Tennis Warehouse: Kirschbaum Max Power Playtest

Kirschbaum Max Power 17 Playtest

We are no longer taking requests for this playtest. Emails have been sent to the selected participants.

The samples are shipping on Thursday 7/24

Reviews are due by Wednesday 8/20

If you do not post a review, you will be excluded from future playtests.

No hybrids

Include the following in your review:

Tension(s) used for playtest
Regular string set up
Racquet brand and model used for test
Power of test string
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Spin
Comfort (off-center shock?)
Durability
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Compare to the string you use most often
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
List any additional thoughts (optional)

This will be my first kirschbaum string! Very excited for this playtest. However, I'm not sure what racket I want to put it in.

I've tried many Kirschbaum strings, this will be my fifth, actually. My favorite was certainly Proline X. I'm excited to test this one out.

When will this string be available for purchase? Will it come in 18g?

colowhisper said:

When will this string be available for purchase? Will it come in 18g?

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it comes in 1.20, 1.25 and 1.30. They might introduce an 18G later on.

colowhisper said:

When will this string be available for purchase? Will it come in 18g?

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colowhisper,

It looks to be in stock early August. It will come in 16 (1.30), 17(1.25) and 18 (1.20) gauge.

Brittany, TW

Just got this in. Looking forward to stringing it up and using it tomorrow. Thanks TW!

Comparing a piece of Max Power to RPM Blast. Max Power is not as slick or oily as RPM Blast, feels almost rough. Also, Max Power appears to be stiffer, because it offers more resistance when bending a piece with your finger. My game revolves around top spin, therefore, I chose to string Max Power 5lbs lower than what I normally string RPM Blast.
Full Review later today.

Kirschbaum Max Power Playtest

I got the Max Power 17g and strung it up today, will play tomorrow!

It was pretty easy to string, felt kinda like Ashaway Monogut ZX 17g (red) maybe a little stiffer.

All strung up, can't wait to play with it.

dicktracey said:

Comparing a piece of Max Power to RPM Blast. Max Power is not as slick or oily as RPM Blast, feels almost rough. Also, Max Power appears to be stiffer, because it offers more resistance when bending a piece with your finger. My game revolves around top spin, therefore, I chose to string Max Power 5lbs lower than what I normally string RPM Blast.
Full Review later today.

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Why wouldn't you string at your normal tension? I think that would make more sense from an analytical standpoint, seeing as it's one less variable you have to think about while trying to judge the string objectively.

Maxrap said:

I got the Max Power 17g and strung it up today, will play tomorrow!


It was pretty easy to string, felt kinda like Ashaway Monogut ZX 17g (red) maybe a little stiffer.

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IMO it was kind of tough to string for a smooth poly.

serb4life said:

Why wouldn't you string at your normal tension? I think that would make more sense from an analytical standpoint, seeing as it's one less variable you have to think about while trying to judge the string objectively.
IMO it was kind of tough to string for a smooth poly.

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True, however, not all strings are made equally. Some strings play excellent at certain tensions and crap at other tensions. For example, you wouldn't dare string kevlar at a high tension or synthetic gut at a low tension. Max Power seemed stiffer and rougher than RPM Blast, so to give it a fair chance of me liking it, I strung it lower.
I also thought it was a tad more difficult to string than RPM, perhaps because it's not as flexible and oily.

dicktracey said:

True, however, not all strings are made equally. Some strings play excellent at certain tensions and crap at other tensions. For example, you wouldn't dare string kevlar at a high tension or synthetic gut at a low tension. Max Power seemed stiffer and rougher than RPM Blast, so to give it a fair chance of me liking it, I strung it lower.
I also thought it was a tad more difficult to string than RPM, perhaps because it's not as flexible and oily.

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I understand what you have said, and I am not trying to be rude, but this play test's main objective isn't to provide you with enjoyment. It is to provide potential buyers with an accurate idea of what to expect if they purchase the string.

For me, I would be able to give the most accurate analysis by using my typical tension as a controlled variable, since playability characteristics of stings are dependent on tension. That way I can compare the play test with polys I have previously used.

All in all, 5 lbs may not affect the the outcome of your play test, or the opinions you have formed about the string. Sorry if I came off as curt.

dicktracey said:

True, however, not all strings are made equally. Some strings play excellent at certain tensions and crap at other tensions. For example, you wouldn't dare string kevlar at a high tension or synthetic gut at a low tension. Max Power seemed stiffer and rougher than RPM Blast, so to give it a fair chance of me liking it, I strung it lower.
I also thought it was a tad more difficult to string than RPM, perhaps because it's not as flexible and oily.

