Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Yonex POLYTOUR REV string!

[McLovin]

I'm interested in how the string will play in your extended racquets with higher SW. Which racquet is the string going in?

I already put it in my VCORE 98 +. I actually got out for a set with it before I had to quarantine, but it was cold & windy, so it was hard to judge.

 

[jugheadfla]

Yonex Poly Tour Rev Review
​

Gauge received: 1.25

Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 lbs

Regular string set up & tension: Head Lynx Edge 17g 52 lbs

Racquet used for test: G360+ Prestige Pro

Power/Control of test string: In my experience I found the power to be in the middle category, not too low and dead and not too springy or launchy. It allows you to hit out without worry of the ball flying on you. I also didn't feel like I needed to swing out of my shoes to get it over the net. I believe the mid power level of the string allows for above average control which allowed me to lessen my margins of error when going for the lines. I never felt like I didn't know where the ball was going on flush hits. So for me, power was average and control was above average in my experience.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): I know most people on here compared this string to Poly Tour Pro, but to me this string is much more like Poly Tour Spin G, they even have the same orange color! Whereas Spin G is much more muted and mushier, Rev is a little more crisp but still has that muted feel. The ball pocketing was on par with Spin G and because of this pocketing it felt very comfortable. No shoulder or elbow issues that I noticed. The silicone oil infusion that Yonex uses seems to always guarantee comfort and as a matter of fact they haven’t made a string that I’ve used so far that wasn’t comfortable.

Spin: This is the characteristic of the string where in my opinion it fell short. Even though I knew when stringing it that the edges of the string were minuscule at best, I was thinking that the slickness of the string would provide enough snapback to make up for it. While I would say it had adequate spin, it didn’t have enough to make me want to move on to this string from my other edged polys. The string touts its bite, but I just didn’t feel any. I had to flatten my shots out more to account for that lack of spin and bite

Playability Duration: I was able to play with this string for about 10 hours before I had to cut it out. At that time, it had notched about halfway through which in my experience is slightly above average durability. The playability of the string lasted throughout the play test which is probably the best characteristic of this string and one that I wish some other strings would be able to copy.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I strung it up at 52lbs and I think that is actually the proper tension. I would say that the tension maintenance of the string is above average, so you don’t really need to adjust for it as much as other strings. If I got another set of this string, I might try to drop to 50lbs just to see if I can get some more spin from snapback and see if it performs better in that area.

List any additional thoughts (optional) Like I mentioned above this string to me is a less shaped Poly Tour Spin G that has a crisper feel and has a little more snapback. To me it seems like this string is a perfect candidate as a cross string in a hybrid setup. I just don’t feel it has enough benefits overall to use it in a full bed. I do believe though that those looking for comfort and constant playability would be perfectly happy with this string, but those looking for extra bite and more spin potential would have to look at other options.

I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for allowing me to play test these strings and look forward to providing more detailed reviews and reactions in the future. Thanks!

 

[Slowtwitcher]

is this Spin or control oriented string?

Definitely a control-oriented string.

 

[MixedMaster]

Definitely a control-oriented string.

I found that not only was the string control but I managed to get good spin with it. I played again with it yesterday and was surprised and pleased that the string was still functioning at about 80%.

 

[JOSHL]

Gauge received-
1.20

Tension(s) used for playtest
50lbs, I usually do 48, but because I wanted to compare with Hyper G soft I went with the same tension.

Regular string set up
I don't really have a regular setup, but I have been using shaped mains and smooth crosses for a while-all poly. I will compare to Hyper G Soft which I just reviewed.

Racquet used for test
Wilson Pro Staff 95S

Power/Control of test string
First hit off the stringing machine I felt like power was average to above average and had modest control, however this changed rather quickly, maybe about 40 minutes into the first hit, power went up quite a bit thus leading to control going down. Compared to Hyper G soft this string had more power and less control. 8/10 Power, 7/10 Control.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
For me the feel is probably the best attribute of this string(aside from the color). It has a very nice plush comfortable feel and pockets the ball very well which in turn leads to higher than average power. Touch shots and flat serves shine with this string. Compared to Hyper G soft, it is more comfortable, especially when fresh, Hyper is very stiff when fresh and takes an hour or two to open up. 8.5/10

Spin
As some have mentioned spin was kind of a let down for me, especially when they advertise the bite of the string. I'd say the majority of the spin comes from the snap back not from any shape the string has because it's very rounded and very slick for being a shaped string. It plays very similar to the Poly Tour Pro Blue I tested earlier this year. Compared to Hyper G soft obviously this had much less spin. 7/10

Durability
I am not a poly breaker usually so durability was not an issue for me. In fact because the string is so slippery it seems to not notch all that much, but this could also be because the strings stopped snapping back rather quickly for me which I will cover in the next section. 8.5/10

Playability Duration
I was going to rate this even lower because this is one of the fastest poly's for me where the main strings were getting stuck out of place, almost like a syn gut. I think within the first half hour the strings were not snapping back at all. The playability however didn't really change after that, I have put 8 hours on these strings and they are still playing pretty much the same after that initial 30-40 min period where the power increased. Compared to Hyper G soft, the mains snapped back for me for at least 2 hours from what I recall. Another comparison I can make is to Silver 7 tour and the mains stay in place form much longer, like 3-4 hours of hitting for me. I'm not sure if this is due to tension loss of the PTRev or it's slickness or what but for sure was a disappointment. 7.5/10

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
Because of the higher power and above average comfort I would definitely string higher, like 54lbs, which is a tension I have not used in quite a while for a poly.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I really love the color of this string and how slick it is. For what it costs though I would not buy it when there are better, cheaper poly's out there. I would like to try it as a cross with Silver 7 Tour to see how it would play, I think it could be a very good cross string. I also wouldn't mind trying a different gauge to see if snap back would last longer or if playability changed because the TWU data for the 16g looks very good. Just like Poly Tour Pro this string is pretty decent and everything but doesn't stand out in any way- aside from that color though!


Thanks TTW and Yonex for allowing me to take part, I really appreciate doing these play tests!!!

Cheers!

 

[Nostradamus]

Definitely a control-oriented string.

i really wish this great Yonex company would make some serious Spin / power strings like solinco tourbite or confidential. There is a big market for that.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

First off, thanks to TW for this playtest, it was fun!

Gauge received-
1.30


Tension(s) used for playtest
50lbs


Regular string set up
I don't really have a regular setup, but I've been stringing this racquet with BHS7T/Velocity


Racquet used for test
Head Gravity Pro.
SW: 339
Weight: 343g
Balance: 32.0cm


Power/Control of test string

This is a control string. I was really impressed with how much I could hit freely and the ball would land in. It was really fun to play with this string. Control: 9/10.
Definitely felt I needed a little more power at this tension. Would like to experiment with lower tensions, because I felt that with the right tension, this can be a great string. Power 7/10.


Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)

The string felt moderately stiff, muted and pretty comfortable for full-bed poly. Usually I get the bad kind of pain in my elbow if I play with fb poly, but not with these strings.


Spin

This string didn't have wow levels of spin, but I was able to put spin on the ball when I wanted. For sure the level of control on all shots is what was more obvious to me, not the spin.


