Tennis Warehouse: Tecnifibre Multifilament String Playtest

[PBODY99]

Tennis experience
Started playing in 1966, long time USTA League and age group tournament player, USRSA certified stringer

Playing style. ...........................doubles 90 % of the time. I serve & get in as soon as I can

Racquet used.......................... Prince Speedport Gold 110

Tension used .......................... 27 kg

Regular string set up: ......1.20mm poly/1.27mm Zyex 20kg/21kg

Power of test string: .........high but predictable

Feel .............................firm for a multi

Spin............................OK for the string type

Comfort....................very high

Durability..................... 11 hours so far on hard court,12 hours on red clay little string movement, slight notching so far

Playability Duration ............20 + hours

Control................Pretty good for a non-poly in my oversize power frame

Compared to the string I use most often this is very comfortable & controlled

Tension recommendations................ no change after further playing. held its tension

List any additional thoughts ..........Installation was a breeze. Crosses wove easily, knots were no problem.
Tecnifibre Pro Contact Overgrip 8 hours in and while now slightly grey, the tack remains very good. This is one of the better sticky grips I have used. Note that my hand does not sweat, ever, so moisture management is never an problem for me. Several players who tried the racket all asked about the overgrip as it was gray from use but still maintained a comfortable feel.
I hope it comes out in both1.25 & 1.35 mm

 

[HIT MAN]

question for rabbitt

hello , when you post your review , could you also include why you like your
current pacific/ nrg set up .I am always looking for a better non poly cross with gut mains (currently using TF synthetic 17) perhaps this new string may
be a option ?? Thanks

 

[g4driver]

First of all, I want to thank TW and Tecnifibre for allowing me to playtest these strings, especially in a Steam 99S. As a Steam 99S user, I didn't expect the typical type of play I get from the co-polys I use or the Natural Gut/ co-polys.

What I did get was in fact very promising.

Tennis experience/background: Picked up tennis in high school after playing baseball for a long time. Played recreationally during college as a 20 year old and after college, then came back to the game in 2006 after a 10 year break.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): USTA Rated 4.0 player who plays singles and doubles in almost equal amounts. In singles, I tend to stay mostly on the baseline (about 90% of the time), in doubles I am coming in about 90% of the time. I mostly play singles against guys 15-20 years younger than me, as 90% of the guys my age only play doubles.

Current racquet/string: Steam 99S with Volkl V-Torque 16G / Head Hawk 16G

Tension used for playtest 58/56 strung on a Prince 6000.

Regular string set up Volkl V-Torque 16G / Head Hawk 17G

Racquet brand and model used for test Steam 99S - modified.

I am going to do something TW didn't ask for. I hope others find the star rating system useful. Up to 5 Stars available in six categories. I am going to skip "Power" since that is a personal preference.

Power of test string Very Powerful. I expected this and strung it pretty tight. I think I would go higher if using as a full bed for me in a 16x19 frame. This string really didn't work in my Steam 99S after five sets of doubles. (more on that later). Unrated for Stars. Power is a personally preference. Some want more power, while others want dead strings that you have to supply your own power, hence no rating for the Power.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) 5 Stars - This string felt wonderful IMO. It is softer than polys, and it felt like a nice natural gut when hitting. I have had TE issues in the past, and hit with full poly in a Steam 99S frame measuring 70 on a Babolat RDC. This string was very nice on my arm.

Spin 2 Stars probably average compared to pure multifilament. I don't hit full beds of multi, so this is hard for me to give a comparison. But producing a lot of spin isn't going to be a major plus for this string.

Comfort 5 Stars As comfortable as X-One or NRG2. More comfortable than Duramix, which I don't care for. I think this string feels softer than NXT Control, but it has been a few years since I hit with NXT Control.

Durability 5 Stars More durable the 16G X-One Bi-Phase and NRG2. (5 Stars for a multifilament) X1, NRG2 and other multis would be severely fraying at the same amount of playing time as a full bed of multi. I broke the last two sets of V-Torque mains before completing six sets on each frame, so this string as outlasted my last two sets of poly in my Steam 99S. Very impressive.

Playability Duration (thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) 4 Stars At first, this string was snapping back nicely in my Steam 99S, and I was hopeful this would continue for 12-14 sets. Unfortunately, after three sets of 8.0 mixed doubles, three sets of 4.0 Men's doubles, a 90 minute drill with 4.0 and 4.5 guys, and a two games of singles with a 3.5, the mains stopped snapping back. I noticed some notching after the third set of 4.0 doubles. The strings are slightly frayed, but they aren't close to breaking. So for durability, I think I could easily get better mileage from these strings than X-One and NRG2. 2 Stars if I was only rating for the string in a Steam 99S. I expect it will do much much better (expect 4+ stars) in a smooth co-poly/Tecnifibre ATP Multi 16g hybrid.

Control: 3.5 Stars Control started to be a factor when I started playing singles vs the 3.5 and the mains had already stopped snapping back. Tonight in the first set of singles, I went down 0-2 to a player who has beaten me once in maybe 30+ attempts of singles. I kept hitting short balls in the net, or long unable to generate the topspin and control, I have grown use to with my Steam 99S V-Torque/Hawk frames. After going down 0-2 after missing a short ball that should have been an easy winner, I put down the frame with the Tecnifibre full bed of this test string in it. I knew the strings were no longer capable of doing what I wanted with them. This is merely a bad marriage of this string to my Steam 99S. I expect the control to be very nice in a 16x19/20 or 18x20 pattern, hence 3.5 Stars.

After grabbing another Steam 99S with V-Torque/Head Hawk, I won nine straight games going up 6-2, 3-0 before finished the 2nd set for a 2&2 win. My buddy commented how I changed after losing the first two games. I told him I had to change frames. This wasn't a knock on the Tecnifibre strings so much as I am use to V-Torque/Hawk or a full bed of Cyclone Tour, and I was playing with a Steam 99S, which isn't really designed for multi strings. These Tecnifibre strings were moving all over the place and it was annoying to be adjusting strings after every point. It was more troubling to miss long or in the net, time and time again. The fact I got this far with the Tecnifibre string is impressive to me considering the frame I was using.

Compare to the string you use most often: Comparing to full polys in the Steam 99S. Tecnifibre Multi ATP 16g: Less spin, flatter shots, less control the more I played with the string, more comfortable and more power.

Tension recommendations: higher for more control. lower for more spin.

Will I use this string in a Steam 99S? No. But I will never use any mulit in a Steam 99S, so this isn't a lost cause.

Will I recommend this string to anyone who likes copoly / multi hybrids ? Yes, I will and strongly recommend this string in the crosses with a co-poly mains, and even as mains with a smooth co-poly cross, because I know some folks who like the multi mains. This string should last much longer than the average mulit IMO.

Do I think this string is vastly super to Duramix? Yes, without a doubt. It feels more comfortable than NXT Control which I play tested, although in a Wilson Pro Open 16x19 frame.

We are including Tecnifibre Pro Contact Overgrip with the playtest string. I should have saved this for the fall. Too humid to use in the southeast with all the humidity. Wilson Pro Overgrip or Tournagrip - are the only two that work May - Sept for me. But I did like the feel.

P.S. When I get a chance I plan to cut of the mains of this string and see how it works as a cross with Black5Edge in a Pro Open trying to do a direct comparison to X-One Bi-Phase, unless Tecnifibre sends me another pack.

Overall 24.5 / 30 Stars for this new Tecnifibre String or 4.1/5 Stars. Nice String by Technibre and yes, I would buy it and use it as cross for friends/customers who use hybrids. Especially to string breakers who don't like full poly.

 

[g4driver]

Update 24 hours after gave my review of this string - I broke another Volkl V-torque 16 g main tonight in the 8th set of play. So yes, this Technifibre multifilament outlasted my last three full sets of poly in a Steam 99S -so I might have to give this string 6 stars for Durability

 

[eelhc]

13 June 14: Strung it up and hit for a little over an hour on a ball machine.
16 June 14: Hit another hr with my hitting partner and played a set.
21-22 June 14: A couple of hours more with my hitting partnert.

String Received:
Tecnifibre ATP World Tour PU Multi 1.30 (according to the label on the generic package)

Tennis experience/background:
Got back into the game after a 25 year hiatus. Strokes are coming back but inconsistent.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Aggressive counterpuncher. Not consistent enough to dictate the points yet.

Tension(s) used for playtest:
55# two piece on a Lockout crank machine. I no longer calibrate my machine. I just check the tension with a luggage scale and adjust it to be spot on each time I string.

Regular string set up: M: Babolat Origin @58#, X: Ashaway Monogut ZX 16@58#. This is a "string it and forget it" setup... after the initial tension loss, it sees to play forever.

Racquet brand and model used for test:
Prince EXO3 Tour 100 16x18

Power of test string:
As others have reported, very powerful. The Tour 100 is a low powered frame but plenty of power at 55bs with these strings.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):
Soft but not mushy... best way I can think of describing it would be "feels like a softer NRG2".

