String Opinions

frosty8722 · Aug 20, 2010

Hello!

I'm recently a new stringer, and developed a new fascination for string after frequenting these forums for the past couple of weeks. This forum really introduced me to new, varying types of strings which I would definitely like to try out in my tennis lifetime.

That being said, I've noticed remarkable comments and reviews on the Solinco brand, which i too would like to try sometime for its amazing spin factor (Tour Bite // Revolution?)

Luxilon strings also attracted my attention, especially the Big Banger series, yet the tennis elbow factor kind of deterred me away from them. Granted that I strung with a BB Power 'knockoff': the Klippermate Power Burst, the stiffness of the string alarmed me (I was under the impression i was stringing with piano wire. Haha) and I am very skeptical to try out BB Power or Rough on a full bed.

On my tennis team, ProHurricaneTour is kind of the golden standard for our spin players and I have personally bought a 17g to try prior to the spring season. Hopefully it'll work wonders for me as it does for my other teammates!

That being said, my question is basically "Which is the better string?" PHT is next on my stringing list, and maybe I will use it as comparison as I transition to Solinco. The PHT lifespan is also abnormally short as I've read before it goes dead, so I'm just curious if Solinco will outlive it.

I am a Junior and doubles 1 in my school tennis team. So my pocket isn't THAT deep when it comes to purchasing more and more strings to sample before I come to a conclusion over my favorite/standard string I'll keep. So I'll greatly appreciate any comments and advice anyone could throw my way!

Thanks!
-Frosty

Jonny S&V · Aug 20, 2010

frosty8722 said:
Hello!

I'm recently a new stringer, and developed a new fascination for string after frequenting these forums for the past couple of weeks. This forum really introduced me to new, varying types of strings which I would definitely like to try out in my tennis lifetime.

That being said, I've noticed remarkable comments and reviews on the Solinco brand, which i too would like to try sometime for its amazing spin factor (Tour Bite // Revolution?)

Luxilon strings also attracted my attention, especially the Big Banger series, yet the tennis elbow factor kind of deterred me away from them. Granted that I strung with a BB Power 'knockoff': the Klippermate Power Burst, the stiffness of the string alarmed me (I was under the impression i was stringing with piano wire. Haha) and I am very skeptical to try out BB Power or Rough on a full bed.

On my tennis team, ProHurricaneTour is kind of the golden standard for our spin players and I have personally bought a 17g to try prior to the spring season. Hopefully it'll work wonders for me as it does for my other teammates!

That being said, my question is basically "Which is the better string?" PHT is next on my stringing list, and maybe I will use it as comparison as I transition to Solinco. The PHT lifespan is also abnormally short as I've read before it goes dead, so I'm just curious if Solinco will outlive it.

I am a Junior and doubles 1 in my school tennis team. So my pocket isn't THAT deep when it comes to purchasing more and more strings to sample before I come to a conclusion over my favorite/standard string I'll keep. So I'll greatly appreciate any comments and advice anyone could throw my way!

Thanks!
-Frosty

Welcome to the forums!

In my opinion, although Tour Bite doesn't have the "crisp" feeling of new PHT (emphasis on the new), it outplays PHT in every other aspect (in my opinion of course). If you're on a budget, Cyberflash and Cyberpower are worth a demo, both very different strings but well liked strings on the board (CF being my string of choice). If you wanna go very cheap but very playable still, Isospeed Baseline 16Lg/17g is one of my favorite polys (it being a black string might have skewed my opinion of it, but I digress).

You have many options, but I think this is a good place to start! Good luck (coming from a fellow #1 dubs player)!

frosty8722 · Aug 21, 2010

Jonny S&V said:
Welcome to the forums!

In my opinion, although Tour Bite doesn't have the "crisp" feeling of new PHT (emphasis on the new), it outplays PHT in every other aspect (in my opinion of course). If you're on a budget, Cyberflash and Cyberpower are worth a demo, both very different strings but well liked strings on the board (CF being my string of choice). If you wanna go very cheap but very playable still, Isospeed Baseline 16Lg/17g is one of my favorite polys (it being a black string might have skewed my opinion of it, but I digress).

You have many options, but I think this is a good place to start! Good luck (coming from a fellow #1 dubs player)!

Thanks for the advice Jonny!
I've seen Cyberflash mentioned on and off during the forums. I definitely will look into it. =]
As for now, I'm still waiting until i have the chance to string up my PHT. If i like it, who knows, i might just stick with it!

thanks again

LPShanet · Aug 22, 2010

frosty8722 said:
Hello!