Durability

Pretty good durability for me. After 10h of only hitting sessions, the strings still look and perform pretty well, maybe at 90% of where they were 2-4h in.


Playability Duration

Another thing that impressed me about this string is the stability in playability throughout the test. From 0 to 8h these strings performed great, without any noticeable decline in playability.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)

Would have liked to maybe drop to 48lbs and see if I can get back a little power. I also wouldn't mind trying out 1.25mm.


List any additional thoughts (optional)

This is a high-quality string that looks good on paper, in real life and also plays great. It basically plays like the string properties say: moderately stiff, low energy return and decent tension loss. Even with the low energy return, it has good feel and doesn't feel plasticky. Overall a great product.



Thanks again @TW Staff! Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[mromato64]

Yonex Poly Tour Rev Review
​

Gauge received: 1.25 mm
Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 lbs.
Regular string set up & tension: Gosen OG Sheep Micro 53 lbs/Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 48 lbs
Racquet used for test: Yonex VCore Pro 97HD 18x20
Power/Control of test string: Power was average to below average. I needed an adjustment period from my hybrid setup to PTR to dial in the depth of my shots. Once I was able to find my range, it had some decent pop off the stringbed. PTR feels less powerful compared to strings like Hyper G. Control was above average for a poly. I was getting great control when I was taking longer and faster strokes at the ball going for a big target, but I was struggling to find directional control when I wanted to be more precise on my shots.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): PTR is a muted, firm string that has little dwell time and ball pocketing. The big adjustment moving from my current setup to PTR was getting used to the ball launching off the stringbed when making contact. PTR has a similar muted feeling as Hyper G, but it doesn't pocket the ball as well. The lack of dwell time and the muted sensation gave me a vague feeling of where I was hitting the ball if I wasn't confident in swinging out on my strokes. Feel was about average. It wasn't super stiff, but there wasn't anything spectacular about it.
Spin: PTR has average to above average spin. It gets the job done, but it is not the string's strong point. The slick coating of the string and the snapback helped me get good height and arc on my shots. There wasn't enough bite on the ball to get crazy dip on the shots if I was going for them. Slices were also pretty average; it didn't stay low or skid on the bounce.
Playability Duration: After roughly 12 hours of playing with PTR, I haven't noticed a massive drop off in tension or playability. It felt pretty stiff coming off the stringer, but by the 2nd to 3rd session it started to loosen a little bit and maintain it's tension. Tension maintenance is one of the better aspects of this string.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I would maybe drop it 2 lbs. lower to 46 lbs. to get a better feeling right off the bat, but the tension has felt pretty good the more I've been playing.
List any additional thoughts (optional): PTR was fairly easy to string compared to other co-polys I've strung. The slick coating and the round shape gave me little trouble during weaving and stringing the crosses. PTR is good for aggressive, attacking shotmaking, but it struggles with spin sensitivity when absorbing heavy spinning shots. For players with long, fast strokes, a full bed will work best. Otherwise, this string would work best in a hybrid setup for players looking for more control and durability. Also, the bright orange is very flashy.

Thank you so much to @TW Staff and Yonex for this playtest opportunity! It's been a real pleasure to be a part of this.

 

[colan5934]

I was able to get out for 3 days in 40-degree weather and sun over the past couple of weeks and snapped the strings today on the last outing! As such, here's the review!

Gauge received:
1.20mm

Tension(s) used for playtest:
54# on a Lockout machine

Regular string set up & tension:
Luxilon ALU Power 125 at 54# lockout or 50 on a Baiardo

Racquet used for test:
Wilson Blade Pro 18x20 at my preferred balance and swingweight of 32cm and low 340s.

Power/Control of test string:
Pretty controlled response here but not completely dead. My racquet's weight and swingweight already supply plenty of power, so the tempered power level was nice. I was able to place the ball well when I was set up and balanced for shots as well as scrambling or on the run. I found great control on volleys and the string was just as usable at the net, if not better, compared to ALU. ALU does have a little more zip off the stringbed, but this could probably be accounted for by adjusting tension a pound or two. As with most firm-ish polys, I had no issues keeping the ball in the court and generally found my targets with this string.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Muted but not vague for me. I use ALU and formerly used tour bite because I NEED that crisp response from my racquet. Some strings--tour bite soft, hyper g, lynx, cyclone tour, for example--are too muted for me to use confidently. Some will work in a pinch at the right tension, but I wouldn't choose them if I had other options. Poly Tour Rev is right on the edge for me. Especially after it broke in, I was worried I wasn't getting enough feedback on a few shots, but they found the court and I even hit some great shots when I wasn't expecting to. I don't always like that in a string, but I think I could tolerate it here. Very comfortable and just the right amount of spring on volleys too. Comparing to other Yonex strings, it's less crisp than Poly Tour Strike and crisper than Poly Tour Pro to me. Strike is very ALU-like in response (lacks that magic "I can't miss if I tried" feeling when fresh) and PTP gives me the sensation where the ball is just slipping across the strings and I hate the feel of that string. So, I was pleasantly surprised here.

Spin:
It's an edged poly with a slick coating. There was enough spin to get the ball dropping inside the lines, but I don't think the tension dropped off enough--that's good in the grand scheme of things--to compensate for the coating wearing off after a couple of hours. If you have high racquet head speed, though, you'll get plenty of spin, but it's not oodles of it like some of the more aggressively shaped offerings. That's the type of player I would recommend this string to. If you like the string for other reasons but don't get enough spin after break-in, then drop tension a few pounds.

Playability Duration:
Really nice here. It maintained tension and apart from a slight drop off in spin, I had no changes in control or power over the 3 hours I got before it snapped (it was in my racquet for 3ish weeks I think but only hit three times). Usually ALU has changed a bit in control and has gotten springier by this time and is breaking around the same time.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
I would consider dropping the tension a couple of pounds just to even out the disparity I found in spin. I handled it fine, but I'm used to more tension drop after the initial hit. It's comfortable enough of a string where I'm not worried about losing elasticity and comfort without the tension drop to even it out, thankfully. I'd just be changing it to get a more familiar response. I think this would be a great candidate for people who like to play poly in the 40s or as a cross to natural gut for players looking to maximize playability duration without having to use something excessively stiff like 4G.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
A less vibrant color might be nice, but otherwise, I'm pretty pleased with this string from Yonex! It's very middle of the road on the crisp/muted and firm/soft spectrum for polys. There is enough spin and control to find your targets, and the tension maintenance/playability duration is a REAL standout! Kudos to TW for the continual opportunities for us to test new and exciting products!

 

[jangotango]

I am really surprised to see so many testers giving this one above a 5/10 for power. 4G had more power in my experience.

 

[zipplock]

I am really surprised to see so many testers giving this one above a 5/10 for power. 4G had more power in my experience.

Any chance power as a function of lower tension could account for that?

 

[Papa Mango]

I am really surprised to see so many testers giving this one above a 5/10 for power. 4G had more power in my experience.

Any chance power as a function of lower tension could account for that?