Spin:
Very little spin. There's hardly any string movement but these string provide virtually no spin. With the higher launch angle of the Prince and the power of this string, it was a bit of a struggle to keep the ball in at first and after several hours I adjust to it but have to be conscious/careful still.

Comfort:
Very comfortable. I would not say as good as gut, but as good as any multi. I like all the Tecnifibre multi's actually.

Durability:
To be updated. No notching, no movement, no fraying after 1Hr of hitting. After another Hr of hitting, no movement or fraying.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):
Noticed no appreciable tension loss after 2Hrs of play (did start at a lower tension to begin with). After ~4Hrs tension loss seems to be as good as any premium multi.

Compare to the string you use most often:
I was launching balls for the the first hour I hit. I adjusted on the 2nd hr and was able to keep the ball in but it was a struggle given the higher launch angle of this frame and the lack of spin production from the strings.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):
I might go up to 58~60# but it would depend on the spin production at the higher tension (s).

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Thanks TW and Tecnifibre for the opportunity to test these strings. These will probably work best for flat hitters looking for more power. Can't really provide a recommendation without knowing what the cost is. Not really where where Tecnifibre is positioning these strings (lower than NRG2, in between NRG2/BiPhase or higher than BiPhase?)... Maybe the playability/durability will be better with these strings but I personally wouldn't pay more than NRG2 for these. The $15~20 multi (or the new multi-like monofilament - Origin, Monogut-ZX) is getting mighty crowded.

Pros:
Comfort, Power (for those who want/need), Feel

Cons:
Lack of spin

I'm wondering what the spin production would be when this string is crossed with a smooth poly or Monogut zx.

 

[osutennis24]

write a full later...but played my first match with it

may have strung it up too tight, felt stiff

 

[Bud]

Not a Review. Review to come later

Stringing it up right now and will try it this afternoon.

String is a bit gummy like it has a PU coating. Fairly stiff and little coil memory. On the DW machine, it strings like a stiff multifilament. Fairly easy to string. Not much grommet friction but more inter-string friction than a MF/SG with a hard/dry coating/finish. The mushy/gummy finish/coating Reminds me a bit of Isospeed Professional.

Once strung, the strings do not slide easily against one another. You move them and they stay put instead of snapping back. Typical of the PU coated MF. I'll be using silicone spray after every hitting session to make these strings become more mobile against one another.

Thoughts after first hit:

1. Feel is very similar to ISO speed Pro or RIP Control
2. Internals of string is like a webbing material and already starting to fray.
3. Pretty comfortable and definitely on the stiffer side
4. Mains at 60# and crosses at 55# was too stiff. Had to stand on the string bed to loosen it up. Would go 5 lbs. lower in each direction next time.

Full review to come later

 

[sp1derman]

This string was very easy to string myself because it was soft and easy on the fingers. It felt as if there was some type of oily coating on the string. Coil memory was not a problem. However, I didn't receive the overgrip everyone else seemed to get! Oh well!

Tennis experience/background: 31 years old 4.0-4.5, mostly singles
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All court game, big forehand and like to finish and net. Will throw serve and volley to keep opponents off balance
Current racquet/string: Wilson BLX PS 6.1.95 16x19
Tension used for playtest: 58lbs
Regular string set up: babolat tonic mains/ Tourna big hitter silver crosses
Racquet brand and model used for test: See above
Power of test string: 7/10- I felt that compared to other multi's where a complaint is often that they are too powerful this was toned down a bit
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) 9/10- not as mushy feeling as some multi's feel. "Feel" was much more like a natural gut because of the crispness
Spin: 5/10- The ball pocketing helped me to feel like I had a little extra time on contact to turn the wrist over to generate spin. There is no extra spin generated from the string.
Comfort: 9/10- Sometimes I have TE issues. This string was very easy on the wrist, forearm, and elbow.
Durability: 7/10- Resisted notching and "velcroing" longer than most multis do. This still happened after about 8 hours of singles play.
Playability Duration: 6/10- Spin became harder to generate and balls were flying longer as play continued. I'm not sure if this was due to tension loss, power increase, or lack of spin.
Control: 5/10- Initially control was good. It got worse as time went on
Compare to the string you use most often: Easier access to power than my regular setup but short angles weren't happening. This string was nice at keeping the ball deep in the court. Volleys were great, drop volleys were tough to execute. Flat serves were great, spin serves that went in landed deep in the box when not out...
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would increase tension to maybe around 60lbs to increase control. However this may increase notching.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I don't see many younger people playing with full beds of multi's these days for the reasons discussed throughout the forums. I have tried using multi's as crosses with poly mains but that never works well because of the mains cutting in. I have had some success using multi mains with synthetic gut crosses. Not quite as much spin as other setups but it's better than a full bed of multi. This string might work well as a main string with synthetic gut cross. I feel this way because it does resist notching fairly well for a multi.

 

[ten11]

Tecnifibre multi APT 1.30mm play test

Tennis experience/background: 3.5 single/double player. 2 hand backhand. play daily during warmer months.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): baseline counter puncher.

Current racquet/string
Tension used for playtest: 57lbs on lockout machine
Regular string set up: Genesise typhoon 16L @ 55lbs.
Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat aeropro drive original 16x19

Power of test string: perfect for me, not powerful, nor under powered. It provides right amount of power for the racket/tension and what I like. Given the fact that this string performed well in other aspect, I feel it will suit different players well in power category by adjusting the tension.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Firm/Crisp with nice feel. One of the nicest thing of this string. I can hit clean volley with nice feedback. really had fun in volley drill.

Spin: Very good spin for multi. In comparison to multi string, this is the best multi string I can get the spin. Compare to poly, it is decent. I am really happy with the amount of spin this string can provide.

Comfort: Very comfortable. Nothing to report because I did not feel any discomfort after any of the test session.

Durability: Good, I am not a string breaker but I can see there is very little wear on the string.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Very good. For the hitting sessions I had, I did not notice much of differece. It performed very uniformly in ground stroke, slice and volley.

Control: Very good. I am very happy about the control of the string. direction control is very good and I can direct the ball I wanted. Because of the spin I can get, the depth control is also to my like. I can hit freely and control the ball to land deep in the court.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compare to the poly string I use, the spin is a little less, which is expected but I am happy with the amount of the spin I can get from it. It excel in comfort and control compare to the poly string.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I feel the tension I used is about right for power/control/spin combination. I do not see myself need to adjust the tension of I string another set. For players who wants a bit of more, I will suggest to lower for 2-3 lbs.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Overall, I am very happy with this string. I play with poly because I am baseline play and control the points with spin. This string did not disappoint me on spin production.
In my opinion, this string will be a great pick for flat hitter who do not break the string often, given the fact it plays well for a long period of time, good power and control. Of course, it is a great string for anyone who has arm/should issue.

Thanks TW for the play testing.

 

[GS]

Tennis experience---a solid 35 years, now a 4.5 player.

Playing style---baseliner, but decent at the net.

Racquet used---Prince Graphite Longbody.

Tension used---57 lbs.

Regular string setup---Rip Control 17 at 57 lbs.

Power of test string---pretty powerful.

Feel---very firm.

Spin---since I'm used to a 17 gauge, I thought this lacked some bite.

Comfort---this string felt okay on my arm.

Durability---after 2 weeks, no visible signs of wear, and very little string movement.

Playability duration---after 2 weeks, I'm sure this string will play pretty good for another month.

Control---control was so-so with this string, probably because I'm used to 17 gauge strings.

Compared to the string I use most often---I'd probably buy the 17 gauge version of this string in the future.

Tension recommendations---I'd keep it at 57 lbs.

Tecnifibre Pro Contact Overgrip---it was nice n tacky but since I'm used to soft overgrips, I thought this hard-feeling grip would give me blisters after awhile.

 

[tinyman]

Tennis experience/background:

Mostly play 4.0's singles/doubles. With this string, played a range of players from 3.5-5.0.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

Largely baseline grinder. Against stronger players I will move more into the net, as I can't go baseline to baseline against them (college players), I just don't get enough action to faze them.

Current racquet/string:

Wilson Prostaff 95S
Tournament - poly/poly, 57/55lbs. Currently Discho Spin Monster/Discho Iontec
Practice - 15/15L synthetic gut, 58lbs. 16g if that's all I have. Don't care which one.

Tension used for playtest:

Tension (M/C): 58/56lbs, dropweight

Diam (Main): 1.27mm (avg over 5)

Diameter (Cross): 1.28 (avg over 5)

RacquetTune Measurements (Generic 1.30mm Synthetic Gut*)

Off Stringer - 50.8lbs

1hr: 49.5lbs

Morning (12hr): 48.4lbs

2hr play, 4.0 doubles: 47.5lbs

Unfortunately I constantly kept forgetting to take measurements after this.

