Mamba Tennis
- Thread starter davedomart
- Start date
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
i've only tried hexa 1.20 so far. i plan to order some hexa 1.25 this week to try.
i would guess that 1.25 will play very similar to 1.20 with the following small differences.
1.20 will have a bit more feel, power and spin.
1.25 will last longer.
I've been trying 1.25 Hexa and developed slight arm soreness.
I have ordered regular Iontec so will try that and compared.
I have no arm problems with RPM or TB strung at 60 and sensation in crosses at 58. I strung Hexa at 55 mains and sensation crosses at 57 and developed arm soreness. Strange.
I have ordered regular Iontec so will try that and compared.
I have no arm problems with RPM or TB strung at 60 and sensation in crosses at 58. I strung Hexa at 55 mains and sensation crosses at 57 and developed arm soreness. Strange.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
yeah, strange indeed. TB is MUCH stiffer and harsher than Iontec 1.25, albeit i haven't tried Hexa 1.25 yet.
have you been playing more frequently now? i find Iontec so comfortable that i've been able to play more often that sometimes it's easy to overdo it.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
maybe give TB 16L mains + Iontec or Iontec Hexa 1.20 crosses a try. Meaghan just tried this combo in the Rackaholic thread and said it's unbelievable. i've been experimenting w/ Hexa 1.20 as a cross string and find that it works really well, too.
Yeah but, if playing sensation as current cross which is a pretty soft string, I am not sure how my arm would be with TB and Hexa as a cross. If Hexa and Sensation give me problems I don't see how TB and Hexa would be better on the arm.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
maybe it's long term wear 'n' tear on the arm that it finally started hurting while you were using your latest setup. i dunno but it's possible. the human body is a complicated machine. i've had the most plush combos of sticks + strings aggravate my shoulder before on groundstrokes for what i thought was no reason at all so go figure. i still don't know what triggers my shoulder to hurt sometimes. take some time to let your arm heal first then give it another go.
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loosegroove
Hall of Fame
Ray is the man. Awesome at replying to emails, answering any questions I have. And he was kind enough to quickly send out some Iontec for me to give a whilrl, awesome! I just strung it up in the mains of my Exo3 Tour, hybrided with Pro Supex Spiral. I look forward to hitting with it tomorrow. I'll definitely leave some feedback here.
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fortun8son
Hall of Fame
I bought a reel of Iontec Black 1.25 to use as a middle of the road 17g.
I am curious as to why Discho et al has not been tested by RSI. Ray?
I am curious as to why Discho et al has not been tested by RSI. Ray?
Cfidave
Professional
Been reading through the threads, very interesting stuff. I have been using BHBR with good results, but always looking for improvement. Ordered Iontec Hex 1.25 & Iontec 1.20. Plan to do a hybrid with Hex in the mains and the plain Iontec 1.20 in the crosses. Racquet is a Head Ig Youtek Prestige Pro 16 x19. I will get back with my thoughts on this setup.
Let us know the results. I will be ordering a reel pretty soon
Rozroz
G.O.A.T.
hi.
in my search for good spin, soft and lively hybrid poly i came across this thread.
any of you Mamba testers here came to a conclusion about the best Mamba option for mains hybrid with a multi? (i string a PDGT around 57lb)
*this goes for all "Mamba Tennis" brands (black, Discho, Iotec etc.)
thanks.
in my search for good spin, soft and lively hybrid poly i came across this thread.
any of you Mamba testers here came to a conclusion about the best Mamba option for mains hybrid with a multi? (i string a PDGT around 57lb)
*this goes for all "Mamba Tennis" brands (black, Discho, Iotec etc.)
thanks.
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I am currently a RPM mains with sensation crosses setup. My reel is about done and I am experimenting with Hexa and sensation in the crosses. I would play one set with my RPM setup and then switch to the Hexa setup. I felt that Hexa has a bit more bite than RPM setup but a bit less power. I asked my opponent what they noticed and most said not much at all. Most said the RPM had a bit more power but that was the only noticable difference.
I just received a new order in which I am going to try regular Iontec and Black Mamba. I will then make a decision on these 3 and order a reel. I will let you know how regular Iontec and Black Mamba go compared to Hexa/RPM.
Rozroz
G.O.A.T.