Yeah, even I am confused. I feel it has more power than the average poly. I have strung it 46/42 which is the tension I use for all full bed polys.
Full review coming in a day or two once I am done 10+ hours with the string.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

I am really surprised to see so many testers giving this one above a 5/10 for power. 4G had more power in my experience.

Send me a set of 4G and I might re-evaluate my grade

Did I mention control with this string is great?

 

[jangotango]

Any chance power as a function of lower tension could account for that?

Definitely. In my review I wrote that I should have gone 2 pounds lower at least. 18x20, cold weather... Dead low powered strings aren't too fun in my circumstances. Lower tension will help with opening up the bed and getting more depth.

 

[haqq777]

Yeah, even I am confused. I feel it has more power than the average poly. I have strung it 46/42 which is the tension I use for all full bed polys..

That's pretty surprising to me. I string every string at 50 lbs for a better baseline reference and to keep a better track of string traits by keeping variables at a minimum. For me, this was clearly a low powered poly. We can definitely drop tension a bit and open up the stringbed, but apples to apples, I felt it was a lower powered poly string.

 

[Papa Mango]

That's pretty surprising to me. I string every string at 50 lbs for a better baseline reference and to keep a better track of string traits by keeping variables at a minimum. For me, this was clearly a low powered poly. We can definitely drop tension a bit and open up the stringbed, but apples to apples, I felt it was a lower powered poly string.

Yup, I test full bed polys at my ref tension (46/42) too, to keep variables to minimum.
Maybe it was the comfort level of the string that let me swing out more that giving the impression that it has more inherent power..

 

[haqq777]

Yup, I test full bed polys at my ref tension (46/42) too, to keep variables to minimum.
Maybe it was the comfort level of the string that let me swing out more that gave me the impression that it has more inherent power..

You are right, string is definitely comfortable and lets you swing out. And it could also be string dynamics at lower tension since you strung significantly lower than I did. I'll be ordering some stuff from TW soon and will add a set of this in the order just to play around with it and see if there is something I missed. Look forward to reading your full review

 

[JOSHL]

I think gauge could play a role here too. For me the 1.20 was pretty powerful. I can see the 1.30 or 1.25 being less for sure.

 

[ichaseballs]

can anyone compare this string with PTF (poly tour fire)?

 

[MixedMaster]

Finally had to cut the strings out of my racquet. They died on me yesterday...had to change rackets to a fresh strung with Tour Bite. Still like the Poly Tour REV a lot. It lasted quite a while for me. I'm sure that I'll be buying some in January when it goes on the market. A friend of mine did gift me with a reel of Signum Pro X Perienced 17g. Will try that on Monday or Tuesday. It's shaped so hopefully I'll like it.

 

[ScarletKnights]

Hello, new to forum and great to see this playtest. I'm about to test this in my Ezone 100. Will give feedback as well.

 

[Papa Mango]

Yonex Polytour Rev String Review​

Gauge received:
1.25mm/16L

Tension(s) used for playtest:
Full bed at 46 lbs main / 42 lbs crosses

Regular string set up & tension:
Regular set up is a heavily modded Prince Phantom 100X(290) strung with Wilson Natural Gut mains 16 at 55 lbs and Yonex Polytour Air 16L crosses at 50 lbs

Racquet used for test:
Prince Phantom 100X (305)

Power/Control of test string:
Power 7.5/10: Above average. When I hit the first few balls with this string the first thought that came into my mind was ‘oops, should have strung higher!’. However it took a few minutes to get adjusted to the power level of this string as I was expecting a lower powered poly especially with a full bed. After the initial settling of the string bed, the power level remained fairly consistent throughout the playtest for me. This definitely has a much higher power potential compared to polys like Hyper-G/Cyclone etc with which I have to consistently swing hard to maintain a decent power level. With this string I did not have to change much on my swing compared to my gut/poly set up.

Control 8/10: Control was above average to exceptional. Once I got used to the power level as noted above, did not have any issues maintaining control with this setup. Except a few uncontrolled bounceoffs (mostly user error) I was able to keep the ball in the court and the ball usually went where I intended it to go.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
This string is definitely on the muted side but not as muted as Hyper-G. I generally gravitate towards a muted response from the racket/string and this string has just the right combination of muted crispness for me. The string bed did get somewhat mushy after about 8 hours on it. But did not lose any other characteristic with the added mushiness.

Comfort 9/10: This string is very very comfortable. I cannot play for more than a couple of hours at a time with a full bed of poly. I played a total of 6+ hours on 3 consecutive days without a twinge in my shoulder. I put in 10+ over a week and this string is definitely very comfortable at lower tensions.

Spin
6/10: Considering how slick this string is and is supposed to be shaped, spin levels were below average for me. It has enough spin to keep the ball in control but not the ‘oooh it dropped in!’ levels of spin.

Playability Duration:
9/10: Playability/Durability is exceptional. I have 13+ hours on the string and it is still going strong. Typically I will cut/stop play with polys between the 8-10 hour mark, but this string is still playing great with little loss in the playing characteristics. The initial break in period was pretty quick, the string settled in after 20-30 minutes of hitting. As mentioned earlier it did get a little mushier feeling at the 8 hour mark but I have not noticed any significant drop in control or power and is performing decently at the 13 hour mark. I’ll keep playing with it as is and update when I am done with it.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
With my initial hit I felt I had strung it a little low, but once dialed in I feel like it was a pretty good tension set up. I would up the tension up by 2 lbs on both mains and crosses to test but not much more than that.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
- This string is a stringers delight, quick and easy to string
- I love the color of the string, it really pops.
- I don’t think this is a poly for full hyper-g/cyclone tour user but is a great transition poly for someone looking for a softer and more responsive poly. This would also be a great option for full bed multi user who break multi’s too often but are afraid to step into the poly world due to arm/shoulder health concerns
- Once available I am very interested in trying this as a cross in my gut poly set up.

A big thank you to @TW Staff and Yonex for giving us an opportunity to playtest this string.

Here is a quick video of my various hits with this string if interested:

 

[Shroud]

Yonex Polytour Rev String Review​

Gauge received:
1.25mm/16L

Tension(s) used for playtest:
Full bed at 46 lbs main / 42 lbs crosses

Regular string set up & tension:
Regular set up is a heavily modded Prince Phantom 100X(290) strung with Wilson Natural Gut mains 16 at 55 lbs and Yonex Polytour Air 16L crosses at 50 lbs

Racquet used for test:
Prince Phantom 100X (305)

Power/Control of test string:
Power 7.5/10: Above average. When I hit the first few balls with this string the first thought that came into my mind was ‘oops, should have strung higher!’. However it took a few minutes to get adjusted to the power level of this string as I was expecting a lower powered poly especially with a full bed. After the initial settling of the string bed, the power level remained fairly consistent throughout the playtest for me. This definitely has a much higher power potential compared to polys like Hyper-G/Cyclone etc with which I have to consistently swing hard to maintain a decent power level. With this string I did not have to change much on my swing compared to my gut/poly set up.