*NOTE: I have no way of determining an actual string factor for the provided string. The numbers used are to try and get a RELATIVE tension loss ONLY.

Power of test string:

Medium-high. With the amount of spin I generate, this meshes well. Having the extra drive helps keep up.

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

Fairly muted, better feel than synthetic gut (crisper). Keep in mind that in my racket, most strings naturally feel muted to me. Maybe it is the gut that I have used in the past (Unifibre), but I didn't really think this felt like gut in terms of feel - it was as comfortable, but it didn't feel the same as gut to me.

Spin:

I was doing no better or worse than synthetic gut at a similar gauge. No issues. I'm not really looking for a string to do the spin for me.

Comfort:

Very good on comfort. I had no issues.

Durability:

While this string lasted ~6 hours total before breaking, bear in mind that poly/poly is typically 8-10hr, and 15g synthetic gut I get about 8hr. This string lasted longer than I expected.


Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):

Start to finish, this string was remarkably consistent. It is possible that I just never got to the period where the tension loss becomes a big issue, but I did enjoy that start to finish, the response across the bed maintained better than syn gut.


Control:

Flattening out shots is a bit of an issue with this. Given the natural power response, it was generally more advantageous to drive with spin to push an opponent away, then chip to get them hitting off their ankles. Controlling the serve wasn't a problem.


Compare to the string you use most often:

I mostly use a synthetic gut when I'm just practicing, either 15g or 16g depending on what I have. Definitely see less string movement from this, as it was able to consistently return to position. You do notice that after a couple hours, both mains and crosses have notched.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):

For what I was doing, the tension worked fine. I'm using a 16x15 though. In a 16x19 I would drop tension a couple pounds.


List any additional thoughts (optional):

I could see this string being a good option as a cross string. I doubt I could go with it as a full bed in my racket at this gauge, as I suspect it will cost too much to be viable (student) - for a practice string, it's more economical to string up thick syn gut (I prefer to string frequently with that, so it's easier on my arm and I have a consistent bed of new string).

If as a 16g it has good lifetime performance in a 16x19 to a 16x20, it would be one I'd recommend for people I'm trying to get off using poly all the time, as I think this is more in line with what they could actually use. While I haven't seen the price yet, I have a feeling I would have difficulty justifying it to myself. It has occurred to me as a possibility for shorter tournaments though, having the extra power over a poly/poly had some advantages, but had the downside when I was struggling against high pace players.

 

[Devil_dog]

Tecnifibre has produced another great string!

Tennis experience/background:

I’m a 4.0-4.5 player and active in league play.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

Predominantly a baseline hitter.

Current racquet/string:

Using two Babolat racquets at the moment. I use a 2010 Babolat Aeropro Team GT and a 2013 Pure Drive. Depending on the match, I can switch between either one. I’m currently using the Prince Hybrid Warrior Power string set.

Tension used for playtest: 55 lbs.

Regular string set up: 55 lbs. on mains and crosses. Nothing unusual.

Racquet brand and model used for test

I strung up my Pure Drive for the test.

Power of test string:

Power was on the level or nearly the same as X-One Biphase which I used to have on my racquets before I switched to Prince Hybrid. Very nice pop.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)

The string has nice pop. Not stiff nor mushy nor muted. Clean feel to my shots and slightly less crisp than X-One.

Spin

Spin was adequate perhaps a bit better than X-One and about on par with NRG2.

Comfort

Very comfortable! On the same scale as Wilson NXT or better.

Durability

Only played about an hour so far with the string but it did not exhibit any wear at this point. I'll update further after some more playtime with it.

UPDATE: played two hours today and only showing very slight fraying on the cross strings.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)

As stated above, only played about an hour but did not notice much change in tension or playability.

Control

Shots had good control especially on my backhand slice. Also felt good hitting volleys.

UPDATE: hit yow hours today with various players and noticed some loss in control with my shots. Had some difficulty hitting inside the lines as opposed to my current Prince string set. During a practice set, I became frustrated by the lack of control and switched to my current set up and definitely noticed a difference.

Compare to the string you use most often

Compared to the Prince Hybrid Warrior Power set I currently use, power of the Tecnifibre string was slightly lower, control was about on par, feel seemed better and comfort was also noticeably better, too.

UPDATE: Earlier I said power was lower than my Prince string set. That's not accurate. It's actually more powerful but with much less control. Feel and comfort were about the same though.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)

After stringing it at 55 lbs. I think I should have strung it higher say around 57-58 lbs. to give the string a bit more crispness on the string bed. Some shots did go loose on occasion and I believe have a bit tighter a string bed would have reigned in more control for me.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

For further clarification, I’ve used Tecnifibre’s X-One Biphase, NRG2 and Multifeel.

This is a very nice, solid multi string. Overall I was very impressed with this string and would consider using this as my primary string but pricing would determine that over my current choice of using the Prince Hybrid set. As I mentioned throughout my review, the string felt very similar to its brethren X-One but with more spin. Slightly less crisp than its other brethren NRG2 but the test string packed more power than NRG2, IMHO. The test string was the most comfortable of all Tecnifibre multis that I have used. If I didn’t know better, I’d say this test string was Wilson NXT but with better spin generation.

Thank you TW and Tecnifibre for allowing me to play test this wonderful string!

 

[Bud]

Review

Tennis experience/background: Started playing late in life at 38-39. Currently 4.5 doubles. Rarely play singles (want to extend playing as long as possible). Currently play about 3 days per week (10-12 hours).

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Strong baseline game with topspin. Enjoy using short angles. Will volley on a good approach shot. In doubles, I usually play the ad-side and focus on hitting with my FH CC to the opponents BH.

Current racquet/string: 2012 PDR with NG/RIP Control mains (60#) and RPM Blast crosses (55#)

Tension used for playtest: 60#/55#

Regular string set up: NG or RIP Control mains (60#) / RPM Blast crosses (55#)

Racquet brand and model used for test: 2012 Pure Drive Roddick

Power of test string: 7/10. Not nearly as powerful as many MF strings I've tried.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): 7/10 Definitely on the stiffer side for a MF. Not muted and not lively. String feels similar to Isospeed classic (polyolefin ribbons).

Spin: 5/10 Felt it was difficult producing spin with this string. The mushy PU coating kills the sliding action of the mains over the crosses. Strings were fairly immobile - even after repeated applications of silicone spray. This string may work better as a main with a poly cross.

Comfort: 8/10. After loosening up the stringbed, it was a pretty comfortable string. At the original tension is felt stiff and dead.

Durability: I'm not a string breaker. Seems it would be durable based on the wear patterns so far.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): When first strung, the stringbed was way too stiff. After standing on the stringbed multiple times and hitting for 4-5 hours, it loosened up to the point it was comfortable. Would try stringing 5# lower next time in both directions.

Control: 7/10. String is low-medium powered. Control is above average for a MF.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to my usual setup of gut/MF mains and poly crosses, a full bed of this string pales (sorry TF).

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): Much looser. Stringbed was way too stiff at 60#/55# (dropweight). I'd decrease it at least 5# in both directions.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Kind of scratching my head as to what niche this string hopes to fill. It feels similar to other strings currently on the market. It does everything average to good. However, nothing about it is unusual or special. Would give it another shot as a main with a nice poly cross. I'd never use this in a full bed after this playtest.

 

[SteveI]

Hey Bud,

Nice review. I will have very little to add. You pretty much had the same experience I did... Can I just sign my name to yours...LOL???

Steve

 

[g4driver]

List any additional thoughts (optional): Kind of scratching my head as to what niche this string hopes to fill. It feels similar to other strings currently on the market. It does everything average to good. However, nothing about it is unusual or special. Would give it another shot as a main with a nice poly cross. I'd never use this in a full bed after this playtest.

As a guy who played with Black5Edge mains/ X-1 Bi-phase 16g hybrids for four years in a 16x19 frame, and who breaks 16g Volkl Cyclone, Cyclone Tour, and V-Torque on average in 6 to 8 sets, I see this string a perfect replacement for anyone who breaks a 16g multi in a hybrid setup rather quickly. X-1 16 gauge didn't last me too long in a poly/hybrid, even when I went with a smooth cross like Silverstring. I was snapping X-1 around 13-15 sets on average. This Technifibre string outlasted two full beds of 16g poly in my Steam 99S, so it is more durable than three 16G Volkl strings in my Steam 99S frames.

This string feels softer than NXT Control IMO. I don't play full multis, but I do know people who do. Just my .02, but this string seem perfectly fit as a soft cross if someone likes hybrids. It will be a durable multi.

 

[loosegroove]

Tennis experience/background:
4.0 tennis player, singles and doubles. Played a bit as a kid and picked it up again regularly a few years ago in my early 30's.

Describe your playing style:
Despite playing more doubles than singles, I play a pretty baseline heavy game. Definitely a grinder with loopy topspin on my SW windshield wiper forehand, though I hit a flatter 2-handed backhand.

