Slowtwitcher
Legend
Got the strings yesterday and gave the racquet to my stringer today. Gravity Pro @50lbs.
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Yonex POLYTOUR REV string!
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
Papa Mango
Professional
Got selected, UPS was supposed to deliver yesterday but still hasn't and says eod today..
I was hoping to get a hit in this weekend but looks like it will have to wait till early Dec.
I was hoping to get a hit in this weekend but looks like it will have to wait till early Dec.
stiff and firm... I was hoping it wasn't, oh well.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
Easy string up. Suuupppeerrr slick, I'd say on par with PT Fire and RPM Blast. Below average coil memory (good thing). Bright orange and shiny. Shape is like RPM Blast/Team as well, not very evident/sharp but definitely there.
Although it says firm, the mains are already pressing into the crosses a little bit. Hopefully does not lock up too much.
Although it says firm, the mains are already pressing into the crosses a little bit. Hopefully does not lock up too much.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
First impressions of 1.20mm. 48x45 in a Six.One Team 18x20.
Really muted, but quite firm. Low, low power. Reminds me a lot of RPM Blast. The stringbed just feels mushy? Muted? Across the whole thing. Not a lot of pocketing. Spin was ok but I don't hit with a lot of spin anyways.
For those who haven't strung up yet, I'd advise going 2 pounds lower.
EDIT: After another five minutes of thought, I realize that this feels A LOT A LOT like signum poly pro plasma hex. Like a carbon copy.
Really muted, but quite firm. Low, low power. Reminds me a lot of RPM Blast. The stringbed just feels mushy? Muted? Across the whole thing. Not a lot of pocketing. Spin was ok but I don't hit with a lot of spin anyways.
For those who haven't strung up yet, I'd advise going 2 pounds lower.
EDIT: After another five minutes of thought, I realize that this feels A LOT A LOT like signum poly pro plasma hex. Like a carbon copy.
Last edited:
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
Does the plasma hex feel as slippery as this?
c-had
Rookie
I hope you're right. My string of choice is Revolution, and my PT Rev is due to arrive Tuesday.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
No, PTR (poly tour rev) definitely has a slicker, snappier surface.
M Pillai
Semi-Pro
Strung it up on my RF97. Really like the look of the bright orange, on the black frame.
Initial feedback is that, "bite" is not a hype. It really does take the fur off the balls. Really like it so far. Will wait for the honeymoon period to be over to before making my full opinion about it. Detailed review will come later after I have some real time with it.
Initial feedback is that, "bite" is not a hype. It really does take the fur off the balls. Really like it so far. Will wait for the honeymoon period to be over to before making my full opinion about it. Detailed review will come later after I have some real time with it.
Sir Faultalot
Rookie
It’ll be interesting to see if other gages give that same feedback. I think certain polys lend themselves to being kind of “wiry” in the thin gages. Solinco Revolution is one of those strings for me.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Through some extremely fortunate circumstances, I've managed to get a set of Polytour Rev in my preferred 1.20 gauge. In addition, our normally incessant wet Pacific Northwest weather is looking dry for substantial periods soon so I'll be able to play outdoors fairly regularly until our indoor courts reopen. Hopefully no one will mind if I join in on the fun of this playtest.
I had a racquet in which I just broke another set of Silver 7 Tour. I wasn't going to restring until we had access to indoor courts so it was perfect for Polytour Rev.
Agree with the others so far - this is a very slick feeling string, and the shape is so slight it is hard to tell it isn't round. There's a picture on the back of the package which shows a sharply edged octagonal shape but that is not the case at all. Here's a picture of the end of the string as cut by Yonex.
Here's a wider angle of the string set:
And finally a comparison of it against 17 gauge Silver 7 Tour, which is a sharply seven sided string:
The string set measured 39 feet 8 inches. I only need 35' 9" to string my SW104 so I cut the excess off. I put that fragment in my stringer and pulled 50 pounds tension, letting it sit for a minute. Elongation when pulling tension was about average among poly strings, and repulling tension after that minute required another five or six mm. That's more than typical and so I double-pulled every string after letting it sit for 20-30 seconds.
Stringing was easy - coil memory is moderate and inter-string friction is low so weaving crosses was a piece of cake. Because of a nagging wrist injury that isn't completely healed, that I'm playing more sporadically than normal due to the closure of indoor tennis, and that I'll be playing outdoors with temps in the 40's F., I decided to go a bit looser and string the center eight mains at 48 pounds, decreasing to 35 pounds for the outer mains, and to string the center five crosses at 44 pounds, decreasing to 31 pounds for the top and bottom cross. My last string job with 17 gauge Silver 7 Tour was 49/44, and I've been using 53/47 for 1.20 Cyclone Tour.
RacquetTune with a string factor of 1.58 says the tension is 46.1 pounds:
Here's the final product. The orange clashes with the black/green of my Blade but it's getting close to Christmas so the color scheme seems appropriate.
Will get to hit either Thanksgiving afternoon or Friday morning.
I had a racquet in which I just broke another set of Silver 7 Tour. I wasn't going to restring until we had access to indoor courts so it was perfect for Polytour Rev.
Agree with the others so far - this is a very slick feeling string, and the shape is so slight it is hard to tell it isn't round. There's a picture on the back of the package which shows a sharply edged octagonal shape but that is not the case at all. Here's a picture of the end of the string as cut by Yonex.
Here's a wider angle of the string set:
And finally a comparison of it against 17 gauge Silver 7 Tour, which is a sharply seven sided string:
The string set measured 39 feet 8 inches. I only need 35' 9" to string my SW104 so I cut the excess off. I put that fragment in my stringer and pulled 50 pounds tension, letting it sit for a minute. Elongation when pulling tension was about average among poly strings, and repulling tension after that minute required another five or six mm. That's more than typical and so I double-pulled every string after letting it sit for 20-30 seconds.