Control 8/10: Control was above average to exceptional. Once I got used to the power level as noted above, did not have any issues maintaining control with this setup. Except a few uncontrolled bounceoffs (mostly user error) I was able to keep the ball in the court and the ball usually went where I intended it to go.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
This string is definitely on the muted side but not as muted as Hyper-G. I generally gravitate towards a muted response from the racket/string and this string has just the right combination of muted crispness for me. The string bed did get somewhat mushy after about 8 hours on it. But did not lose any other characteristic with the added mushiness.

Comfort 9/10: This string is very very comfortable. I cannot play for more than a couple of hours at a time with a full bed of poly. I played a total of 6+ hours on 3 consecutive days without a twinge in my shoulder. I put in 10+ over a week and this string is definitely very comfortable at lower tensions.

Spin
6/10: Considering how slick this string is and is supposed to be shaped, spin levels were below average for me. It has enough spin to keep the ball in control but not the ‘oooh it dropped in!’ levels of spin.

Playability Duration:
9/10: Playability/Durability is exceptional. I have 13+ hours on the string and it is still going strong. Typically I will cut/stop play with polys between the 8-10 hour mark, but this string is still playing great with little loss in the playing characteristics. The initial break in period was pretty quick, the string settled in after 20-30 minutes of hitting. As mentioned earlier it did get a little mushier feeling at the 8 hour mark but I have not noticed any significant drop in control or power and is performing decently at the 13 hour mark. I’ll keep playing with it as is and update when I am done with it.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
With my initial hit I felt I had strung it a little low, but once dialed in I feel like it was a pretty good tension set up. I would up the tension up by 2 lbs on both mains and crosses to test but not much more than that.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
- This string is a stringers delight, quick and easy to string
- I love the color of the string, it really pops.
- I don’t think this is a poly for full hyper-g/cyclone tour user but is a great transition poly for someone looking for a softer and more responsive poly. This would also be a great option for full bed multi user who break multi’s too often but are afraid to step into the poly world due to arm/shoulder health concerns
- Once available I am very interested in trying this as a cross in my gut poly set up.

A big thank you to @TW Staff and Yonex for giving us an opportunity to playtest this string.

Here is a quick video of my various hits with this string if interested:

seems low powered man. you seem to have a bigger takeback loop on the fh now. Is that the string or a perm change?

 

[mogo]

is this Spin or control oriented string?

More control oriented string with low power. If you have good technique you can amp up the spin, but it's not like Hyper-G that will give you free spin.

 

[McLovin]

Woohoo! Finally out of quarantine! I'm hitting doubles tomorrow, singles Sunday. Hopefully I won't be too rusty and will be able to get a good idea of its playability (I have not hit since before Thanksgiving).

It is interesting reading the reviews before I have a good round of hitting. I just hope they don't influence my opinion of the string too much.

 

[mogo]

Yonex POLYTOUR REV: Official Review
Gauge received: 17 G
Tension(s) used for playtest: 40pds
Regular string set up & tension: Solinco Hyper-G 17g @ 40 or 42pds
Racquet used for test: Wilson Blade v7 18x20

Power/Control of test string:
Power: 6/10 User must provide their own power. If your expectation is free power you will not like this string. I thought power was good as I am not an aggressive player. I felt there was ample power for my grinder style and consistent play. If I needed to go big I felt I had that option to flatten out the ball. In comparison Hyper G does have more free power. If I have to estimate maybe about 10% less power overall.

Control: 9/10 This was the biggest highlight on the playtest. This string pockets well and you can over swing and expect great results. I felt I could just swing and the dwell time was soft and smooth. I could rev up my swing speed and not fear the ball sailing on me. I could absorb pace and really go for directional control and depth. It only enhanced the Blade 18x20 overall. I felt in control of my own destiny on court, if you will. Even on defense I was still able to impact play. Bravo Yonex!!! Does have better control than Hyper G.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Comfortable, soft, and smooth on impact. Dwell time is a plus with this string. After about 10hours the string starts to harden and not snap back as much. It almost feels like the tension dies out. I didn’t expect it to keep tension but the longer you hit with it the strings do start to change from soft to hard and then you do feel a slight loss of control. This is more of an observation of the playtest. I think most players would have already restrung their racquet. I just like to play till the strings break to see what it has and how it plays before breaking. At the final hour this string lost most spin potential but I was able to hit flat and hard shots until the end.

Spin: 5/10 I can generate my own spin and felt this helped with control so I could over exaggerate my finish and dial up the spin. As for getting free spin I don’t believe this string provides extra height or kick. But if you know how to keep your wrist loose and swing fast this string can help to harness control for added spin. I could hit flat, and create a high ball with tight spin. Slice was phenomenal as well. This string held onto the ball which only helped to control the spin you want to provide. Hyper G has more spin potential but not as much control with spin as PTR. There is a trade off for sure and you will have to make up the spin with good technique.

Playability Duration: PTR holds tension well in the first 4hrs. It does start to die after a week but not bad. Also in the first 4hrs the notching is not big because of whatever coating is on the string. It does dull over time which is expected. But when you start it is shiny and bright with great snap back. A lot of strings claim to have good snap back but this string really delivered!! At the end the string was dead and had little snap back but that was to be expected. In total these strings lasted 12 hours before breaking.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?) I used 40pds and it worked great!! No reason to try any other tension. But I am thinking of seeing if the results would be the same in a couple different sticks. I am currently making the transition into the Pure Aero Plus. Debating trying the Yonex ezone 100 Plus as well. I would like to see if the string plays and last as long as it did on my Blade v7 18x20.

List any additional thoughts (optional) Love the color and feel. Almost reminds me of dunlop explosive red but the snap back is better with Yonex PTR. Just hoping the price point won’t turn me away. If you're looking for free power or spin this will not meet your expectations. If you have problems hitting long or controlling spin this may help reign in your consistency. This is the best Yonex string I have tried so far. Fits my game and style. I can deliver a ball consistently and ramp up spin or power without fear of losing control. Well done Yonex.!! Personally for me I can generate spin and power when needed, but the control was really what made this string shine. Just target and shoot.

Stringing: Stringing was so easy and fast!! Weaving was heaven. This is the string I want in attempts to win a Guinness world record. Absolutely no mess or jarring. Your hands will have some slick residue after stringing but that’s a good trade off for how fast I was able to string up my Blade.

Thank You to TW and to Yonex!!! I enjoy being able to try the latest and greatest tennis gear!!

 

[c-had]

Yonex Poly Tour Rev Review

Gauge received: 1.20
Tension used for playtest: 48 pounds
Regular string set up & tension: Solinco Revolution 1.20 (17g) at 50 pounds
Racquet used for test: Prince Textreme Tour 100P (2015 version)

Power/Control of test string
This string is surprisingly powerful. It feels firm, not springy/trampoline-like, which made me think it would be a low-powered, control-oriented string. But despite that feel, it's got decent power to it. Not Volkl Cyclone Tour power, but I'd say it's more powerful than the Revolution I usually play with or Tourna Silver 7 Tour that I sometimes use as well. I could get easy depth on my shots, and had to be careful not to overhit or it would sail long. That said, I still found adequate control in the string.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
It feels firm and a bit muted. It's quite comfortable. Definitely not mushy.

