Best thin polys

Lozannois

Lozannois

Rookie
Hi everyone,

Need your help and feedbacks with regards to your experience with thin polys. I would like to try some of them on my Blade V7 18x20 and Tecnifibre TF40 18x20 and I am curious about the following ones :

RS Lyon 17L (1.20)
Weisscannon Silverstring 18 (1.20)
Kirschbaum max power rough 18 (1.20)
Kirschbaum pro line II 18 (1.20)
Hyper G 17 (1.20)
Solinco tour bite 17 or 18? (1.15 or 1.20?)
Solinco revolution 17 or 18? (1.15 or 1.20?)
Signum pro Xperience 17L (1.18)
Msv focus hex 17L (1.18)
Msv focus hex ultra 17 or 18? (1.15 or 1.20?)
Msv co focus 17L (1.18)
Tecnifibre Black code 4s 18 (1.20)
Head hawk touch 18 (1.20)

What are your experiences with any of these strings ? Which one would you particularly recommend ? I am looking especially for control, touch, tension maintenance and good grab/spin.

Looking forward for your feedback !

Thank you
Cheers

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F

fjcamry

Semi-Pro
I use kirschbaum proline ll 17L 1.20 and it’s in my crosses. With a 16g kirschbaum multi in the mains for added control. It’s very good up at net and serving . Ground strokes good too , could use more control . Maybe in mains soon to see .


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J

joohan

Guest
I’d put some WeissCannon strings on your list...Silverstring is RS Lyon-like but even cheaper, Scorpion is very good, too. Kirschbaum Pro Line II 1.25 is my golden standard in my 18x20 Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour (20mm beam, 97 sq inch head), strung at 55/52.

RS Lyon is a hard hitters dream. Linear response across power spectrum. Not explosive spin or power, more on the low power side, but very predictable and encouraging big cuts at the ball. Agrees well with rather powerful Angells and with my Yonex Tour G330.
 
S

shadow01

Professional
Currently using the tour bite 20g - love it for spin and control - does break though (it is super thin after all). I also used the hyper-g 20g and prefer the tour bite
 
R

Rui Lopes

Rookie
joohan said:
I’d put some WeissCannon strings on your list...Silverstring is RS Lyon-like but even cheaper, Scorpion is very good, too. Kirschbaum Pro Line II 1.25 is my golden standard in my 18x20 Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour (20mm beam, 97 sq inch head), strung at 55/52.

RS Lyon is a hard hitters dream. Linear response across power spectrum. Not explosive spin or power, more on the low power side, but very predictable and encouraging big cuts at the ball. Agrees well with rather powerful Angells and with my Yonex Tour G330.
Click to expand...
Hi Joohan,
I´ve tried once the RS Lyon 1.25 on my weighted up TC 97 and it was really good for a few hours. Do you think the 1.20 olds up well for hard hitters too? Is it softer than the 1.25 and does it keep a good level of control for like 3 hours?
 
F

fjcamry

Semi-Pro
Rui Lopes said:
Hi Joohan,
I´ve tried once the RS Lyon 1.25 on my weighted up TC 97 and it was really good for a few hours. Do you think the 1.20 olds up well for hard hitters too? Is it softer than the 1.25 and does it keep a good level of control for like 3 hours?
Click to expand...

If RS Lyon is similar to kirschbaum proline ll then yes.


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J

joohan

Guest
Rui Lopes said:
Hi Joohan,
I´ve tried once the RS Lyon 1.25 on my weighted up TC 97 and it was really good for a few hours. Do you think the 1.20 olds up well for hard hitters too? Is it softer than the 1.25 and does it keep a good level of control for like 3 hours?
Click to expand...

Should be but I’ve never tried 1.20 version.
 
Lozannois

Lozannois

Rookie
joohan said:
I’d put some WeissCannon strings on your list...Silverstring is RS Lyon-like but even cheaper, Scorpion is very good, too. Kirschbaum Pro Line II 1.25 is my golden standard in my 18x20 Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour (20mm beam, 97 sq inch head), strung at 55/52.

