RPM Blast 18

[MUZZA1973]

Hey guys/girls,

Looking seriously at this string to place into Aeropro Drive 2013 that i'm about to order.

Have been using Blackcode which i do like but now looking for a change.

I'm wanting to soften this stiff frame a little with a soft poly or hybrid.

I'm a tall/strong guy with big groundies and serve.

Questions i have are as follows..

*Full Bed or Hybrid with perhaps X-One Biphase
*Tension/s

Cheers and thanks in advance.

Muzza

[Fuji]

RPM Blast is the only string in the past year to bother my elbow so much. It's so freaking hard on the arm, even though it's a "soft" poly. Plus the tension loss is unreal, as it looses such a ridiculous amount off the bed. It's one of the worst poly's out there IMO.

If you want to soften, I would suggest just using X1 in a full bed.

-Fuji

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by Fuji

RPM Blast is the only string in the past year to bother my elbow so much. It's so freaking hard on the arm, even though it's a "soft" poly. Plus the tension loss is unreal, as it looses such a ridiculous amount off the bed. It's one of the worst poly's out there IMO.

If you want to soften, I would suggest just using X1 in a full bed.

-Fuji

OK then what is the best poly in your opinion and have just as much spin as RPM

[MUZZA1973]

Should also mention that i'm only playing 1-2 hrs per week these days due to work and family commitments...

Hoping this may have an influence on string type,set up and tension plus relief on the old arm!!

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

OK then what is the best poly in your opinion and have just as much spin as RPM

There really is no "best" poly, it's just what works well for your game.

For sheer spin, BHB7 matches, if not out performs RPM Blast, but it is a bit harsh as well, as there is virtually no snap back off the string bed due to the twisted profile locking in on itself.

A poly I really like is ALU Rough, but the life span is only 2-3 hours, arguably worse then RPM, but it does literally everything better for my game then RPM does, and it doesn't bother my arm.

My favourite poly is a toss up between Tour Bite and Dunlop Ice. Ice is old school, and needs to be changed every 10 hours of hitting (if it lasts that long) and is fairly stiff with good directional control. TB is obviously a monster spin string, with more spin the RPM for me, and depending on the frame, plays beautifully. I find it a bit harsh in stiff frames, but in softer frames TB is money. Ice works well in pretty much every frame though.

Cheers, let me know if you have any questions.

-Fuji

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by MUZZA1973

Should also mention that i'm only playing 1-2 hrs per week these days due to work and family commitments...

Hoping this may have an influence on string type,set up and tension plus relief on the old arm!!

Definitely go full multi then! If you're looking for a bit of arm relief, and you aren't playing huge hours, multi will help lots with comfort and wear/tear.

-Fuji

[MUZZA1973]

Leaning more towards a soft poly than a full bed of multi..

[Saareon]

You could always give the new TB soft a try. I just ordered a couple sets in 16g and 17g I'm going to try out.

[Woolybugger]

try WeissCannon Black5Edg, it's a softer poly.

[MUZZA1973]

Decided to go with full bed of RPM Blast @ 55lbs...

[JoeR]

Originally Posted by MUZZA1973

Decided to go with full bed of RPM Blast @ 55lbs...

I'm interested in hearing what you think of this, after you hit with it for a while...

I just used the RPM Blast 18s as crosses with VS Team 17s as the mains, strung at 50lbs/44lbs myself, though haven't been able to hit yet due to my damned ankles!

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by JoeR

I'm interested in hearing what you think of this, after you hit with it for a while...

I just used the RPM Blast 18s as crosses with VS Team 17s as the mains, strung at 50lbs/44lbs myself, though haven't been able to hit yet due to my damned ankles!

what do you think the difference is between RPM 18 G and RPM 17 G ?

[RogueFLIP]

So MUZZA, how do you like the 18 G?

I use a full bed, switched from 17 G.

Def noticed softer feel, more spin.

Bought a reel, I restring every two weeks regardless of how many hours I play.

After about 2-3 hours, it loses it's "bite" on my slice, but still very playable.

9-12 hours, dies on me.

I'm not a string breaker, so couldn't tell you about its durability.

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by RogueFLIP

So MUZZA, how do you like the 18 G?

I use a full bed, switched from 17 G.

Def noticed softer feel, more spin.

Bought a reel, I restring every two weeks regardless of how many hours I play.

After about 2-3 hours, it loses it's "bite" on my slice, but still very playable.

9-12 hours, dies on me.

I'm not a string breaker, so couldn't tell you about its durability.

Agree with you. it is Great for 2 hours then it starts to lose tension and Control. It really sucks when this happens especially in summer. It becomes Impossible to control the ball after 4 hours of play

[DonDiego]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Agree with you. it is Great for 2 hours then it starts to lose tension and Control. It really sucks when this happens especially in summer. It becomes Impossible to control the ball after 4 hours of play

I have to disagree with that. Nostradamus, are you talking about the 18 gauge? Cause the 18 gauge, by my own experience and those of friends, holds its tension better than the 16. I still have very good control after 4 hours.

[wao]

Originally Posted by DonDiego

I have to disagree with that. Nostradamus, are you talking about the 18 gauge? Cause the 18 gauge, by my own experience and those of friends, holds its tension better than the 16. I still have very good control after 4 hours.

After 2 hrs it was noticeably different, after 4hrs definately less bite on the ball and after 6 I cut them out. Would agree in the WeissCannon B5E as a main and a softer cross.

[DonDiego]

Originally Posted by wao

After 2 hrs it was noticeably different, after 4hrs definately less bite on the ball and after 6 I cut them out. Would agree in the WeissCannon B5E as a main and a softer cross.

Again, what gauge did you use? RPM 16 and RPM 18 are different strings.

[P.Floyd]

Originally Posted by MUZZA1973

Hey guys/girls,

Looking seriously at this string to place into Aeropro Drive 2013 that i'm about to order.

Have been using Blackcode which i do like but now looking for a change.

I'm wanting to soften this stiff frame a little with a soft poly or hybrid.

I'm a tall/strong guy with big groundies and serve.

Questions i have are as follows..

*Full Bed or Hybrid with perhaps X-One Biphase
*Tension/s

Cheers and thanks in advance.

Muzza

I had the APD 2013 for a month on two separate occasions, and ended up going back to the original for the precise reason that the racquet was too stiff for my taste. During this time, I had the opportunity to try out both RPM blast at 16 and 18, strung both at 55 lbs. I didn't notice any overtly obvious increase in spin or pop from the 18. On the contrary, I thought going to the 16 was a revelation. I know this is counter to general sentiment that a thinner gauge is more comfortable, but I found the 16 to work better with the APD. In particular, I found the racquet to be a bit more stable with the 16, and introduced a slight sensation of ball pocketing (still far less than the original APD though).

[wao]

Originally Posted by DonDiego

Again, what gauge did you use? RPM 16 and RPM 18 are different strings.

18 gauge... though I have played with both. Right now I have B5E in my sticks and have a set of 4G to try as I have heard its tension maintanance is pretty good. Will see about that.

[JoeR]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

what do you think the difference is between RPM 18 G and RPM 17 G ?

Just saw your reply...

Not that much, that's for sure.
I went it looking for 17s for the mains and crosses, but they said they had the RPM in 18 G too... so I went with that. And it played well.

The next two frames that went it were accidentally strung with 16 G on the crosses and I'm fairly certain I can't tell the difference. They still feel great!