Spin
I'd say the spin was good but not great. It doesn't bite the ball the way sharp strings do (Genesis Twisted Razor, Volkl Cyclone), or even as much as more pronounced shapes do (Solinco Revolution, Hyper-G, Tourna Silver 7 Tour). But I felt like I still got more spin than I do with a round poly.

Playability Duration
This was another pleasant surprise. Solinco Revolution is my string of choice because it is playable for so long (for me, around 12 hours). I expected to get 6-8 hours out of PTR at most, as that's how long most polys last me. However, I'm 10 hours in and it still played OK. The tension has dropped a good bit, but it's still usable. One negative aspect - the strings started getting stuck out of place around hour 5, which is reasonable if they were only going to last 6 hours, but not 10+. That said, it still plays fine and I haven't felt the need to grab a fresh stick with fresh strings.

Tension Recommendations
Next time, I'll string a tiny bit higher (50 pounds to start) to tame a bit of the power. I should have started with that (as I usually do), but I was swayed by posts in this thread claiming the string was low power.

List any additional thoughts
This string surprised me. It feels like a control-oriented poly while providing the power of a poly in the middle of the power/control spectrum. The length of playability was also great. I look forward to purchasing another set once it's available.

 

[jangotango]

I'm giving the 16 gauge a run with natural gut mains in the new VCore 98. REALLY good. Would highly recommend it. This is the new RPM Blast.

 

[Sir Faultalot]

Gauge received: 16Lg/1.25mm

Tension(s) used for playtest: 49 pounds, constant pull stringer (Gamma X2 dropper)

Regular string set up & tension: Solinco Hyper G 17g (1.20mm) at 49lbs

Racquet used for test: 2015 Prince Textreme Tour 95

Power/Control of test string: Power level started medium-high for the first 3 hours, it eventually settled down to a medium-low powered string. I still would not call the 16L gage a control string. But the power and touch was very predictable. I found the predictability to be a huge a positive for this poly string.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): String felt very crisp. Very easy to play with out of the gate, again very predicable. String crispness was also a standout feature of this string. The string was very comfortable throughout the play test.

Spin: Above average, but that seemed to be due to the super slick surface of the string. The string caught the light the way you would expect a shaped string to, but you couldn't see the shape closely and it didn't grab the ball the way a 4 sided string does. I finally had a chance to bang some rallies outside of a match and actually found a lot of spin can be had when you get that racket head speed up- I was quite surprised with how much spin I was getting when I hit out.

Playability Duration: Unfortabtely due to our county going to COVID code red, and a case of COVID myself, I'm only at 8 hours so far. It has been comfortable the whole time. The string has also been very predicable the whole time. If anything I felt the power level come down after the first 3 hours. Power went from medium-high to medium-low by the 8 hour mark.

12 hour update: medium notching, but string still was predictable and gave good amounts of spin when I was hitting out.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I think 49lbs on a constant pull stringer is right where this string belonged. It was very elastic and stretchy for a poly so I might string at 55lbs on a lock out stringer.

List any additional thoughts (optional): The string is super slick and very elastic for a poly. For being very elastic I found it to be very predicable and never trampolined on me. Excellent power and precision on serves, excellent touch and feel on volleys. For me and the TT95, it was too high powered at first to bang away from the baseline- I left a lot of balls long at first. It eventually settled down and became less powerful at hour 3.

I think this string felt like a Yonex version of RPM Power (power and slick coating) except the Yonex retained its playability way longer. I would recommend this string for lighter frames that like a high tension string or closed pattern rackets that need a little a power and spin. I am going to buy a set to try in my Head Graphene Touch Mid. I think it belongs in a frame like that.

 

[Sir Faultalot]

I posted my review without reading others impressions.... I think I'm 1 of 3 people that thought the string was above average power- everyone else called it control oriented or low powered. All 3 players (including me) were playing with Princes? Are the Prince guys weird or what?

I also seem to be in the majority that liked the way this string volleyed. I think everyone seemed to like the way this string felt. I'm going to try to get a video posted here soon.

 

[Papa Mango]

I posted my review without reading others impressions.... I think I'm 1 of 3 people that thought the string was above average power- everyone else called it control oriented or low powered. All 3 players (including me) were playing with Princes? Are the Prince guys weird or what?

Well I am the other one to say that the it felt more powerful than an average poly. I guess us Prince users are weird huh.
But to me the standout feature of this string is the comfort and playabilty duration. I am waiting for this to be released so I can test some more.

I also seem to be in the majority that liked the way this string volleyed. I think everyone seemed to like the way this string felt. I'm going to try to get a video posted here soon.

Yes and it does have very nice touch too including volleys.

 

[drc1911]

Yonex Poly Tour Rev Review​

Gauge received: 1.25

Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 lbs main, 50 lbs cross

Regular string set up & tension: still experimenting with different strings, 48M, 50C

Racquet used for test: Head Graphene Touch Prestige Mid

Power/Control of test string: This is definitely a lower powered string oriented towards control. I really enjoyed the control I got with this string. I felt like I was able to pick my spots and put the ball on target. I had increased confidence swinging out, and never felt like the I lost control of the ball. After initially hitting indoors I thought the string might have been more powerful than I anticipated, but I really did have to swing out to keep the ball deep in the court. This was great for me, since I like to hit big. I was able to move the ball around the court and keep it closer to the edges of the court than I normally do. Even though I found its power level to be lower, I still had enough pop to finish points when I needed to.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): I found this to be a very comfortable string. My racket is fairly muted, and this string didn’t do anything to change that. It certainly didn’t feel springy like cyclone tour. Comfort is a characteristic I seek in a string, and this string provided that for me. One other thing is I thought this string had pretty good touch feel. There were a couple of times where I was able to pull out some nice lobs under duress (not usually my strength), and put some nice drop shots over the net.

Spin: Overall, I was happy with the amount of spin this string provided. It’s not a spin monster, but I found enough of it when I wanted to play safe high net clearance shots from the baseline. It was a good level of spin for me because I like to flatten my balls out when I get the chance to be aggressive in a point.

Playability Duration: I was able to play for about 9 hours with this string, although that may have been an hour too long as I really struggled to find my spots in the middle of a match and had to switch to a racket with fresher strings. I found the string to be very consistent during the first 8 hours.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I was happy with the tension I chose, but if I were to experiment again, I might drop it a pound or two to gain some extra power.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This was the first Yonex string I have ever tried, and I was super impressed. From the ease of stringing it to the playability it provided, I thoroughly enjoyed being on this playtest. Depending on the price, I would consider making this my go to string. I liked how the bright color popped out of my racket. Thanks so much to Yonex and TW!

 

[dlica]

Hi, can someone compares it with poly tour fire in terms of stiffness, tension loss and control. I hybrid poly tour fire with gut, not sure If poly tour rev would saw through gut because of shaped poly, thanks

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Hi, can someone compares it with poly tour fire in terms of stiffness, tension loss and control. I hybrid poly tour fire with gut, not sure If poly tour rev would saw through gut because of shaped poly, thanks

If you read the reviews, some players thought REV was a shaped version of PTF.