RS Lyon is a hard hitters dream. Linear response across power spectrum. Not explosive spin or power, more on the low power side, but very predictable and encouraging big cuts at the ball. Agrees well with rather powerful Angells and with my Yonex Tour G330.
Click to expand...
Yes you right I forgot silverstring which was my golden standard for some time but then I realized I was missing some grab of the ball with this string... What about kirschbaum pro line II in terms of spin ? Does it grab the ball well ? Have you tried 1.20 version ?

Thank you

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Lozannois

Lozannois

Rookie
Rui Lopes said:
Hi Joohan,
I´ve tried once the RS Lyon 1.25 on my weighted up TC 97 and it was really good for a few hours. Do you think the 1.20 olds up well for hard hitters too? Is it softer than the 1.25 and does it keep a good level of control for like 3 hours?
Click to expand...
Very curious about the 1.20 version too ! I have not heard a lot of people on this forum talking about RS Lyon 1.20... anyone ??

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R

Rui Lopes

Rookie
All i can say is that the RS Lyon 1.25 it´s really a special string. It plays like a really good poly , but it doesn´t feel like you are playing with a poly string. It stays firm for some hours , but always feels like it´s made of something else than polyester, something softer. Will have to try the 1.20 soon...
 
J

joohan

Guest
Lozannois said:
Yes you right I forgot silverstring which was my golden standard for some time but then I realized I was missing some grab of the ball with this string... What about kirschbaum pro line II in terms of spin ? Does it grab the ball well ? Have you tried 1.20 version ?

Thank you

Envoyé de mon ONEPLUS A5000 en utilisant Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I don’t think I’ve ever played with 1.20 PL II, unfortunately. It’s a bit softer/springier than Silverstring or RS Lyon and that might give a bit more snapback but it’s not worlds apart. I will play with fresh bed of PL II in a couple of hours so I’ll have some fresh insights...

You could try Yonex Poly Tour Spin which grabs the ball extremely well but it’s a bit lower powered and some people I know weren’t too fond of it’s feel.
 
J

joohan

Guest
Played some 2,5 hrs with freshly strung Kirschbaum PL2 1.25, 55/52 in 97 sq inch head, 18x20, 345g static weight, 12pts HL.

It feels nice, almost to the point of mushy in my heavily leaded Dunlop Bio 300 Tour. Touch is very good, power adequate but not special and spin is just above average. I haven’t played with 18x20 in a while but I couldn’t hit angles I’m used to with more open patterns. On the other hand, it is a confidence inspiring setup and I could really let it rip off both wings. Hit 4 aces in one competitive set we played, I usually hit about 1-2 maximum (...if any). It’s most probably the best setup for my game (modified frame + strings), I’ll have to try Silverstring or RS Lyon to truly compare. I guess they might be even better fit.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
F

fjcamry

Semi-Pro
I’ve been using PL 2 17L (1.20) in cross with kirschbaum multifiber in mains in my YouTek graphene speed pro for 2 years at 58-53 339 static weight, 336 swing weight , 6HL . It’s good . I then am reviewing the xplosive speed 1.25 in mains with kirschbaum multifber in crosses at 54-57, it’s even better but still feel the same as PLll just a little more deader being a black string . The red PLll is lively and crisp . I will try the PLll 17L in my mains soon . I have a reel in 1.20 PLll to use .


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c-had

c-had

Rookie
I'm a big fan of Solinco Revolution. I've played both the 17 and 18 full bed. I mostly settled on 17 as the 18 has a bit more pop, but I'll put the 18 in if I'm playing outdoors in cold weather. My favorite aspect of them is how long they last. Most thinner polys go dead on me in 6-8 hours of play (with my playing style and racquet). Revolution 18 can last 10-12 , and 17 can last 12-14. It's also a great all-around string. Not the biggest spin monster, but still good. Not the softest touch, but still good. Not the most control, but still good. Many strings maximize one aspect while sacrificing another, but I find Revolution to do a great job of finding a balance.
 