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Well you made a typical mistake in believing that the stringing characteristics determine anything regarding power or stiffness while playing. If you followed my thread on the string, you'd know that it is quite powerful and not at all uncomfortable (at least when compared to RPM Blast) even though it feels stiff while stringing. Your normal tension would have been better.

serb4life said:

I understand what you have said, and I am not trying to be rude, but this play test's main objective isn't to provide you with enjoyment. It is to provide potential buyers with an accurate idea of what to expect if they purchase the string.

For me, I would be able to give the most accurate analysis by using my typical tension as a controlled variable, since playability characteristics of stings are dependent on tension. That way I can compare the play test with polys I have previously used.

All in all, 5 lbs may not affect the the outcome of your play test, or the opinions you have formed about the string. Sorry if I came off as curt.

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Like I said, strings are not made equally. Ex. different materials, gauge, coatings, stiffness, etc. Why would you string the same tension, when the manufacturer recommends stringing lower or higher?
You're not giving an accurate analysis if you string out of your comfort range or "enjoyment."
For example:
Let's say you normally string RPM at 35lbs, would you not alter your tension if you were playtesting synthetic gut? Most synthetic gut(full bed) is unplayable at 35lbs, too soft and wild.
If I were playtesting synthetic gut, I would string 20lbs+ tighter. I agree this adds more variables, however, it also adds value and thought.

SpinToWin said:

Well you made a typical mistake in believing that the stringing characteristics determine anything regarding power or stiffness while playing. If you followed my thread on the string, you'd know that it is quite powerful and not at all uncomfortable (at least when compared to RPM Blast) even though it feels stiff while stringing. Your normal tension would have been better.

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Maybe, we'll see. I string much looser than you. What works for you, may not work for everyone. We are all unique players, with different games, looking for different things.

dicktracey, i understand your reasoning for string lower since you perceived the kirschbaum string to be stiffer than RPM blast. makes sense to me since i'd likely do something similar if the string felt stiffer than my reference string except i actually read SpinToWin's post in the other thread before though so i plan to use my normal tension based on his review.

either way will be useful to other readers. because if you find that the string plays too loose, you'll mention that you should have strung it a few #s higher,etc.

dicktracey said:

Like I said, strings are not made equally. Ex. different materials, gauge, coatings, stiffness, etc. Why would you string the same tension, when the manufacturer recommends stringing lower or higher?
You're not giving an accurate analysis if you string out of your comfort range or "enjoyment."
For example:
Let's say you normally string RPM at 35lbs, would you not alter your tension if you were playtesting synthetic gut? Most synthetic gut(full bed) is unplayable at 35lbs, too soft and wild.
If I were playtesting synthetic gut, I would string 20lbs+ tighter. I agree this adds more variables, however, it also adds value and thought.

Click to expand...

I understand differences between string materials and how to compensate accordingly with tension.

Why do you claim that your normal tension for (RPM) a poly would be out of your comfort range for another poly (Max Power)? Why not string Max Power the same tension as RPM Blast? If you are comparing two polys, it makes sense to use a reference tension. That way, you can compare stiffness and other string attributes objectively. I agree that gauge is a factor to take into consideration, but 5lbs is a lot.

I'm not sure why you mentioned the poly/syn gut example when we are talking about two different polyester strings. (RPM Blast and Max Power)
I don't think anyone is going to be interested in how Max Power compares to Prince sun gut.

I may have missed the manufacturer recommendation on the sample package.

Serb4life- chill out a little. TW didn't specify what tension one had to use and Kirschbaum is still going to get a good review.

Stung up today at 48 lbs in my dunlop. Felt stiffer than my bhb7. Piece of cake to string; no kinking at all.

As I said in the super smash orange Playtest, I was again short on string, needing to bridge the last cross. Luckily, I had a few inches left to tie the knot.

Benching the ball around, there seems to be a lot of feel. I'll be hitting with it for the next week or so, and I'll report back.

Played for about an hour. Took a set from a league rated 4.5 and took a mini(first to 3 games) set from another 4.5, but lost 2 or 3 mini sets to him. My game revolves around topspin on both wings.

Tension(s) used for playtest
10 pounds

Regular string set up
RPM Blast 16g @ 15 pounds, with Babolot APD and Yonex Vcore

Racquet brand and model used for test
Yonex Vcore Tour G 330

Power of test string
Good

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Felt a tad stiffer/less flexible than RPM Blast 16g. But Max Power gripped the ball better than RPM, which resulted in less shanking and stability, perhaps due to the rougher texture. Therefore, feels like it has more mass and control over RPM Blast.