 

[dlica]

It’s a thought, not actual comparison, lol

 

[Slowtwitcher]

It’s a thought, not actual comparison, lol

What's an "actual comparison", lol

 

[dlica]

Because both polys share similar SIF technology, some viewers are thinking that REV is just shaped Fire. I was wondering if it is really true or just a thought. Would like to see TW university used equipment to measure up

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Because both polys share similar SIF technology, some viewers are thinking that REV is just shaped Fire. I was wondering if it is really true or just a thought. Would like to see TW university used equipment to measure up

I did that comparison using the Compare Strings tool, lol

 

[dlica]

Thanks. Tennis Spin has reviewed REV and comments that it is the best yonex poly so far. That’s why I am wondering

 

[JOSHL]

Thanks. Tennis Spin has reviewed REV and comments that it is the best yonex poly so far. That’s why I am wondering

For what it’s worth it’s not that shaped so I wouldn’t worry about it sawing through gut faster than usual.

 

[MixedMaster]

I played with 17G during the string playtest and received 16G for the Racquet Playtest. Both played extremely well, but I like the 17G much better. Seem to get more spin, pop, and control.

 

[Sir Faultalot]

There were quite a lot of positive reviews of this string. Anyone know when it will be commercially available?

 

[fed1]

There were quite a lot of positive reviews of this string. Anyone know when it will be commercially available?

I believe the release time is the same as the new Vcores, sometime in mid January.

 

[MixedMaster]

I believe the release time is the same as the new Vcores, sometime in mid January.

I inquired and TW told me Middle to the end of January.

 

[Injured Again]

Here's my (unofficial) review of Yonex PolyTour Rev:

Gauge received: 1.20/17 gauge

Tension(s) used for playtest: I used 48 pounds for the center eight mains, decreasing to 34 pounds for the outer mains, and 44 pounds for the center five crosses, decreasing to 30 pounds for the top and bottom cross.

Regular string set up & tension: Currently using 1.20/18 gauge anthracite Cyclone Tour at 53 pounds in the center eight mains and 47 pounds in the center five crosses. When tennis was more consistently available, I was using 17 gauge Silver 7 Tour at 48 pounds in the center eight mains and 43 pounds in the center five crosses.

Racquet used for test: v7 SW104, handle weighted to final spects 351 grams and 345 swingweight, 11 points HL. It's 104 square inches and has an 18x19 pattern.

Power/Control of test string: PolyTour Rev in 1.20/17 gauge has average to very slightly above average power among poly strings. On hard swings, there is a definite feeling of good pop of the ball off the stringbed but the ball speed doesn't seem to reflect the lively feeling as much as with other more powerful poly strings like Cyclone Tour. Control is very good to excellent. The launch angle is medium but doesn't change as significantly with more vertical trajectories like would happen with sharply edged strings. The impression is one of immediate comfort and confidence in what the string does to the ball, and the ball speed coming off the strings seems to very accurately reflect how hard I swing. PT Rev has low sensitivity to incoming spin so volleys could be placed very accurately and gave me the confidence to aim at smaller targets than usual. Overall, the impression is of a very highly consistent and control oriented string that doesn't take anything away from the swing and contact, but also doesn't add anything unexpected.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): PolyTour Rev is a fairly crisp and firm feeling with good pocketing sensation, but it doesn't have that high frequency harmonic that some other crisp strings exhibit. Because of that, it has a slightly muted overall impact sensation that also seems to take the edge off mis-hits, making it slightly more comfortable than an average poly string when missing the sweetspot. Over the first six of the seven total hours that I hit with it, there was minimal change in feel and ball response. In the last hour, when the strings moved and stayed out of position with every hit, the impact shock increased and it felt like the liveliness of the string went away.

Spin: Spin capability of PT Rev is above average for a round string, but average to below average when compared with a sharply edged string. The spin that is generated reacts very linearly with increasing vertical trajectory of the swingpath, but it is hard to get as much spin on the ball as with a shaped string when trying to loop up a heavy topspin shot. As complement to the fairly average spin capability, sensitivity to incoming spin is lower than average.

Playability Duration: I've been able to hit about seven hours with the string and the first six hours were very consistent in performance. Though tension dropped 15% from beginning to end, I didn't notice any changes in launch angle or spin generation up until the last hour. The playability was consistent despite the cold weather which varied over about a 20 degree F. range, and despite being either very dry or very damp. I could come out and hit with total confidence the ball would do what the swingpath would generate. Then in that seventh hour, the mains moved and stayed out of position with every hit, and the stringbed lost the liveliness it had. Mis-hit shock also increased, and spin generation went down.

At the six hour mark, the strings were notched about 50% of the way through. Because we are under COVID restriction and limited to playing outdoors, the court surface grit probably causes more wear. On the flip side, because I'm only able to play very sporadically due to the incessantly damp Pacific NW weather, I am not swinging at the ball like I would if I were playing normally and playing indoors. Probably these two effects offset each other. As a comparision, 18 gauge/1.20 Cyclone Tour lasts about eight hours before breaking, and 17 gauge Silver 7 Tour lasts between 10-12 hours before breaking.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): The string tension I chose seemed to be just about perfect. I had no complaints until the elasticity disappeared in that seventh hour of play. I used RacquetTune throughout my test, and recorded these values:

Right off the stringer: 46.1 pounds
After sitting overnight: 43.9 pounds
After sitting two nights: 43.1 pounds
After two hours of play: 41.2 pounds
After three hours of play: 40.9 pounds
After four hours of play: 40.4 pounds
After six hours of play: 39.3 pounds
After seven hours of play: 38.9 pounds

It is possible that I could string lower to try to get a bit more power but the characteristic of PolyTour Rev is of a highly control oriented string, and the tensions I chose seemed to complement that well.

List any additional thoughts (optional):

Stringing PolyTour Rev was easy. Coil memory was minimal to moderate, and weaving the crosses was easy. Elongation when pulling tension was about average, and after letting it sit for a minute with 50 pounds tension, a test section required another 5-6 mm to regain tension. Because of this, I double pulled on my lockout stringer, letting the string sit 20-30 seconds in between each tension pull. This prestretch routine probably eliminated some of the tension loss.

This is the second Yonex string I've played with, the first being PolyTour Pro in 1.15 gauge, which I also used during a COVID lockdown in the March/April timeframe. Compared to PTP, PT Rev is crisper and less muted, and in this thicker gauge felt more linear all the way to the top of my swing speed capability. Power levels feel pretty similar and if PT Rev is more powerful, it is a pretty slight difference.

Thanks to Yonex and Tennis Warehouse for these continuing series of string tests!