Lozannois

Lozannois

Rookie
c-had said:
I'm a big fan of Solinco Revolution. I've played both the 17 and 18 full bed. I mostly settled on 17 as the 18 has a bit more pop, but I'll put the 18 in if I'm playing outdoors in cold weather. My favorite aspect of them is how long they last. Most thinner polys go dead on me in 6-8 hours of play (with my playing style and racquet). Revolution 18 can last 10-12 , and 17 can last 12-14. It's also a great all-around string. Not the biggest spin monster, but still good. Not the softest touch, but still good. Not the most control, but still good. Many strings maximize one aspect while sacrificing another, but I find Revolution to do a great job of finding a balance.
Click to expand...
Very interesting ! I intend to try it soon ! I am hesitating between the 17 or 18 gauge... So you preferred the sensation and control of the 17g right ?

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Jack the Hack

Jack the Hack

Hall of Fame
I always string a full bed of poly in 1.20 mm, which is 17 or 18 gauge, depending on the manufacturer. This gauge seems to give me the perfect combination of the feel, spin, and playability, without sacrificing durability too much. Of course, the results depend on your racquet, tension, playing ability/style, and personal preferences, but I have experience with some of the strings on your list. Here's my quick rundown:

Weisscannon Silverstring 18 (1.20)

This was my "go to" string for about 5 or 6 years from around 2006-2011, which I used in the old Babolat Pure Drive Roddick frames at around 55 lbs. Good value for the money, and good all round performer.

Solinco tour bite 17 (1.20)

This is the string that I switched to around 2012, and played with until 2016. A friend had suggested it, and I fell in love with the crisp feel and spin. I had some great results on the court during that timeframe.

Kirschbaum max power rough 18 (1.20)

I switched racquets in the early part of 2017 to the Babolat Pure Strike Tour (red coral and blackish grey version) with an 18x20 pattern. For some reason, the Tour Bite didn't feel right in this frame, but I realize now that I was probably stringing it too high. I started using Kirschbaum Max Power Rough at 52 lbs, and got a very consistent feel with more control than I had ever had with the Pure Drive.

Hyper G 17 (1.20)

On a lark, a few months ago, I bought a couple sets of Hyper G 17, along with a few other polys, just to make sure I wasn't missing out on something good. I really like how Kirschbaum prestretches their string and the tension doesn't drop a lot, so I decided to do an experiment. I put the Max Power in the crosses, and Hyper G in the mains at 49 lbs. This was the magic combo for me, as it seemed to open up the potential of the frame. I still had the control and power that I had before, but the softer, dampened feel of the Hyper G really helped my volleys. I've felt zero harshness with this hybrid, even on hard shots from my opponents. This is going to be my setup for the forseeable future.

I'm a 47 year old all-court player, rated 4.5, with a semi-western forehand and two handed backhand. I like to hit a lot of spin, and the 18x20 frame + thin poly string combo gives me a more control and feel on my shots.
 
c-had

c-had

Rookie
Lozannois said:
Very interesting ! I intend to try it soon ! I am hesitating between the 17 or 18 gauge... So you preferred the sensation and control of the 17g right ?
Click to expand...
Yes, but the 18 and 17 are really very similar. The 18 is just a bit softer, while the 17 is just a bit stiffer (as you'd expect). But the difference isn't huge.

If you're researching the string, I'd ignore the data in TWU about Revolution 17. They clearly got a bad sample or something. Revolution 17's numbers should be right in between Revolution 16L and Revolution 18, based on my experience (and basic logic).
 
Nostradamus

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Lozannois said:
Hi everyone,

Need your help and feedbacks with regards to your experience with thin polys. I would like to try some of them on my Blade V7 18x20 and Tecnifibre TF40 18x20 and I am curious about the following ones :

RS Lyon 17L (1.20)
Weisscannon Silverstring 18 (1.20)
Kirschbaum max power rough 18 (1.20)
Kirschbaum pro line II 18 (1.20)
Hyper G 17 (1.20)
Solinco tour bite 17 or 18? (1.15 or 1.20?)
Solinco revolution 17 or 18? (1.15 or 1.20?)
Signum pro Xperience 17L (1.18)
Msv focus hex 17L (1.18)
Msv focus hex ultra 17 or 18? (1.15 or 1.20?)
Msv co focus 17L (1.18)
Tecnifibre Black code 4s 18 (1.20)
Head hawk touch 18 (1.20)

What are your experiences with any of these strings ? Which one would you particularly recommend ? I am looking especially for control, touch, tension maintenance and good grab/spin.

Looking forward for your feedback !