Current racquet/string:
Prince EXO3 Tour 16x18 (which I used for the playtest) with Pro's Pro Blackout mains and synthetic gut crosses.

Tension used for playtest:
52 lbs, which is a few pounds more than I normally use in my hybrid.

Power of test string, Spin, Control:
Solid power. Definitely more so than my usual hybrid, your standard synthetic gut, or lower powered multis such as Dunlop Hexy Fiber. I certainly felt there was more power on tap when going for it on serves or flattening out (relatively speaking) my forehand. Spin seemed pretty decent as well, not as much as my hybrid. Didn't have as much natural bite, had an intrinsically lower trajectory, and I couldn't get the balls to jump off the ground as much, which was expected. I found when I was going for deeper, loopier topspin, the balls would often sail long. However when going for a flatter driving topspin, the strings reacted quite well. Slices also felt good, felt like they were a little lower and more penetrating. I also enjoyed it for my slice (pseudo kick) serve. I think the little extra power helped in this department. Overall nice control, but definitely had to finish and commit on my strokes, otherwise I would hit long.

Feel, Comfort:
The string actual felt pretty crisp. Certainly not mushy or boardy. Definitely a comfy string. Maybe not the most comfortable compared to the softest multis available, but a string I could recommend to those who require comfort and a crisper response in their string.

Durability, Playability Duration:
Seems durable for a multi. Thus far notching is minimal as there seems to be little string movement. Normally with multis and syn gut, my string bed is a mess in a matter of minutes. And I tear through most non-poly strings courtesy of my open string pattern and SW topspin forehand. I'll have to report back on ultimate durability and playability duration.

UPDATE: Since the strings didn't move much, and notching at first seemed minimal, I had high hopes that this would be a multi that was more durable than most. In the end, it went rather quickly just like most I have tried. Maybe got 7 hours of play before a main broke, but half of that was lower level doubles, or clinic which centered around volleys and doubles. Would have broken much sooner in all singles play or doing drills centered on groundstrokes. Don't get me wrong, it has decent durability for a multi, but if you're a string breaker, these aren't going to last too long. The good news, they never lost their playability.

Compare to the string you use most often:
Compared to my usual setup, it's definitely more comfy and more powerful. It's much better at hitting a bigger first serve, or flattening out for a driving topspin shot than my hybrid of poly/syn gut. And I felt like I was kicking my serve better with more free power on hand. However, I couldn't dial it in for hitting deeper, high bouncing topspin which is normally what I base my game around. If I could dial that in, it would be pretty ideal since it excelled for me in the other aspects.

UPDATE: I actually feel like I can play with a greater variety with this string vs my poly/syn gut hybrid. As previously mentioned, I can hit a flatter driving topspin shot that is normally difficult to achieve with my usual setup, and I've also managed to dial in the loopier topspin shot. Though I still can't get the same heaviness and pop with that shot.

Tension recommendations:
I enjoyed the tension at 52lbs. Though it's tough to use me as a gauge as I tend to like to string lower than most. Normally 52lbs seems too stiff/boardy to me, but I opted for this tension based on some of the things I read in others' comments, and I think I would string at this tension if I were to do it over.

 

[Bud]

Hey Bud,

Nice review. I will have very little to add. You pretty much had the same experience I did... Can I just sign my name to yours...LOL???

Steve

Glad to hear. Seems the reviews vary quite a bit.

As a guy who played with Black5Edge mains/ X-1 Bi-phase 16g hybrids for four years in a 16x19 frame, and who breaks 16g Volkl Cyclone, Cyclone Tour, and V-Torque on average in 6 to 8 sets, I see this string a perfect replacement for anyone who breaks a 16g multi in a hybrid setup rather quickly. X-1 16 gauge didn't last me too long in a poly/hybrid, even when I went with a smooth cross like Silverstring. I was snapping X-1 around 13-15 sets on average. This Technifibre string outlasted two full beds of 16g poly in my Steam 99S, so it is more durable than three 16G Volkl strings in my Steam 99S frames.

This string feels softer than NXT Control IMO. I don't play full multis, but I do know people who do. Just my .02, but this string seem perfectly fit as a soft cross if someone likes hybrids. It will be a durable multi.

Perhaps this is the target audience

 

[WhiteStripes]

Tennis experience/background:

25+ years of playing tennis. Highly competitive as a junior. Trained some at Bollettieri’s. Ex-USPTA. Wish I could spend all day on the tennis courts like when I was a kid with no responsibilities, but my playing time has been drastically scaled back over the past several years. Played USTA leagues at 4.5.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

Grinder/counterpuncher.

Current racquet/string setup:

Babolat Pure Strike 305 18x20, modified to 12 oz., a little under 8 pts HL, with a Babolat RDC measured 329 SW. Wilson natural gut 17 mains. Smooth poly crosses, typically 4G or Kirschbaum (PLII, Evo, or X). 54 lbs. mains / 51 lbs. crosses.

Tension used for playtest:

54 lbs. on a lockout machine.

Power of test string:

Compared to your typical poly or synthetic gut, it expectedly provides a bit more pop than those types of strings. For a multi, it feels about average to slightly above. I did not think that it was all that more powerful compared to some of the other premium multi’s out there like Xcel, NRG2, Biphase, and NXT. Compared to my usual gut hybrid setup, it’s actually a bit less powerful, but I don’t think many people will complain about the amount of pop in this string. And, of course, that can also be tweaked with tension as well. I would presume a 17 gauge or thinner gauge string would provide even more pop.

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

Soft and, to me, very muted. While I like the softness (and it should definitely be comfortable for those that have arm issues), it does not have the crisp feel that I like. To be fair, basically all multis feel that way to me. Natural gut is unique in that aspect in providing both softness and an unmatched feel for the ball. I would say though that the string feels perhaps just a tiny bit stiffer than the other premium multis.

Spin:

Average to low. Probably did not help that the string is 16 gauge and the stick I’m using is a dense 18x20. To be fair, I have not tried any other multis in my current stick, so it’s tough for me to make a comparison with other multis. Unquestionably though, spin potential was lacking compared to my normal gut hybrid setup, as well as full poly that I’ve also tried in my racquet. The string feels pretty slick and string movement is pretty minimal, which is impressive for any multi/synthetic gut. You’d think that would aid in spin production, but I just didn’t get that much movement on my shots. As an example, I would estimate the bounce on my second serves/kick serves was on average almost a foot less with the Tecnifibre compared to my normal gut hybrid.

Comfort:

High comfort. It doesn’t feel as soft as my natural gut hybrid, but I can’t imagine that anyone can complain about the comfort of the string. Definitely good for those with arm issues. To me, along with the minimal string movement, this is the best aspect of the string.

Durability:

I’ve put about 9 hours on the strings, although most of that was relatively light hitting. I had tried to play a league match with it, but gave up after a couple games since it just wasn’t cutting it for me. So despite the 9 hours, it really hasn’t gone through the same type of beating as my usual strings.

With that caveat, for a multi, it seems pretty durable to me. Very, very little fraying except in a couple spots. The notching is not too terrible (in some areas, it’s about ¼ of the way through) and I expected far worse compared to other multis I’ve tried in the past, although the 18x20 of my racquet definitely helps with that. I wouldn’t want to see what my Pro Staff 95S would do to it though.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):

Again, with the above caveat, the tension maintenance seems pretty good after the initial tension drop, which isn’t even that bad.

Using the RacquetTune app with the generic 1.30 mm synthetic gut setting just to get some sense of relative tension loss, this is how the tension held up per the readings on RacquetTune:

Off the stringer, strung at 54 lbs on a lockout machine: 49.7 lbs. w/ a DT of 36.2 N/mm.

Sitting 24 hours without hitting: 46.9 lbs. w/ a DT of 34.2

@ 2 hours of hitting: 45.4 lbs. w/ a DT of 33.1

@ 6 hours of hitting: 43.9 lbs. w/ a DT of 32.0

@ 9 hours of hitting: 43.1 lbs. w/ a DT of 31.4

The playability of the string definitely seemed to level off (a bit of the initial liveliness wore off, although still quite a bit lively overall) and “settle in” a bit to me after the first hitting session or two. I haven’t noticed too much of a drop in playability of the string, although again, I haven’t exactly put it through as much rigorous hitting as I normally would with my normal setup.

Control:

I struggled a bit with the control compared to my normal gut hybrid setup. Perhaps it’s just me being well dialed in with my usual gut hybrid, but even though that setup is more powerful, I feel confident with the control of my shots. As I mentioned above, I tried to play with the Tecnifibre strings in a match and quickly dumped it after 2 games, going back to my old setup.

Can’t really explain why, but I just had issues with overall consistency and finding the court with the Tecnifibre, especially off the ground. I actually do like the strings a bit more on volleys, as I found I could both punch the ball well with pop and control, as well as zap off pace for touch shots. Maybe if I spent more time with the string, I could dial in better and feel a bit more confident in the control, but it just didn’t provide the level of control that I’m accustomed to in my gut hybrid setup, or in the full poly’s I’ve tried in my stick. Again, I have not tried multis in my Strike, so it’s difficult for me to compare it with other multis.