----thanks.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
my reel of Iontec Black 1.25 just arrived today. for those of you who enjoy regular Iontec 1.25 in salmon color, i highly recommend the Iontec Black 1.25. retains all the goodness of salmon colored Iontec, but it feels a tad bit more comfy. i strung my PS85 TW reissue at 45/47#s and it played unbelievable. tons of control, pace, tightly wound spin and retained the great feel while feeling even more comfy on mishits. highly recommended.
D
Deleted member 120290
Guest
Have you hit with Hexa? If so how does Hexa compare to Iontec or Iontec Black? How many hours do you get out of Iontec?
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
i've only hit w/ Hexa 1.20. i ordered 2 set of Hexa 1.25 this time. sent 1 set to you along w/ a set of Iontec Black 1.25 as well. I will be trying the other set of Hexa 1.25 next.
Hexa 1.20 was more powerful so i had to string it higher. peak performance was quite good, but it usually only last me about 10 hrs. 1.20 lost tension a little quicker as well. i'm finding Hexa 1.20 makes a great cross string in hybrids.
btwn Iontec 1.25 and Hexa 1.20, i actually prefer Iontec 1.25. i get ~20 hrs out of a set of Iontec and even after it dies, it still remains playable. it loses some power and spin. holds tension really well. ball pocketing is excellent w/ both.
btwn Iontec 1.25 Salmon vs Iontec 1.25 Black, i prefer Black.
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D
Deleted member 120290
Guest
MD1, I just got your strings in the mail. Thanks, man! Iontec Black(IB) feels like the rounded version of Cyclone in my hands. Hexa 1.25 feels stiffer than IB. I'm thinking of going 52lbs on my MG Rad Pro with IB. Should I go same with Hexa, or lower or higher? I don't want to go too low and get a trampoline loss of control. I don't want to go too high and feel like a board with no power.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
cool! no prob, my friend. 52#s is probably a good starting point w/ IB for your stick. i was stringing Iontec salmon 1.25 at 51/49 using a conventional method in a 95" head size. w/ JC/JET method, i could've dropped to 49 or 50#s. i've strung Iontec at 55-56# in 95-96" head sizes for a couple of guys and they've been very satisfied with how it plays . Iontec seems to work well across a wide range tensions.
see how you like Iontec Black @52#s first. if you find it too low, then i would string Hexa at the same tension given it's stiffer. if you find it too high, they drop tension for Hexa 2-3#s. basically, whatever tension you feel is optimal for Iontec, you'll want to drop tension for Hexa 1-2#s.
fortun8son
Hall of Fame
They do recommend starting in the 40s and working up.
Maybe that was just the Mamba?
I got the Iontec Black and I was thinking of starting around 47 fullbed.
Maybe that was just the Mamba?
I got the Iontec Black and I was thinking of starting around 47 fullbed.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
do you play tennis? i recall reading that you string but don't play. maybe i have you confused w/ someone else.
for reference, in my PS85, i strung it at 45/47 JET/JC method. feels awesome. in my 95, i strung it 47/49 JET/JC method, i feel i can take it up 1-2#s to tone down the power a bit. i used to string it at 51/49 per the Stringway tension advisor recommendation using the conventional method w/ good control and power.
fortun8son
Hall of Fame
Yes. that is I. I string but don't play. Thanks for the confirmation.
I don't use JET but I slow-pull.
I think Iontec1.25 will work very nicely.
I don't use JET but I slow-pull.
I think Iontec1.25 will work very nicely.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I wish I could get a pack of iontec black..I want to do a cross with tour bite mains. I would trade my unopened pack of 1.25 hexa for some black if anyone is interested.
Cfidave
Professional
Iontec review
Racquet: Head IG Youtek Prestige Pro, 350gr. 7.5pts. HL. 16x19
Stringer: Electronic constant pull
Tension: 48/48, slow pull.
String: Mains Iontec Hexa 1.25, Crosses Iontec Plain 1.20
Groundstrokes: First let me say that with this setup I think Iontec is a medium powered string with exceptional control, very good spin, and incredible ball pocketing. I hit my forehand with an eastern grip and derive most of my spin from stroke production. Iontec let me swing out with extremely good control. Spin was definitely enhanced, but not to the point of the ball sitting up, something I noticed with some of the more aggressively shaped polys. The thing that I noticed from the get go was the ball seemed to really pocket in the string bed, I just felt like I could put my shot on a dime. Pace was there, but it was more dialed in by my stroke, then a product of the string. Backhands were pretty much the same, I have a 1hb, hit over the ball mostly, and was able to generate some nice action on the ball, again great control. Slices, were improved, not sure why. Sometimes my slice shots tend to float, with this setup they tended to bite a bit more, staying lower. Comfort was outstanding, very close to a full multi bed. Final thought: probably the best ground stroke setup I have ever played with, which includes BHBR, BHB7, Genesis Black Magic, Babolat RPM Blast, etc.