Thank you
Cheers

Envoyé de mon ONEPLUS A5000 en utilisant Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Tourbite 18 G is insane spin machine. it literally tears up the ball because it grabs the ball like crazy
 
Lozannois

Lozannois

Rookie
Jack the Hack said:
I always string a full bed of poly in 1.20 mm, which is 17 or 18 gauge, depending on the manufacturer. This gauge seems to give me the perfect combination of the feel, spin, and playability, without sacrificing durability too much. Of course, the results depend on your racquet, tension, playing ability/style, and personal preferences, but I have experience with some of the strings on your list. Here's my quick rundown:

Weisscannon Silverstring 18 (1.20)

This was my "go to" string for about 5 or 6 years from around 2006-2011, which I used in the old Babolat Pure Drive Roddick frames at around 55 lbs. Good value for the money, and good all round performer.

Solinco tour bite 17 (1.20)

This is the string that I switched to around 2012, and played with until 2016. A friend had suggested it, and I fell in love with the crisp feel and spin. I had some great results on the court during that timeframe.

Kirschbaum max power rough 18 (1.20)

I switched racquets in the early part of 2017 to the Babolat Pure Strike Tour (red coral and blackish grey version) with an 18x20 pattern. For some reason, the Tour Bite didn't feel right in this frame, but I realize now that I was probably stringing it too high. I started using Kirschbaum Max Power Rough at 52 lbs, and got a very consistent feel with more control than I had ever had with the Pure Drive.

Hyper G 17 (1.20)

On a lark, a few months ago, I bought a couple sets of Hyper G 17, along with a few other polys, just to make sure I wasn't missing out on something good. I really like how Kirschbaum prestretches their string and the tension doesn't drop a lot, so I decided to do an experiment. I put the Max Power in the crosses, and Hyper G in the mains at 49 lbs. This was the magic combo for me, as it seemed to open up the potential of the frame. I still had the control and power that I had before, but the softer, dampened feel of the Hyper G really helped my volleys. I've felt zero harshness with this hybrid, even on hard shots from my opponents. This is going to be my setup for the forseeable future.

I'm a 47 year old all-court player, rated 4.5, with a semi-western forehand and two handed backhand. I like to hit a lot of spin, and the 18x20 frame + thin poly string combo gives me a more control and feel on my shots.
Click to expand...
Hi,

Very interesting thank you for your feedback.

This is funny because I am also using this setup but with Max power standard 1.25 cross and hyper G 1.25 main and it is as well my favorite combo. It plays like a dream and seems to be best of both worlds indeed. But I will also try same combo with 17g then :)

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Muppet

Muppet

Legend
I can't beat Black Force 1.14 for a cross string. It adds a little dampened feel and lasts a long time for a string that's that thin. Red Devil 1.19 is a good choice if you want a neutral feel.
 
J

joohan

Guest
Played another 2,5hrs with Kirschbaum Pro Line II. The softness really dampens the feedback to a point I can’t feel what the ball will do. I know when I’m off centre etc but I don’t feel how much spin is on the ball and can’t anticipate how my opponent reacts. That being said, I played some of my best tennis in a long while...

I will look for a crisper response, hopefully RS Lyon and Silverstring will deliver.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
F

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
I don't play with polys, but I string for a decent circle of local players. I've offered Isospeed Baseline 1.20mm in a hybrid with a softer cross such as Gosen OGSM 16 and this has been very well received for at least a few years. You can buy a full reel of the Isospeed for about the cost of two or three individual sets of some "premium" stuff and that's fine. Since the lighter gauge polys don't seem to generally hold up for too long, it's much less expensive to replace this poly when it either pops or goes 'round the bend.
 
F

fjcamry

Semi-Pro
fuzz nation said:
I don't play with polys, but I string for a decent circle of local players. I've offered Isospeed Baseline 1.20mm in a hybrid with a softer cross such as Gosen OGSM 16 and this has been very well received for at least a few years. You can buy a full reel of the Isospeed for about the cost of two or three individual sets of some "premium" stuff and that's fine. Since the lighter gauge polys don't seem to generally hold up for too long, it's much less expensive to replace this poly when it either pops or goes 'round the bend.
Click to expand...

