Solinco Tour Bite?

[JT_2eighty]

39 is pretty low!

It definitely is.

I can get away with it because my racquet is very dense, and very low powered.

Thus, low tensions in the 30s are actually very controllable, with stiff polys like Tour Bite, Luxilon BBO & ALU, etc.

If i use a softer poly like Polystar Turbo or Volkl Cyclone Tour, I still have to string in the 50-55 range, as 39-45 is way too powerful.

If I was using an APD or PDR, then 39 would not be doable (and I have used those racquets as well). I'm guessing you may have good results in the high 40s. But hey, we're all different.

 

[Aretium]

It definitely is.

I can get away with it because my racquet is very dense, and very low powered.

Thus, low tensions in the 30s are actually very controllable, with stiff polys like Tour Bite, Luxilon BBO & ALU, etc.

If i use a softer poly like Polystar Turbo or Volkl Cyclone Tour, I still have to string in the 50-55 range, as 39-45 is way too powerful.

If I was using an APD or PDR, then 39 would not be doable (and I have used those racquets as well). I'm guessing you may have good results in the high 40s. But hey, we're all different.

So true, I string TB around 42-44 and silverstring I had to string 52-54.

 

[jborg]

So I have my other APD with Cyclone Tour in it. I might cut them out and string them with ALU Power Rough. I know ALU doesn't last very long but how does it compare to Tour Bite in spin/control/stiffness?

 

[Aretium]

So I have my other APD with Cyclone Tour in it. I might cut them out and string them with ALU Power Rough. I know ALU doesn't last very long but how does it compare to Tour Bite in spin/control/stiffness?

Less stiff, more pop and similar spin (depends on you though), best feel in a poly. The alu series feels like a dream for a few hours but goes crap after. Everyone should try it once.

 

[jborg]

Less stiff, more pop and similar spin (depends on you though), best feel in a poly. The alu series feels like a dream for a few hours but goes crap after. Everyone should try it once.

Thanks man. Maybe if they pre-stretched them in the factory they would be better, or maybe that wouldn't work. I hear nothing but good things about ALU but I just never thought to try them because of their tension maintenance.

 

[Aretium]

Thanks man. Maybe if they pre-stretched them in the factory they would be better, or maybe that wouldn't work. I hear nothing but good things about ALU but I just never thought to try them because of their tension maintenance.

Try it but its expensive and cut it out before you break it, you can get arm problems. I'm not sure what to think of prestretching polys, some swear by it but a lot say no. I think if you prestretched it, it would start off dead. They should prestretch it at the factory under heat.

 

[jborg]

Try it but its expensive and cut it out before you break it, you can get arm problems. I'm not sure what to think of prestretching polys, some swear by it but a lot say no. I think if you prestretched it, it would start off dead. They should prestretch it at the factory under heat.

Maybe it would be good to string before a match or something. I'm really happy with TB though. I'll play 3 or 4 days in a row this week and see how my arm feels.

 

[Aretium]

Maybe it would be good to string before a match or something. I'm really happy with TB though. I'll play 3 or 4 days in a row this week and see how my arm feels.

I think it would, seeing as 90% of the tour uses it hehe. This string is cocaine but worse at holding its high.

 

[Tennis_Fever]

This may be a good string, but in the words of Charles Barkley, it is "TURRIBLE" in my pb10 mid. Even at 40 lbs, way too stiff and harsh. One of the stiffest strings + a super flexy frame= bad news bears.

 

[LeeD]

I can admit STBite16 tends to run stiff, but 47 lbs on my 4DAero300's with a flex of 60 doesn't seem too far off the mark for comfort. I'd go maybe 42 next time, but probably not in the 30's because there must be some point of diminishing returns, and I need a decent accurate flat first serve to continue playing tennis.

 

[jborg]

Hit again with TB 16g at 52lbs in the APD, no arm discomfort, tons of spin, and awesome control. Although I may have broke one of my APD's

 

[MisterP]

I strung my Pure Strike Tour at 54lbs 2.5 weeks ago. It is now around 48-ish, which is stunning considering I have been playing 2-3 hours every day during that time period. The issue is that the string bed has stiffened up a lot, and I'm not getting nearly the same amount of spin that I was. Balls are just now starting to fly on me occasionally. And I do have some tenderness in my elbow.

Going to restring this weekend, and the plan will be to go down to 48lbs and see if that helps with the elbow issue and stringbed stiffness.

