Play test cut short...ugh
Thank you Babolat and Tennis Warehouse for letting us every day internet groupies take part in this highly valued product. To top that off, we got multiple sets!!! Thank you again.
I normally save my play tests till near the dead line so that I can put as much time into my review. Alas I am not able to continue playing at this time due to injury.
Tennis experience/background:
Recreational player. 90% doubles. Interclub tournament participant at the B/3.5-4.0 level
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Not a typical serve/chip and volley player but will pressure to get to the net on any possibility. Eastern/Semi-Western forehand and 1HBH
Current racquet/string:
Boris Becker DC London with Volkl Cyclone 48# CP or Cyclone/Synthetic Gut 50/52#
Tension used for playtest
52# CP. Racquet Tune measured 3.6% loss after 6 hours and 4.1% after 24 hours still fresh. 6.5% loss after 1st day of play. Tension loss as of review is at 9.8%
Regular string set up
See above
Racquet brand and model used for test
See above
Power of test string
Power came easy when fresh. After a few days of playing, the power seemed to drop and I struggled to get ground shots past the base line. Would probably try setting it up a couple pounds lower next time around to compensate for the loss of power.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
It was as if Muted and Crisp had a child. The muted side comes out at the base line and the Crisp side came out on volleys
Spin
Ground strokes provided a decent amount of spin but not rough poly like spin. I was able to dial my ground strokes but had trouble with my high spin kicker serve. I had to lower my 2nd serve trajectory which if it had enough pace was still effective. If there was no pace the ball sat up for the opponent to crush it.
Comfort
Very comfortable and pillow like. This is a good string for those looking to soften up a stiff frame, need poly like control yet has a tender elbow.
Durability
I don't normally play with 16g and or break strings. This will probably last a long time and I will end up cutting it out before it breaks. I had some notching on the mains and some of the crosses looked like it was past the outer layer.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
There was a quick break in period and played consistent in terms of control and spin. What changed for me was the power level seemed to go down. The strings also started to stick a little and snap back wasn't as good. This was nothing like synthetic gut though (yet could possibly well be after a few more games)
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
This string shined for me here. I found myself picking my corners of the service box on my 1st serves. Ground strokes also found themselves going left or right as dictated. Unlike some other multi/synthetics, the control level stayed on par during the duration of play.
Compare to the string you use most often
Cyclone 17g full bed at 48 or Cyclone/Synthetic 17g at 50/52. There was more comfort with Origin and ground stroke control and less spin.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I would probably lower the tension a couple pounds as it seemed that the the major change I found in this string was the loss of power.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
I would have probably played with this string for a very long time but came under injury. I tore my calf muscle this past weekend during a match. I am on crutches, can't drive and am on RICE
One of the factors I consider when to cut out a string is when they stop snapping back. Polys are very early and synthetics I will play a while longer even with string movement. My next set of the 16g I will consider in a hybrid. Should I go full bed I will put it in my Prince POG MP as it is a very open string patter.
