2012 Kirschbaum Playtest - Super Smash Orange 17

[Nostradamus]

is this better than proline X ?

[Ess]

Tension used for playtest-52 lbs
Regular string set up-NXT Control @55 lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test-HEAD IG Prestige Pro
Power of test string-Lower powered than what I was used to, but this really allowed me to take big full cuts. Perhaps a bit less pop on my serve, but I could adjust.
Feel-Touch shots were spot on and the string absorbed pace on vollys allowing a tad more directional control at net.
Spin-Access to spin was better than the NXT control, but I was still able to flatten shots out when needed, a plus over my standard.
Comfort-Much better than expected, I have hit with this string about eight hours now and have had no arm or elbow pain. I have had a history of TE, but not with my current set up. I have been reluctant to go with a full bed poly, but may make the switch based on the comfort here.
Durability-I never break strings. I have about eight hours of heavy hitting and am only noticing a small bit of notching. Not a concern of mine.
Playability Duration-I believe it lost a bit of tension in the first hour or two, but has remained stable since then. I cannot wait to see how it hits going out past the eight or ten hour mark, but had hernia surgery yesterday so it may be a bit before I know.
Control-Best characteristic of this string in my opinion. I felt confident taking full cuts and allowing follow through. String was oddly controlable and instilled confidence with shot placement exceeding my regukar set up.
Compare to the string you use most often-Few disadvantage over my NXT Control. Other than pop on the serve I would rank it somewhere between better and much better in every catagory. The possible exception being in comfort where they seem about equal (neither causing pain or sorness)
Tension recommendations*I would drop it down to 50 lbs, or possibly 48 lbs. I feel you would easily maintain the control at this tension and maybe add a tad bit more pop on the serve.
Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes.-There was nothing I disliked, well, maybe the color. I loved the control and touch/feel of this string, and was surprised how arm friendly it was. I will be buying Kirschbaum in the future and look forward to a longer term go with this string.

Thanks Tennis Warehouse and thanks Kirschbaum!

[AC Tennis]

OK, here's my review:
Tension used for playtest: 47 lbs

Regular string set up: none right now. Other racket has a 17g multi on it so no real comparison.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Yonex VCore 100S

Power of test string: Pretty good. After the break in period, the string had nice pop for a poly. In fact, it had about as much power as my 17g multi, but the ball came off faster and did not dwell on the strings as long.

Feel: Again, pretty good for a poly. It did give some and had pretty good feedback. Touch was not as good as a multi, but the trade off for more spin was a good trade in my opinion.

Spin: Good spin. I would compare it to Prince Beast XP for spin and feel. No complaints.

Comfort: Pretty good comfort. No arm issues after playing and no pain during play. I would note that this was only after the break in period. The first few hours the string was VERY stiff and did hurt my arm a bit. But once it broke in, I liked the comfort.

Durability: I've had it on for about 3 weeks, so about 15 hours of play, 1/2 singles and 1/2 doubles. So far it has not lost much tension (other than during initial break in period)

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Again, it was very stiff for the first few hours, then loosened up nicely and has maintained tension for the last few weeks. Has not broken yet.

Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Control is good. Ball comes off the stings pretty quickly and spin is good. As with most polys, the faster you swing, the better the control. Touch shots are OK for a poly, but spin shots are much more controlable.

Compare to the string you use most often: Don't have a normal string set up right now. I would compare it most to Beast XP. Similar feel, power and duribility.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I think 47lbs works well for this string. I would not change the tension.

Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes.
Liked the feel, spin, and power of this string. The thin gauge helped quite a bit with spin.
Did not like the initial stiff feeling, but that did go away after a few hours.

If the price is right, I would play with this string, but probably in a hybrid with a soft, thin multi.

Thanks TW for the chance to playtest!

[TheLambsheadrep]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hopefully we all can be thankful for something, an to start off, thank you TW for the importunity to do a string review.

First off, I have used some Kirschbaum strings in the past, and while they were probably on the early side of the first poly productions, I didn't find them that appealing. I have heard better things about Super Smash Orange, and would have to agree for the most part.

Tension used for playtest: 57lbs

Regular string set up: Forten Thin Blend, 57lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Head Ti. Carbon 6000

Power of test string: It was just about right for polys I like. Pretty good depth, but it probably bc i didnt get as much spin as the kevlar and it sailed farther but stayed in. I was still able to rip a few and keep them in, so thats always good in my book.