Serves: I felt with flat serves you got out what you put in. No added or negative effects from the string that I could perceive. Slice, and kick serves had very good action, very similar to BHBR IMO. Where I think the Iontec really shines in the serve department is, again, in control. I was able to consistently hit my spots. Placement was superb, power was about the same as other co-polys, and spin was above average.
Volleys,Touch Shots: Excellent feel at net, almost the feel of a multisynthetic. Very good control on fast paced reaction type volleys. Dwell time on touch shots was outstanding, just really felt good.
Final Thoughts: Although I have only played with this Iontec setup for two hours, I did hit a great deal of balls. Too early to tell about tension maintenance, and longevity in general. I can say that it is one heck of a string, in just about every regard that’s important to me. The one outstanding characteristic of this string is the feel and ball pocketing that it seems to have, without being mushy ( black widow), never felt anything like it in a poly. As a bonus, you get a nice loud “crack” when you hit the sweet spot with this stuff!
Racquet: Head IG Youtek Prestige Pro, 350gr. 7.5pts. HL. 16x19
Stringer: Electronic constant pull
Tension: 48/48, slow pull.
String: Mains Iontec Hexa 1.25, Crosses Iontec Plain 1.20
Groundstrokes: First let me say that with this setup I think Iontec is a medium powered string with exceptional control, very good spin, and incredible ball pocketing. I hit my forehand with an eastern grip and derive most of my spin from stroke production. Iontec let me swing out with extremely good control. Spin was definitely enhanced, but not to the point of the ball sitting up, something I noticed with some of the more aggressively shaped polys. The thing that I noticed from the get go was the ball seemed to really pocket in the string bed, I just felt like I could put my shot on a dime. Pace was there, but it was more dialed in by my stroke, then a product of the string. Backhands were pretty much the same, I have a 1hb, hit over the ball mostly, and was able to generate some nice action on the ball, again great control. Slices, were improved, not sure why. Sometimes my slice shots tend to float, with this setup they tended to bite a bit more, staying lower. Comfort was outstanding, very close to a full multi bed. Final thought: probably the best ground stroke setup I have ever played with, which includes BHBR, BHB7, Genesis Black Magic, Babolat RPM Blast, etc.
Serves: I felt with flat serves you got out what you put in. No added or negative effects from the string that I could perceive. Slice, and kick serves had very good action, very similar to BHBR IMO. Where I think the Iontec really shines in the serve department is, again, in control. I was able to consistently hit my spots. Placement was superb, power was about the same as other co-polys, and spin was above average.
Volleys,Touch Shots: Excellent feel at net, almost the feel of a multisynthetic. Very good control on fast paced reaction type volleys. Dwell time on touch shots was outstanding, just really felt good.
Final Thoughts: Although I have only played with this Iontec setup for two hours, I did hit a great deal of balls. Too early to tell about tension maintenance, and longevity in general. I can say that it is one heck of a string, in just about every regard that’s important to me. The one outstanding characteristic of this string is the feel and ball pocketing that it seems to have, without being mushy ( black widow), never felt anything like it in a poly. As a bonus, you get a nice loud “crack” when you hit the sweet spot with this stuff!
D
Deleted member 120290
Guest
I'm hitting with Iontec Black and Hexa later on tonight. If it is as good as Cfidave and MadDog1 say, we need to delete this thread immediately to keep the price down. 
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
i'm planning to try the same thing. i've got about 3/4 of a reel of TB and LOTS of Iontecs to experiment with. (1 1/4 reels of Iontec Hexa 1.20, and almost a full reel of Iontec Black 1.25)
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Very cool. The full iontec is so soft for me that I am interested in seeing if the tb will add to the feel and crispen it up a little.
Cfidave
Professional
nice review, Cfidave!