Stringing was easy - coil memory is moderate and inter-string friction is low so weaving crosses was a piece of cake. Because of a nagging wrist injury that isn't completely healed, that I'm playing more sporadically than normal due to the closure of indoor tennis, and that I'll be playing outdoors with temps in the 40's F., I decided to go a bit looser and string the center eight mains at 48 pounds, decreasing to 35 pounds for the outer mains, and to string the center five crosses at 44 pounds, decreasing to 31 pounds for the top and bottom cross. My last string job with 17 gauge Silver 7 Tour was 49/44, and I've been using 53/47 for 1.20 Cyclone Tour.
RacquetTune with a string factor of 1.58 says the tension is 46.1 pounds:
Here's the final product. The orange clashes with the black/green of my Blade but it's getting close to Christmas so the color scheme seems appropriate.
Will get to hit either Thanksgiving afternoon or Friday morning.
Strung up at 50# in my Blade Pro 18x20 and was pretty easy to string. A bit easier on the last crosses than ALU due to the slickness, but otherwise your standard poly stringing. Sadly, all the clubs where I'm at closed last Saturday until 12/18 due to a statewide covid-related order, so I'm hoping I'll get a couple of hits with it after we can reopen again or will be allowed to post a late review if the closure gets extended.
jugheadfla
Semi-Pro
was supposed to get my set today, but UPS delayed delivery until Friday......
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
After sitting overnight, RacquetTune now reports 43.9 pounds of tension, just less than a 5% drop.
It's drizzling now with a rainstorm on the way. It will most likely be Friday before I get to hit.
It's drizzling now with a rainstorm on the way. It will most likely be Friday before I get to hit.
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
Mine came in the mail this afternoon. Won't have a chance to string this evening and I'm playing in the morning so I'll probably string tomorrow afternoon or night. I haven't participated in a play test in a while so I'm looking forward to this one. I've been NG/Poly player for a few years, but strung one of my sticks with all shaped poly last week at 48/45 and I'm really liking it. Can't wait to see how this plays since I just switched rackets to Yonex a couple of months ago from Babs.
Faris
Professional
Well so far the string hasn't wowed me yet if I'm being honest.. compared to Poly Tour Strike which is the last Yonex string I used, this thing is very low powered but control seems to be a stand out feature. I have a couple of hours of hitting in and it still feels firm to me but no complaint from arm yet.. tension maintenance seems good as well. Will follow up with full review after I hit for 10 hours or so..
McLovin
Legend
Mine went from 48.5lbs to 45.6lbs from machine to after 1st hit. So about a 6% drop.
Agree on lower powered, although it was windy out when I hit.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
@McLovin So now after sitting another 24 hours, it is at 43.1 pounds, losing just less than another 2%. I'm hoping to get a bit of early Thanksgiving day hitting and exercise.
I don't mind lower powered (although I seem to prefer a more powerful poly) as much as changes in launch angle are difficult for me to compensate for. How do you find that compared to your normal string?
I don't mind lower powered (although I seem to prefer a more powerful poly) as much as changes in launch angle are difficult for me to compensate for. How do you find that compared to your normal string?
McLovin
Legend
I only hit 4 games + warmup, but feel-wise, I liked it. Not nearly as stiff as I thought it would be. My normal poly (Laserfibre Native Tour) is a higher powered poly (I’m up to 55lbs with that), so I’m going to need some calm weather to get an accurate read on it.
Slowtwitcher
Legend
Hit with it for the first time today for around 1:45h.
First off these strings are BRIGHT. Definitely orange, not red. I place the racquet close to my head during my forehand takeback and it can be a little distracting. Like pointed out before, the package talks about being an 8-sided string, but they look and feel round.
Really liked the strings (16 gauge). They provide adequate control and a good level of spin. Definitely more spin than BHS7T/Velocity, probably at same level as VS gut/Alu Power. I don't have a lot of experience with fb poly so for comparisons you'll have to talk to someone else.
The good spin and control coupled with my 18x20 racquet (GPro) made for a heavy ball. My usual hitting partner mentioned I was hitting well today, so that's a plus. My 2HBH was definitely working well, after a couple weeks of poop. For some reason I couldn't make my backhand slice to work very well, probably a me problem and not the strings.
Strings are definitely not too stiff at 50lbs. Really good snapback, I could hear the strings going back to place during my forehand follow-through, always a cool feeling. They're pretty muted and not very plasticky. I felt the strings worked the same way at the end of the session than at the beginning.
First off these strings are BRIGHT. Definitely orange, not red. I place the racquet close to my head during my forehand takeback and it can be a little distracting. Like pointed out before, the package talks about being an 8-sided string, but they look and feel round.
Really liked the strings (16 gauge). They provide adequate control and a good level of spin. Definitely more spin than BHS7T/Velocity, probably at same level as VS gut/Alu Power. I don't have a lot of experience with fb poly so for comparisons you'll have to talk to someone else.
The good spin and control coupled with my 18x20 racquet (GPro) made for a heavy ball. My usual hitting partner mentioned I was hitting well today, so that's a plus. My 2HBH was definitely working well, after a couple weeks of poop. For some reason I couldn't make my backhand slice to work very well, probably a me problem and not the strings.
Strings are definitely not too stiff at 50lbs. Really good snapback, I could hear the strings going back to place during my forehand follow-through, always a cool feeling. They're pretty muted and not very plasticky. I felt the strings worked the same way at the end of the session than at the beginning.
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
Finally got the time to string this afternoon!! I thought for a shaped poly it strung up easily. I strung it at 48 mains and 45 crosses. Hopefully I'll get to hit this weekend. The weather is supposed to be fairly good so I'm excited.
Sir Faultalot
Rookie
Strung it up yesterday on the old drop weighter. For a poly it seemed incredibly elastic, quite a bit of movement in the drop arm after the string was taut. It was also incredibly slick.
