Tourna Big Hitter Black 7

[benxten]

After two weeks with BHBlack 17, strung at 58lbs main 57lbs crosses on PDR+ cortex, playing 3 hours 4-5 times a week with 4.0 and 4.5 players (they rate me as 4.0 while I rate myself as 4.0 doubles and 3.75 singles with mostly eastern forehand and two handed backhand)

First week
Power: 9/10
Control-Groundstrokes: 8/10
Control-Volleys: 9/10
Serves: 9/10
Spin: 9/10
Durability: 8/10

A note on the durability is that the string starts rounding out and losing its heptagonal geometry (mostly in the middle crosses) after the first week but the strings wont be breaking anytime soon. I mostly serve and volley which is almost every point in doubles and 3/4 of the points in singles.

Second week
Power: 8.5/10
Control-Groundstrokes: 7/10
Control-Volleys: 8/10
Serves: 8/10
Spin: 7/10
Durability: 7/10

[tennisinoc]

BHB7 is still on my list of a possible go to. Slice spin production is just sick with this string, making it really addicting. But tension maintainance is the biggest issue for me. Only after 5hrs. of hitting, tension drops 8lbs. and the strings no longer stay in place. Therefore, that initial bite and crispness is no longer prominent and becomes a bit mushy and dead. So cost effectiveness is what keeps me searching.
Restringing every 3 days will burn thru my wallet too fast!

[wmilas]

I'm noticing the same thing. I REALLY liked the string when freshly strung. 5.5 hours of heavy hitting in a week and the strings are starting to move and the texture is gone in the sweet spot. I'm going to put another 6 hours on it (or till it breaks) this week and see just how bad it gets.

I guess if I have to restring it once a week its not the end of the world... reels are cheap enough. Now to find something cheap that I can cross with it. I wonder if hexy fibre would be any good... (same shape?)

[wmilas]

Played 2 hours tonight. The BHB7 went board stiff about 30 minutes into the session. I kept playing to see what would happen as I normally don't have arm issues. I was surprised that the poly did not break. It continued to stiffen as time went on until it literally became as hard as a steel rod. I let my hitting partner try it out and he was surprised how stiff it became.

Strung at 54/56 Bhb7 17g/ ogsm 18g in a Yonex Rdis 98 16/19.

So I guess that unless I restring ever 4 to 5 hours this isn't going to work for me.

[duffman]

Originally Posted by wmilas

Played 2 hours tonight. The BHB7 went board stiff about 30 minutes into the session. I kept playing to see what would happen as I normally don't have arm issues. I was surprised that the poly did not break. It continued to stiffen as time went on until it literally became as hard as a steel rod. I let my hitting partner try it out and he was surprised how stiff it became.

Strung at 54/56 Bhb7 17g/ ogsm 18g in a Yonex Rdis 98 16/19.

So I guess that unless I restring ever 4 to 5 hours this isn't going to work for me.

That is strange. Bhb7 only gets more forgiving for me until it snaps. I find it doesnt have that feeling of stiffening that most polys get as they lose tension or dead. As it loses tension the power increases and becomes to trampoline like. I string mine 47 or 48 lbs in a full bed however.

[wmilas]

I know. That's exactly what I was expecting and would have been fine with that. That's definitely not what happened however. When I say hard, I mean like steel hard. I wonder if it was because I started it at such a high tension.

When I string something like MSV Co-focus that high it doesn't react even remotely the same way.

[kenyee]

Wow...34 page thread :-O

Have any of you guys tried hybrid'ing this with natural gut? I'm a total non-string breaker (years for restringing) and usually run natural gut on Prokennex 5G and Redondo racquets because they're easier on the arm and still maintain feel after that long.

Been thinking about trying this after playing a guy who was using some textured poly and really putting crazy amounts of spin on the ball (something I've never been able to do w/ my racquets)-:
Asked the Tourna folks if it cuts strings faster and they said it does tend to, so it might not be a good idea to use it w/ gut but thought I'd ask if anyone has tried to confirm?

[wmilas]

With how fast it went dead, putting it in a cross with gut seems like a waste. Something smoother will probably yield better spin as a cross anyways.

[djnemo]

I've been using TBHB7 in the mains with Signum Pro Firestorm in the crosses. Great spin, comfortable and easy power strung at 54/54 on my rad pro. Didn't have a problem with tension maintenance- I've been breaking the string at the 5-6 hour mark and it plays well up until about a half hour before breaking.

