Favorite 16g String?

[TripleB]

I've been using a polyester string for about 3 years now - most recently moving to a Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power 16L / Prince Synthetic Gut 16g with Duraflex. {I made the switch to poly because I went through 17g Synthetic in about 6 sets}

I currently have a Yonex RDX-500 Midplus demo that I'm loving and it has Wilson NXT Max 16g string in it that give good spin and decent feel (much better than my poly). The strings seem to be holding up very well with very little signs of wear or the possibility of breaking any time soon. I'm thinking that I may want to give a 16g non-poly string another shot.

What is your favorite 16g string that you feel offers great playability, superb feel, and good durability?

TripleB

 

[tcjackson]

I'm currently using Luxilon ALU 16L in a Volkl C-10 Pro Tour (93) and am hitting the ball better than ever. The combination of the very flexible stick and stiff strings are set up perfectly for me (58#). No arm problems either!

 

[Jerry Seinfeld]

I am currently using Yonex Tour Super 850 (NOTE: Different from the Tour Super 850 Pro sold at TW) in my RD ti-80. It is marketed as a 16L, but it is truly a 16. This string is a great playing string and a value that is pretty tough to beat. Has a soft and somewhat unique feel. After initial tension loss it flatlines and holds very well for a multi. Is surprisingly durable and provides the power you expect from a multi. One of the most underrated strings on the market, IMO. I've played with all the NXT line and didn't particularly care for them...with the exception of the new NXT OS, which is a solid performer. The rest tend to get mushy and loose control...am surprised the Max is doing well for you. I haven't hit with it in a while, maybe I'll give it another playtest someday soon.

Other quality multis I would recommend include Tecnifibre X-One Bi Phase (pricey), Unique Tournafibre Irradiated (Great value, several of my NXT users jumped to this string), or LaserFibre Supreme (a crisper playing multi). When the weather gets better you should splurge and go with a Bow Natural Gut hybrid...about the same cost as a premium multi with superior playability. Tough to beat the feel and playability of natural gut!

PS Glad to read about the success of your quest for the Holy Grail of racquets! You and the other RDX fanatics on this board have inspired me to either test or purchase an RDX 500 mid. I hit with the MP and found it too powerful, maybe I'll give it another go with less powerful strings strung a little higher and see if it can get close to providing or exceeding the gratification I get from my rd ti 80.

 

[moosryan]

where can your yonex string be purchased?
EDIT: ok found it at hola****. what's the difference between the two strings?

 

[Jerry Seinfeld]

It can also be found at the online tennis store that is named like Home Depot, but with a Racquet instead of the Home.

The Tour Super 850 Pro is 1.32 mm which is close to a 15L gauge. It is a fine string, arguably one of the most durable multis on the market. It has a coating that Yonex claims helps to generate extra spin, although I didn't really notice much difference in spin when I tested it. It is a solid string, with exceptional for durability for a good playing multi. It is slightly stiffer, thicker and just not as comfortable or playable as the Super 850, in my opinion. I believe it is the string of choice for Chris here at TW and a few others on this board...maybe we'll get some of those folks to also chime in?

The Tour Super 850 measures 1.30 in diameter and in my opinion plays smoothly. Sort of like driving a luxury car. It is solid in almost every category and has a truly unique feel that I have yet to be able to describe. You have to play with it to see for yourself. It just feels extremely good, consistent and smooth to hit the ball with this string. It plays nicely in many sticks, but I think it would be an exceptionally good string for Benjamin to test in and RDX 500.

 

[backcourt]

I've been using the Tour Super 850 pro (spin) as my current sting of choice. It plays a bit crisper than NXT or TRC, maintains tension very well, and doesn't move around nearly as much as other multis in the price range. I do seem to find added spin, and nice control with this sting and although it is a little crisper than some multi's it doesn't bother my troubled shoulder. ITs powerful enough, but not as much as NXT or NRG, so it works well in my somewhat powerful MP 3i. At $9.00 a pop its definitely worth a go. BUt I must admit Jerry has peeked my interest in the Tour super 850, which as of yet isn't available at TW. I'm also curious about Laser Fibre Supreme and how it compares with Yonex strings. Jerry any thoughts?


Backcourt FKA alleycat

 

[ferrari_827]

Well, a Yonex string in my Yonex RDXmid, how about that ? I'll certainly try it. Soon we'll be raving about the Yonex Tour super being the holy grail of multifilament strings (hehe).

 

[Jerry Seinfeld]

Backcourt -

IMO you just can't go wrong with either the Yonex Super 850 or Laserfibre Laser Supreme. However, there is something intangible that I really like about the Yonex Super 850, even though I usually prefer thinner strings. It has a unique feel in my Yonex rd ti 80. It just feels comfortable and right to me. I playtest many strings and when I am in a match and need to settle down and have everything right with the world, the first thing I do is make sure I am playing with the racquet strung with the Yonex Super 850.

The LaserSupreme is an excellent string and one that I regularly use. It does play more crisply than the Yonex Super 850 and holds tension better. I also like that I can get it in a 17 ga. It is also an outstanding string, but it doesn't have the same "intangible" comfort that I find with the Super 850.

 

[backcourt]

Thanks Jerry. Guess I'll have to try the Super 850 as I dont really want to go any crisper than the 850 tour pro I'm using now.