All of which lead me to a reference tension of 49lbs. Got some hitting lined up tomorrow and Monday. I don’t like the color in the TT95, but it’s kinda festive and the 3 year old likes it...
All of which lead me to a reference tension of 49lbs. Got some hitting lined up tomorrow and Monday. I don’t like the color in the TT95, but it’s kinda festive and the 3 year old likes it...
A big THANK YOU to Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for letting me be a part of this test. This is my first time testing a product and providing a review. For context, I am rated 4.0C and play singles/doubles.
Gauge received: 17g/1.20mm
Tension(s) used for playtest: 45 pounds
Regular string set up & tension: Pro's Pro Black Force 1.19mm at 45 pounds
Racquet used for test: Wilson Ultra Pro 16x19
Power/Control of test string: More power than control but enough of both, and I can't say if the power came from the string or the tension.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): String was firm, muted and comfortable (zero arm pain)
Spin: Slightly above average spin, but not a spin specific string. I think the spin comes from how slick it is as opposed to any shape it has.
Playability Duration: After the initial tension loss from stringing, played 7 hours (5 doubles and 2 singles) before the tension dropped enough for me to cut the strings out. Strings felt very consistent for those 7 hours.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I would string a little lower (40-42 pounds) next time to make the initial feel just a little softer, maybe get an extra hour or so before the tension drops significantly.
List any additional thoughts (optional): This string is very slick (I like this) and although Yonex calls it shaped, I would consider it round. I could not feel any shape with my fingers, had to use fingernails in order to feel/hear the ridges. Because of how slick it is, the strings returned to their position after each hit with very minimal notching. Overall all I would call this a slightly above average string. Thank you again for letting me be part of this test
Gauge received: 17g/1.20mm
Tension(s) used for playtest: 45 pounds
Regular string set up & tension: Pro's Pro Black Force 1.19mm at 45 pounds
Racquet used for test: Wilson Ultra Pro 16x19
Power/Control of test string: More power than control but enough of both, and I can't say if the power came from the string or the tension.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): String was firm, muted and comfortable (zero arm pain)
Spin: Slightly above average spin, but not a spin specific string. I think the spin comes from how slick it is as opposed to any shape it has.
Playability Duration: After the initial tension loss from stringing, played 7 hours (5 doubles and 2 singles) before the tension dropped enough for me to cut the strings out. Strings felt very consistent for those 7 hours.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I would string a little lower (40-42 pounds) next time to make the initial feel just a little softer, maybe get an extra hour or so before the tension drops significantly.
List any additional thoughts (optional): This string is very slick (I like this) and although Yonex calls it shaped, I would consider it round. I could not feel any shape with my fingers, had to use fingernails in order to feel/hear the ridges. Because of how slick it is, the strings returned to their position after each hit with very minimal notching. Overall all I would call this a slightly above average string. Thank you again for letting me be part of this test
Faris
Professional
Hope everyone had a healthy, happy and safe Thanksgiving.. I just got back after my final session with Poly Tour Rev and below is my final review. Big shoutout as always to @TW Staff as always for supporting our holicism...
Gauge received:
1.25mm
Tension(s) used for playtest:
50 lbs
Regular string set up & tension:
Varies a lot. Currently using Tourna Silver 7 Tour. Tension also varies but remains between 48-52 lbs..
Racquet used for test:
Yonex Ezone 100 (2020)
Power/Control of test string:
Low power. Last Yonex string I played with was Poly Tour Strike. And this was considerably lower powered.. Control was good, this is definitely a control string. You can take full swings and ball stays inside..
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
I kept expecting the string to break in a bit more but it never did. Anyway it wasn't uncomfortable. Just a bit firm. It is also muted but not so much where it starts to feel vague.. Overall not bad. Doesn't wow you but it isn't bad..
Spin:
Average. I didn't find the whole "bite" it is advertised for but it just might be me. It is very slick so snapback is there.. Serves are good, slice serve was reliable as well as kickers in ad side..
Playability Duration:
I played for 10 hours after which I will be cutting them now. For me strings played very consistent throughout. I somehow had this feeling it was going to break in a bit more but I guess that is how the strings play i-e a bit firm.. But they played pretty much the same..
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
Someone mentioned it above and I will agree; I would recommend stringing a few pounds looser.. The strings even after initial drop off stringer remained on the firmer side..
List any additional thoughts (optional):
This string is a good overall string that does everything well. It is slick, very bright orange and easy to string up, as I mentioned in my early observation..
Thank you again Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for this playtest opportunity..
Faris's Yonex Polytour Rev String Review
Gauge received:
1.25mm
Tension(s) used for playtest:
50 lbs
Regular string set up & tension:
Varies a lot. Currently using Tourna Silver 7 Tour. Tension also varies but remains between 48-52 lbs..
Racquet used for test:
Yonex Ezone 100 (2020)
Power/Control of test string:
Low power. Last Yonex string I played with was Poly Tour Strike. And this was considerably lower powered.. Control was good, this is definitely a control string. You can take full swings and ball stays inside..
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
I kept expecting the string to break in a bit more but it never did. Anyway it wasn't uncomfortable. Just a bit firm. It is also muted but not so much where it starts to feel vague.. Overall not bad. Doesn't wow you but it isn't bad..
Spin:
Average. I didn't find the whole "bite" it is advertised for but it just might be me. It is very slick so snapback is there.. Serves are good, slice serve was reliable as well as kickers in ad side..
Playability Duration:
I played for 10 hours after which I will be cutting them now. For me strings played very consistent throughout. I somehow had this feeling it was going to break in a bit more but I guess that is how the strings play i-e a bit firm.. But they played pretty much the same..
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
Someone mentioned it above and I will agree; I would recommend stringing a few pounds looser.. The strings even after initial drop off stringer remained on the firmer side..
