Babolat rpm blast/xcel hybrid

I am thinking about trying and experimenting with hybrid strings and I am thinking about trying rpm blast mains and xcel crosses, has anyone tried this combination before? If so what is it like and is it a good combination? or does anyone have any suggestions for something to use other than xcel? I love rpm blast and have been playing with a full bed of it in my pure aero for a while now and would like to keep it as my mains as I love playing with lots of spin.

When you use a poly as the mains, it will tend to dominate the string bed‘s characteristics. The cross will mostly act as a support or suspension system. IME there’s no need, or any significant reason to use an expensive sting like Xcel. A syngut, like Forten Sweet or Prince’s OSG will tend to have lower power than most multi’s, and give you an overall power level that’s closer to a full poly bed. As a multi, Wilson Sensation makes a very good hybrid and is on sale for $6 currently.

I use genesis Thunder Blast as crosses, it’s a pretty low powered string for multifilament.

Benefits of poly / multi: softer feeling, bigger sweet spot, great for touch shots, obviously easier on the arm.

Downside: more pop, just slightly less control.

Tension your crosses more than the mains and it should help dampen the extra power. Depends on your game / playing style and what you’re trying to accomplish. But tension is important, I had the crosses at low tension and I couldn’t control the ball.


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I used RPM Blast crosses and Xcel mains for nearly 7 months but had to stop due to constant string breakage(heavy spin, long hours, high force). If you’re fine with breaking I would say it’s good or if you don’t want to break to often maybe try RPM Team since it’s softer and I got more play time off it

Rossyspsce said:

I used RPM Blast crosses and Xcel mains for nearly 7 months but had to stop due to constant string breakage(heavy spin, long hours, high force). If you’re fine with breaking I would say it’s good or if you don’t want to break to often maybe try RPM Team since it’s softer and I got more play time off it

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Why wouldn't you just do Blast in the mains, Xcel in the crosses?

Shaolin said:

Why wouldn't you just do Blast in the mains, Xcel in the crosses?

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tried and found it less comfortable than Xcel mains Blast crosses and the time before breakage was about the same for me

Rossyspsce said:

tried and found it less comfortable than Xcel mains Blast crosses and the time before breakage was about the same for me

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Interesting ok well at least you tried it out.

i would avoid non poly crosses. Once the outer coating wears off (which happens within first few hours) string bed locks up and it becomes difficult for mains to move (think snapback) since the string to string friction becomes quite high. I would try tourna silver 7 tour mains (even more spin than rpm) with rpm cross. Even though this is poly/poly hybrid, tourna s7t is quite comfortable poly that is also spin monster and great comfort/power. Alternative is volkl cyclone tour which many have said to be comfortable but the twisted gear shape doesnt produce as much spin as tourna s7t’s sharp 7 edged profile


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