Compare to the string you use most often:

In basically all aspects, I greatly prefer my natural gut hybrid. More power. More spin. More control. Softer. Better feel. To be fair, I’ve played with gut for quite a while now that everything else pales in comparison for me.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):

I might try bumping up the tension to see if it would help with my consistency issues with the string, but I frankly don’t think it would’ve helped. It wasn’t that balls were flying on me (which some definitely did), but shots were going all over the place, from in the net to missing directional spots that weren't close to the intended target. Again, I’m guessing a lot of that is just me being extremely dialed in and used to my gut hybrid setup.

List any additional thoughts (optional):

I do think the string fits in well with the other premium multis out there and is generally similar to those strings. Definitely comfortable. Durability and tension maintenance seem to be very good, which are pluses compared to other multis. The fact that string movement is minimal is also a big plus in my book compared to other multis. The only concern is if this string, which from all accounts appear to be the new/upcoming HDX Tour, is going to cost $25 or around that range. It’s more expensive than other premium multis (which have also crept up in price over the years), and to be honest, it doesn’t feel or play any better than those strings to me. Frankly, for multis, I prefer Pro Supex Maxim Touch over everything else, especially for the price and it provides a bit of a crisper/responsive feel rather than the muted/mushy feel of other multis, including the Tecnifibre test string. I wonder at what point the HDX Tour strings (or other premium multis in the future if they’re going to be priced at $25+) are going to effectively price themselves out of the market as in my opinion, for that price, you’d be better off just doing a gut hybrid setup.

 

[dolphinsrus]

First of all I want to thank Tennis Warehouse for giving me the opportunity to playtest this great string. I am looking for the perfect multifilament as polys are too aggressive for my elbow.

Tennis experience/background:

I am a 4.5 rated player. Played in college and have been playing competitively –tournaments and at the club- for the last 17 years.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

Aggressive baseliner. Hit with heavy topspin.

Current racquet/string:

Babolat Aeropro Drive with a full bed of Babolat Xcel (Black)

Tension used for playtest
56 lbs.

Regular string set up
56 lbs.

Racquet brand and model used for test

Babolat Aeropro Drive

Power of test string

It was not as powerful as my Babolat xcel strings at the same tension (56 lbs). I noticed a slight lack of power at the beginning, but after one set I adjusted to the racquet.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)

Excellent feeling! Plenty of pop and great playability. I had my other racquet (with my Babolat xcel strings) ready to switch if I didn’t like the Tecnifibre string, but I liked it so much, that I kept using it for tournament matches.



Comfort

The string is extremely soft. It was a pleasure to string the racquet with this multifilament. (see attached picture). I played about 15 hours with the string. Unfortunately I started feeling a little bit of discomfort in my arm after my third match (approx. 8 hours). This is strange as I also have a racquet with a hybrid setup and never experienced discomfort.


Durability

Certainly this is one of the strengths of this string. The string lasted me about 15 hours while traditional multis like xcel (black) last between 8-10 hrs.


Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)

These strings never lost the great playability. As mentioned they lasted about 15 hours with no loss of playability.


Control
In terms of spin, my experience is that this Technifibre string provides more spin than xcel strings, but not as much as a hybrid setup.

Compare to the string you use most often
In my opinion this was a great string. It was better than my Babolat xcel (black) in terms of durability and playability. However, in terms of power and comfort, I must admit that xcel is superior. I believe if I find the right tension for my particular needs, this can be my favorite string.





Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)

I would string it at 53 lbs. At 56lbs, it lacked a bit of power in my opinion. In addition, lower tension would also benefit my arm.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

Thanks again to tennis warehouse, I very much enjoyed this playtest. I also want to comment on the red Technifibre grip that came with the strings and hasn’t been mentioned by many. The grip was too tacky at the beginning at the point that I was about to replace it. However, I decided be patient and keep it. It is fabulous. It was great for the humid weather of South Florida. Highly recommended!

Grip and strings in their package

 

[Lack]

Tennis experience/background:
Started tennis in high school years. Was mvp singles in junior and senior years. Joined a tennis club in college. Now working as a high school/private tennis coach and a private stringer. I play on hard courts and use western grip on forehand and semi-western grip on one hand backhand.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Defensive baseliner with heavy topspin. Wins most points with strong flat serves.

Current racquet/string:
Prince Original Graphite Mid / Prince Tour XC 15 at 53 lbs drop weight prestretched

Tension used for playtest
58 lbs drop weight prestretched

Regular string set up
Prince Tour XC 15 at 53 lbs drop weight prestreched

Racquet brand and model used for test
Prince Original Graphite Mid

Power of test string
Compared to my regular string set up, it clearly has more power. However, with other multis I've tried so far, the power was average.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Love the crisp feel of this string, has a wonderful touch at the impact. It's not too soft nor mushy like the most multis. It feels similar to babolat origin.

Spin
Couldn't generate much spin with this string. Low to average spin compared to multis I've tried. Probably the reason why I lost 2 sets with the guys I usually win. My topspin serves kicked up lower than I had expected

Comfort
Very comfortable. Great string for players with arm or wrist issues. Never had any uncomfortable muiltis so far.

Durability
Impressive durability. My regular string set up usually breaks around 20 hours. This multi lasted around 8-9 hours, which is pretty good in open pattern racquets.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Good playability. The tension maintenance was pretty consistent. I saw notching and fraying after playing for 5 hours.

Control
Controlling the ball with this string was difficult. For groundstrokes, the depth of the ball was going long and hard to get the balls to the outside T. This might be probably due to less spin generation. I had trouble with the ball placement and getting the second serves in for the first set, but it got better after I got used to the string.

Compare to the string you use most often
In my perspective, Prince Tour XC 15 and Tecnifibre ATP World Tour PU Multi were extremely different strings. Prince Tour XC provided better feel, control, spin, and durability than PU multi. The only thing I liked about this string was playability duration and comfort.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
Yes, I would go around 60-63 lbs next time for better control.

 

[atkinjr]

Tennis experience/background:
Played since I was 10…HS and D1 tennis.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Attacking player…S&V most 1st and 2nd serves…play groundstrokes close to baseline.

Current racquet/string:
Wilson Blade 98 16x19, TF NRG2 16g main @58/17g cross @60

Tension used for playtest
58 (lockout)

Regular string set up
TF NRG2 17g @ 58

Racquet brand and model used for test
Wilson Blade 98 16x19

Power of test string
This string had plenty of natural power compared to NRG2…slightly less than NG, but the power is there when you want to access it. I found my attacking ground strokes would sail on me, so it took some adjustment to apply more spin to keep it inside baseline. Same with my serve…flat serves would fly a bit so I had to adjust to keep it in.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
The feel was a bit crisp right out of the box, but muted down a bit after a couple sets.

Spin
Spin was there, you just had to work for it a bit more. Maybe a 17g or different tension would help with spin production…but when I needed to kick a serve up or spin one out wide I could make it happen.

Comfort
This was a very comfortable string…I had no problems with my arm at all. I can be sensitive to thicker gauge polys so I know when I’m going to have issues with at string.

Durability
This lasted me about 10 sets which is on par if not a bit better than what I get out of NRG2. Didn’t get much fraying, but notching started after a few sets.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
There was hardly any break in needed with this string. After a few minutes, it was ready to go. But the first day it felt more like a poly, after that it settled in and felt like a multi. But the playablity from the 2nd day til it broke was very consistent.

Control
I liked the way this string held onto the ball…esp on returns. It would pocket just enough to allow me to direct the ball where I needed it.

Compare to the string you use most often
This string had more bite and crisper feel than NRG2…slightly less comfort…little more stiff.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
This is a tough question…I think I would try both directions. It was solid at 58…but I might try up to 60 to see how it would allow me to control my attacking shots…but I might also try down a few pounds to see if I could swing a bit easier while still getting power and maybe a bit more spin.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Overall, I really liked this string. I would certainly buy a few sets, and if I can get the tension right, would even switch out my NRG2. As others have said, this might make a great cross string and that might be something I would try as well.

We are including Tecnifibre's Pro Contact Overgrip with the playtest string. Though not required, feel free to explain why you did or did not like it.
I grew up in SoCal and have always used Tournagrip. This grip felt great, but once it got a little damp, it was slipping like crazy…had to take it off after a few games…not a bad grip, just not for me.