I’ve been playing kirschbaum proline ll in 17L (1.20) in my cross with kirschbaum multifibre 16 mains . I like how long this lasts. The xplosive speed 17(1.25) mains with multifibre cross lasts 2 weeks. I will try the proline ll 17L in mains next to see how long it lasts with multifibre 16 in cross.


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R

Rui Lopes

Rookie
Since no one has mentioned it yet i will do it. Weiis Cannon Scorpion 1.22 should be a baseliner´s that hits only topspin , a dream… You won´t find a string with better direcional control and a string that if you brush the ball will produce a huge top spin with a lot of power. The only downsides it´s the lack of touch , wich it´s fine for anyone that stays away from the net , and in my case that likes to hit strong and flat most of the times , the ball tends to die on the net on those flat shots. But the direcional control and slice it´s even a bit better than my favourite control string, Luxilon Original , and that´s a 1.30 gauge. If you like thin polys and like to play topspin 99% of your shots and always stay in the baseline , you won´t find anything better. It has great durability too.Just can´t make it my go to string because i can´t hit flat with it...
 
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F

fjcamry

Semi-Pro
I think that if the racket is known for spin and control such as the head speed pro then pairing with the kirschbaum proline ll 17L (1.20) would be fitting. I hybrid this string with a 16G multifibre cross to add softness and feel. It last 3 weeks or more when playing 4x week .


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geubes

geubes

Rookie
CiscoPC600 said:
Curious to see if anyone who has used Hyper G at 1.20m has tried Ice Code at 1.20m.
Click to expand...
Yep. Ice code is my preference, more predictable, easier to hit out with, lasts a little longer too. Hyper g starts to split and break up.

Very different feels on the ball. Hyper g definitely grabs it and spits it out well. Ice code allows me to have more variety to my game.

If I were mostly playing singles, it would be hyper g. But most of the court time here is doubles. Keep both in stock though
 
F

fjcamry

Semi-Pro
I don’t think anyone but me has mentioned the new 3rd generation soft poly kirschbaum xplosive speed shaped poly . It is a black shaped soft poly and at 17g (1.25) has similar stiffness as proline ll 17L (1.20). The only difference is it’s a little thicker then 17L and when in the mains with multifibre 16G crosses grabs the ball very well for 2 weeks then starts to feel like a different stringbed , with a little less SnapBack. The proline ll 17L is 1.20 very similar stiffness maybe more at tw 192 vs. 186 for xplosive speed in 17g 1.25 , but I feel the little bit smaller 17L gives it more feel and touch especially on the backhand and volleys. It lasts maybe a little bit longer at 3 weeks until the change in stringbed is noticeable.


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SteveI

SteveI

Legend
DonPepe said:
How long does it last tho?
Click to expand...

It holds up pretty well. In fact, during the TW review cycle.. Andy G. (about 3 weeks) did not break it. He was former touring pro and DIV1 standout. I have never broken a set either. I cut it out about 3 weeks in. I am not a string breaker.

Playability Duration - Score: 83

One of the most impressive features of Cyclone 19 was how long it stayed fresh and playable. For Chris, this co-poly not only went the distance, but he didn't need to cut it out after two weeks, which is often necessary with a polyester string. He said, "One of my favorite things about this string was how it continued to feel great throughout the test. I put a solid three weeks of hitting on my set, and I thought the string played great the whole time."

Newsflash! Andy, a former D1 collegiate player with ATP Tour points, was unable to break this ultra thin string. Like Chris, he also appreciated how long it stayed playable. He said, "I found the string to hold tension extremely well for a polyester, and its playability lasted throughout the entire three-week duration of the test. It softened up just a little bit at the end, but it did not get any livelier when it did."

Hope that helps...
 
badmice2

badmice2

Professional
I 2nd Focus Hex; 1.18 (17L) is great. Make sure to get it in black. Somehow red and white plays differently.

I've also tried it in 1.15, string lasted my 15 minutes.
 
brownbearfalling

brownbearfalling

Hall of Fame
WC silver string is an excellent string. On the stiffer side which helps it maintain tension well. Especially crucial since you are going thinner gauge.

If you truly want thin string go with solinco 19 or 20 gauge. At 1.10 and 1.05 gauge that’s the thinnest IVe seen in tennis string.
 
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