Tourna Big Hitter Black 7

[Bmr]

Torres-

Really appreciate your posts. You are giving me a lot more insight into what string preference I have in my game.

For the past couple of years I've been using a Prince Speedport Black with Gosen Polylon SP 17 (also called Polyquest) strung at 62 pounds. I don't know why, but with this poly I prefer it strung higher. I think it is due to the fact that it is more springy and I lose control with the lower tension. I've tried a ton of other strings, including Luxilon and all the other top brands..and still haven't found one to take its place. This string does mostly everything well, except it doesn't exactly give me confidence at the net. Most people have a huge problem dealing with the spin and bite the ball gets on groundies/serves. That's the biggest reason it is so effective for me.

I've tried Weiss Silverstring after all the great reviews and was underwhelmed. I think my game is better suited for the high-power and crisp feeling strings. That being said, do you think Tour Bite or BHB7 or BHBR would be worth a shot for me to try? I'm not sure if you've ever used the Gosen, but it has definitely worked for me in this setup.

Thanks again.

[Torres]

Originally Posted by Bmr

Tour Bite or BHB7 or BHBR

I would suggest that you try them all!

They're all good strings, just in different ways and for different setups. Definitely go with the 16 gauge with that racquet though for both Tourna strings, and maybe a 1.25 or 1.30 with the Tour Bite.

If you want improved net play, you might also want to try that WhisperTouch Gut / Co-Focus setup that PVAudio identified in his thread. Just remember to pre-stretch the gut and string it at a higher tension. It plays well (though its just as useless as any other setup once the poly has gone dead or lost too much tension).

[Fed Kennedy]

Torres what is your take on tornado vs the tourna black?

[Torres]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

Torres what is your take on tornado vs the tourna black?

No idea. The last time I played with Tornado was when I had long hair, wore flares and was swinging a Pure Drive Mk1...

From what I can remember of Tornado though, BHB7 will be springier, definitely spinnier, more lively (though not to the extent of BHBR) and more powerful. I also used the 1.17/1.18 Tornado/Hyperion so I can't even do a 'same gauge' comparison, let alone a same racquet comparison.

[Hotrocks]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

If I like hyperion and tornado, will I like this string?

Stick with Tornado, didn't think BHBlack7 had much power. I let my hitting partner try it also, wasn't impressed. Still in Black is a better string, but haven't been let down by Tornado. Just my opinion, others will differ.

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by Hotrocks

Stick with Tornado, didn't think BHBlack7 had much power. I let my hitting partner try it also, wasn't impressed. Still in Black is a better string, but haven't been let down by Tornado. Just my opinion, others will differ.

What tension did you use and in what frame? Did you test the 16G or the 17G? Full bed or Hybrid.. and with what if you did hybrid... Thanks for you input. I found the BHB7 to have decent power.. but I think I may have strung it a bit on the high side. Next time I am going 3-5 pounds less.

[Bmr]

Why 16 gauge over 17? Because of the string pattern?

[Torres]

I've decided to order a reel of this stuff in 17 gauge.

It works really well in my slightly weighted up Youtek Prestige MP (98/18x20). It really does allow you to hit heavy, heavy balls. Oddly, it doesn't seem to produce quite as much spin in my BLX 6.1 (95/18x20). I guess it must be the denser pattern in the smaller hoop size and the slightly different characteristics of the racuqet. Flat serves are terrific though (sorry PV!)

Originally Posted by Bmr

Why 16 gauge over 17? Because of the string pattern?

For a 100/16x19 (which I think your stick is), I'd start with the 16 as the gauge runs thin - its more like a 17, whereas the 17 is more like a 17L. The 16 is also slightly stiffer, slightly less springy and slightly more lower powered which should help even out the characteristics of that racquet given its hoop size and stringing pattern. By all means try the 17 if you prefer, but if it were me with that stick, I'd start with the 16 and then drop down to 17 if necessary.

[Meaghan]

Torres, anyone...
I see stringers world is now selling them, what is the gauge of the 16 and 17 as it doesnt state on the site......125mm/120mm, 130mm/125 etc??

sorry if this has been mentioned earlier.....