I'm recently a new stringer, and developed a new fascination for string after frequenting these forums for the past couple of weeks. This forum really introduced me to new, varying types of strings which I would definitely like to try out in my tennis lifetime.

That being said, I've noticed remarkable comments and reviews on the Solinco brand, which i too would like to try sometime for its amazing spin factor (Tour Bite // Revolution?)

Luxilon strings also attracted my attention, especially the Big Banger series, yet the tennis elbow factor kind of deterred me away from them. Granted that I strung with a BB Power 'knockoff': the Klippermate Power Burst, the stiffness of the string alarmed me (I was under the impression i was stringing with piano wire. Haha) and I am very skeptical to try out BB Power or Rough on a full bed.

On my tennis team, ProHurricaneTour is kind of the golden standard for our spin players and I have personally bought a 17g to try prior to the spring season. Hopefully it'll work wonders for me as it does for my other teammates!

That being said, my question is basically "Which is the better string?" PHT is next on my stringing list, and maybe I will use it as comparison as I transition to Solinco. The PHT lifespan is also abnormally short as I've read before it goes dead, so I'm just curious if Solinco will outlive it.

I am a Junior and doubles 1 in my school tennis team. So my pocket isn't THAT deep when it comes to purchasing more and more strings to sample before I come to a conclusion over my favorite/standard string I'll keep. So I'll greatly appreciate any comments and advice anyone could throw my way!

Thanks!
-Frosty

As stated above, it's a really subjective thing, but all the strings you mentioned are good ones. You should give them all a shot, as well as a bunch of others. One thing to know, though. All of the strings you're talking about are in the poly/co-poly category, so there will be certain qualities that you just won't escape. No poly plays great for a long time. Sure, some might retain their playability slightly longer than others for some players, but in the end, Solinco, Pro Hurricane Tour, and any Luxilon will all go dead. It's the nature of that whole category of string. I don't think any of them feel good after 8-10 hours of use. So understand that you're talking subtleties here. I'd suggest also looking at some other string types at some point if you're a new stringer, as they're important to your understanding, even if most players on the team will opt for poly of some kind.

So a few myths to bust now. The first is that Luxilon has some kind of different evil magic that will cause tennis elbow. The fact is that arm problems are endemic to the entire poly category, because they're all fairly inelastic compared to multis. So if you're fine with poly strings so far, definitely don't be afraid to try some Luxilon strings (I'd suggest checking out Alu Power [rough or regular], M2 Pro, Alu Power Fluoro and BB Original to give you an overview of their range. They're probably no worse for your arm than PHT or Solinco. Luxilon is the gold standard for this type of string, and there's a reason they're the most popular in the category and on the pro tour.

That said, trying another brand's knockoff is no way to test a particular string. That doesn't tell you anything about anything other than the particular knockoff in question. If brands could really imitate Alu Power, then it wouldn't be selling so well. Each string is different, and should be tested on its own merits.

In the end, there is no such thing as a better string. Everyone likes something different. But a few polys worth trying (in addition to the Luxilons above) are Solinco Tour Bite, Tecnifibre Black Code, and any of the MSV range. Since you don't have a lot of cash to burn, it may take you some time to try them all, but there really is no substitute for playing with a bunch of things and expanding your personal knowledge of the differences. Don't trust other people's personal biases, as their perceptions may be very different from yours. And if you can, I'd suggest trying a few multis and other synthetic strings, too. You might be surprised at how much you like them, as they offer more zip and comfort than polys do.

frosty8722 · Aug 22, 2010

LPShanet said:
As stated above, it's a really subjective thing, but all the strings you mentioned are good ones. You should give them all a shot, as well as a bunch of others. One thing to know, though. All of the strings you're talking about are in the poly/co-poly category, so there will be certain qualities that you just won't escape. No poly plays great for a long time. Sure, some might retain their playability slightly longer than others for some players, but in the end, Solinco, Pro Hurricane Tour, and any Luxilon will all go dead. It's the nature of that whole category of string. I don't think any of them feel good after 8-10 hours of use. So understand that you're talking subtleties here. I'd suggest also looking at some other string types at some point if you're a new stringer, as they're important to your understanding, even if most players on the team will opt for poly of some kind.

