PV Audio's Playtest Thread

[pvaudio]

I figure that since I string for a fair number of people here on campus and thus stock a lot of strings, I'll post up a review of whenever I try out a new string setup. Three categories: Stringing, Playability, Durability with subsections for each. Each post will be a different string. I'll start with what I've got in my bag now and therefore have hit with then will constantly update on what I'm playing with by the day. First off, intrinsic information for each playtest:

Stringer: PV Audio aka ME!
Stringing Machine: Silent Partner Aria w/ Opus clamps (newest Aria)
Frame: Head IG Prestige Pro (stock)
Grip Size: 4 1/2
Overgrip: Wilson Pro Overgrip
Dampener: none

Playing Style

As some general information, my forehand is my groundstroke weapon, my backhand is my consistent side and is becoming a weapon having switched from 1H to 2H. My serve, however, is my main weapon and gives me the most free points. It sets up my other strokes, and I tend to S&V if serving out wide. I do not have or give myself a NTRP rating as the system does not, in my opinion, reflect playing ability below 5.0. Instead, please view the videos below to compare your playstyle to mine so you may make your own assessment.

Serving warmup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtfYGIiHVdY

Hitting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMv2I2bA6RM


Table of Contents

String reviews are listed in chronological order rather than alphabetical order. This is intentional as my thoughts on the same string setup have sometimes changed as I have altered my game. Therefore, if a setup seems very similar to another posted later, click both and see the different characteristics. Likely a difference in tension is present.

Also note that these reviews are my opinion and my opinion alone. Take all of my words with a handful of salt. I am only one 20s aged player, likely using a different racquet than you, and likely hit the ball differently. I have never suffered from elbow problems either, so no string in here I would call arm-friendly as I never have issues there. I have, however, torn my rotator cuff in high school and therefore have limited RoM. It is for this reason that in my serving videos, you will never see me hit a flat serve as it causes too much internal and external rotation. In other words, my main serve is a 100-105 spin serve. Use my setups at your own discretion.

Signum Pro Tornado 1.23 / Technifibre NRG 1.18
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...21&postcount=2

Topspin Cyber Twirl 1.27 / Technifibre NRG 1.18
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...25&postcount=3

Weiss Cannon Mosquito Bite (Blue) / Laserfibre SNGPS 17
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...32&postcount=4
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=172

Weiss Cannon Scorpion 1.22 / PerforMAXX Whisper Touch 1.20 Natural Gut
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...70&postcount=8
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=453

Initial
Polyfibre Hexablade 1.18 / WhisperTouch
WeissCANNON Scorpion 1.22 / WhisperTouch
Polyfibre Hexablade 1.18 / Mantis Comfort Synthetic
WeissCANNON Scorpion 1.22 / Mantis Comfort Synthetic
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=140

Final Verdicts
Polyfibre Hexablade 1.18 / WhisperTouch
WeissCANNON Scorpion 1.22 / WhisperTouch
Polyfibre Hexablade 1.18 / Mantis Comfort Synthetic
WeissCANNON Scorpion 1.22 / Mantis Comfort Synthetic
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=144

Genesis Typhoon 16L / Technifibre NRG2 1.18
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=210
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=234

WeissCANNON Black5Edge / WhisperTouch
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=262

WeissCANNON Black5Edge vs. WeissCANNON Scorpion 1.22
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=265

PerforMAXX WhisperTouch Pro / WeissCANNON Scorpion 1.22
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=417
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=427

PerforMAXX WhisperTouch Pro / WeissCANNON Black5Edge
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=418

WeissCANNON Black5Edge / WeissCANNON 6Star Supercharged
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=455

WeissCANNON Silverstring / PerforMAXX WhisperTouch Pro
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=494
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=508

WeissCANNON Black5Edge / PerforMAXX WhisperTouch Pro
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=495
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=509

WeissCANNON Turbotwist 1.18 / PerforMAXX WhisperTouch
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=615
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=629
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=701

Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue Rough 17g / PerforMAXX WhisperTouch
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=616
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=630
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=703

Signum Pro Hyperion 1.24 / PerforMAXX WhisperTouch Pro
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=617
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=631
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=702

Volkl Cyclone 17g
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=618
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=632
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=704

Topspin CyberTwirl Black 1.27 / Babolat VS Team 17
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=796
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=834

Tourna Big Hitter Blue Rough 17 / Performaxx Touch 17
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=812
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=834

Genesis Black Magic 17g
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=941

Genesis Black Magic 17g / WhisperTouch
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=945

WeissCANNON B5E / Prince Recoil
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=995

Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue Rough 17g / Prince Recoil
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=996

Tourna Poly Big Hitter Blue Rough 17g / WhisperTouch Pro
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=998

Discho Black Mamba 1.23
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...postcount=1043

WhisperTouch Pro / MSV Hepta-Twist 1.25
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...postcount=1067
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...postcount=1094
[b]