A couple string tests

sphinx780 · Oct 27, 2011

I'm with you PG. Back in H.S. and College, there was no need. Now I need a portable locker so I can go to and from work to the club and in MN, that also means a big *** coat for 7 months out of the year.

Add that to the fact that I'm a toe dragger so the final month of a shoes life I have to have the second pair in there in case the toe flips completely from the tear and I don't really have an option to avoid it.

But enough about bags, looking forward to hearing the thunderblast review coming up. I'm definitely going to try addiction, now it's just piecing together what else I buy as I'd like to support TW if I have the option.

mikeler · Oct 28, 2011

Posture Guy said:
man, I couldn't function without a good tennis bag. Might work for a high school kid, doesn't work for me.

I gotta have my tennis shoes and clothes in it so I can change at work, some used balls, some new balls, wrist bands, the powder for my on-court drink mix, my cooler that I'll fill with water before I leave my office, extra overgrips, and some bandaids.

Got the new Pacific Basalt bag. It rocks.

Same here. I keep 3 rackets in 1 section. Spare change, my wallet, my iPhone and keys go in another small pocket. In the middle pocket I keep 2 towels and all my wrist bands along with typically 8-10 used balls for when my opponents are late so I can practice serves. My 30 pack grip tapes go here. The third pocket is for all the knick knacks that I don't use every match but still need from time to time.

Oh wait, this is the string test thread.

Let's hear about full TB!

pvaudio · Oct 28, 2011

GAAH, I never know anymore ever since mikeler started singing its praises if TB is Thunder Blast (which I haven't tried yet even though they gave me a free set

), or Tour Bite like it used to be!

pvaudio · Oct 28, 2011

Or it could be tuberculosis, but I think consumption is pretty rare these days among 4.5 players and 5 star recruits

mikeler · Oct 28, 2011

pvaudio said:
GAAH, I never know anymore ever since mikeler started singing its praises if TB is Thunder Blast (which I haven't tried yet even though they gave me a free set ), or Tour Bite like it used to be!

Tour Bite is off my radar. Maybe I should make the acronym ThB. How does that sound Mr. Grad Student?

Up&comer · Oct 28, 2011

I've got midterms right now. No time for a review. Sorry.

pvaudio · Oct 28, 2011

Nah, I'm not going for a doctorate after all. Too excited to get into industry, so you can keep it just TB

mikeler · Oct 28, 2011

Up&comer said:
I've got midterms right now. No time for a review. Sorry.

Much more important. The strings will still be there when you get done.

mikeler · Oct 28, 2011

pvaudio said:
Nah, I'm not going for a doctorate after all. Too excited to get into industry, so you can keep it just TB

I was SO done with school by the time I got my Masters. Could not even think about a PhD.

Up&comer · Oct 28, 2011

I just have my French midterm online. It's so frustrating because I learned a good deal of informal French when i was in Europe, but what they teach you is formal. They also stuck me in french three when i haven't even taken the previous two because I understand enough already.

Français est tel une langue frustrant lorsque vous parlez informel français au lieu de formelle français!!!

Pourquoi, pourquoi est français tellement compliqué?

mikeler · Oct 28, 2011

Up&comer said:
I just have my French midterm online. It's so frustrating because I learned a good deal of informal French when i was in Europe, but what they teach you is formal. They also stuck me in french three when i haven't even taken the previous two because I understand enough already.

Français est tel une langue frustrant lorsque vous parlez informel français au lieu de formelle français!!!

Pourquoi, pourquoi est français tellement compliqué?

I took 2 years of French in high school. What a complete waste of time, if you never immerse yourself in the language, you just forget it.

Up&comer · Oct 28, 2011

mikeler said:
I took 2 years of French in high school. What a complete waste of time, if you never immerse yourself in the language, you just forget it.