 

[RetroSpin]

Hit again with TB 16g at 52lbs in the APD, no arm discomfort, tons of spin, and awesome control. Although I may have broke one of my APD's

Try it at 42-45 and I think you'll be very surprised at the control and comfort.

 

[MisterP]

Restrung at 48. Feels almost the same during a match, but I'm having less arm pain the next day.

I also did a gut, poly hybrid just as a test with VS Touch and Pro Poly Plasma. Feels really nice, but I don't get the same control I get with the TB. Maybe I needed to have gone up a lot in tension. But, either way, it's not worth the extra money to me.

 

[netlets]

They're both great strings. You can go quite a bit lower with tension though. Blast has more pop and feel than TB, and maybe a bit more spin. TB is an awesome control string. I really like the solid feel of it but some people find it harsh.

There is disagreement among some of us as to how long Blast retains playability. My advice is to try it and see how it does for you.

Tour bite has more pop and spin than RPM blast - don't think that's even debatable. RPM blast has a more muted, deader feel. TB is octagonal and bites the ball better, creating more spin.

 

[scotus]

Tour bite has more pop and spin than RPM blast - don't think that's even debatable. RPM blast has a more muted, deader feel. TB is octagonal and bites the ball better, creating more spin.

TB octagonal. Now we've heard it all.

Tour Bite is supposed to be square-shaped, but images under the microscope have been showing a pentagonal shape.

 

[RetroSpin]

Tour bite has more pop and spin than RPM blast - don't think that's even debatable. RPM blast has a more muted, deader feel. TB is octagonal and bites the ball better, creating more spin.

Yeah, whatever. Like I said, it seems to be very subjective and people should try for themselves. You are the first to claim Tb has more pop than Blast though. Probably has something to do with the octagonal shape.

 

[LeeD]

Seems TB has more pop than KirshbaumSpikyShark.

 

[JT_2eighty]

Restrung at 48. Feels almost the same during a match, but I'm having less arm pain the next day.

Exactly the great thing about TB. It is so stiff that lower tensions have amazing control without the pain some get in the 50s. Drop another 2 lbs each restring until you lose the feel/control that you like. I did that and ended up at 39 lbs.

I also used to use gut/poly, but the control and spin of TB is so good that I haven't gone back to gut. I have gut/poly in one of my back-ups and any time I practice with it, it's now just 'meh', when before I swore by gut/poly.

 

[netlets]

Yeah, whatever. Like I said, it seems to be very subjective and people should try for themselves. You are the first to claim Tb has more pop than Blast though. Probably has something to do with the octagonal shape.

RPM blast is octagonal - Solinco is a diamond shape, not square or pentagonal LOL. If strung correctly IMO TB does have more power. It also has a higher power rating on stringforum.net - roughly DOUBLE the power of RPM Blast. It is a well respected site with a ton of info. I played with both strings during more than one session and the tension was the same - 49 pounds, and it was OBVIOUS. Most players don't string poly to get the most out of the string (anything over 53 will make it play very differently), so for people not stringing it the way it is recommended, I have no idea how it is power wise. I'm a 5.0 player, former All American, PTR certified that strings his own racquets and I test different tensions with different strings. I put a lot of time and effort into my findings - wonder how many people make their determinations on this forum and are adamant about them without controlling the stringing process.

 

[netlets]

Exactly the great thing about TB. It is so stiff that lower tensions have amazing control without the pain some get in the 50s. Drop another 2 lbs each restring until you lose the feel/control that you like. I did that and ended up at 39 lbs.

I also used to use gut/poly, but the control and spin of TB is so good that I haven't gone back to gut. I have gut/poly in one of my back-ups and any time I practice with it, it's now just 'meh', when before I swore by gut/poly.

Nice approach! I agree, when I go back to a hybrid I lose power and spin, so it's not worth it for the occasional drop shots and slightly better feel.

 

[netlets]

TB octagonal. Now we've heard it all.

Tour Bite is supposed to be square-shaped, but images under the microscope have been showing a pentagonal shape.

My bad, I was thinking RPM blast which states it has an octagonal profile. TB is diamond, not square or pentagonal - Nice of you to poke fun at my post with misinformation.

 

[scotus]

My bad, I was thinking RPM blast which states it has an octagonal profile. TB is diamond, not square or pentagonal - Nice of you to poke fun at my post with misinformation.