[COPEY]

The 16 is 1.30, however, on the 17 it doesn't show the size. Comparing it by look/feel, it appears to be 1.20.

[nickarnold2000]

Originally Posted by Meaghan

Torres, anyone...
I see stringers world is now selling them, what is the gauge of the 16 and 17 as it doesnt state on the site......125mm/120mm, 130mm/125 etc??

sorry if this has been mentioned earlier.....

A reel at Stringers World is $109 US and TW's price is $89! That's interesting because Tornado is much cheaper at SW.

[Torres]

Originally Posted by COPEY

The 16 is 1.30, however, on the 17 it doesn't show the size. Comparing it by look/feel, it appears to be 1.20.

The 16 definitely isn't 1.30mm. Comparing it under a halogen lamp to 16 gauges from other manufacturers, its alot thinner. It even crossed my mind whether they had packed the wrong string in the packet, but then looking at the 17, the 17 is thinner still.

I'd say the 16 is around 1.25mm. It will be even thinner still, once its strung under tension.

Comparing it to some other black strings I have, the '16' is noticeably thinner than Blackout 1.24mm (the 1.24mm understimates the gauge of Blackout IMO). BHB7 16 is about the same thickness as (or maybe just a minute fraction thicker) than B5E 17 (which is advertised as 1.24mm).

Black Widow 17 (supposedly 1.26mm) is thinner than all of them.

Originally Posted by nickarnold2000

A reel at Stringers World is $109 US and TW's price is $89! That's interesting because Tornado is much cheaper at SW.

Tourna stuff is shipped from the US to the UK, so there's customs charges and (relatively high) UK taxes to pay on top of the wholesale price. If the string is manufactured in Germany, it would make more sense if Tourna created a packaging and distribution centre somewhere in the EU, but I think most of the EU string market is biased towards the traditional European manufacturers. Tornardo is a European string that makes the oppposite journey, so you would expect it to be slightly more expensive in the US.

[Hotrocks]

Originally Posted by SteveI

What tension did you use and in what frame? Did you test the 16G or the 17G? Full bed or Hybrid.. and with what if you did hybrid... Thanks for you input. I found the BHB7 to have decent power.. but I think I may have strung it a bit on the high side. Next time I am going 3-5 pounds less.

I strung it @57 lbs. with ThunderBlast as a cross in a Head youtek prestige pro. I was anxious to try the BHB7 17gauge, just didn't feel and perform as Tornado. I like trying out new strings thinking one will play better than Tornado. But, each person has there preferances. I am not saying the BHB7 is a bad strig, it's not for me. Thanks...............

[mrtrinh]

Originally Posted by Hotrocks

I strung it @57 lbs. with ThunderBlast as a cross in a Head youtek prestige pro. I was anxious to try the BHB7 17gauge, just didn't feel and perform as Tornado. I like trying out new strings thinking one will play better than Tornado. But, each person has there preferances. I am not saying the BHB7 is a bad strig, it's not for me. Thanks...............

I agree, i had big hopes for bhb7 but tornado and hyperion tops it every category for me.

[Torres]

Originally Posted by Hotrocks

I strung it @57 lbs. with ThunderBlast as a cross

Tornado/Hyperion are very 'middle of road' strings. Unexceptional in any particular category. I don't see how you can properly assess a string as a hybrid. Some polys just work better as a full bed rather than mixed with nylon. If you first test a poly, you should be testing it as a full bed at least until it dies, and only if, for example, you find it too stiff or underpowered should you be thinking about mixing it with something else.

[Fed Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Torres

Tornado/Hyperion are very 'middle of road' strings. Unexceptional in any particular category. I don't see how you can properly assess a string as a hybrid. Some polys just work better as a full bed rather than mixed with nylon. If you first test a poly, you should be testing it as a full bed at least until it dies, and only if, for example, you find it too stiff or underpowered should you be thinking about mixing it with something else.