List any additional thoughts (optional):
This string is a good overall string that does everything well. It is slick, very bright orange and easy to string up, as I mentioned in my early observation..
Thank you again Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for this playtest opportunity..
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Got to hit with Polytour Rev today for two easy hours, in two one-hour sessions - one with an age group peer and one with my son, both outdoors with temps in the 40's. It's a pretty firm but also moderately muted string that has better than average comfort, along with average to slightly above average power levels. Launch angle is medium, and spin capability is a bit better than average for a round string, but just average when compared to other shaped strings. The impact feel is crisp with good pocketing sensation but had less of the high frequency harmonics than other relatively crisp strings. PTR felt familiar and consistent from the very first stroke and responded just as expected when changing swing speeds. I took about a dozen hard swings against my son and the ball really seemed to pop off the stringbed. It felt good when serving the half dozen first serves I took. It doesn't have the power of Cyclone Tour nor that feeling of liveliness of Silver 7 Tour, but it's also not inert feeling like Hyper-G.
I did try to loop up a few heavy topspin balls and PTR just doesn't have the grip of a sharply edged string. Launch angle usually increases when there is high string/ball friction but with PTR the balls come off with just a slightly higher trajectory and not a ton of spin, so the ball ended up bouncing relatively short in the court and by the time it got to the baseline was about mid-chest high on my 6'1" tall son. I didn't have any problems with underspin backhands - they came off the racquet exactly like I would have expected for a string that grabs the ball more than PTR does. So maybe there's something with the colder weather that makes it tough for PTR to reverse spin and hit a loopy shot.
I looked back through what I wrote when testing Poly Tour Pro, but that was in a 1.15 gauge. PTR is more firm and more crisp, and this slightly thicker 1.20 gauge doesn't have that mushiness I complained about with PTP at the top end of my swing speeds. I would guess that PTR is a more crisp and firm string than PTP. I should have, but didn't, compare it to a racquet that has fairly fresh Hyper-G in it, or with my other racquet that has a nearly six-hour set of Cyclone Tour.
According to RacquetTune, it was 46.1 pounds of tension right off the string. After sitting overnight, it dropped to 43.9 pounds. After sitting another 24 hours, it dropped to 43.1 pounds. Now after two hours of relatively light hitting, it's at 41.2 pounds. Strings have notched about 20-25% of the way through.
We're supposed to get a burst of rain tonight so probably no tennis until the courts dry out by Sunday. I'll definitely do some back to back with Hyper-G and Cyclone Tour at that time.
I did try to loop up a few heavy topspin balls and PTR just doesn't have the grip of a sharply edged string. Launch angle usually increases when there is high string/ball friction but with PTR the balls come off with just a slightly higher trajectory and not a ton of spin, so the ball ended up bouncing relatively short in the court and by the time it got to the baseline was about mid-chest high on my 6'1" tall son. I didn't have any problems with underspin backhands - they came off the racquet exactly like I would have expected for a string that grabs the ball more than PTR does. So maybe there's something with the colder weather that makes it tough for PTR to reverse spin and hit a loopy shot.
I looked back through what I wrote when testing Poly Tour Pro, but that was in a 1.15 gauge. PTR is more firm and more crisp, and this slightly thicker 1.20 gauge doesn't have that mushiness I complained about with PTP at the top end of my swing speeds. I would guess that PTR is a more crisp and firm string than PTP. I should have, but didn't, compare it to a racquet that has fairly fresh Hyper-G in it, or with my other racquet that has a nearly six-hour set of Cyclone Tour.
According to RacquetTune, it was 46.1 pounds of tension right off the string. After sitting overnight, it dropped to 43.9 pounds. After sitting another 24 hours, it dropped to 43.1 pounds. Now after two hours of relatively light hitting, it's at 41.2 pounds. Strings have notched about 20-25% of the way through.
We're supposed to get a burst of rain tonight so probably no tennis until the courts dry out by Sunday. I'll definitely do some back to back with Hyper-G and Cyclone Tour at that time.
tennisgurl
Semi-Pro
Yonex POLYTOUR REV Playtest Review
by Tennisgurl
by Tennisgurl
Hello, please find my playtest review for Yonex Polytour Rev string below. I really enjoyed the playtest and I would like to thank @TW Staff and Yonex for giving me this opportunity.
Guage Received: 1.25
Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 pounds
Regular string set up and tension: My regular setup is usually Solinco Hyper G strung at 52 pounds.
Racket used for test: Babolat Pure Drive 2018
Power/control of test string: The power was low for this string compared to my usual Hyper-G. This string will complement powerful rackets but that said higher level players who like to take full swings and have good mechanics might like it in player spec racquets as well. For me, I am glad I tested it in my Pure Drive that has inherent power.
Control was outstanding with giving user confidence to swing out. I think lower power was also a factor for such good control.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I think the string was more towards muted feedback and it was comfortable in general. Feedback was not jarring upon ball contact and I could feel the ball stay on strings (good dwell time). For comparison, this string feels very very similar to Yonex Poly Tour Pro to me.
Spin: Those who have good stroke mechanics can definitely get a great amount of spin. This is a very slick string and while you can't feel shape that well when holding in hand, the slickness gets you that snapback. I am generally a flat hitter of the ball but I could tell that with the excellent ball pocketing and shape of the ball. Serving was great for me because I could slice serve with ease.
Playability Duration: The string is in very good shape after one and a half week of playing and I am not noticing any difference in playability. I have similar power, spin, depth and control I had when I had strings put in.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I always do first stringing for any polyester string at 52 pounds as baseline. Keeps things constant to better tell when you try new strings. For Yonex Polytour Rev I will maybe drop my tension by a couple of pounds as I was not finding depth as regularly and balls were landing shorter than usual. Since there was a lot of control there, I don't think control would suffer by dropping tension by a little bit.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I was told by my stringer that it was very easy to string this without any issues.