I refer you to the following link:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=514782

 

[LeeD]

Tried my RedOS Prince with TB16 at 40 lbs. Friday. Seemed a little tight, but pretty good by the end of the session. Hopefully, it will have dropped to around 35 by Monday.

 

[syke]

I have the TB strung at 58 on my APD. No arm issues at all. No stiffness issues at all. Just great spin, control and forgiveness.

 

[QuadCam]

Tb 19 is very soft and I found it did not work well at low tensions.... 45 is where I strung it. It notched heavily and quickly and lost its ability to snap back within a couple days of hitting balls and playing a few sets of doubles.

 

[JT_2eighty]

Tb 19 is very soft and I found it did not work well at low tensions.... 45 is where I strung it. It notched heavily and quickly and lost its ability to snap back within a couple days of hitting balls and playing a few sets of doubles.

Agree, TB19 is much softer than the rest of the TB line, and goes south quite fast. It's one of those "game day" strings that comes out of the gate awesomely, then declines rapidly after a match or two. But wow, when fresh it is my favorite string.

TB 18 can last a little longer, depending on your string pattern and tension. As you get thicker, the longevity continues to improve. TB 18 & 19 are best suited to densely patterned racquets, but also for those willing to restring often.

String-breakers and those using open patterns should benefit the most from the 16L or 16 gauges. I think TB 17 is a good starting point for someone interested in trying the string, but wary about how stiff it could be. Works well in open or dense patterns from my experience, and also can be strung low without big losses in control.

 

[QuadCam]

Agree, TB19 is much softer than the rest of the TB line, and goes south quite fast. It's one of those "game day" strings that comes out of the gate awesomely, then declines rapidly after a match or two. But wow, when fresh it is my favorite string.

TB 18 can last a little longer, depending on your string pattern and tension. As you get thicker, the longevity continues to improve. TB 18 & 19 are best suited to densely patterned racquets, but also for those willing to restring often.

String-breakers and those using open patterns should benefit the most from the 16L or 16 gauges. I think TB 17 is a good starting point for someone interested in trying the string, but wary about how stiff it could be. Works well in open or dense patterns from my experience, and also can be strung low without big losses in control.

great post. You are right. The 19 was fantastic in the 1st hour of play. Then, it was good for the next few hours....and then I was constantly adjusting the strings like syn gut by the 4th hours of play. At that point, I noticed the ball wasn't diving down much any more. It still had lots of spin, but that more a technique thing.... I noticed that the deep balls that would have a late dive into the back of the court weren't happening anymore.

I'd probably try the 17 (1.20mm) as I mainly play 1.20mm strings.

 

[QuadCam]

One thing I forgot to mention about tourbite 19 is that it is a very light string.

your racquet will be about 5-7 grams lighter than a typical 16L or 17 gauge full poly stringjob.

This is a way to lower your swingweight, if that is something you are trying to do. It also makes the racquet more headlight without adding any weight to the handle.

 

[SCRAP IRON]

One thing I forgot to mention about tourbite 19 is that it is a very light string.

your racquet will be about 5-7 grams lighter than a typical 16L or 17 gauge full poly stringjob.

This is a way to lower your swingweight, if that is something you are trying to do. It also makes the racquet more headlight without adding any weight to the handle.

5-7 grams lighter than other larger gauge polys? No way man. That's a significant amount of weight.

 

[blackfrido]

anybody still playing solinco tour bite? I've tried many polys throughout the years, I believe STB is still one of the best

 

[jangotango]

anybody still playing solinco tour bite? I've tried many polys throughout the years, I believe STB is still one of the best

When a player wants to know what a "poly is like," I tell them to use STB 16L as a baseline, and compare everything to it. Also do the same with ALU Power.

 

[jenkinsm]

Tried both and both very good , the rpm loses tension quickly but tour bite very good volkl cyclone are superb.

 

[blackfrido]

When a player wants to know what a "poly is like," I tell them to use STB 16L as a baseline, and compare everything to it. Also do the same with ALU Power.

that's right. Another that serves a a bench mark is the original of all polys " Luxilon Big Banger Original"

 

[Clash Ah ah]

I like TB a lot but can’t get on with RPM Blast. I play a heavy topspin game and can generate much more spin and depth with TB

 

[Corey Klein]

I've tried many polys over the years, tour bite 17g is still my favorite. Most reliable and consistent, seems to last a little longer as well.