Feel: What I like for poly, on the crisp side and not springy. Was able to do touch shots with ease, and I think the feel is due to the pre-stretching...

Spin: average, didn't compare to my kevlar. it didnt grab the ball as much either, which was ive come to expect with anything but kevlar

Comfort: no arm problems, a nice crisp hit

Durability: didn't notice any drop off in tension, and is still in the racquet so I'd say good

Playability: Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): very playable, could do what every other decent poly does and maybe a little more. I felt confident in any of my shots after i got the feel of the string. I didnt notice a change over time, but im not that sensitive to those kind of things i guess...

Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): as mentioned above, my shots seemed to go longer because of less spin. this can be seen as less control, and was something i had to adjust to. after i got used to the string it was ok, but some poeple dont want to make an adjustment.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I like polys a little higher than normal, so i may tell someone else to string it in the more typical range.

Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes - i liked the feel and the familiarity with similar price range polys. I didnt like the lower spin and lower bite than my kevlar. Overall, a decent poly and def worth trying

[LanEvo]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

is this better than proline X ?

I'll post my review tonight, but they both have good and poor qualities. Although I would take Pro Line X.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

is this better than proline X ?

depends on what you're looking for. super smash orange is a low powered control oriented poly.

[jonnyjack]

I played six sessions for a total playtest time of just over 12 hours over a 15 day period. I have an indoor tournament this weekend and plan to use these strings but it won't be part of the review since it's after the deadline.

Tension used for playtest
47 lbs, strung on a Klippermate with no issues though I don't like weaving poly crosses.

Regular string set up
Mains: Signum Pro Poly Plasma 17 at 51 lbs
Crosses: Wilson Synthetic Gut Extreme 17 at 53 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test
Yonex RDS 003

Power of test string
Moderate power to me, which is good. Was able to generate pace easily on sitters with full swings.

Feel
Crisp, wasn't as stiff as I thought it might be since I normally play hybrids. I'm tempted to try my usual SPPP in a full bed to see if it's similar but weaving poly crosses is a pain! Felt great hitting with spin since it felt like it was catching the ball on the strings. The response to the ball on the string was great.

Spin
I don't like textured strings since I already hit with a lot of spin and it messes up the feel for me so I definitely liked that this was a smooth string. Slice serves and forehand slices are my go to shots and they felt great. I like to put a lot of action on the ball and it put the amount of spin I expected. I also hit with extreme topspin since I have an uppercut swing and my hitting partners said the ball jumped up a lot using this string.

Comfort
I don't normally play full bed poly because I hear it's harsher on the elbow but no pain here. I played three days in a row at one point and felt no ill effects.

Durability
Tough to say since I usually cut my hybrid string setup out at 30 hours. Some notching since it's settled in now but it's poly so it should last me awhile. I'd expect it to last past 30 hours but who knows, currently at just over 12 hours.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
So far, so good. I always like poly after it settles in around the one hour mark and it hasn't felt any different since.

Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Great control, I could hit my usual shots with confidence. I value placement over power since I play mainly doubles. Touch shots around the net were good with a low swing speed and high swing speeds at the baseline for dipping pass shots or top spin lobs also went where I wanted it to go. I vary my serve a lot with big flat serves, slower flat serves, and slice serves all around the box and I was able to control my serve very easily with the string.

Compare to the string you use most often
Honestly, it feels like I'm hitting with my usual Signum Pro Poly Plasma hybrid with Wilson Synthetic Gut Extreme. The fact that they're both orange, I wouldn't have known the difference if someone told me it was SPPP. I really liked this Super Smash playtest that I'm going to have to try Signum in a full bed. It's cheaper than SPPP so I may even switch to this when I'm done with the reel. I'd like to try it in a hybrid setup first though.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
No change, 47 lbs seems to be perfect for full bed poly in this racket. No issues with power, control, or comfort so I'm sticking with this tension.

Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes.
Likes: Control and comfort, exactly like my usual SPPP. Very little string movement too!
Dislikes: Honestly, nothing.

Thanks again Kirschbaum and TW! Definitely my favorite playtest so far.