For me it played similar to Yonex Poly Tour Pro which is round but I feel like has similar characteristics. For a string that they are advertising as bite and spin string, it didn't deliver for me. I think actually that this is a more control oriented than spin sort of a string.
As with all Yonex strings, the string seemed to be of great quality. I will recommend this to everyone as a cross string to hybrid setups due to good snapback and slick nature of this string.
Thank you again for this playtest opportunity Tennis Warehouse and a happy Thanksgiving weekend to everyone.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Hit on damp courts and windy conditions today for about 45 minutes with PT Rev, and then hit for about 15 minutes with Hyper-G that I strung up when I tested Hyper-G Soft. Before saying anything else, I used RacquetTune after returning home and found PTR to be at 40.9 pounds and Hyper-G to be at 44 pounds. Those are different enough tensions that it's not entirely comparable.
That being said, these two strings are fairly similar in feel, both being fairly muted. PTR feels more firm and more crisp despite being 8% lower in tension. Launch angle is higher on normal groundstrokes for PTR, as is the power level, but both of these could also be attributed to the tension difference. Hyper-G grips the ball better on heavy topspin shots by a noticeable amount, with an increasingly higher launch angle the more vertical the swing is. We weren't out there long enough to do anything other than try to get warm and just rally firmly down the middle of the court. Notching has increased to about one-third of the way through the string at just under three hours. Will hopefully get a better and more intense hit in tomorrow.
That being said, these two strings are fairly similar in feel, both being fairly muted. PTR feels more firm and more crisp despite being 8% lower in tension. Launch angle is higher on normal groundstrokes for PTR, as is the power level, but both of these could also be attributed to the tension difference. Hyper-G grips the ball better on heavy topspin shots by a noticeable amount, with an increasingly higher launch angle the more vertical the swing is. We weren't out there long enough to do anything other than try to get warm and just rally firmly down the middle of the court. Notching has increased to about one-third of the way through the string at just under three hours. Will hopefully get a better and more intense hit in tomorrow.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
Took out PT Rev for a drive last evening, fourth session total, first since Thanksgiving.
Plays exactly the same. Tension feels the same, feel is the same, spin is the same. Very stable string. It's firm, controlled, and muted in my Six.One Team 18x20.
The coating has not worn down, and the mains are snapping back very nicely.
Plays exactly the same. Tension feels the same, feel is the same, spin is the same. Very stable string. It's firm, controlled, and muted in my Six.One Team 18x20.
The coating has not worn down, and the mains are snapping back very nicely.
Papa Mango
Professional
Finally had a chance to string up the racket with the demo string.
First thing, man this thing is bright... bright orange but in a good way. Looks better than Wilson revolve.
And then as someone mentioned it is slick very easy to string. I was done with the string job in 25 minutes flat, Usually it takes me ~30 minutes to do a full poly.
Not much coil memory, but feels like a good ol Yonex poly (slicker than PTP).
It did feel a little different than a round poly when holding/weaving, but if I did not know from here that its supposed to be shaped I probably would not have noticed it.
Here it is strung on a Phantom 100X ready to go for a hit, hopefully in the am tmw.
First thing, man this thing is bright... bright orange but in a good way. Looks better than Wilson revolve.
And then as someone mentioned it is slick very easy to string. I was done with the string job in 25 minutes flat, Usually it takes me ~30 minutes to do a full poly.
Not much coil memory, but feels like a good ol Yonex poly (slicker than PTP).
It did feel a little different than a round poly when holding/weaving, but if I did not know from here that its supposed to be shaped I probably would not have noticed it.
Here it is strung on a Phantom 100X ready to go for a hit, hopefully in the am tmw.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Got to hit another hour on damp outdoor courts this afternoon. I have to say that the more I play with Poly Tour Rev, the more I like it, especially in outdoor conditions where I am taking a more conservative swingpath at the ball. Poly Tour Pro in the 1.15 gauge was a string that gave me immediate confidence that the ball would respond consistently to whatever the stringbed was doing, and PT Rev has been no different. I'm never surprised by a shot that just flies long, or launches high or low, without me knowing that I did something to cause it. PT Rev continues to feel more crisp and firm than PTP, while offering a bit more grip on the ball and maybe a little bit more power though that's hard to say without being able to hit them back to back. PT Rev also feels consistent to the limits of my ability to swing a racquet, where PTP in the 1.15 gauge had a bit of mushiness on hard flat serves or putaway groundstroke attempts that made it feel slightly imprecise in those situations.
PT Rev has pretty low sensitivity to incoming spin. I hit a bunch of volleys today and had to make minimal adjustment against underspin. The crisp and firm nature makes me comfortable in aiming at smaller targets. I felt like I could go at a spot within five or six feet of the baseline and get good consistent depth without missing long despite the varying amount of spin on the incoming ball.
At about four hours on the string, notching has increased more and the mains are getting slightly stuck out of position. RacquetTune now says 40.4 pounds of tension, so loss has slowed significantly and is now at just over 12% from when it came off the stringer at 46.1 pounds, but only a bit more than 6% tension loss from 43.1 pounds where it was after sitting unused for two days off the stringer. This is much better than average.
PT Rev has pretty low sensitivity to incoming spin. I hit a bunch of volleys today and had to make minimal adjustment against underspin. The crisp and firm nature makes me comfortable in aiming at smaller targets. I felt like I could go at a spot within five or six feet of the baseline and get good consistent depth without missing long despite the varying amount of spin on the incoming ball.
At about four hours on the string, notching has increased more and the mains are getting slightly stuck out of position. RacquetTune now says 40.4 pounds of tension, so loss has slowed significantly and is now at just over 12% from when it came off the stringer at 46.1 pounds, but only a bit more than 6% tension loss from 43.1 pounds where it was after sitting unused for two days off the stringer. This is much better than average.