So a few myths to bust now. The first is that Luxilon has some kind of different evil magic that will cause tennis elbow. The fact is that arm problems are endemic to the entire poly category, because they're all fairly inelastic compared to multis. So if you're fine with poly strings so far, definitely don't be afraid to try some Luxilon strings (I'd suggest checking out Alu Power [rough or regular], M2 Pro, Alu Power Fluoro and BB Original to give you an overview of their range. They're probably no worse for your arm than PHT or Solinco. Luxilon is the gold standard for this type of string, and there's a reason they're the most popular in the category and on the pro tour.

That said, trying another brand's knockoff is no way to test a particular string. That doesn't tell you anything about anything other than the particular knockoff in question. If brands could really imitate Alu Power, then it wouldn't be selling so well. Each string is different, and should be tested on its own merits.

In the end, there is no such thing as a better string. Everyone likes something different. But a few polys worth trying (in addition to the Luxilons above) are Solinco Tour Bite, Tecnifibre Black Code, and any of the MSV range. Since you don't have a lot of cash to burn, it may take you some time to try them all, but there really is no substitute for playing with a bunch of things and expanding your personal knowledge of the differences. Don't trust other people's personal biases, as their perceptions may be very different from yours. And if you can, I'd suggest trying a few multis and other synthetic strings, too. You might be surprised at how much you like them, as they offer more zip and comfort than polys do.

Thank you for your two cents LPShanet.
I have personally tried about 5-10 different strings in my tennis lifetime, both on my sticks and those of my friends'. PHT was a natural one of them, and I'd have to say that I wasn't quite satisfied by the few hits that I managed to perform. Yet I'd like to string up my own racket at perhaps 60lbs and see what the string is able to do for me. Also, I've felt the spin capabilities of Lux BB Ace first hand and was very impressed by it as a matter of fact. So far, my plan for sampling both Luxilon and Solinco have not changed, and I have high hopes for the both of them. Cyber Flash and Technifibre are definitely doing on my research list because of both your and the prior commenter's recommendations.

Concerning other strings, I'm very open for them. I myself was a chronic string breaker on my old Prince O3 Shark Hybrid (4 strings in a span of ~5 weeks. Unheard of for at me at least!) I researched kevlar strings for a bit, then gave up on them because of their harshness on the arm. Then the possibility of a hybrid for kevlar (Prince ProBlend or Ashaway) with a soft synthetic arose, so I'm definitely going to look into that as well. =D

Once again, it means a lot when an experienced member of this forum and also of the game voices their opinion to me. Thanks!

-Frosty

MomentumGT · Aug 22, 2010

Solinco Tour Bite is a really good string, especially in a full bed. Topspin Cyberflash was my go to string for quite some time as it felt the closest to Lux Alu but without the hefty price tag and has better tension maintenance. The Tour Bite got me to switch off of the Cyberflash. It was just as crisp but with more access to spin and for some reason gave me a tad more confidence hitting out on the ball. I play till the string breaks even if it's dead and the Tour Bite kept its performance, for the most part, till it snapped. I highly recommend it.

-Jon

Mr_Shiver · Aug 22, 2010

I really like Signum Pro Poly Plasma. It holds tension better than any other poly I have tried. It is lower powered with great control. Feel is crisp but not harsh. Plus it is 9 dollars a pack. Tour bite is fantastic and I use it on some of my racquets. I break it fast though. Without a doubt you must try natural gut sometime. It is expensive but you will have a tennis orgasm using it. My gf bought me some for my birthday and I nearly proposed on the spot.

frosty8722 · Aug 23, 2010

MomentumGT said:
Solinco Tour Bite is a really good string, especially in a full bed. Topspin Cyberflash was my go to string for quite some time as it felt the closest to Lux Alu but without the hefty price tag and has better tension maintenance. The Tour Bite got me to switch off of the Cyberflash. It was just as crisp but with more access to spin and for some reason gave me a tad more confidence hitting out on the ball. I play till the string breaks even if it's dead and the Tour Bite kept its performance, for the most part, till it snapped. I highly recommend it.

-Jon

Yet another Tour Bite happy customer! Haha.
I appreciate your feedback Jon. I've been more interested in Tour Bite recently due to more and more positive feedback and reviews by other people. And its about $10 a pack! Definitely going to invest some in it. =D

frosty8722 · Aug 23, 2010

Mr_Shiver said:
I really like Signum Pro Poly Plasma. It holds tension better than any other poly I have tried. It is lower powered with great control. Feel is crisp but not harsh. Plus it is 9 dollars a pack. Tour bite is fantastic and I use it on some of my racquets. I break it fast though. Without a doubt you must try natural gut sometime. It is expensive but you will have a tennis orgasm using it. My gf bought me some for my birthday and I nearly proposed on the spot.