[stewfoo412]

Tension used for playtest:60
Regular string set up:16g blackcode at 60
Racquet brand and model used for test:babolat aeropro drive
Power of test string:It was about average for most polys maybe slightly below average.
Feelretty soft feel for a poly. it didn't lack the crispness on groundstrokes though so that's good. drop shots were tough.
Spin: Once again about average for a poly.
Comfort:felt pretty nice i don't typically have elbow issues though
Durability:great as far as i could tell. i typically don't break my string of choice and this seems to have similar durability. slight notching by the time the playability left.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):this string played great for the first 4 hours but after that it lacked spin, control, and feel. it got stiff and lost some tension. But this is normal for poly.
Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): i feel like this string is meant for high level players who can fully expose the string characteristics. One must have a fast swing speed in order to get the spin/control wanted. I enjoyed its control.
Compare to the string you use most often:this is softer with less spin/control. I'm a huge fan of my current string.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):i like 60 because i'm used to the stiffer feel and i prefer the control because generating power for me is no issue.
Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes.:Overall this is a great buy if the reel is around 100 dollars. I just thought it was somewhat average in spin,control,and playability. I did like the softer feel though!

[jason n]

Tension used for playtest; 44lbs
Regular string set up; beast xp mains 47lbs/ nxt control crosses 45 lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test; dunlop aerogel 4d 300 tour
Power of test string; it was kind of hard to tell because i was playing in the wind and tried playing both side of court but it seems that the racquet had pretty good power. For me if it had just the right amount of power where i could swing hard and not worry to much about it flying out.
Feel; For a full bed of poly it was actually not as hard as i was expecting. It had good touch on drop shots and in general felt just right, not to soft or mushy and not stiff.
Spin; i dont think i was getting as much spin as i normally do but it still was acceptable.
Comfort; not stiff and not mushy, just right
Durability; hit for 2hrs with this string and didnt notice any notching or movement of the strings. Tension seemed to stay the same.
Playability Duration(share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time);Playability stayed constant through out 2hr test
Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?); The ball came off my racquet faster with slow swing speed than my normal set up and i actually liked that aspect. control was good with all swing speeds
Compare to the string you use most often; This string has a tad more power, about the same control and feel with a little less spin
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?); i would still string at 44lbs as it played really well at that tension
Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes. I liked everything about the string, it was good in all category's and no dislikes as of now but ill wait to see the price and maybe that might change my dislikes.

Thank you TW for chance to test this string.

[mad dog1]

This string costs $8/set and $89.00/reel.

[bigserving]

Thanks to Tennis Warehouse and to Kirschbaum for the opportunity to try this string.

The string was used in strung one full set, at 50 pounds, on a lockout machine. The racket was used for the first time about one hour after stringing. The string was on the easy side for a polyester string and there was plenty of string for the 16 x18 pattern.

My regular string setup is Dunlop Black Widow, full and / or hybrid, in a Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour. As expected, the overall power of the Kirschbaum was on the low side of average. The Kirschbaum string had a little more pop than my normal BW string which is also a control and spin string.

This string strung and played like a very good quality poly. Low-power, great control and great spin are some of the characteristics. It had a stiffness like a normal poly but the comfort level was still quite good. Did not experience any string related arm stiffness or soreness from this string. The soft racket may have contributed to that result.

I really liked the precise control that the string provided on both volleys and on serves. Spin on kick serves was expectedly tremendous and it was nearly impossible to hit long. It would take a little tinkering with the tension to keep the control but maximize the power from ground strokes.

This low powered string had very good tension maintenance. The strings remained playable and felt some, but not extensie tension loss during three two-hour hitting sessions over a six-day period.

If need be, I might recommend players try this string at lower than their usual tension to get more power out of a very good control oriented string. A drop in tension would add power without sacrificing any control or feel.

The only downside was the expected low power aspect of the string. The color is a little odd as well!

This Kirschbaum string is one that is easy to recommend. The price will, of course, have some influence on how much it is used by some players. The playability features make this string one that players of any level would be able to use.

[djNEiGht]

Tension used for playtest - 48 lbs

Regular string set up - Beast XP 17g for poly (all comments will be compared to Beast XP or 4G) / Gamma Live Wire XP 17 for syn/multi

Racquet brand and model used for test - Borris Becker DC London

Power of test string - Had a very rewarding pop on ground strokes, punch volleys, and serves

Feel - String bed had good feedback. It was crisp after a very quick break in (possibly due to the pre-stretch).

Spin - Rewarding spin with full strokes. There was a nice "ripping" sound when hitting a slice or kick serve. I think this had a bit more bite than Beast XP and even the recently tested Luxlilon 4G

Comfort - This was fairly comfortable and I would rank similar to Beast XP and 4G. Granted that it has been a bit colder that past couple of weeks and would rank just a bit lower than the two compared to.