 

[osutennis24]

Since I probably won't get a chance to play before the review deadline is over, here is mine

Tennis experience/background:4.0, been playing for about 15 years, really didn't start getting into strings til about 2 years ago though when I learned how to string racquets at the club I work at. Also a USPTA certified pro
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Baseliner, big forehand, big serve when I need it, think of a Del Po type player, hard flat forehands
Current racquet/string: Dunlop m4.0 varying hybrid strings, usually with Dunlop strings, was using Ice and Pearl
Tension used for playtest 58 lbs
Regular string set up A Hybrid of Poly mains and multi crosses at 53/55
Racquet brand and model used for test Dunlop M4.0
Power of test string Didn't feel like I was getting more power with this string than some hybrids, if anything it felt like I was getting a little less (maybe cause of high tension?)
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) Way too stiff for me, even after several hours, it didn't feel like it was loosening at all, and felt like a board
Spin Not much, noticed I had to work more to get some spin, I already don't produce much because of my eastern forehand, but I can still get some with the hybrids I used.
Comfort First multi I used in a while, and it wasn't comfortable at all to me. My elbow was starting to hurt after a while when using it (and i've used some stiff polys before without problems)
Durability It's holding up very well, some fraying after probably 9 hours of play, but not all that bad, doesn't feel like it's losing much tension
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) I really didn't notice any changed throughout the time I played, power may have gone up slightly toward the end of the playtest with it than the first hits, but that's really it
Control I don't know if it was the less spin, but I found myself hitting the ball just long a lot with this string. There would be many shots that felt good that would normally drop in, just were landing out. I don't know if I can blame the string, or just a bad day
Compare to the string you use most often Seeing as I've been playing with Hybrid's it's pretty hard, but it feels like DNA without the spin
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would definitely string it looser than I did. Maybe to 55 or 54 even. It was just way too stiff for my liking, and was starting to get some elbow pain after playing for a short time


I would like to also add I was very critical of the grip that was sent to me early on. It was way too slippery for the Florid humidity, but after I played with it yesterday, it was great. Wasn't slipping, some great tackiness. This would be a great grip if you didn't after to go through a period of awfulness to get to the greatness. I also wish it wasn't white LOL

 

[bspitch1]

Tennis experience/background:

Former D1 player, 5.5 USTA

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

Serve and volley, try to put points away as quickly as possible. Heavy balls with decent pace from baseline.

Current racquet/string:

BLX Blade 93: Black Widow mains, ALU power crosses (43/45)

Tension used for playtest:

Tension (M/C): 50/52


Power of test string:

Pretty high. I tend to like low powered strings so this string took some getting used to. To be expected from a multi though.

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

Pretty crisp. The string had some decent pop, especially from the baseline. Touch shots took some getting used to since the power is greater than I am used to but after an hour or so of play I didn't have much of an issue.

Spin:

I was pretty impressed by the spin potential with this multi. It did not compare to the spin from my usual setup but that was to be expected.

Comfort:

Great comfort. This was my favorite part of the string. Far more comfortable than my normal setup.

Durability:

~2.5 hours. This is about right for me playing with a multi. I was hitting with other former D1 players so we had a lot of good long rallies.


Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):

I'm going to have a hard time commenting on the playability of this string since I strung it up, played with it within 15 minutes of stringing it, and broke it before I left.

Control:

Control was pretty good after I got used to the power level of the string. Directionals were not a problem, I had more of a problem keeping the ball in the court. Over all, the control was what I expected from a high-end multi.


Compare to the string you use most often:

This string breaks faster, has more power, and less spin than my current setup. I was very impressed with the comfort of this string compared to black widow/alu

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):

I would keep my tension the same. Possibly string it a little tighter to compensate for the power.


Thanks TW and Technifibre for the playtest opportunity!

 

[Cobra Tennis]

Tennis experience/background:
4.5 ex D2 college player. USPTA/ MTM certified instructor. I play mostly doubles, but will play singles occasionally.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
net rusher. I won't sit at the baseline more than 4 or 5 shots. Great feel and touch around the net.
Current racquet/string: Pacific BX2 X Feel Tour with Pacific Power Line 16g strung at 55 lbs.
Tension used for playtest: 50

Power of test string: 8/10 I thought the power was decent and average with my usual multi (power glide). I got enough pop when I wanted it but didn't worry about over hitting.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): 7/10 I thought the feel was decent, but not as good as my usual multi from Pacific. This isn't to say I didn't like it, but It played just a bit more muted than what I am used to.


Spin: 5/10 Spin was average for a multi, but not like a poly. I felt that I got my usual average spin.

Comfort: 7/10. I play with a very flexible frame with a soft multi for arm and shoulder prevention. This felt just as comfortable as I am used to. IT would be a great cross or used for full.
Durability: After playing with the string for 8 hours I noticed little fraying. I am not a string breaker.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I noticed some tension loss after the first six hours, but that is to be expected. It provided the same feel after the tenth hour as it did on the first. I was very surprised and enjoyed playing with this string.
Control: 7/10. On par with the power line, but I would have liked to string it a bit higher to see if my control would have gotten better.

Compare to the string you use most often:
I thought this was very comparable to my usual string, Pacific Power Line 16. If it was cheaper than powerline I would definitely buy it. I was very impressed with this string!

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) for me, I would go up about 5 pounds to 55 or higher to see if I could regain the control I think I lost.
List any additional thoughts (optional): The technifibre grip TW sent with it is extremely tacky the first hour of play! It loses it pretty quickly, but it isn't any better for me than pacific x tac pro.

 

[SteveI]

SteveI - TF Multi Playtest

Tennis experience/background: Playing for 40 plus years / 4.0 playing mostly doubles these days. High School tennis coach and director of tennis in my town. USTA JTT Coach. All court game with semi modern strokes.

Current racquet/string: Dunlop M-fil 400 (modified) Full bed of Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17G 52/50.

Tension used for playtest: 58 lbs on Constant Pull

Racquet brand and model used for test: Dunlop M-fil 400 (modified)

Power of test string: The power was great but not out of control. Very much in line with a high end multi.

Feel: Crisp to be sure. Enjoyed the feel. Not as good as some multis. More in line with a solid core like Gosen OG Micro. The ball pocketing was average for me and I seemed to get a better connection to the stringbed from my full bed of BHS 17G. I could not swing out with this string like my regular setup.

Spin: Spin was very average. In general I would not play a 16G mulit in full bed so it is hard for me to be accurate. Compared to my full bed of BHS 17G... not even close. I could not take my regular cuts at the ball and found I was losing points as the ball was just going long due to lack of spin, both on the ground and on serve. The strings seem to be snapping back but did not produce the type of spin I need.

Comfort: Comfort was good but not great. I could feel some stiffness and my arm was a bit stiff after playing with this frame/string. I did not expect that.

Durability: This was great. The string sample is holding up great. If you are the type of player that enjoys this string I could see a player getting 20 plus hours from this string.

Playability Duration: Excellent.. I have 15 plus hours on this string and it shows a very stable performance curve. Again.. if this string works for you, it could be a real find. Since it does not work for my game and I know the price is going to be high, this would not be a winner for me.

Control: Since I use spin in most cases to control my shots, not the best for my game.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to a full bed of Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17G I was not impressed with the price / performance. For my game, a full bed (or Poly/Syn Gut Hybrid) is a much better fit. For the right player, this string could be a real winner.

Tension recommendations: At first I thought I might go down a few pounds, but as I played with the string I could feel some comfort issues at 58. If I went higher I might get more control and maybe a bit more spin but the string might play too stiff.

List any additional thoughts: For the right player, this could be a real winner. The right player could really have a great price /performer. For a player with modern, fast and long strokes.. a loser in my book. Again, another offering with a small market IMHO. I can see what TF is going for and I was enjoying the string but it did not work for me. I was losing points, games and matches and put this down in favor of my regular set-up. Thanks TF and TW.

Tecnifibre's Pro Contact Overgrip: A bit thin for my liking and did not provide the absorption I like. It seems to be a fit for plays that like the contact high or raw feel.. maybe over a leather grip.

 

[SteveI]

Tennis experience---a solid 35 years, now a 4.5 player.

Playing style---baseliner, but decent at the net.

Racquet used---Prince Graphite Longbody.

Tension used---57 lbs.

Regular string setup---Rip Control 17 at 57 lbs.

Power of test string---pretty powerful.

Feel---very firm.

Spin---since I'm used to a 17 gauge, I thought this lacked some bite.

Comfort---this string felt okay on my arm.

Durability---after 2 weeks, no visible signs of wear, and very little string movement.

Playability duration---after 2 weeks, I'm sure this string will play pretty good for another month.

Control---control was so-so with this string, probably because I'm used to 17 gauge strings.

Compared to the string I use most often---I'd probably buy the 17 gauge version of this string in the future.

Tension recommendations---I'd keep it at 57 lbs.

Tecnifibre Pro Contact Overgrip---it was nice n tacky but since I'm used to soft overgrips, I thought this hard-feeling grip would give me blisters after awhile.

Hey GS,

Nice review... pretty much what I saw. Have a great day!!

 

[jim e]

Tennis experience/background:59 year old player. Played in high school 4 years, college 1 year, (stopped hitting for a while with working and school)
Started back up number years later and now hit in a 4.0 league, singles and doubles.
Baseline hitter predominately.

