Talk me out of another reel of Topspin Cyber Flash 16?

Bottle Rocket

Bottle Rocket

Hall of Fame
Hi all,

I've been using Topspin Cyber Flash 16g for at least 10 years, though I've played rather infrequently for the past 5. When I chose this stuff in the beginning, I was an avid 4.5 tournament player in college, with my own stringing and customization business. There wasn't a single player I strung for that wasn't pleased enough with Cyber Flash to make the switch. I never found a better durability, performance, feel, and price combination.

It's almost time for a new reel of string. I'm getting a bit back into tennis and running low on Cyber Flash, and I need to be talked out of buying another 800 meters of this stuff. Is there anything worth considering that isn't just the string of the week? I'm interested in hearing from skilled players, especially those that have found something they like as much or more than Cyber Flash, and have stuck with for a meaningful period of time.

I am messing around with the Yonex Duel G 330 these days and an RF97A for kicks and giggles (unclear if I am going to be taking that racket seriously), but previously played with BLX 95's 18X20, or variants, for many, many years. Full beds of polyester in all.

What do you all think?
 
TennisManiac

TennisManiac

Hall of Fame
After having tried over 2 dozen full beds of polyester over the last few years (Cyber Flash being one of them) imho there is simply nothing on the market that can even come close to Alu Power. But it's very expensive and doesn't last long at all. If you're looking for an economy poly that plays pretty well and lasts a bit longer than Alu I would suggest Tour Bite 17g or Quadro Twist. They are my 2nd and 3rd favs. I've also tried several hybrids and just can't groove off of any of them. Full poly is all I'll ever play with.
 
rodrigoamaral

rodrigoamaral

Hall of Fame
It's nothing special and is no where near as popular as it once was... Big Hitter, Poly Plasma, Genesis Black Magic are 3 that come to min under $100 per reel that play as good or better.
 
CopolyX

CopolyX

Hall of Fame
with a ton of options out there, you have to do the talking, walking and testing...my great options, they just have be the right fit for you, your game and your frame...
 
Muppet

Muppet

Legend
I don't think you'll find the feature that CF has of being soft on touch shots and stiff on hard shots in any other string. You might miss it.
 
Muppet

Muppet

Legend
Doc Hollidae said:
Big Hitter Silver is the same string....
Click to expand...
I have to respectfully disagree. For one, BHS has a more slippery coating. For two, Topspin has a special layer on many of its strings that firms them up on harder shots. I doubt they shared this feature with Tourna. Thirdly, BHS is advertised as having a circumference between 1.20 and 1.22mm. CF is published by Tennis Industry Magazine as having 1.23 circumference (17 gauge).

But the two strings do play similar. A lot of people think they're the same string.
 
Last edited:
Bottle Rocket

Bottle Rocket

Hall of Fame
Thanks all for the replies. I tried a reel of 17g many years ago and wasn't thrilled with the durability, and didn't necessarily enjoy the playing experience either. Even in the 18X20 frames, I've always been happy with the performance of the 16g version: http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Topspin_Cyber_Flash_16_String_Reel_130/descpageACALPHA-TCF16R.html.

I've played with ALU, and yeah, if that stuff was about $100 less per reel, it would have been my choice. How does 4G compare? The idea of the pre-stretching is quite intriguing. Is the 4G something I should be considering, if I am also considering spending significantly more money?

I tried that Poly Pro Plasma stuff when it was all the rage many many years ago. I recall thinking everything felt like mush. Hilariously, I just found a post of mine from 2006 comparing it to ALU Power (before I discovered Cyber Flash, I guesss): https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/sppp-vs-alu-power-my-review.105248/
 
Crisp

Crisp

Professional
From what I know cyber flash is a alu wanna be.... as far as I have found the best wanna be alu is kelist power control in rough or smooth depending on your preference. You would probably get it at a similar price to your cyber flash but it may not be worth it considering you like what you are using and they are both essentially trying to be the same thing but not quite there. Just my 2c.
 
C

Chipnkick

Rookie
I'd try yonex poly tour fire. Its a bit stiff but stringing it low gives you a wonderful feeling of ball pocketing, as well as some of the best spin and control from a round poly. It is a considerable price jump from CF but it stays in my racket at least twice if not three times longer than most poly. I wouldn't worry about 4G, its best quality is its tension maitenance but it notches very easily so the stringbed locks up and having tried both, poly tour fire really does everything better at a lesser price.
 