Well, alot of my relatives speak French as a first language, so it helps me to know it on the ol holidays.

mikeler · Oct 28, 2011

Up&comer said:
Well, alot of my relatives speak French as a first language, so it helps me to know it on the ol holidays.

My Grandmother was a French teacher!

sphinx780 · Oct 28, 2011

Je ne parles pas francais is really all I learned to say while in France.

But my last name is French, does that count?

Up&comer · Oct 28, 2011

sphinx780 said:
Je ne parles pas francais is really all I learned to say while in France.

But my last name is French, does that count?

Pas si vous ne parlez pas il.

Up&comer · Oct 28, 2011

And I absolutely killed my french midterm. (in a good way)

mikeler · Oct 28, 2011

Up&comer said:
And I absolutely killed my french midterm. (in a good way)

Awesome. Work hard and good things will come to you.

Up&comer · Oct 28, 2011

Yep. I'll do the thunderblast full bed tomorrow.

mikeler · Oct 28, 2011

Up&comer said:
Yep. I'll do the thunderblast full bed tomorrow.

KCraig tried it and found it too stiff for his tender elbow at the time. He and I also tend to agree on strings, so looking forward to it.

Up&comer · Oct 29, 2011

Well, change of plans. I have to go hit with a blue chip sixth grader because they want him to have experience playing a bigger kid (more topspin, weight, etc...)

We'll see what ntrp he really is.

Up&comer · Oct 29, 2011

Alright. First I would like to say thunderblast is a very good multi. Secondly I would like to say that you people are crazy if you think a blue chip 6th grader is anything less than a 4.0.

UWBTennis · Oct 29, 2011

Up&comer said:
Alright. First I would like to say thunderblast is a very good multi. Secondly I would like to say that you people are crazy if you think a blue chip 6th grader is anything less than a 4.0.

Lol, I'm not surprised, considering I see all these kids with much better strokes than me (I'm a self-rated low 4.0) on YouTube. Personal experience has told me that videos are not very flattering to the actual skill, for example I look more like a zombie struggling to move than the graceful ballerina I always thought I look like.

Posture Guy · Oct 29, 2011

Lol, did you play him for his lunch money?

question: when you get the chance, I'd love to see you rate your top 3-5 setups in order of preference. Sounds like maybe the B5E mains/Classic crosses is at the top of the list now. In the past the reverse was high, as was Classic/Scorpion.

mikeler · Oct 29, 2011

Up&comer said:
Alright. First I would like to say thunderblast is a very good multi. Secondly I would like to say that you people are crazy if you think a blue chip 6th grader is anything less than a 4.0.

Which multi as a full bed is it most similar to? My guess would be X1 just based on using it as a cross. I have a feeling B5E/gut will be tough to beat.

Up&comer · Oct 29, 2011

Posture Guy said:
Lol, did you play him for his lunch money?

question: when you get the chance, I'd love to see you rate your top 3-5 setups in order of preference. Sounds like maybe the B5E mains/Classic crosses is at the top of the list now. In the past the reverse was high, as was Classic/Scorpion.

Nope. I played him for his sponsored technifibre racket and athletic DNA clothing...

More seriously, he need to play someone who hit lots of spin and depth, and all his normal hitting partners were in tournaments.

My top three would be:
1)B5E/Classic
2)Solinco Tour Bite/Classic
3)Not entirely sure, but probably b5e/thunderblast

Up&comer · Oct 29, 2011

mikeler said:
Which multi as a full bed is it most similar to? My guess would be X1 just based on using it as a cross. I have a feeling B5E/gut will be tough to beat.

It feels like a mix between addiction and x-1.

It didn't have quite as much power as x-1, but it has all the control and it feels like it won't turn into a rocket launcher. It's probably going to break about the same time as addiction. I'll write a review once I get home.

mikeler · Oct 29, 2011

Good info, thanks.

Up&comer · Oct 30, 2011

Genesis thunderblast full bed at 56

Stringing- really easy. Like I said, it's stiff enough it's easy to weave, but not so stiff it's hard to weave.