Thanks, I am really taken back by this string. Playing again tuesday night, interesting to see if I remain a fan...most likely. Also noticed virtually no string movement during my two hours of play time. I do hope the black Iontec gets offered in the hexa form, not nuts about the color.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
i had no expectations when i first tried iontec. i figured it's just another poly/copoly string so how much different can it play compared to other copolys. obviously i was wrong because i've now gone through nearly 2 reels of this stuff and i still keep coming back to it after comparing it to every string i've tried so far. for me, iontec is the bomb regardless of price. the fact that it's only $70 for a reel is just an added bonus.
D
Deleted member 120290
Guest
URGENT! We need to start a new thread, "I HATE YOU, MAMBA!" and delete this one. As I posted earlier I was afraid that others and I might like Iontec Black(IB) and Hexa a little too much and drive up the price. Tonight I played against the same guy who beat me up last week 1-6, 3-6. To be fair, last week I was dead tired, sick with a cold and using an 8 hour old poly (0S/4S) that was moving around.
Today I felt better. I'm almost over my cold, wasn't tired and hit with fresh sets of polys. I won 7-5, 6-2. The first set I played with Hexa 1.25. The thing that really surprised me was the pocketing. It felt like the ball stayed on the string bed forever. It took me a set to get used to it. With Hexa I can hit some nasty slices and topspin. The power level was pretty good, not too high, not too low. I played the 1st set like 4.5 over the hill Nadal, hitting extreme topspin FH's and controlling most of the rallies.
In the 2nd set I switched to IB 1.25. I started hitting like 4.5 Ferrer, hitting moderate topspin, inside out FH's and running around my opponent. I was hitting THRU the court more and I hit 3 FH's that were just Gonzo like. I felt like I could just toy with my opponent in the 2nd set. I played really well and he was exhausted chasing after my shots. I wanted to play another set so I could compare my fresh 0S/4S to Hexa and IB but my opponent would have none of it.
I only played an hour with each but I can already tell they are both very good strings (can't comment on tension maintenance and longevity yet.) If you are looking for the BHBR, BHB7, Cyclone, B5E type of spin string then Hexa is for you. You can really generate a lot of spin with it. If you are more of a moderate topspin hitter, then you will like IB. It really holds the ball, gives you great control and allows you to hit thru the court with as much spin or as flat as you want. The control and feel are good enough that I can go down from 50 to 48lbs and I don't think I'll have any problems.
Hexa and IB stretch A LOT for a poly during stringing. It stretches almost like a syn gut. For me a fresh IB > 8 hour old LTec. I don't know how long IB or Hexa will maintain the performance at that level but they play very well. If you factor in the price and Mamba guarantee, it's a no-brainer. The strings feel and play like much more expensive strings.
I didn't like Discho Black Spin at all. It was harsh and very low powered. But IB and Hexa are at totally different levels. Personally I like to control the amount of spin with my own swing and I want something that I can really hit thru the court with little topspin when I'm going in for the kill, so I prefer IB just by a little. Hexa plays like BHB7 without the springiness. IB plays like Silverstring with more spin and pocketing. Looks like I'm putting in an order for an IB 1.25 reel.
Today I felt better. I'm almost over my cold, wasn't tired and hit with fresh sets of polys. I won 7-5, 6-2. The first set I played with Hexa 1.25. The thing that really surprised me was the pocketing. It felt like the ball stayed on the string bed forever. It took me a set to get used to it. With Hexa I can hit some nasty slices and topspin. The power level was pretty good, not too high, not too low. I played the 1st set like 4.5 over the hill Nadal, hitting extreme topspin FH's and controlling most of the rallies.
In the 2nd set I switched to IB 1.25. I started hitting like 4.5 Ferrer, hitting moderate topspin, inside out FH's and running around my opponent. I was hitting THRU the court more and I hit 3 FH's that were just Gonzo like. I felt like I could just toy with my opponent in the 2nd set. I played really well and he was exhausted chasing after my shots. I wanted to play another set so I could compare my fresh 0S/4S to Hexa and IB but my opponent would have none of it.
I only played an hour with each but I can already tell they are both very good strings (can't comment on tension maintenance and longevity yet.) If you are looking for the BHBR, BHB7, Cyclone, B5E type of spin string then Hexa is for you. You can really generate a lot of spin with it. If you are more of a moderate topspin hitter, then you will like IB. It really holds the ball, gives you great control and allows you to hit thru the court with as much spin or as flat as you want. The control and feel are good enough that I can go down from 50 to 48lbs and I don't think I'll have any problems.
