the box.

Which squash players should choose the Carboflex 135 NEO?

Regular club players

Players who compete regularly in club leagues or play several times a week can benefit from the combination of power and manoeuvrability. The racket offers enough substance for strong drives while retaining the quick handling needed in defensive exchanges and fast rallies.

It is particularly suitable for players who have developed consistent technique and want a racket that supports a more attacking game.

Intermediate and advanced players

Intermediate and advanced players are likely to appreciate the racket's balance of responsiveness, power and control. Its 135 g weight can provide a reassuring feel through impact, while the redesigned head helps maintain quick racket preparation.

Players who vary the pace, attack loose balls and look for opportunities to volley may find this combination especially useful.

Competitive and attacking players

The Carboflex 135 NEO is also aimed at competitive players who want to put pressure on their opponents through fast, penetrating shots. Its frame design is intended to support aggressive drives, early interceptions and rapid changes of direction.

The Carboflex family is used by elite squash players, including Mohamed El Shorbagy, Nour El Sherbini and Nouran Gohar. However, the most suitable weight and frame feel will always depend on the individual player's preferences and technique.

Players who want power without an overly cumbersome racket

Some players prefer the stability and impact feel of a 135 g racket but do not want to sacrifice manoeuvrability. This model is designed for precisely that type of player, offering a substantial frame with weight distribution intended to keep the racket quick in the hand.

Is it suitable for beginners?

A committed beginner can certainly consider the Carboflex 135 NEO, particularly if they already have experience in other racket sports or prefer a more substantial racket. However, its performance-oriented design is best matched to players who have established basic squash technique.

Complete beginners may find that a racket selected primarily for easy handling and confidence-building is a better starting point, depending on their strength and playing style.

Final verdict

The Tecnifibre Carboflex 135 NEO combines a 135 g graphite frame, a 500 cm² head and responsive Dynamix VP strings with a redesigned construction focused on swing speed. Its main innovations are the reduced-plastic X-TOP NEO head, the revised HEART TECH shaft and the enlarged eyelets used in Extended String Hole technology.

The overall playing concept is straightforward: make the racket easier to accelerate while preserving the power and responsiveness required for competitive squash.

For regular club players, intermediate and advanced competitors, and attacking players who want a balance of speed and substance, the Carboflex 135 NEO is a compelling option. It is especially worth considering if you value powerful drives, fast reactions and a responsive feel without moving to a lighter racket model.

In short: the Tecnifibre Carboflex 135 NEO is a versatile performance squash racket for players who want to combine confident shot-making with quick handling and modern frame technology.