 

[McLovin]

Gauge received: 16L (1.25mm)

Tension(s) used for playtest: 48lbs using a Wise 2086 w/ a 10% pre-stretch options

Regular string set up & tension: Laserfibre Native Tour at 55lbs

Racquet used for test: Yonex VCORE 98 + (2018)

Power/Control of test string: 7/10 (power), 9/10 (control):

At first I though this string would be an extremely low powered one. Initial reviews leaned that way, and my first outing had me agreeing. However, that was outdoors in 45 degree weather under slightly windy conditions, so it wasn't a true indicator.​

​

My second, and subsequent outings were indoors, and I was able to get a better feel for the string. It wasn't as low powered as originally thought. Granted, I'd strung it 7lbs looser than I normally do (on recommendations from other playtesters), but 48lbs is also my normal tension for YPTP. From the ground I had no issues keeping the ball deep with decent pace Its not as powerful as my normal string, but not power vacuum like some strings I've demoed recently.​

​

During a competitive 4.5 doubles match, I was hitting solid returns, ripping some inside-in forehand returns for clean winners. Volleys had good pop, while not having to swing. The only place I felt the reduction in power was my 2nd serve as it sat up a little. I was still able to hit my spots, but my serve is probably my weakest shot, and losing 5-7MPH at the 4.5-5.0 level can be devastating when you're already on the low side of MPHs.​

​

Control was excellent, however. No issues moving the ball around during a rally, and was able to hit solid volleys in my doubles matches. Nothing every really 'flew' on me, even as the string loosened up.​

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):

I'd put this in the "muted, crisp but comfortable" category. It really reminded me of my current string as far as feel. This seems to be a formula going forward for many of the newer polys. Given the VDM in the new VCORE and EZONE line, I can't help but wonder if putting this string in those frames will make it feel over-dampened (and I may try that at the end of my VCORE 98 2021 playtest if I have time as a set of 16g was included).​

​

Spin:

This was the most disappointing aspect of the string, or maybe the marketing team just gave it the wrong name (ala RPM Power), but I did not see any huge increase in spin as compared to my current string (which is a round poly). In fact, the edges were barely detectable, and I would have told someone it was a round poly had I not known otherwise. Granted, I'm not a huge hitter of spin (my strokes are mostly flat), but I have hit some good shaped strings and noticed an increase in RPMs (normally to the detriment of power/depth). Not so with this string.​

Playability Duration:

Unlike many polys, I felt this had a 'break in' period of ~ 30 minutes. Once I got past that, the string played consistently well for 8 hours (mostly doubles). I haven't gotten to the end of life of this string yet, but rest assured, I won't break it. I never break polys...​

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?)

Initially I thought I had strung it too tight at 48lbs. But after moving indoors and playing under more 'realistic' conditions (e.g., temperatures above 45F), I think 48lbs w/ the prestretch was really close. I might consider dropping it to 45 to maybe get away from the 'break in' period and see if it's still playable wherever it settles. The images show RacquetTune at (a) fresh off the machine, (b) after my initial 30 minute hit, and (c) a month later (NOTE: due to quarantine I couldn't play for 3 weeks after Thanksgiving, so it literally sat in my bag for that time):​

​

List any additional thoughts (optional):

I really liked the feel of this string. For over 3 years I was a die-hard gut/YPTP user, and even went to a full bed of YPTP on clay, before changing to my current string. My only concern is it's branding. As others have mentioned, it's not a spin-happy a string as the name implies. That's not to say you can't generate some good spin, but I come away thinking more about the feel than I do about the power or spin.​

​

Also, as others have mentioned, it is an extremely slick string, and was a breeze to weave the crosses when stringing. I like the color was well.​

​

Thanks to Yonex & TW for the playtest.​

 

[18x20 ftw]

Playtest Review: Yonex Poly Tour REV polyester monofilament








Gauge received

16L (1.25)

Tension(s) used for playtest

43.5 lbs

Regular string set up & tension

Yonex Poly Tour Pro 16L (1.25)

Racquet used for test

Wilson Blade 18x20, the STRUNG weight of this string was 17.8 grams.

Power/Control of test string

We (my friend and I both hit this setup) felt that this string had good power. As shown in the picture, and stated above, the Yonex Poly Tour Pro (PTP) 1.25 is my string of choice. It compared well to the power of the PTP. The launch angle was lower than the PTP I felt. The string has a very slick texture which allows for great movement, but possibly doesn’t grab the ball as much as PTP, similar to the blue PTP. In this respect I prefer the PTP but my friend preferred the REV. The REV had good pocketing which then tends to help with control.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)

The feeling is very muted. I like a middle of the road between muted and crisp, so perhaps a ding from me but again, my friend liked the muted feeling (I think feel is subjective with no one feeling being better than the other). What I did like with regard to the feel was the pocketing. There was more pocketing in this string than the Poly Tour Strike. The string is comfortable, and I never felt any arm issues.

Spin

The string’s spin was sufficient but this isn’t a spin string. That said, I don’t need copious amounts of spin from the string itself and actually prefer round strings for their consistency (super spinny strings don’t lend themselves to good control in my opinion). The spin when applying slice or sidespin was supplied in just the right amounts.

Playability Duration

We thought this string scored above average in playability duration. After 6 to 7 hours all potentials were still intact. When closing in on ten hours we felt the balls starting getting deep.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?)

I would recommend a drop in tension two to three pounds to whatever you normally string your racquet.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

We felt this string is designed for the new VCORE 2021 line. This string is good for folks who plays flat shots but want to get more spin for sharply angled shots.

My friend (who plays fairly flat and is a speedy counter puncher whose favorite player is De Minaur) really liked the string and will be ordering more sets for a more thorough playtest! I’m excited that he loves the string. As for me, I’ll be keeping with PTP 1.25. I felt it had more spin and power and is Yonex’s best offering for me.

In closing, I want to send a BIG THANK YOU to Yonex, and of course Tennis Warehouse for the chance to playtest!

 

[M Pillai]

