PRINCE BEAST XP 17 g

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Samo

I was testing IG Radical Pro yesterday freshly strung with Beast 17g mains @ 23kg and Rip Control crosses @ 22kg. I liked this setup, but Beast snapped after 1.5h. I just wonder is this common that Beast snaps so quickly?

not common at all.

sounds like a freak accident to me.

[cknobman]

Originally Posted by Samo

I was testing IG Radical Pro yesterday freshly strung with Beast 17g mains @ 23kg and Rip Control crosses @ 22kg. I liked this setup, but Beast snapped after 1.5h. I just wonder is this common that Beast snaps so quickly?

Well after rave reviews of my first round of Beast I strung my second racquet with it last week.

The Beast in my mains snapped in less than 3 hours.
It snapped in the upper part of the hoop on one of my outer main strings.
Not sure if it was a bad string job where maybe I damaged the string with clamps or if I shanked it just right to cause the snap but I was really disappointed.

I will give it one more try and report back on the durability.

[KoaUka]

how far near the top? If close to the grommet, by bet would be a sharp grommet edge. Or coulda been like you said, clamps too tight.

[ricki]

Pay no attention to naysayaers, they:
1) string poly over 60 lbs.
2) exaggerate

Try it yourself, and dont even listen to someone claiming that he breaks 16g poly in an hour!!!

Me break 15G kevlar in 10 minutes, and steel wire in 30!

[Samo]

It snapped in the middle of the string bed, but quite high towards the tip of the racquet (just a bit higher where my strings normally snap) - i hope what I've written isn't an oxymoron . However it didn't feel like a mis-hit and it certainly wasn't a shank.

I will try my normal setup (Sonic pro/Rip Control) during the weekend and see how long it lasts.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Samo

It snapped in the middle of the string bed, but quite high towards the tip of the racquet (just a bit higher where my strings normally snap) - i hope what I've written isn't an oxymoron . However it didn't feel like a mis-hit and it certainly wasn't a shank.

I will try my normal setup (Sonic pro/Rip Control) during the weekend and see how long it lasts.

definitely a stringing issue or a bad grommet. My local tennis shop has most of their Prince demos strung with Beast and some have lasted more than 6 months. Are you using the 16g?

I would try a different stringer / machine.

[cknobman]

Originally Posted by ricki

Pay no attention to naysayaers, they:
1) string poly over 60 lbs.
2) exaggerate

Try it yourself, and dont even listen to someone claiming that he breaks 16g poly in an hour!!!

Me break 15G kevlar in 10 minutes, and steel wire in 30!

Oh because if you have not done it then it must be a lie!!!
Get over yourself

I never said it was the strings fault and even alluded to a possible clamping issue.

@KoaUka: It was about 3 1/2 inches down from the grommet, so I'd say too far to directly attribute the break to the grommet. I still believe it was either a bad shank at the wrong location or a clamp that caused it.

[EastAngels2014]

i use beast as well, i like it a lot. Good spin and power as well as durability. I was looking in to doing a hybrid, any suggestions?

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by EastAngels2014

i use beast as well, i like it a lot. Good spin and power as well as durability. I was looking in to doing a hybrid, any suggestions?

I've read some very good things about Beast Attack

[Torres]

Sports place near me is having a liquidiation sale and I can get a reel for around $100, so am thinking of taking a punt.

Am surprised by the differences in comments from the RSI playtesters: http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com..._beast_xp.html

Can anyone describe the characteristics of this string, how it plays, and comparisons with say Black Magic?

Would it be fair to say that it plays firm/stiff, reasonable power, reasonable/average spin, slightly 'old school' rather than like the softer, more elastic, grippier/bitier co-polys you get nowadays?

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Torres

Sports place near me is having a liquidiation sale and I can get a reel for around $100, so am thinking of taking a punt.

Am surprised by the differences in comments from the RSI playtesters: http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com..._beast_xp.html

Can anyone describe the characteristics of this string, how it plays, and comparisons with say Black Magic?

Would it be fair to say that it plays firm/stiff, reasonable power, reasonable/average spin, slightly 'old school' rather than like the softer, more elastic, grippier/bitier co-polys you get nowadays?

definitely softer and more powerful than most polys.

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Torres

Sports place near me is having a liquidiation sale and I can get a reel for around $100, so am thinking of taking a punt.

That is a bargain, I wish I could find it at $100/reel.

Am surprised by the differences in comments from the RSI playtesters: http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com..._beast_xp.html

Originally Posted by Torres

Can anyone describe the characteristics of this string, how it plays, and comparisons with say Black Magic?