Groundstrokes- for a multi, it performs great. It has low power, ample spin, and it has a nice firm feel that's lacking with other multis. Feels like a mix of addiction and x-1.
Overall- 9/10

Serves- solid. I mean, not great, but I didn't feel limited like I do with certain setups.
Overall- 8.5/10

Volleys- it's got that rip control feel. It's a stiffer, low powered multi that just shines at net for some reason. I could absolutely kill volleys and knife them low if I needed. Touch volleys were a little lacking.
Overall- 9/10

Durability- above average. It feels like it will last about the same amount of time as addiction. The black coating wore off pretty easily though.
Overall- 6.5/10

Softness- 1 being the softest, 10 being the stiffest.
Overall- 4/10

This is probably my personal favorite multi because of it's cost as well as performance. It does lack in the touch department, and is definitely one of the stiffest multis I've used in a while. I say it's my favorite because it's just solid from all areas. It doesn't have any horrible weaknesses, and it's relatively cheap.
Overall- 8/10

Up&comer · Oct 30, 2011

And one point I would like to make is that my overall score at the end isn't an average of the above scores or anything. Its just my overall feeling about the string.

mikeler · Oct 30, 2011

Awesome review. Guess I was wrong, sounds like a good multi full bed too.

Up&comer · Oct 30, 2011

mikeler said:
Awesome review. Guess I was wrong, sounds like a good multi full bed too.

Yeah. Its main downside is that it's stiff.

RyKnocks · Oct 30, 2011

U&C / Mikeler

Between full RIP Control and Thunderblast, which would you consider better for a low powered, high spin, but "muted" feel?

Up&comer · Oct 30, 2011

RyKnocks said:
U&C / Mikeler

Between full RIP Control and Thunderblast, which would you consider better for a low powered, high spin, but "muted" feel?

Ummm, neither are incredibly muted. Rip definitely has the edge in the spin department, but power levels are pretty close. Thunderblast has a more consistent response and I think its cheaper in reel form.

My vote goes toward thunderblast.

mikeler · Oct 30, 2011

Never used the Thunder Blast full bed. At least now I know why my volleys are so good now. I also volleyed well with full RIP Control.

Up&comer · Oct 31, 2011

mikeler said:
Never used the Thunder Blast full bed. At least now I know why my volleys are so good now. I also volleyed well with full RIP Control.

Or maybe it's all psychological.

sphinx780 · Oct 31, 2011

Up&comer said:
Or maybe it's all psychological.

Isn't that the beauty of this sport...

Was it the string, or was it me?
Was it the racket, or was it me?
Was it the lead, or was it me?
ooops, I tripped. At I'm sure that was me...or was it the shoes?

mikeler · Oct 31, 2011

Up&comer said:
Or maybe it's all psychological.

I think I've logged enough hours/years on a tennis court to know when something is psychological. Volleys have always been my weakest shots and match after match they are a weapon now. The PK 7G is also more head light than the PSTs I used to wield. That also seems to help in the volleying department for me.

Up&comer · Oct 31, 2011

Alright. Not doubting you or anything, it may be the string.

Next up will be intellitour. It gets here around Wednesday.

Any other recommendations? It's cold enough its becoming poly season. I break other strings so darn fast when it's cold out.

I do play indoors sometimes, but now would be a good time for me to test out some polys.

Up&comer · Oct 31, 2011

mikeler said:
I think I've logged enough hours/years on a tennis court to know when something is psychological. Volleys have always been my weakest shots and match after match they are a weapon now. The PK 7G is also more head light than the PSTs I used to wield. That also seems to help in the volleying department for me.

And for sure it's my favorite volleying setup in a long time.

Boricua · Oct 31, 2011

Tecnifibre Ruff Code full bed or hybrid

Up&comer · Oct 31, 2011

Boricua said:
Tecnifibre Ruff Code full bed or hybrid

I'll try it in both. If I like it in a full bed, I'll do a hybrid with gut. If not, I'll hybrid it with addiction.