Initial thoughts: I finally got a chance to hit with mine last night after stringing it up Friday evening. This is definitely one of if not my favorite strings to string because like everyone else pointed out, the string is very slick and did not coil back up and get tangled. The color is also very bright and really pops out of my HGTP. I actually like the color and didn't find it too distracting when I was playing. I actually played indoors, which is rare for me these days, and overall I was impressed with this string on my first outing. I thought the string provided enough spin for me, and had decent touch and feel. I was able to land some nice lobs with it, and my shots felt predictable coming off the racquet. It felt powerful, but that could be because I haven't been indoors in a while, definitely something to reflect and compare for my next outing. The one other thing I will say is I noticed more string movement than I normally do, especially in my crosses. More to come in the final review.
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
Today was the first day that I have been able to hit with the string. I found the string to be powerful enough and control oriented enough to be a really enjoyable. Serves were strong enough to be effective and ground strokes were easy to place. Going to play again tomorrow morning and I find I'm actually looking forward using the string again.
Papa Mango
Professional
I also got my initial 90 minute hit in today.
The word that comes to mind is POP! This string has got some.
I have strung my Phantom X @ 46/42 which is the tension I use for all full bed polys, but now am thinking should have gone atleast 48/44 with this string.
Would be interesting to see what happens the next time with the initial tension drop.
Ok second word comfort, this string is very comfortable. Calling @g4driver.. this is a string to try for comfort in a poly.
I am hoping to get 8-10 hours of hitting over the next week with this string to get the full experience.
The word that comes to mind is POP! This string has got some.
I have strung my Phantom X @ 46/42 which is the tension I use for all full bed polys, but now am thinking should have gone atleast 48/44 with this string.
Would be interesting to see what happens the next time with the initial tension drop.
Ok second word comfort, this string is very comfortable. Calling @g4driver.. this is a string to try for comfort in a poly.
I am hoping to get 8-10 hours of hitting over the next week with this string to get the full experience.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
Jangotango's Yonex Poly Tour REV (PTR) 1.20 Review
As always, thank you to @TW Staff and Yonex for allowing members like me to test out all sorts of tennis gear. It's a wonderful opportunity for all enthusiasts on these boards.
Gauge Received: 1.20mm, 17GAs always, thank you to @TW Staff and Yonex for allowing members like me to test out all sorts of tennis gear. It's a wonderful opportunity for all enthusiasts on these boards.
Tension Used For Playtest: 48lbs. mains, 45lbs. crosses. No prestretch
Regular String Set Up and Tension: Ashaway Kevlar+ 17 mains, Monogut ZX Pro 17 crosses. 52lbs. x 44lbs. 10% Prestretch on both.
Racquet Used: Wilson BLX Six.One Team 18x20 w/ leather grip
Power/Control of test string:
Power (4/10): This is a low-powered, control-oriented poly string. There is less power than Luxilon Adrenaline, Head Lynx Tour, Hyper-G Soft, and Yonex's other flagship offering, Poly Tour Pro. I would liken it to RPM Blast or Luxilon 4G levels of power. Poly Tour REV is not a string for dinking the ball around, especially in a control racquet like mine. I can see this complementing a more open, powerful racquet like the EZONE or upcoming VCore very well. Lay back the wrist, hit it out in front, and let out a BWEEHHH!... You'll need it, as I missed having a bit more free power from the stringbed.
Control (9/10): The gently shaped, low powered construction of this string means control is one of the outstanding features. There was more control than my usual Crossfire ZX setup and the strings I've listed in the "Power" rating. I was able to (more or less required to) take full, stroking cuts at the ball, and I knew exactly where my shot was going everytime. Very point-and-shoot.
Feel (5/10):This is a muted, dead, firm string. I'll restate that I'd liken the feel to 4G or RPM Team/Blast, although it is more comfortable than all of those offerings. There is not a sharp-crisp, pocketing sensation you get with say Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour, and definitely is not as silky as a gut/poly hybrid. I do prefer the feel compared to Poly Tour PRO, as it is not as mushy. However, sometimes I had just a vague idea of where I hit the ball. Not my cup of tea, but I guess I'd still drink it.
Spin (8/10):Poly Tour REV has the same Silicone tech that Poly Tour Fire has, as well as a gently shaped construction. Throughout my playtest the strings remained shiny and slick, although they did become roundish as the edges wore off. There is what I would say a Goldilocks amount of spin, very similar to my Crossfire ZX setup. A lot of defensive balls where I had to reset the point using height dipped in very unexpectedly. Slices did not pop up, and were very easy to drive through. The spin of this string contributed a good degree to the control. One of the better aspects of this string was its low spin and pace sensitivity. I struggle with volleying low, sliced balls, and Poly Tour REV didn't just "glance off" these balls. Against harder paced groundstrokes, the muted, firm feel remained consistent and allowed me to redirect and control the rally. Again, I can see this string complementing more powerful, open patterned racquets very well.
Playability Duration (9/10):By a long shot, the most stable, consistent playing poly I've ever used. I played 10 hours with this string, and it felt the same from hour 0 to hour 10. I even stepped on the stringbed to try and loosen it up. Nope. Didn't change anything. The slickness was maybe a slight degree less at the end than when I first strung it up. The edges were rounded off, but that's to be expected. It didn't change the characteristics of this string. Very impressed with the formula and construction Yonex used to make it so stable.
Tension Recommendations:I would definitely string this at least two pounds lower than the 48x45 I used for the playtest. Even when the weather here in central TX was relatively warm, I just wasn't getting what I wanted from the strings. I missed the extra bit of power I get with Crossfire ZX or even the Lynx Tour/Hawk hybrid I was testing as well. Recently the temp has dropped like a rock, compounding my incompatibility with this string. It's a firm, dead string that I would definitely go a bit lower on.