Chotobaka

Chotobaka

Hall of Fame
danbrenner said:
I'll talk u out of it. The die hards say that the string is made differently now. That it's a diff string now
Click to expand...

Yes it is. The original version was a much firmer playing, purely control oriented string. The current stuff is very much middle of the road on those counts.
 
danbrenner

danbrenner

Legend
Chotobaka said:
Yes it is. The original version was a much firmer playing, purely control oriented string. The current stuff is very much middle of the road on those counts.
Click to expand...
So there you have it @Bottle Rocket confirmation that this string has been compromised since its glory days.
as far as similar strings. im guessing silverstring, maxpower, polytourpro would be excellent replacements.
 
Bottle Rocket

Bottle Rocket

Hall of Fame
What current string is most like the original Cyber Flash? The recommendations above, such as Silverstring?

I'm about one string job away from having to buy this new reel...
 
gino

gino

Legend
Bottle Rocket said:
Hi all,

I've been using Topspin Cyber Flash 16g for at least 10 years, though I've played rather infrequently for the past 5. When I chose this stuff in the beginning, I was an avid 4.5 tournament player in college, with my own stringing and customization business. There wasn't a single player I strung for that wasn't pleased enough with Cyber Flash to make the switch. I never found a better durability, performance, feel, and price combination.

It's almost time for a new reel of string. I'm getting a bit back into tennis and running low on Cyber Flash, and I need to be talked out of buying another 800 meters of this stuff. Is there anything worth considering that isn't just the string of the week? I'm interested in hearing from skilled players, especially those that have found something they like as much or more than Cyber Flash, and have stuck with for a meaningful period of time.

I am messing around with the Yonex Duel G 330 these days and an RF97A for kicks and giggles (unclear if I am going to be taking that racket seriously), but previously played with BLX 95's 18X20, or variants, for many, many years. Full beds of polyester in all.

What do you all think?
Click to expand...

Try Diadem solstice pro or power. They're nice and for a textured string very comfy
 
Chotobaka

Chotobaka

Hall of Fame
dgoran said:
Genesis Typhoon...end of search
Click to expand...

Yep, Typhoon is the closest thing to ALU Power Rough in terms of playability. I think its tension maintenance is actually better. Genesis developed Typhoon as an unabashed lower cost option to ALU Power Rough years ago, right down to the aluminum fiber, and it is still getting the job done.
 
Bottle Rocket

Bottle Rocket

Hall of Fame
We'll, I did try 4G. I think I like it - especially the interesting 'ping' on relatively clean/hard shots. It probably plays softer and a bit less crisp than the Cyber Flash, and definitely played consistently for the 3-hours before it broke, without the first ~15-30 minutes of increased grip that you get with the Cyber Flash's and ALU's of the world. Noticeably softer in the energy return department. Feels just like pre-stretched Luxilon original, probably.

So, still leaning towards buying another reel of Cyber Flash...
 
rodrigoamaral

rodrigoamaral

Hall of Fame
Chotobaka said:
Yep, Typhoon is the closest thing to ALU Power Rough in terms of playability. I think its tension maintenance is actually better. Genesis developed Typhoon as an unabashed lower cost option to ALU Power Rough years ago, right down to the aluminum fiber, and it is still getting the job done.
Click to expand...
Sums it up pretty good.... This is a great string that all should consider when using Lux or looking for a softer alternative
 
marco forehand

marco forehand

Semi-Pro
Mantis Power Polyester 16 gauge is comparable to the "original" Topspin Cyber Flash.
Look on the auction site for reels just under $50
If you want to try it, search the web, I found packages for less the $4
 
Muppet

Muppet

Legend
marco forehand said:
Mantis Power Polyester 16 gauge is comparable to the "original" Topspin Cyber Flash.
Look on the auction site for reels just under $50
If you want to try it, search the web, I found packages for less the $4
Click to expand...
I beg to differ. I've used both and for $25 more for a reel of Cyber Flash, it's a much nicer string and well worth the extra $.
 
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