Spin
Good

Comfort (off-center shock?)
Good

Durability
A slight notch after an hour of play. About the same as RPM blast. (see picture, below)

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
RPM Blast plays magical when fresh(feels like you have the hand of god), but goes downhill every minute. Maybe, because the silicon layer wearing off.
However, Max Power stayed the same, or even got better. Maybe, because there is no silicon layer/coating. Plays very predictable and linear.
.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
This is the highlight of this string, control is amazing. More control than RPM Blast in almost all areas, probably because Max Power is a tad stiffer/deader, grips the ball better, and plays more linear. Volleys and Serves have great control!

Compare to the string you use most often
I’d give the slight edge to RPM Blast the first day. Max Power doesn’t have the dynamic snap back sensation/hand of god feeling a fresh RPM has. But after the first day or 2 weeks in, I foresee Max Power taking over. I will update.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
Hard to say. I enjoyed hitting with it @ 10lbs. Not too stiff and not too loose. Not sure what would happen if I add or take away tension.

List any additional thoughts
I’ve used a full bed of Kirschbaum Spiky Shark 16g @ 30lbs, and was very disappointed. It was very dead, very slow, and felt like cheap plastic, compared to RPM Blast and Luxilon 4g @ 50+lbs. Kind of felt like a full bed of Kevlar.
Max Power on the other hand is VERY NICE. Very predictable, linear, and I think it might have a more stable playability duration compared to RPM due to the lack of coating that RPM has.
I actually might switch to Max Power. I can’t afford to play with a new string every set, like the pros. Max Power might be the poly solution for amateurs.

dicktracey said:

Played for about an hour. Took a set from a league rated 4.5 and took a mini(first to 3 games) set from another 4.5, but lost 2 or 3 mini sets to him. My game revolves around topspin on both wings.

Tension(s) used for playtest
10 pounds

Regular string set up
RPM Blast 16g @ 15 pounds, with Babolot APD and Yonex Vcore

Racquet brand and model used for test
Yonex Vcore Tour G 330

Power of test string
Good

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Felt a tad stiffer/less flexible than RPM Blast 16g. But Max Power gripped the ball better than RPM, which resulted in less shanking and stability, perhaps due to the rougher texture. Therefore, feels like it has more mass and control over RPM Blast.

Spin
Good

Comfort (off-center shock?)
Good

Durability
A slight notch after an hour of play. About the same as RPM blast. (see picture, below)

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
RPM Blast plays magical when fresh(feels like you have the hand of god), but goes downhill every minute. Maybe, because the silicon layer wearing off.
However, Max Power stayed the same, or even got better. Maybe, because there is no silicon layer/coating. Plays very predictable and linear.
.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
This is the highlight of this string, control is amazing. More control than RPM Blast in almost all areas, probably because Max Power is a tad stiffer/deader, grips the ball better, and plays more linear. Volleys and Serves have great control!

Compare to the string you use most often
I’d give the slight edge to RPM Blast the first day. Max Power doesn’t have the dynamic snap back sensation/hand of god feeling a fresh RPM has. But after the first day or 2 weeks in, I foresee Max Power taking over. I will update.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
Hard to say. I enjoyed hitting with it @ 10lbs. Not too stiff and not too loose. Not sure what would happen if I add or take away tension.

List any additional thoughts
I’ve used a full bed of Kirschbaum Spiky Shark 16g @ 30lbs, and was very disappointed. It was very dead, very slow, and felt like cheap plastic, compared to RPM Blast and Luxilon 4g @ 50+lbs. Kind of felt like a full bed of Kevlar.
Max Power on the other hand is VERY NICE. Very predictable, linear, and I think it might have a more stable playability duration compared to RPM due to the lack of coating that RPM has.
I actually might switch to Max Power. I can’t afford to play with a new string every set, like the pros. Max Power might be the poly solution for amateurs.

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10 pounds O.O That's amazing haha

idono1301 said:

10 pounds O.O That's amazing haha

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that was my thought too :lol:

Rjtennis said:

Serb4life- chill out a little. TW didn't specify what tension one had to use and Kirschbaum is still going to get a good review.

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10# :mrgreen:

idono1301 said:

10 pounds O.O That's amazing haha

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Even if he meant 10 kg, that's only 22 lbs.

Still wow!

hoodjem said:

Even if he meant 10 kg, that's only 22 lbs.

Still wow!