Durability - This seems a bit more durable than the polys listed above. There wasn't as much notching as I had expected over a 2 week period. I was playing 2-3 doubles sets about 5 days a week. I was however swapping racquets every other day but still got a good amount of rallying.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - I wish this test was done during the summer. I feel that poly's suffer most during colder times of the year. Granted I am in Southern California, there was a cold spell where I was playing in the 60s. The string bed felt boardy and stiff the first game. It settled after that and the playability has lasted since.

Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - Very predictable and control oriented string. It gave back what you put in. If you got timid on a swing you would pay for it by going into the net or flying long. It was also very nice at the net with drop and touch shots.

Compare to the string you use most often - It played fairly similar to Beast XP and 4G. I would say where it shined more was in the spin department and length of playability. Would one say that the pre-stretch that Krishbaum does have anything to do with it? The tension maintenance was about the same as well. For me to judge this against the polys I've mentioned would be to play them all during the same time of the year.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) - I would probably restring 2 lbs lower just due to the colder time of the year. Had this string been in my racquet during the summer I would string the usual 48 lbs. The string was strung at 48 lbs and about 12 hours or so after stringing it showed it was 46 lbs on racquet tune. It is now at 43 lbs.

Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes. I would have liked to try this string in a hybrid set up this time of the year. It's not really a dislike in the string but more so in the rules of the test. I have been lucky with the strings offered of late for testing (4G and this string). The strings have been good. I would probably buy this string over 4G due to the price and it had slightly a bit more bite. There is just something about hearing the felt of the ball tear on a kick serve.


Thank you Tennis Warehouse and Kirshbaum for this play test.

[purple-n-gold]

Tension: I strung it up at 60lbs on my Eagnas 'Tank' 800. No issues stringing except that I too ran a little short and had to be creative.

Regular string set up: Currently playtesting various co-polys at 56-60lbs.

Racquet brand: yy Vcore 100

Power of test string: A low powered control oriented poly.

Feel: Feel is on the firmer side, a crisp response is how I would describe it currently. Initially a little boardy but not harsh though. It broke in a little after an hour of hitting and the overall feel improved.

Spin: Average for a round string, generous rhs is a must strung at 60lb.

Comfort: Decent comfort for a firm poly strung at 60.

Durability: No issues at 2-3hrs in, strings are notched.

Playability Duration: Has not changed in the few hours I've used it. Actually playing better after an hour, less boardy. Measured DT after 2 hours on my Tourna string meter and it's showing mid to upper 50's.

Control: Great control, aim and shoot. When trying to put a little "work" on the ball the string performed nicely.

Comparison: Definitely reminded me of the Kirschbaum strings, ProLine I and ProLine II. Really like these strings on the volley, such a nice crisp and predictable response every time.

Tension recommendations: I would drop down 5-6 lbs if I had it to string over. It did not drop any tension a day after being strung which is unusual, hence it came off a little boardy initially.

Summary: I thought that I had not gotten into this playtest due to only receiving the string about 2 weeks ago; so it has not given me alot of time to give this a thorough test. I would say however during my brief time with it, I prefer ProLine II hands down over this one. Also would take a few other co-polys in the same price point over it as well. Liked the control and tension stability, disliked the boardy feel.

Thank you Kirschbaum and TW for this opportunity!

[Laney Tennis]

Kirschbaum Playtest – Super Smash Orange 17

Tension used for playtest – 57lbs

Regular string set up – BHBR 16mains/17cross

Racquet brand and model used for test – Wilson Pro Staff Tour 95

Power of test string – power was good, not too low that I had to put something extra into it, not too high where everything is sailing out. I’d say it’s a medium powered poly. Probably a bit less powerful than bhbr

Feel – feel is solid, strung it up at 57lbs, same as my usual string bhbr and it feels quite a bit stiffer, this string has a very firm and solid feel to it.

Spin – when hitting out, it grabs the ball nicely creating ample amount of spin. The balance of power and spin is good enough to which I am not sailing my shots long for lack of spin but still getting enough power to penetrate the court. This is not a spin specialty string but don’t get me wrong, it is no slouch in this category, performance is more than satisfactory.

Comfort – this is a relatively stiff string compared to the latest generation of co-polys, it is nowhere near the stiffness level of alu power but enough to where I have to make sure good technique is used when playing. Bottom line is comfort level is acceptable for a string designed for big hitting, I would recommend this string for big hitters and not for older players or players at a lower level or anybody with a sensitive arm/elbow. Comfort level can be achieved by lowering tension with this string.