Additional Thoughts:I can tell this is a string that is designed to go hand-in-hand with the upcoming VCore racquets. In conclusion, this is a "high-level" poly that is meant for high racquet head speed and big cuts. It's a very stable, consistent poly, a step up from Poly Tour Pro. If you like uber-control and durability, this string is for you. For those of y'all that would like to try it and want a bit more power, go lower on tension.
Sir Faultalot
Rookie
I got to hit some last weekend. Played a knock out drag out 4.0 singles match on Saturday (2 sets took 2 hours). Played a hard hitter with good technique for a 4.0, the string felt good returning serve and hitting against pace on groundies. I haven't been playing a lot lately so my game is missing some control and consistency, but I felt like the string was too powerful to swing out on my put away shots. I put a lot of approaches long...
I think the biggest feature of this string is its predictability. I hit volleys with confidence, served very well with placement and pace, and I knew where my groundstrokes were going (with the exception of a few shanks hehehe). It has a very linear response, I wouldn't call it a control poly.
Feels like a RPM Power for the Yonex line in that it has a super slick coating and I felt the 1.25 gage was never low on power. I did find it more crisp than RPM Power.
I think the biggest feature of this string is its predictability. I hit volleys with confidence, served very well with placement and pace, and I knew where my groundstrokes were going (with the exception of a few shanks hehehe). It has a very linear response, I wouldn't call it a control poly.
Feels like a RPM Power for the Yonex line in that it has a super slick coating and I felt the 1.25 gage was never low on power. I did find it more crisp than RPM Power.
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
Hit again this morning and still like the string! Still had good power, spin, and feel. Full report coming soon.
haqq777
Legend
Yonex Polytour Rev String Review
Gauge received:
1.25mm
Tension(s) used for playtest:
50 lbs
Regular string set up & tension:
My usual go to string setup is Volkl Cyclone 1.25 at 50 lbs. Last string in this particular racquet that I used however was Hyper- G Soft 1.25 strung at 52 lbs.
Racquet used for test:
Babolat Aeropro Drive 2013
Power/Control of test string:
Power is towards the low end of spectrum. This is a precision string for big hitters who have long, fast strokes and good racquet head speed. Best suited in my opinion for more powerful frames.
Control was exceptional. The stringbed was very consistent from start to finish giving me a similar ball over and over, and that was confidence inducing. That is the stand out feature of the string for me.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
First thing that came to my mind after hitting with this string was "ok, this is muted". This is a sort of medium-firm string that provides somewhat dampened feedback. As a few others mentioned, it isn't uncomfortable firm but it is far from being mushy as well.
Spin:
Nothing that stood out for me. It is slick so yes, you do have snapback. But overall pretty average spin. There is a plethora of strings in the market which provide better grip/bite and spin.
Playability Duration:
This was excellent. I played for roughly 8.5 hours with it after which I snapped one of my mains and I was getting consistent feedback off the stringbed from the first hit to the last. No sudden tension dropoffs where you are left scratching your head.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
Yes, I would drop at least a few pounds of tension if I were to restring. This is a firmer playing string and dropping a few pounds will compensate for somewhat lower power and firmer feedback.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
Well, nothing really that hasn't been mentioned already. It was very easy to string up on my drop weight stringer. String felt very slick in hand and was easy to keep straightened (low coil memory). Weaving crosses was a blast as well.
String played very well throughout the test and felt like a Yonex premium offering. Didn't really excel anywhere where I was wowed enough to make a switch, but I might pick up a few sets here and there for mixing it up.
Will end by saying huge thank you to @TW Staff and Yonex for this playtest opportunity. Much appreciated.
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
Thank you Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for the means to have this playtest. It's been enjoyable and enlightening.
Gage Received: 1.20mm 17GA
Tension Used For Playtest: 48 mains 45 crosses
Regular String Set-up and Tension: For the past few years Natural Gut mains and Poly crosses. Mostly shaped strings for the past year or so strung at 55 lbs.
Racket Used For Test: Yonex V-Core 100 300G.
Power/Control of Test String: I felt as if the string had good power and excellent control. I'm going to strongly consider switching to this string in the near future.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): The string is easy to string, not very stiff. When striking the ball it had a fairly crisp feel for me. I found it to be very comfortable for me and not mushy at all.
Spin: I had no trouble at all with producing sufficient spin. I'd say it took about 15 minuets for me to get the feel of it.
Playability Duration: I've managed to hit about 9 hours with the string so far and I found the string to still have all of the initial characteristics and feel that it had the first day. Not going to cut the string out until I have to. Still feels good to me.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?) I've found the string to be very comfortable in the mid 40's. I'm not sure how it would play with much lower tension, but think it would do well up into the mid 50's. I think I would keep the tension, for myself, in the mid to upper 40's as the string isn't super stiff. I feel if it was a lot lower it might get mushy.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I'm a new Yonex racket user, but have hit with and strung Yonex strings for a while. From what I can tell Yonex does a really good job on quality control and many of their products are great. I think this string will be a hit for them. As I said earlier, I'm going to seriously consider switching to this string.
Again, Thanks Tennis-Warehouse and Yonex for the playtest.
Gage Received: 1.20mm 17GA
Tension Used For Playtest: 48 mains 45 crosses
Regular String Set-up and Tension: For the past few years Natural Gut mains and Poly crosses. Mostly shaped strings for the past year or so strung at 55 lbs.
Racket Used For Test: Yonex V-Core 100 300G.
Power/Control of Test String: I felt as if the string had good power and excellent control. I'm going to strongly consider switching to this string in the near future.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): The string is easy to string, not very stiff. When striking the ball it had a fairly crisp feel for me. I found it to be very comfortable for me and not mushy at all.