I've always considered the miracle of natural gut. The price tag is triple that of Tour Bite so its a shocker. I definitely plan on cracking natural gut sometime in my life, probably during my senior year to kind of go out with a "bang."

P.S - You're a lucky man to have your girl gift you some natural gut. Very lucky indeed.

fuzz nation · Aug 23, 2010

If I ever get into natural gut, I'll probably use it in my mains with a more affordable cross. I have to say that I've never seen someone have a bad experience with that string and it's worked miracles for several players seeking relief from tennis elbow.

I do some high school coaching and I'm always leery about doing a hybrid poly job for any of the kids who don't already use that type of string. Trust me, you guys aren't immune to tennis elbow, etc. just because you're young. I've seen several cases of it among a number of the stronger, more accomplished young players in my region. Generally, I recommend that anyone who doesn't seriously need the control aspect of poly to avoid it.

Since you're stringing your own gear now, the good news is that breaking strings won't put you in the poorhouse. I strongly encourage you to follow the advice of our pal LPShanet above and get a nice cheap reel (or individual sets) of some synthetic gut and see how it works for you. I've found home-sweet-home with 17 gauge syn. gut in pretty much every racquet I use.

Kevlar: sure it's durable, bullet-proof even, but it's also seriously non-resilient. Do a search here and find what success some of the gang have found with really loose kevlar hybrids. We're talking mains strung down in the mid to high 40 lb. range.

Cheers!

Kevo · Aug 23, 2010

If you've played with Lux BB Ace, then you've played one of the best polys I've tried. My problem with it is durability. I have a tendency to break strings regularly, and BB Ace breaks fast for me especially in more open pattern frames. If you're not a breaker and the price of BB Ace isn't an issue, I'd say just go with it and don't waste your money trying other polys until you've ruled it out.

frosty8722 · Aug 23, 2010

fuzz nation said:
If I ever get into natural gut, I'll probably use it in my mains with a more affordable cross. I have to say that I've never seen someone have a bad experience with that string and it's worked miracles for several players seeking relief from tennis elbow.

I do some high school coaching and I'm always leery about doing a hybrid poly job for any of the kids who don't already use that type of string. Trust me, you guys aren't immune to tennis elbow, etc. just because you're young. I've seen several cases of it among a number of the stronger, more accomplished young players in my region. Generally, I recommend that anyone who doesn't seriously need the control aspect of poly to avoid it.

Since you're stringing your own gear now, the good news is that breaking strings won't put you in the poorhouse. I strongly encourage you to follow the advice of our pal LPShanet above and get a nice cheap reel (or individual sets) of some synthetic gut and see how it works for you. I've found home-sweet-home with 17 gauge syn. gut in pretty much every racquet I use.

Kevlar: sure it's durable, bullet-proof even, but it's also seriously non-resilient. Do a search here and find what success some of the gang have found with really loose kevlar hybrids. We're talking mains strung down in the mid to high 40 lb. range.

Cheers!

"Not putting me in the poorhouse" was actually my intention for buying my own machine. That and also cause i love stringing personally.

I actually own 13 or so sets of some no-name synthetic gut as given to me by a tennis player from an older generation. I found ball pocketing on that to be remarkable. Not so spin friendly, yet a cannon when swung right.

And also concerning low tensions. I've read the forums on EXTREMELY low tensions, well below the recommended ones printed on an individual racket. Is having low tensions (40's) detrimental to the racket in any way? I mean I'm sure there's a reason manufacturers say the recommended tensions as such. I'd experiment with it if i knew whether or not it was. Especially with kevlar. =P

Kevo said:
If you've played with Lux BB Ace, then you've played one of the best polys I've tried. My problem with it is durability. I have a tendency to break strings regularly, and BB Ace breaks fast for me especially in more open pattern frames. If you're not a breaker and the price of BB Ace isn't an issue, I'd say just go with it and don't waste your money trying other polys until you've ruled it out.

Thanks for your input Kevo!
My personal friend who uses BB Ace is actually quite small, and definitely is not a chronic string breaker at that, so it does miracle's for his game. He rarely hits heavy topspin so 'nuff said.
I'll definitely look into BB Ace in a more serious manner at that. My experience with poly's have been that they're actually quite durable. I have yet to personally break a set of them, except maybe Prince Recoil. So unless BB Ace's quality is absolutely abysmal, I'll invest the time and money in it.

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