Yonex Poly Tour Rev Review

• Gauge(s) playtested
  • 17ga / 1.20mm
• Tension(s) used for playtest
  • 54lb mains x 52lb crosses
• Regular string set up & tension
  • Volkl Cyclone17 54lb mains x 52lb crosses
  • In the last few months I had been playing with a lot of different strings, in full experiment mode.
• Racquet used for test
  • ProStaff RF97 Autograph
• Power/Control of test string
  • More power oriented for a monofilament category, but does not lack control since it provides a lot of bite/spin in the ball. After the sweet period of the string (around 8+ hours), there was visible tension loss, and did affect the control of the string.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
  • Comfortable and Soft. Slightly crisp and firm feel fresh out of the string bed, and performed very well from the first hour. Also very good touch/feel for a monofilament string.
• Spin
  • Excellent. This is the highlight of this string. Yonex Poly Tour Rev (which I will refer to as YPTR in this review) provides excellent bite on the tennis ball and feels like it helps with the spin. I have no way of measuring the rotations, but from the feedback from my partners who hit with me, the ball did jump upon them aggressively, especially when I had enough time to take a good cut from baseline. It feels very much like Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable, when I hit with it, and so I would be surprised if this string does not come close enough in the “Spin Potential” category. YPTR felt really good right out of the stringing machine, and I felt home playing with this string from the very first shot (which is unusual, since I take some time to get used to a new string). I even thought of the possibility of switching to this. Now, I had some additional thoughts after the string passed its honeymoon period, I will talk about more that in the “Playability Duration” section. But for sure, YPTR is really high in its spin potential.
• Durability
  • Good. I spent 12 hours on court with this string, and mains did notch around half way through. It did not break though. Considering that I chose a 17ga, this is good durability. And I would think I could hit probably another 5 hours with it before breaking. To me as long as the Durability exceeds the “Playability Duration”, it does pass this check, and any further durability is probably not that relevant (because I will cut the string if it is not playable).
• Playability Duration
  • Below Average. It looks like this was the trade off for this string, which excels in all other departments, except “tension maintenance”. As I mentioned before, I was in heaven with this string, and felt amazing playing with it right from the stringing machine (even to the point that I started thinking I should switch to it when they get released). But of course, good things don't last long. After around 6hr mark, it was not the same anymore, and I was starting to see some difference. Once it hit the 8hr mark I was losing confidence on the string. I gave it a few more sessions because the cold weather usually doesn’t do too good for most poly strings. But after 12hrs I knew by looking at the string bed that there was so much tension loss, and the string also lost most of its crisp feel, and was getting a bit too soft and too powerful. I would say the spin potential is still there for controlled loopy swings, but the power or launch-effect or ension-loss overtook the properties.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?)
  • I am debating whether if I increased the original string tension, would I have been able to extend the playable duration of the string. But at the same time, I felt really good right off the stringing machine, and so I am not sure whether increasing the tension would deteriorate that feeling. As I mentioned above the only bummer for me was the “playability duration” and “tension maintenance”. When the string gets released, I will probably order a couple more sets and try it in different tensions. But generally I would say probably try increasing 5% tension from your other poly tensions (which is what I am going to try next time).
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
  • This string performed very well during its sweet period, and is among the best in the spin potential category. The “bite” word printed on the cover is real, and the string has noticeable sharp edges. But the “firm” description in the cover may incorrectly indicate to some that it is a stiff poly. Originally I disagreed with that description since it felt soft, but it also has some firm-crisp feel (still not stiff). Now I won’t necessarily recommend this string to someone who is planning to keep it on their racket for many months of use. But this would be an excellent choice for someone who frequents the stringer, and mostly uses fresh strings. Also if someone breaks the strings before its properties die, this would be really an excellent choice. Overall kudos to Yonex for producing such a high quality string. We tennis players are sometimes over-demanding. YPTR does get very high marks from me, and I do have plans to do further testing on this string in the coming months with different tensions and possibly gauges.

Thanks a lot, Yonex and TW, for giving me the opportunity to be part of this excellent playtest. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.

 

[Pronate]

I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for this playtest. It was a great experience to be a part of!

Gauge received-
1.30mm

Tension(s) used for playtest
52lbs, Strung on Gamma X stringer drop weight

Regular string set up
I have no specific regular setup. Set up varies by playing frequency/ racquet used. I strung up a Head Prestige MP normally at 42lbs with Head Hawk, Solinco Hyper G, or Yonex Poly Pro Tour. For my other racquets I string MSV focus hex at 35lbs.

Racquet used for test
Head Graphene Prestige MP 18x20
Weight: 11.3g+added lead to 3’ (2inch), 9’ (2inch)

Power/Control of test string
I would say the power starts off medium, but after 3 hours I noticed a difference and it dropped sharply. I felt I had more control as I hit flat shots as well as when I hit against players hitting with less topspin. The control is medium to high, and is performing as good if not better than at the start of the play test. The control did not have a big improvement on my game at first because of the medium level power. When I hit against big servers my returns were mostly chips.

So personally, the power is a 7/10 and the control is 7.5/10. (about average) If this had been strung looser, the control could be a potential 8.5.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The strings felt stiff, muted and overall comfortable. After a match I did have some pain in my forearm, but that most likely is from having strung racquets at the low 40s the past year. There was no discomfort during play. My wrist could move freely on swings and service motions.

Because it has more comfort than most polyester strings, I’ll give comfort a 9/10.

Spin
The string has bite, but I felt the break-in period of a couple hours was needed to fully adjust to it as the power decreased. At the net I immediately could hit volleys that would drop immediately before on right in front of the service line. Heavy topspin forehands sunk in onto the baseline.

I’ll give spin 8/10

Durability
After the 10+ hours, the strings are still in great condition. They hopefully will last me as long as my past setups: Hyper G, MSV Focus Hex, Poly Pro, and RPM Blast. I’ll give durability 9.5/10

Playability Duration
Another thing that impressed me about this string is the stability in playability throughout the test. From 0 to 8h these strings performed great, without any noticeable decline in playability. Partly because I carefully strung the racquet to reduce slack on the outside of the frame, the tension is still around 50lb.

I'll give playability duration 9/10.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
Would try stringing at 45lb and see if I can get some snap. I also wouldn't mind trying out 1.25mm.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
What has stood out to me are the comfort, playability duration and the spin potential. I will update my review over time. Playing different opponents of varying styles and levels will help further understand the behavior of the string. Also, I found it a little tedious stringing this, but this could just be because it is poly/monofilament and I was careful to minimize any slack. The process had no kinks to my surprise, but I had to use an awl to help tie off the cross. The string is solid, and I would recommend a lower tension around 45lb to improve any discomfort, control as well as increase spin potential. I was surprised the strings are 39ft, I always have them as 40ft.

 

[!<-_->!]

Gauge received:
17g, 1.20mm

Tension(s) used for playtest:
52lbs

Regular string set up & tension:
Don't have a consistent setup currently - last string used was Hyper-G Soft 17g

Racquet used for test:
2020 Yonex EZone 98

Power/Control of test string:
Power level of this string is on the lower side when compared to other strings I've used - RPM Blast, Poly Tour Pro, Hyper G/Hyper G Soft. As a result, I felt I was able to swing out with pretty good confidence and the ball wouldn't fly. If it did, it was user error and not a byproduct of a lively stringbed. Being lower powered, I didn't find it was underpowered. I am actually quite satisfied with where the power level of this string lands.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
I'd characterize this as a comfortably firm string that is a tad muted. Never had arm issues with it. Would've preferred if it wasn't as muted, but maybe that would've made it an uncomfortable firm. Volleys and dropshots weren't impacted either way. They were on par for what I expect when I hit these shots regardless of the strings I use, read as my touch/feel is not the greatest.

Spin:
For being marketed as a spin string, I didn't find this string to offer that much spin. It felt pretty point and shoot. I'd say it might have a tad bit more spin than Poly Tour Pro, but would not classify it as a spin string by any means. That said, the slice bh felt really good. Not sure if it's the lower power that led to such good results or if it was the bite from the string. I'm thinking it's the former because I didn't notice any benefits on my other strokes.

Playability Duration:
Got to 20 hours and the string held up well. A bit notched, but not broken. Typically at this usage I'll cut out my strings so no durability issues. Tension remained consistent throughout the life of the playtest without any noticeable drop off in playability. Overall, a string that holds its characteristics well.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?):
I might string a little bit lower, anywhere between 48-50, just to see if the spin potentially might open up a bit.

List any additional thoughts:
While the string didn't live up to what it's marketed towards, I actually really enjoyed this string. I've been trying to find a firmer, lower power string for my EZone and haven't found anything yet. This one may take the cake. Also, didn't think the orange would look good in a blue frame, but it didn't look bad.

Thank you for the opportunity to be on this playtest.