Durability – so far so good, after dishing out some big shots and absorbing some, its holding up nicely. Notching is minimal and no big initial tension drop as in the 4g.
I’m getting the feeling that this string is designed with bit hitting in mind.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) – after a few hit sessions, the string is holding up really well and playability has not changed much. If you are a string breaker, this is for you!

Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) – control is very good in my opinion, I didn’t have to make too many adjustments going from bhbr to this string other than it’s a bit stiffer. Trajectory stayed relatively the same, shot are going where I intended for them to go, some shots went in when I thought it sailed out. The power/spin combination is at a good balance for me.

Compare to the string you use most often – playability compared to bhbr is slightly behind but not by much. In return, durability is increased dramatically. BHBR have great playability but it last for only a couple hours. To me it’s a give and take, more durability for less playability, you cannot have the best of both worlds. I am looking for this string to sustain its current playability past 6 hours, if it can get into the 6-8 hr mark then it’s a sell for me.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) – Next time I would drop tension 3 pounds from 57 to 54, may drop more if necessary. This is a relatively stiff co-poly compared to bhbr but not in the range of alu power. For reference, I had to drop alu power from 57 to 52 to be comfortable with it.



Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes.

Interestingly the more I hit with this string the more I like it. The firm feel provides the string bed with a solid base to work with.
One of the negatives is off center hits could be very jarring, those with sensitive arm/elbow beware.
Durability seems to be amazing with this string, we’ll see how it holds up after one week of hitting.
Big hitters, string breakers that do not have a sensitive arm or elbow, this string is a must try.

This string performs well in many areas, spin, power, control, tension maintenance, durability, comfort leaves a bit more to be desired but I guess it is difficult to have a firm/ solid string bed and have it be easy on the arm at the same time. Lowering the tension should help in that area.

One issue here, I’d like to purchase a reel of this stuff to try out on some players but if I was to give them an orange string, they may think I have something against them, personally I like the orange but not when stringing for others. Please offer this in black or some other neutral color.

Ok after the third hit session, I’ve decided to cut out the strings, control, feel and spin are great but it’s just a bit too unforgiving. My elbow is starting to get sore, continue to hit with this string may have serious consequences for me, too bad it didn’t work out. One thing is for sure, I cannot string this at my normal tension.

The color is a bit tacky but that depends on individual taste. Personally I like it but could be a problem when stringing for others.

[briianxd]

Tension used for playtest: 57 lbs for mains 54 lbs for crosses
Regular string set up: Kirschbaum Proline II main at 51 lbs and Tourbite cross at 47 lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test: Volkl Pb10 Mid
Power of test string: Provided generous power for a poly, but less if compared to my default Proline II/Tourbite set up.
Feel: Quite comfortable for a poly, even when strung at this tension range. Though, I would definitely drop down to the lower 50s for added feel.
Spin: Does not have the bite of Tourbite, but it is still sufficient when taken into account the added comfort.
Comfort: I would recommend this string even for those with arm problems, but they should string it at a lower tension or hybrid it with a multifillament. At 57/54 lbs, I did not find it too demanding on the arm.
Durability: Did not break within the 18 hours rigorous play
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): The first few times hitting with this string felt incredible. I could really feel the ball's contact with the string bed. It was almost as if ball settled on the strings just long enough for you to place it with great angles. At the 12 hour mark the strings became much stiffer and muted.
Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) Not too good for serving but the feel the strings provided on ground strokes won my vote. Gave me ample time to place it with good precision. Typically, I lose control as my swing speed increases, but not too much in this case. Also a must try string for volleys for its depth control.
Compare to the string you use most often: When compared with Kirschbaum Proline II and Solinco Tourbite, this string had much better feel and control, but less spin. And in regards with power, I would choose this set up over my default.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would not recommend a different tension for those with healthy arms (cant sacrifice anymore spin), but definitely drop for the lower 50s for those with arm problems.
Summary: The exceptional feel of this string compensated for the lack of spin and playability.

[I Heart Thomas Muster]

Tension used for playtest: 48 lbs

Regular string set up: Babolat Tonic 15L at 54lbs (mains) and Babolat RPM Team 17 at 54 lbs (crosses)

Racquet brand and model used for test: Head Youtek Radical Pro

Power of test string: I felt that the string was low on the power side. Similar to my experience with Proline 2 and B5E in full string beds and less powerful than RPM Blast and Team. Before this test I was unaware that Kirschbaum pre-stretched their strings with would be my guess why this seemed so low powered.