Spin: I had no trouble at all with producing sufficient spin. I'd say it took about 15 minuets for me to get the feel of it.
Playability Duration: I've managed to hit about 9 hours with the string so far and I found the string to still have all of the initial characteristics and feel that it had the first day. Not going to cut the string out until I have to. Still feels good to me.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?) I've found the string to be very comfortable in the mid 40's. I'm not sure how it would play with much lower tension, but think it would do well up into the mid 50's. I think I would keep the tension, for myself, in the mid to upper 40's as the string isn't super stiff. I feel if it was a lot lower it might get mushy.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I'm a new Yonex racket user, but have hit with and strung Yonex strings for a while. From what I can tell Yonex does a really good job on quality control and many of their products are great. I think this string will be a hit for them. As I said earlier, I'm going to seriously consider switching to this string.
Again, Thanks Tennis-Warehouse and Yonex for the playtest.
Here's my review. Overall, a decent and quite comfortable poly.
Gauge received:
1.25mm
Tension(s) used for playtest:
53/51 lbs
Regular string set up & tension:
RS Lyon 17g @ 53/51 lbs
Racquet used for test:
Head Graphene 360 Speed MP
Power/Control of test string:
Average power for a poly. You can swing out and the ball will land in. Personally, the feel and other aspects of the string sometimes made it feel like I was going to launch the ball, but the balls stayed in. Control was good but again, sometimes it felt like the ball could launch or deviate a couple of degrees too far from my intended target.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
1st hit was a dream. Very comfortable with a somewhat slippery and muted feel. I could feel the strings snapping back and I saw what kind of effect it had on the ball and the resulting bounce. However, about 30 minutes after, the strings started moving around. The spin potential decreased but the feel remained slightly diminished. I was on the Poly Tour Pro Blue playtest and with PT Rev, it pockets the ball in a different way. It's hard to explain but I like the feel better the PTP.
As I mentioned earlier, the feel and the fact the strings started moving around affected my confidence in swinging at the ball. It was kind of difficult finding a good medium between topspin and drive because I didn't want to feel like I was going to launch the ball or hit the ball too short.
Spin:
At first, PT Rev had so much more spin than what I was used to with Lyon. After the break-in, I would say it was average. I could hit kickers pretty well, but for some reason had a tough time hitting slice serves. Probably just me.
The 8 sides weren't as sharp so it didn't really help with spin potential (I guess the more sides make it closer to being round...I don't know of any other 8-sided strings with sharp edges)
Playability Duration:
Again, the first 30 minutes were great. After that, it just played like a comfortable poly. I don't normally break poly and I would say it held tension pretty well. It didn't feel more springy as more time passed. I've had it in my racquet for about 2 and a half weeks.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
I think the same tension (53/51) was fine. I definitely would not string it lower...2 lbs max but that's as far as I would go. I wouldn't mind trying to string it a couple of pounds higher to gain some control since it played pretty comfortably.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
After the first 30 minutes of hitting, it seemed like there was a coating that wore off. But this is a SIF (infused) string so I thought that the string should've stayed in place, at least for much longer. I may try Gosen G-Tour 3 which has a silicone oil coating and see if the same thing happens with PT Rev. It takes quite bit before Lyon starts moving for me.
Just like for the PTP test, I did like how the labeling was quite prominent.
Thank you Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for this playtest opportunity again!
Gauge received:
1.25mm
Tension(s) used for playtest:
53/51 lbs
Regular string set up & tension:
RS Lyon 17g @ 53/51 lbs
Racquet used for test:
Head Graphene 360 Speed MP
Power/Control of test string:
Average power for a poly. You can swing out and the ball will land in. Personally, the feel and other aspects of the string sometimes made it feel like I was going to launch the ball, but the balls stayed in. Control was good but again, sometimes it felt like the ball could launch or deviate a couple of degrees too far from my intended target.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
1st hit was a dream. Very comfortable with a somewhat slippery and muted feel. I could feel the strings snapping back and I saw what kind of effect it had on the ball and the resulting bounce. However, about 30 minutes after, the strings started moving around. The spin potential decreased but the feel remained slightly diminished. I was on the Poly Tour Pro Blue playtest and with PT Rev, it pockets the ball in a different way. It's hard to explain but I like the feel better the PTP.
As I mentioned earlier, the feel and the fact the strings started moving around affected my confidence in swinging at the ball. It was kind of difficult finding a good medium between topspin and drive because I didn't want to feel like I was going to launch the ball or hit the ball too short.
Spin:
At first, PT Rev had so much more spin than what I was used to with Lyon. After the break-in, I would say it was average. I could hit kickers pretty well, but for some reason had a tough time hitting slice serves. Probably just me.
The 8 sides weren't as sharp so it didn't really help with spin potential (I guess the more sides make it closer to being round...I don't know of any other 8-sided strings with sharp edges)
Playability Duration:
Again, the first 30 minutes were great. After that, it just played like a comfortable poly. I don't normally break poly and I would say it held tension pretty well. It didn't feel more springy as more time passed. I've had it in my racquet for about 2 and a half weeks.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
I think the same tension (53/51) was fine. I definitely would not string it lower...2 lbs max but that's as far as I would go. I wouldn't mind trying to string it a couple of pounds higher to gain some control since it played pretty comfortably.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
After the first 30 minutes of hitting, it seemed like there was a coating that wore off. But this is a SIF (infused) string so I thought that the string should've stayed in place, at least for much longer. I may try Gosen G-Tour 3 which has a silicone oil coating and see if the same thing happens with PT Rev. It takes quite bit before Lyon starts moving for me.
Just like for the PTP test, I did like how the labeling was quite prominent.
Thank you Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for this playtest opportunity again!
I'm interested in how the string will play in your extended racquets with higher SW. Which racquet is the string going in?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
is this Spin or control oriented string?