[SlapShot]

Decided to give this stuff a try in my PST, and wow - it's a great match to the frame. Had been using RIP Control, but during my morning match, the ball was flying on me. Had a lot of WTF moments where the ball was sailing, and it was strung fresh last night. On a whim, I had decided to toss in a set of BHB7 on my 3rd frame just in case, and pulled that frame out in my second match. I actually got MORE pop, and the control was excellent. Best part about it for me is that while it has good control and spin, it doesn't feel dead like a lot of poly strings - it feels much better to me than B5E, and has quite a bit more power.

Going to put another set in my primary frame (lucky me - I have 2 matched PST, and then one that is 7g lighter, and one that is 5g heavier.....blech) and give it a shot tomorrow. I think I may have found a go-to poly seeing as how it's not even $100 for a reel - figure even if I have to restring weekly, that's not too bad for good performance.

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by wmilas

Played 2 hours tonight. The BHB7 went board stiff about 30 minutes into the session. I kept playing to see what would happen as I normally don't have arm issues. I was surprised that the poly did not break. It continued to stiffen as time went on until it literally became as hard as a steel rod. I let my hitting partner try it out and he was surprised how stiff it became.

Strung at 54/56 Bhb7 17g/ ogsm 18g in a Yonex Rdis 98 16/19.

So I guess that unless I restring ever 4 to 5 hours this isn't going to work for me.

Sorry just the opposite for me. Played stiff at 1st.. hard to get power at times. When the stringbed become less stiff the magic happened with me. BTW... I was using BHB7 17G / Gamma Syn Gut 16G 54/50. I use a lower tension on the crosses to open up the sweetspot and create a bit more power and soften the stringbed. I see you did the opposite.. maybe that is the key???

[mike84]

how does it compare to alu power 125?

anyone add string savers?

[DrpShot!]

Originally Posted by SteveI

Sorry just the opposite for me. Played stiff at 1st.. hard to get power at times. When the stringbed become less stiff the magic happened with me. BTW... I was using BHB7 17G / Gamma Syn Gut 16G 54/50. I use a lower tension on the crosses to open up the sweetspot and create a bit more power and soften the stringbed. I see you did the opposite.. maybe that is the key???

It was just the opposite for me as well, started out stiff then loosened up nicely and hit really great for 8 or 9 hours, then it got a little too loose, snapping soon after. Just about right for a poly. Two things really stuck out - incredible comfort, i forgot i was using a poly, and incredible directional control, better than any string i've ever tried in that area.

[Power Player]

I will be hitting with 18 gauge cyclone crossed with Nvy this weekend in an 18x20 blx blade. I was wondering if anyone is using the BHB7 in 17 as a hybrid with OGSM or Nvy 17?

[tennisjon]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I will be hitting with 18 gauge cyclone crossed with Nvy this weekend in an 18x20 blx blade. I was wondering if anyone is using the BHB7 in 17 as a hybrid with OGSM or Nvy 17?

Yes, I have this setup with BHB7 with N.Vy. in one stick. All the spin of Dunlop Black Widow combined with the crispness of Tecnifibre Black Code.

[Power Player]

Awesome. I may have to try this then. Just trying to avoid a full job of poly in a tight pattern and still get some nice spin. How long does it last for you?

[Power Player]

Curious if the 17 gauge BHB7 is better for an 18x20 pattern. I read it is rather thin. What would you guys suggest?

I currently have cyclone 18 and nvy 17 in. It plays rather well, I just find the feel of the cyclone slightly stiff. Would I notice any differences with the BHB7? It seems there was a huge gold rush on this string and it has settled down, so possibly people have moved on?

I am deciding between Black Magic, cyclone and bhb7 most likely.

[SteveI]

For you folks that did this early Playtest.... here is the TW Review. Thanks to all of you fine playtesters that did our reviews. Wow... 175 for stiffness.

I do not agree with this number: Playability Duration

60

Sorry guys... you missed the boat on that one...

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/revi...K17Review.html

Regards,
SteveI

[Torres]

Originally Posted by SteveI

For you folks that did this early Playtest.... here is the TW Review. Thanks to all of you fine playtesters that did our reviews. Wow... 175 for stiffness..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XLg...Q&feature=plcp

[Sander001]

Originally Posted by SteveI

I do not agree with this number: Playability Duration

60

Sorry guys... you missed the boat on that one...

12hrs is pretty damn good, outstanding even for a former tour player.
How much do you get?