Feel: I enjoyed the feel of this string and compare it favorably to Proline 2 and RPM Blast except it maintains its feel longer than the latter. I didn't feel as though this required a break in period and I was pleasantly surprised considering I normally play a gut hybrid.

Spin: I felt this was one of the string's stronger qualities. I play with a lot of spin as it is and this accentuated it in a good way. I was unafraid of taking large swings even with a tension lower than I'm used to. I am very much looking forward to trying this as a cross with the gut mains.

Comfort: Again I was pleasantly surprised with this string. Comfort was very good and despite having a gimpy wrist I was able to play pain free throughout the two weeks the strings held up.

Durability: String broke after 2 weeks of play. Three times a week about 2 hours plus each session. That's about normal for me when playing a full bed of poly.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): The string maintained what I consider adequate playability until it broke. For the entire two weeks the strings snapped back into place and very little adjustment if any was required after a tennis session. The string maintained comfort and spin the entire playtest which I think is due to the string being pre-stretched. I know it's said pre-stretching poly is a bad idea but who am I to tell Kirschbaum that?

Control (predictable trajectory? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Control for this string was top notch the entire play test. No surprises with trajectory and there were no hot spots. Very consistent string which rewards you with very consistent play for at least two weeks and possibly longer.

Compare to the string you use most often: It's hard to compare it to a gut hybrid but I felt like my normal string had more comfort (obviously) but was less predictable. Sometimes the gut can send one flying if you're not careful where that was not the case with the test string. As I mentioned before this could be a good candidate for a cross string to help tame the gut. The test string was firm, controlled and comfortable.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would stick with the same tension but anyone playing this in a full bed I would recommend tensions in the 40's. The string is low powered and a full bed in the 50's would require more work than I'm prepared to give and I think it would be the case with most players as well.

Summary: List 1 or 2 primary likes and dislikes.: I really enjoyed the control this string provides and the amount of spin it helped me generate. I think it would make and EXCELLENT cross with gut but is still a great string for players who like full poly. I also enjoyed the way the string maintained playability for the length of the playtest. My only dislike (if it could be called that) is the comfort is not on par with my usual string setup and I feel like my days with a full poly are over. Overall I would say this is an excellent string on par with the best offerings from Kirschbaum and this will get a further look from me when released.

[nalvarado]

Tension used for playtest: 54 lbs constant pull

Regular string set up: Zo power 56/ Gamma FXT 52

Racquet brand and model used for test: Gamma RZR 98T

Power of test string: I found this string to be a bit higher than average for a poly, however this may be due to me stringing at a lower tension due to the prestretch.
Feel: I was able to pick up the racquet and play without any major change or adjustment in technique. Able to hit touch volleys on command. I felt very "connected" to this string if that makes sense, where I wanted the ball to go, it went.

Spin: I was able to hit with adequate spin on groundstrokes with my normal strokes. My coach noticed a bit more spin off of serves compared to my normal hybrid setup. Overall very enjoyable in the spin department.

Comfort: I had no discomfort while playing with this string.

Durability: Played for 8 hours of practice sets, ball machine, drills, and serving with no issue, but I usually do not break poly before it dies.

Playability Duration: The string played the same over the course of my test, I could see myself getting a few more hours out of it before I restring.

Control: Like I said before, I felt very "connected" to this string. I was able to play my normal shots with no issue. Groundstrokes with a high RHS were beautiful, when I approached volleys were spot on.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to my normal hybrid, I noticed more spin at the expense of power, as expected.

Tension recommendations: 54 lbs was very enjoyable for me, I would not change the tension.

Summary: I really enjoyed this string, provided ample spin and power for my game. My volleys did not suffer at all. The only dislike was the color of the string paired with the blackout rzr 98T, however this should not influence any purchase.

[bigmalik76]

this just went on sale in a 4 pack for $16.00
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Kirs...SMSH17OR4.html

I will definitely pick up 1 (maybe 2) sets of this offer. I really enjoyed the play test and for the value this is a great deal.

[mad dog1]

wow. that is a great deal! i, too, really liked this string. was planning to order a reel, but this is a better deal. thanks for the heads up!

[jonnyjack]

Just finished playing an indoor tournament this past weekend with my playtest string. Playability is still there and it's been 18 hours.

I actually went ahead and bought a bunch of packs since I saw the $16 four pack deal the weekend after Thanksgiving.

I'm switching to this for the time being over my SPPP/synthetic gut hybrid. I've even updated my signature!

Here's my original review: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...2&postcount=87