Current racquet/string: Head Radical/ Wilson Nat. gut 16g. 64lbs.

Tension used for playtest: 57 lbs on Constant Pull Machine

Racquet brand and model used for test: Head Radical

Power of test string: Good power, reminds me of Pro Supex Maxim Touch for power 3.5/5

Feel: Crisp feel to it. This was nice for volleys. Lost some of its crispness after a while hitting 3.5/5

Spin: I notice very little movement of strings hitting, but then again , I am a relatively old school flatball hitter, but was able to get spin when needed.3.5/5

Comfort: Good comfort. I have had history of tennis elbow in past, and just recently I no longer needed an arm brace, and I felt no discomfort for the 12 hours of hitting. Was not as comfortable as my all nat. gut strings, but was very comfortable for a multi. especially after a few hours of breaking them in. 4/5

Durability: Strings lasted 12 hours of hitting before they broke.
I am not that much of a string breaker, but it did snap on a serve.
It could have been a mishit that did them in. 3.5/5

Playability Duration: After a couple hours of breaking in, the string played very stable for the 12 hours it lasted me.4/5

Control: easy to get use to this string. Control was good for my baseline shots and I am a predominately a baseline hitter. 4/5

Compare to the string you use most often: Hard to compare this string to an all gut string set up, as nothing really compares to nat. gut for power, feel and comfort, but for a multi. it did feel nice with enough pop for power and decent enough control.

Tension recommendations: I liked the 57 lbs used, was comfortable and enough power for a multi.

List any additional thoughts:
I liked this string and may just get some for foul weather hitting rather than nat. gut.

Tecnifibre's Overgrip: I like a smooth overgrip with out the tac. this was too tacky for me.

 

[mokcl]

Thanks TW give me chance to play test this string. Here is my brief review:

Tennis experience/background:
37 years old. Played a few years during middle school. Stop tennis for 15 years after and get back a few years ago. 4.5 single player, occasional double.
Playing style:
Baseline player with 1hBH; risk taker and I like go for winner if I see a chance.
Current racquet/string:
Dunlop biomimetic 300 tour / BHBR
Tension used for playtest:
55lbs
Regular string set up:
Full poly – isospeed baseline, or hybrid BHBR/Gosen
Racquet brand and model used for test:
Dunlop biomimetic 300 tour
Power of test string:
medium power but I felt it provide more powerful for flat serve
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):
This string is soft and a little muted.
Spin:
spin was on low side and doesn’t bite the ball as well as poly strings in general.
Comfort:
play very comfortable as expected. I was able to hit through the balls with minimal vibration.
Durability:
I played 3 matches total about 5 hours. A few of the crosses show fraying and some notching. So I would say durability is average.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
It plays consistently throughout my play test time. Doesn’t change much over time
Control:
Direction control is good but I couldn’t get the depth. Balls tend to fall short or fly long.
Compare to the string you use most often
Compared to my usual setup, this string is only average for all aspects – spin, power, control, durability. It is definitely more comfortable but not outstanding.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I strung it at the low range and it doesn’t work. I would try it higher tension around 60 to get more control.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
I’m a poly user and I really hope this multi string carry the poly characteristics but it just fall short from my liking.

 

[SJSA]

Tennis experience/background: I have played tennis from high school. Last four years, I have played in single and double two or three times a week. I have played different varieties of strings such as multifilament, polyester, and natural gut strings. I used to play with Tecnifibre multifilament strings such as X-One Biphase, Multi-Feel, TGV, and NRG due to my TE.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am a 4.0 baseline player with heavy top spin and currently playing with the Volkl Organix 10 Mid. I hit with a semi-western forehand grip, have a fast swing style and hit a one-handed backhand.

Current racquet/string: Volkl Organix 10 Mid, Klip Natural Gut/Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro

Tension used for playtest: 57 lbs

Regular string set up: A full bed of MonoGut ZX Pro @59 lbs or NG/MonoGut ZX Pro @59/56 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince EXO3 Rebel 98. I wanted to see the durability of this string so I chose a Rebel 98 which has open string pattern and port grommets.

Power of test string: Very Powerful. This string delivers huge power especially after the initial tension loss.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Very Soft. It feels softer than cheap natural guts.

Spin: Low. This string doesn’t offer much grip or bite. I wasn’t playing as consistently because I couldn’t rely on spin to help the ball land in due to its huge power.

Comfort: Extremely Comfort. This is one of the string’s standout features. I have TE and did not experience any pain or discomfort with this string.

Durability: Very Durable. I noticed some notches after 5 hours of play but didn’t see any frays even after 15 hours of play. Its durability is not only better than X-One Biphase but it is also better than Rip Control which is one of durable multi strings I have tried.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): One of noticeable changes is power. The string delivers bigger power after the initial tension loss. Go for around 60 lbs or more if you are able to generate your own power.

Control: Low. It was hard to control the depth of the ball with the powerful and low spin string.

Compare to the string you use most often: I played with X-One Biphase before. It is a nice multi string but its durability isn’t that great. I found Ashaway MonoGut ZX after TW playtest in last year. It is a durable and arm-friendly string but its feel is stiff and firm with ping sound. This new string is very soft and arm-friendly with huge power. It is much durable than X-One Biphase.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I definitely go for at least 60 lbs next time to reduce its power and to get more control.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This string is for X-One Biphase lovers who are not satisfied with its durability. I wonder how much Tecnifibre sells this string in the market. I heard a rumor it will be over $25 per set.

Thanks TW & Tecnifibre for the opportunity.

 

[YarikA99]

Tennis experience/background:
4.5 I have been playing since I was a kid.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Mostly baseline player, I mostly play singles and rarely play doubles.
Current racquet/string:
Prostaff 90 cheap gut/red devil
Tension used for playtest:
58#/56#
Regular string set up:
Kevlar 45#/ Forten Sweet 50# in Prostaff 95 or cheap gut 48#/red devil 46# in Prostaff 90
Racquet brand and model used for test:
Wilson Prostaff 95
Power of test string:
At first it was a little stiff and had below average power for a multi, but after 2 or 3 hours it lost some tension and the power was definitely above average for a multi. I had some trouble keeping the ball in the court with the increase in power.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):
At first the string was stiff, but when it lost some tension it became comfortable and crisp. After about 8 hours it lost some of that crisp feel, but the string never became mushy like some other strings do after a couple of hours.
Spin:
Spin was average for a multi, but since I mostly play with poly, Kevlar or gut/poly hybrids, the spin was really lacking for me and it was hard to keep the ball in on some shots.
Comfort:
After the string lost some tension it was very comfortable, it was definitely one of the most comfortable multis I have played with.
Durability:
The durability was the best for any multi I have played with. I usually break multi in 8~10 hours, this string lasted me about 14 hours before it broke.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):
The string became more comfortable and powerful as time went on. The spin also slightly decreased towards the end. It also lost some of its crisp feel after a couple of hours.
Control:
The directional control was good, but I could not control the depth, I kept on hitting balls long, so I had to hit the ball lower so that it barely made it over the net, because of this I hit some balls into the net. At the end I sort of got the depth dialed in, but I still wasn’t completely confident with my groundstrokes.
Compare to the string you use most often:
Compared to the Kevlar/synthetic gut hybrid, I had a lot more power and comfort with the multi, but I still prefer the Kevlar hybrid because of the spin and depth control that I got with it.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):
I would probably keep the same tension, because if I decreased it then it wouldn’t be as stiff at first, but the power would be completely uncontrollable. If I increased the tension to help control the power, then it would be too stiff.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
This string is made for people who use powerful multis but want more durability. I would not recommend this string to poly users, because of the lack of spin and because of the huge power.
Tecnifibre Pro Contact Overgrip:
The grip was nice and tacky, at first it became kind of slippery, but after you wore it down a little bit, then it lost the tack but wasn't slippery anymore. It also had good durability.

 

[texastornado]

Technifibre Multi (Secret Weapon?)

Tennis experience/background:
Playing for about 8 years, 4.0 singles and doubles

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
All court, mostly baseline. 1HBH.

Current racquet/string:
PK Redondo Mid 93 - Pro's Pro Blackout 54/52lbs or other random strings

Tension used for playtest
54/52

Regular string set up
Pro's Pro Blackout - 54/52

Racquet brand and model used for test
PK Redondo Mid 93

Power of test string
High - Flat serves and "tweener" serves came easier, depth was easy to come by. String was crisp with pop and at times power could be tough to control.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Crisp, but not harsh. Plenty of pop.

Spin
Spin was average for a multi, but significantly less than poly, which was expected. I bet I would do much better with the 17g of this string and higher tension.

Comfort
Comfort was very good.

Durability
Durability seemed average. Strings started to fray after 5-6 hours.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Playability seemed to eb the same through the duration of the string test

Control:
Directional control was average. The power of the string seemed to exaggerate my mistimed shots.