Torres, what are your fave polys for full bed...i think we have similar taste in racquets, but you have hit so many strings. For the record, i like hyperion and tornado, if you know of something way better...what would you say it is??

[Hotrocks]

Originally Posted by Torres

Tornado/Hyperion are very 'middle of road' strings. Unexceptional in any particular category. I don't see how you can properly assess a string as a hybrid. Some polys just work better as a full bed rather than mixed with nylon. If you first test a poly, you should be testing it as a full bed at least until it dies, and only if, for example, you find it too stiff or underpowered should you be thinking about mixing it with something else.

First of all....that is your asumption of Tornado and Hyperion. I don't use full poly. I use a synthetic gut or multi in the cross with a poly main. Tornado is my favorite so far. All I said is that I didn't care for the string, everyone has there preferance.

[COPEY]

Originally Posted by Torres

The 16 definitely isn't 1.30mm. .

Sounds good to me - I don't have 16; I read that in the specs.

[Torres]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

Torres, what are your fave polys for full bed...i think we have similar taste in racquets, but you have hit so many strings. For the record, i like hyperion and tornado, if you know of something way better...what would you say it is??

If I'm honest, I don't really have a favorite poly as such. There are a few strings/polys I like but I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other - they just offer different things which suit come circumstances more than others. My own personal view is that there are so many other variables in tennis that affect results, that poly choice (within reason) isn't the most important factor. At long as its generally one of the better performing polys, is freshly strung, and works for you, I would have thought that would be fine.

For me personally, during the last 6 months or so, I've probably had my best competitive results playing with WC Scorpion but I put that down to my own individual form rather than the string as its nowhere near the best performing poly out there. I just like its predictability and the way it feels. But that can be useful when you're playing on foreign courts in conditions which you're not used to.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...5&postcount=55

I've also had some very good competive results with B5E. Bitey and low powered, its impossible to hit the ball out of the court with that string. You can just grind all day long and watch your opponent gradually bleed points. But I don't like the feel of the string, and I get frustrated having to wait for errors or constantly having to find angles all day instead of being able to hit through the court.

BHBR16 I like. It does lacks a bit in the control department compared to other polys but it generates a crazy amount of action on the ball and can make life very uncomfortable for opponents. Its a terrific string IF you can keep the ball in the court enough of the time. Even in my 95/18x20, I prefer the 16 (which like BHB7 16, runs thin) over the wilder BHBR17 because its just that little bit stiffer and less elastic which helps with control.

I'm liking BHB7 very much as well so far, but I really want to chew through a reel of it first in 16 and 17 gauges under a variety of different conditions before coming to a final conclusion.

At the end of the day I don't believe that there's one poly to end all polys. Obviously some polys are generally better than others, but within reason, different polys simply suit different players, different racquet setup and different playing styles/levels.

[Torres]

Originally Posted by Hotrocks

I don't use full poly. I use a synthetic gut or multi in the cross with a poly main. Tornado is my favorite so far. All I said is that I didn't care for the string, everyone has there preferance.

Then I don't see how you can properly evaluate BHB7. All you can say is that in whatever stick you play with when you mix BHB7 with synth gut X, the outcome is Y. You don't know what's contributing to what.

If I hybrid BHBR17 for example with a synthetic gut, the synthetic waters down quite alot of the characteristics of the BHBR17 and adds a few of its own. The amount of action generated on the ball is considerably less than with a full bed of BHBR17. The trajectories off the bounce are very different to a full bed. The length of the ball you're hitting is different to a full bed. The amount of spin is different to a full bed. The way the ball dips is different to a full bed. But you couldn't possibly know that unless you've used both to provide a base for comparison - and ideally on more than one occasion. In fact, looking back at your posts, you haven't actually described anything about BHB7 at all, and that's because you simply don't know how it plays.

Some strings play well individually as full beds but simply don't make happy bedfellows when mixed as a hybrid. WC Scorpion is a good poly. VS Team is a premium natural gut. But mix the two together and they just don't jive in my racquet setup despite each of them being good strings individually. Is that the case with BHB7? Who knows? You certainly don't.