Hexa and IB stretch A LOT for a poly during stringing. It stretches almost like a syn gut. For me a fresh IB > 8 hour old LTec. I don't know how long IB or Hexa will maintain the performance at that level but they play very well. If you factor in the price and Mamba guarantee, it's a no-brainer. The strings feel and play like much more expensive strings.
I didn't like Discho Black Spin at all. It was harsh and very low powered. But IB and Hexa are at totally different levels. Personally I like to control the amount of spin with my own swing and I want something that I can really hit thru the court with little topspin when I'm going in for the kill, so I prefer IB just by a little. Hexa plays like BHB7 without the springiness. IB plays like Silverstring with more spin and pocketing. Looks like I'm putting in an order for an IB 1.25 reel.
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mixedmedia
Professional
Thanks for the SS comparison. I'll be interested in the durability of IB compared to SS as well.
fortun8son
Hall of Fame
We hate Discho, Pro's Pro and Tourna.
How dare they market such good strings at low prices!
Don't they know that they won't be taken seriously?
After all, who would want a reel each of Iontec, Blackout, and Big Hitter for the price of one reel of Pro Hurricane Tour?
How dare they market such good strings at low prices!
Don't they know that they won't be taken seriously?
After all, who would want a reel each of Iontec, Blackout, and Big Hitter for the price of one reel of Pro Hurricane Tour?
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
there's no comparison. Iontec is very difficult to break because it resists notching. i've only seen it break on a shank against the frame causing the string to shear.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
very nice review! how did you find the comfort levels? i'm glad to see more people recognizing the awesomeness of Iontec. i've been raving about it for quite some time now so it's good to see more and more converts. 8)
D
Deleted member 120290
Guest
All 3 of them are shocking, appalling and disgusting. TW should ban any posts about them from the forum.
D
Deleted member 120290
Guest
First the first 30 mins. my arm and brain were confused because the ball seemed to not want to leave the racket. I'd never quite felt something like that in a poly. I felt like I was hitting with NXT Tour but with the spin of a poly. Maybe the fact that it stretches so much during stringing has something to do with it. Because it stretched so much I thought it was gonna be spring city, but surprisingly not springy at all, thus the great control.
I would say in terms of comfort, it's up there with the most comfortable polys. But most plush ones like BHBR, Energy, etc. are springy so less control. Then you have ALU, TB, B5E which have superb control but are stiff. IB is comfortable yet doesn't lose control (not yet anyway.) Hopefully it will stay that way.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
a fresh bed of IB or IS (Iontec Salmon) definitely offers more control than a bed w/ 10+ hrs but an old bed of IB or IS still gives me WAY more control than a fresh bed of BHBR. when i'm playing w/ 20 hr IS, i get great directional control, but i have less depth control as balls will land long due to less spin.
D
Deleted member 120290
Guest
For me 10-20 hours is Fantasyland. As long as I can get good 5-6 hours before the strings start to move, I'll be very happy esp. at $70/reel.
fortun8son
Hall of Fame
TenFanLA: you should try linguine stringing (al dente) with white clam sauce.
You'll have to pay for my seminar to do it properly, though. 8)
You'll have to pay for my seminar to do it properly, though. 8)
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
you should definitely get 5-6 hours out of Iontec Black or Salmon. I'm on 5-6 hours on IB in my PS85 now and the strings just started moving tonight. Seems like IB is slightly softer than IS so it starts moving a bit sooner. Then again, i've been hitting w/ hard hitters the past 3 nights so that could also be a contributing factor. even after they started moving on me, i was still getting great control and very good spin.
mixedmedia
Professional
I guess I meant playability retention.
any tension suggestion?
I played with IB 1.20 @53/MCS 16g @56 on pdr gt. I liked it a lot and had good 15-20 hours on it already.
I am ready to string up a kblade mp, which is 18x20 and want to try full bed. What would you recommend tension wise? I do not like super tight but also hate too loose bed. I am using a lockout machine. Thanks.
I played with IB 1.20 @53/MCS 16g @56 on pdr gt. I liked it a lot and had good 15-20 hours on it already.
I am ready to string up a kblade mp, which is 18x20 and want to try full bed. What would you recommend tension wise? I do not like super tight but also hate too loose bed. I am using a lockout machine. Thanks.