Compare to the string you use most often
Compared to blackout, or pretty much any other poly, this string had more power, more comfort, more feel, and less spin.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
Maybe 2 to 4lbs tighter. String was very elastic and felt like the ball was shooting off.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I would not buy the 16g for my racket, too thick. The 17g would be fun to try though. I had noticeable trouble rolling low shots over the net.


Technifibre Pro Contact Overgrip (Black) -

I enjoyed playing with this overgrip. Initially the waxy coating made it pretty tacky (tackier than wilso pro). The grip lasted a while too. The black rubbed off on my hand a bit. Slightly thicker than Wilson Pro Overgrip.

Thanks TW and Technifibre.

 

[bigserving]

TENNIS EXPERIENCE / BACKGROUND Self taught 4.0 to 4.5 to 5.0 to 4.5 league and tournament player. Decades of playing experience. Spectate for approximately 30 to 50 days of professional tennis including ATP, WTA, USTA Circuits, WTT, per year.

DESCRIBE PLAYING STYLE - Solid 4.5 singles and doubles, one-hand backhand, big fastball first serve (surprise) with a wicked kicker for a second serve. All court player that can rally, chip and charge, and serve and volley on offense, and all-court defender

CURRENT RACQUET / STRING - Dunlop Aerogel 200 Tour racquet normally using a full set Dunlop Black Widow 17 gauge, 50 lbs x 50 lbs strung on a lockout machine.

TENSIONS USED FOR PLAYEST - 60 lbs mains and crosses strung on a lockout machine. Stringing was quite delightful. there was very little coil memory to address.

REGULAR STRING SETUP - The regular old setup of Dunlop Black Widow 17 gauge, 50 lbs x 50 lbs strung on a lockout machine.

RACQUET BRAND AND MODEL USED FOR TEST - Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour.

POWER OF STRING TESTED - Coming from playing with poly, like so many other multis, I found these strings are extremely powerful. Volleys were especially nice with this string.

FEEL - For a multi, they had a very nice crisp feel. They did not feel as crisp as a poly, but for a multifilament, they had quite a solid feel. That probably came from the polyester aspect of the string. I was able to hit through the ball on every shot and still maintain good control.

SPIN - Surprisingly good here. For a multi, there was ample opportunity to to address and put good spin on the ball. I asked my opponents specifically how my kicker was with these strings. The feed back from them was only a slight difference from full polyester strings. Again, the polyester component was in play here.

COMFORT - Very comfortable strings. There was no shock or twinge coming from the string bed through my arm, on any stroke on any stroke. They nylon aspect of the string providing this level of comfort.

DURABILITY - The test period was four singles matches per week for two consecutive weeks. The strings did not break during the test and showed no premature wear or excessive notching during the play period and they were still playing pretty well. I have been known to break soft nylon strings in two to threes sets.

PLAYABILITY DURATION- Playability may be it's best overall characteristic. They really do hold their playability for longer than other composite strings. The playability held up quite nicely with only a very slight, drop in playability during the test. At this rate, they seemed to have more playable than most other nylon strings for this amount of play time and might be good for another couple of matches.

CONTROL - Very good for a multi composite and even impressive to keep that level of quality control. There appeared to be some slight pocketing and that helped the string provide great control on all shots. I would definitely classify this as a great control string in the multifilament category.

COMPARE TO 17 G DUNLOP BLACK WIDOW - Black Widow clearly has the edge in spin creation. The feel and comfort winner would edge toward Technifibre. The Technifibre strings also clearly has the edge in power and playability duration. My kick serve suffered some loss of kick and topspin groundstrokes suffered a bit because of the less ball bite of the Technifibre string compared to Black Widow.

TENSION RECOMMENDATION - The test tension seemed pretty good for me. The playability of the strings seems to leave room to either increase or decrease tension to an individual player's taste and playing style, and remain quite playable.
Up to a few pound increase in tension over normal for players with more powerful frames or for players that use strings and/or powerful frames to provide their power.
A tension increase of a few pounds over normal for players that like to generate more of their own power.

LIST ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS - This Technifibre string is a very good string. It has very useable balance and blend between each string aspect of spin, comfort, power, feel, and durability. A lot of players will find these strings workable for their games. They will work well for players of any level. Because of the playable durability many different types of players can benefit from using the strings. A very nice combination of each of the components of a string. These strings will work for some in a full bed, others as a soft cross behind poly.

 

[spinovic]

Tennis experience/background:

Self taught, 3.0-3.5, play mostly singles.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

Mostly play on the baseline.

Current racquet/string:

TFight 315 Ltd - Armour Pro Natural Gut 16G (55 lbs)

Tension used for playtest:

Tension (M/C): 55 lbs

Power of test string:

Medium-high. Not as powerful as gut, but still provides plenty.

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

Muted. Gut usually feels a little crisper to me, so it didn't feel like gut, but it is very comfortable.

Spin:

Decent, but nothing exceptional. Other than Hexy Fiber, most multis seem to be about the same to me in terms of spin.

Comfort:

Very good. On par with Biphase and NRG.

Durability:

Good for me, but I don't break strings, so others may give more useful feedback for this.


Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):

Good. It changes over time, like all strings, but it seemed more gradual than many I have tried, so there was never a time when it felt drastically different from the last time I played.

Control:

Good. I had no issues really. Similar to gut and other multis that I usually play with.

Compare to the string you use most often:

I mostly use gut (or multis). I would say this string compares favorably to what I have played. The place it falls noticeably short is tension maintenance, but that is the case with everything compared to gut.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):

No, 55 worked well for me.


List any additional thoughts (optional):

Another high quality product from Tecnifibre. It wasn't as good as Biphase off the stringer, but it is more consistent over time, IMO. Consistency is why I like gut, so I would consider buying this instead of Biphase in the future.


I would also like to thank TW for the opportunity, and apologize for being a day late on this.

 

[chay337]

Interested. Thanks.

 

[Micalzon]

Tennis experience/background: Started playing about 10 years ago with a few friends. Have played significantly more frequently in leagues within the last 3 years.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All court player but prefer to stay behind the baseline and hit heavy top spin. Will occasionally play serve and volley when my serve is on point.

Current racquet/string: Babolat Pure Drive Lite and Pure Storm Team, both modified to 12 oz. and 11 pts. HL balance. Currently using various shaped co-poly mains and multi crosses.

Tension used for playtest: 52 lbs.

Regular string set up: Co-Poly mains @ 46lbs and Multi crosses @ 49lbs.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Storm Team.

Power of test string - 8/10
The power of this string was good but was nothing surprising or extravagant. It was exactly what I had expected based on the tension used and the construction of the string.

Feel - 8.5/10
I did enjoy the feel of this string. It was somewhat crisp and very soft. It was very easy to feel the ball on the string bed.

Spin - 7.5/10
My rating is relative to other multi's I've used. Obviously, this string will not produce the amount of spin a poly string would, but it was not the best feature of this string. I may have been able to get more spin from this string if I had used a more open string pattern and/or used a lower tension, but with what I had used, it wasn't great.

Comfort - 9.5/10
The comfort of this string was one of the top features for me on this string. It was very comfortable to use. I could see many people using this string as a cross in a hybrid set up.

Durability - 8/10
I'm not a string breaker and didn't have any fears that this string was going to break while I played with it. It held its tension really well during my play test and seemed very consistent throughout my play time.

Playability Duration - 8/10
This was a little difficult area for me to assess. It played great during the play test and didn't seem to change much during the 10+ hours I had played. There was, at a certain point, where the playability had significantly changed and not for the better. This was actually the area I went back online to edit in my review. Now that I have nearly 20 hours of play, I wanted to change my score because of the significant decline in playability. I would except this string to play fairly consistent for a lengthy period of time and did not see that in this string. It was good, just not great.


Control - 8.5/10
This is where I may even differ from the other reviewers but I didn't love the control out of this string. I had it in a very control oriented racquet and this seemed to be a very control oriented string and didn't see the control I was expecting. It may have been better if I had upped the tension a little but from what I saw, it wasn't what I had hoped for.


Compare to the string you use most often: I liked this string and depending on the price point, I could see using it as a cross in my hybrid set ups. It had the perks I was looking for in a multi, but actually had more comfort than the normal set up I've used.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would use a higher tension next time. I think staying in the lower tensions lost some of the control I was hoping for.

List any additional thoughts: I want to apologize to TW for the (unusual) lateness of this review. Honestly, I'm not sure what happened. I went online just before going on vacation and posted my review (hopefully the Mods can check my visits and see that I'm a very regular, daily user of TT and can see that I had last visited at the end of June prior to my vacation, which is when I had attempted to post my original review). I went back online today after playing more with this string during my vacation and wanted to edit my review. I've checked through the thread and didn't find my original review so something apparently happened at the time I thought my review had posted. I know it's difficult to believe anonymous users on these threads; however, please believe that I had thought my review had posted at the end of June. I will make sure this does not happen again.