It is definitely not your run of the mill poly. Someone else on the boards described it as playing almost like a stiffer multi. That is pretty accurate IMO. I like Black Magic and a couple of guys I string for use it. But, at tension (52), you can feel it in your arm when you finish with Black Magic. As I noted elsewhere, Beast is super arm friendly. I'm actually going to up my tension about 4 pounds.

There is also a Beast Attack multi which has been seriously touted as a great combination. I've got a couple of sets of it as well.

From my perspective, compared against Black Magic:

Power Beast >>> Black Magic
Comfort Beast >>>>>> Black Magic
Control Black Magic > Beast
Touch Beast >>>> Black Magic
Spin Beast = Black Magic
Durability Black Magic >>> Beast

The greater signs are meant to indicate varying degree of difference for you. The Beast is probably going to be my go to.

[Torres]

^ Thanks for that.

From what you suggest it sounds like Beast is a pretty powerful, comfortable, feel based poly? Does it play 'elasticky' or firm ie little 'give' to the strings? And how long would you say it lasts before going dead?

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Torres

^ Thanks for that.

No problem!

From what you suggest it sounds like Beast is a pretty powerful, comfortable, feel based poly?

Yes, IME, it is completely suitable to serve/volley tennis. It does play really closely from a touch perspective to a multi.

Does it play 'elasticky' or firm ie little 'give' to the strings?

The best descriptor I've seen, and I agree with, is "plush". It plays very solid, you can feel the stringbed give, and you get the benefits of poly without the downside of fatigue in your arm and that brick-like feeling you always get using 1st gen polys.

And how long would you say it lasts before going dead?

That I cannot answer at present. I've played about 7 times with a set, and regrettably tore a calf muscle last Sunday. Then I got a hematoma. My doctor says I'll be sidelined 2 - 6 weeks which is OK, cause it is November.

From what I've seen though, it won't have the same durability as Luxilon, but I'm really really OK with that given the other attributes; i.e. comfort, playability and arm friendliness.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Torres

^ Thanks for that.

From what you suggest it sounds like Beast is a pretty powerful, comfortable, feel based poly? Does it play 'elasticky' or firm ie little 'give' to the strings? And how long would you say it lasts before going dead?

very plush feeling for a poly. Not firm.

[red rook]

I tried and liked it. Did everyhig pretty good. Good for December in a red racquet lol

[Automatix]

Anyone care to share some info on a gut/Beast XP hybrid.

Found some posts but the info was a bit obscure.

[neverstopplaying]

It was my favorite hybrid in most of the racquets that I've used over the last year or so: (TF 325VO2, 400T, BC20, P1).

My criteria were:
consistent performance over string life (I hate many polys on this point)
durability
touch
I can adjust for spin and power.

It is neither very stiff non spongy, somewhere in the middle.
Power is also somewhere in the middle.
It's not stiff, but you know its a poly, and the feedback is good.
In several situations the Beast wore through before the gut.

However due to another thread I tried out gut/4G in my current P1 and it beats Beast in the touch department, and equals Beast. It's my new "go-to".

[Automatix]

Originally Posted by neverstopplaying

It was my favorite hybrid in most of the racquets that I've used over the last year or so: (TF 325VO2, 400T, BC20, P1).

My criteria were:
consistent performance over string life (I hate many polys on this point)
durability
touch
I can adjust for spin and power.

It is neither very stiff non spongy, somewhere in the middle.
Power is also somewhere in the middle.
It's not stiff, but you know its a poly, and the feedback is good.
In several situations the Beast wore through before the gut.

However due to another thread I tried out gut/4G in my current P1 and it beats Beast in the touch department, and equals Beast. It's my new "go-to".

Thank you very much for this post.

Neverstopplaying if I may... I'd like to ask:
1. How many hours did you get out of that hybrid?
2. What tension did you use?
3. Which gut did you use (and what gauge)?

I want to use either Tonic+Ballfeel (<1.35mm) or VS Touch 1.35mm... I'm willing to pay extra since VS has a more consistent gauge.

Thanks in advance!

[neverstopplaying]

Originally Posted by Automatix

Thank you very much for this post.

Neverstopplaying if I may... I'd like to ask:
1. How many hours did you get out of that hybrid?
2. What tension did you use?
3. Which gut did you use (and what gauge)?

I want to use either Tonic+Ballfeel (<1.35mm) or VS Touch 1.35mm... I'm willing to pay extra since VS has a more consistent gauge.

Thanks in advance!

I get about 20 hours of reasonably hard hitting (4.5).
When I play on outdoor clay, gut mains @55, XP crosses @51. I bring up the tension on indoor courts in the winter months to 59/54.
I use mostly VS Team (1.25).