TaihtDuhShaat · Oct 31, 2011

Genesis Typhoon blue or Signum Pro Tornado!

These would be great to compare to the other textured polys you've reviewed. Try em' as mains or as full beds.

Up&comer · Oct 31, 2011

TaihtDuhShaat said:
Genesis Typhoon blue or Signum Pro Tornado!

These would be great to compare to the other textured polys you've reviewed. Try em' as mains or as full beds.

Hmmm. I'll do tornado and I might get the typhoon. I like signum pro polys.

Ill do the same procedure as ruff code.

Up&comer · Nov 2, 2011

Intellitour came yesterday. I'll be playing indoors today, so I will test it out then.

mikeler · Nov 2, 2011

Up&comer said:
Intellitour came yesterday. I'll be playing indoors today, so I will test it out then.

It is not that much different from full RIP Control if you string it with the RIP portion in the mains.

Uvijek Argen · Nov 2, 2011

mikeler said:
It is not that much different from full RIP Control if you string it with the RIP portion in the mains.

No, its not much different, but It does the difference in this part of the ground strokes that U&C describe.....

Up&comer said:
Groundstrokes- really good. Lots of spin and low power, and it was pretty soft to par. My problem was that it gets a little unpredictable. Sometimes it just launches the ball and sometimes I didn't get any power.
Overall- 8/10

I did have like U&C that problem and with Intellitour I found a top notch control and the right power that us as player give under the swing.

I want to add that playing since summer with this string I got my TE flared up again this past Friday. Hit for 5 minutes and have to stop,since I couldn't even hold the racquet. My forearm muscle swallow. But it wasn't the string purse, but the laziness in me. I started to use a lot of forearm in the crosses shot since its so easy to control and not full arm swing.
The other problem in the long run affect me cause is semi-low power and caught myself muscling the ball in many shots. So great part was my technique and not the string.

Also it behave like poly in winter and felt stiff and that's a big no-no for me.
The last week before getting the final flared up I was already playing with full bed of narutal gut, but the damage was done already in the forearm so now Im resting for a couple of weeks.

Have a good day guys!!!

mikeler · Nov 2, 2011

Uvijek Argen said:
No, its not much different, but It does the difference in this part of the ground strokes that U&C describe.....

I did have like U&C that problem and with Intellitour I found a top notch control and the right power that us as player give under the swing.

I want to add that playing since summer with this string I got my TE flared up again this past Friday. Hit for 5 minutes and have to stop,since I couldn't even hold the racquet. My forearm muscle swallow. But it wasn't the string purse, but the laziness in me. I started to use a lot of forearm in the crosses shot since its so easy to control and not full arm swing.
The other problem in the long run affect me cause is semi-low power and caught myself muscling the ball in many shots. So great part was my technique and not the string.

Also it behave like poly in winter and felt stiff and that's a big no-no for me.
The last week before getting the final flared up I was already playing with full bed of narutal gut, but the damage was done already in the forearm so now Im resting for a couple of weeks.

Have a good day guys!!!

UA, hope you heal up quickly. This time of year we have to be aware of what effect the colder temps can have.

Uvijek Argen · Nov 2, 2011

mikeler said:
UA, hope you heal up quickly. This time of year we have to be aware of what effect the colder temps can have.

Thanks mate...yeah we need to be careful in this kind of weather.

Up&comer · Nov 2, 2011

mikeler said:
It is not that much different from full RIP Control if you string it with the RIP portion in the mains.

Interesting. Alot of people say it's noticeably softer.

We'll see.

mikeler · Nov 2, 2011

Up&comer said:
Interesting. Alot of people say it's noticeably softer.

We'll see.

It is softer but not by a lot unless perhaps you put the RIP in the crosses.

A couple string tests

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