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He could pull that tension with his arms :lol:

dicktracey said:

Played for about an hour. Took a set from a league rated 4.5 and took a mini(first to 3 games) set from another 4.5, but lost 2 or 3 mini sets to him. My game revolves around topspin on both wings.

Tension(s) used for playtest
10 pounds

Regular string set up
RPM Blast 16g @ 15 pounds, with Babolot APD and Yonex Vcore

Racquet brand and model used for test
Yonex Vcore Tour G 330

Click to expand...

Just curious - what type of device do you use to string your racquet?:shock:

UPDATE: DAY 2 in italic

dicktracey said:

Played for about an hour. Took a set from a league rated 4.5 and took a mini(first to 3 games) set from another 4.5, but lost 2 or 3 mini sets to him. My game revolves around topspin on both wings.
Day 2: Played a full set with Max Power, and switched to RPM Blast the next set

Tension(s) used for playtest
10 pounds

Regular string set up
RPM Blast 16g @ 15 pounds, with Babolot APD and Yonex Vcore

Racquet brand and model used for test
Yonex Vcore Tour G 330

Power of test string
Good Day 2, not as good

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Felt a tad stiffer/less flexible than RPM Blast 16g. But Max Power gripped the ball better than RPM, which resulted in less shanking and stability, perhaps due to the rougher texture. Therefore, feels like it has more mass and control over RPM Blast. Stiffer, muted, deader, and rougher than RPM, the slight notches seems to deaden Max Power, I switched back to my 2 week old RPM, and thought RPM feels better

Spin
Good 2 week old RPM has more spin than 2 day old Max Power if you are a smooth/slick snap back spinner, if you prefer non-slick strings, you might get more spin with Max Power

Comfort (off-center shock?)
Good I prefer RPM, it's softer and more responsive

Durability
A slight notch after an hour of play. About the same as RPM blast. (see picture, below) Day 2, the slight notches hardly deepened, but new slight notches almost covered the whole racket, which IMO killed the playability. Though, still think it's probably as durable at RPM.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
RPM Blast plays magical when fresh(feels like you have the hand of god), but goes downhill every minute. Maybe, because the silicon layer wearing off.
However, Max Power stayed the same, or even got better. Maybe, because there is no silicon layer/coating. Plays very predictable and linear. RPM Blast is better hands down, I think because RPM is flexible, slick, and octagonal, you will still get decent snap back and pocketing will a heavily notched RPM/ before it breaks. Max Power doesn't have any of these attributes, day 2 - r.i.p
.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
This is the highlight of this string, control is amazing. More control than RPM Blast in almost all areas, probably because Max Power is a tad stiffer/deader, grips the ball better, and plays more linear. Volleys and Serves have great control! Day 2, control goes down, because of above^^

Compare to the string you use most often
I’d give the slight edge to RPM Blast the first day. Max Power doesn’t have the dynamic snap back sensation/hand of god feeling a fresh RPM has. But after the first day or 2 weeks in, I foresee Max Power taking over. I will update. I take this back, RPM way better for me!

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
Hard to say. I enjoyed hitting with it @ 10lbs. Not too stiff and not too loose. Not sure what would happen if I add or take away tension. Day 2 felt kind of stiff and dead, for kicks and giggles, I will add some tension and smoothness with some babolat string savers. I will also test it at lower tension, by artificially notching, I will update if something special happens

List any additional thoughts
I’ve used a full bed of Kirschbaum Spiky Shark 16g @ 30lbs, and was very disappointed. It was very dead, very slow, and felt like cheap plastic, compared to RPM Blast and Luxilon 4g @ 50+lbs. Kind of felt like a full bed of Kevlar.
Max Power on the other hand is VERY NICE. Very predictable, linear, and I think it might have a more stable playability duration compared to RPM due to the lack of coating that RPM has.
I actually might switch to Max Power. I can’t afford to play with a new string every set, like the pros. Max Power might be the poly solution for amateurs.
I take this back. I don't recommend Max Power, if you are a modern spinner. Use RPM, Luxilon 4g, Alu Power. For flat hitters/drivers use synthetic gut or natural. I feel Max Power is like a overloaded-multistasking-teenager. Tries to do too much, and doesn't get anything done. A poly that tries to play like synthetic gut, conflicting attributes. To be fair to Max Power, I will string RPM blast at 10lbs later on and update

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1st impressions

I got to play a few sets of doubles yesterday with the Max Power strings and liked it alot.

Disclaimer: I am an old (56), overweight (5'7" 195lbs) lefty with self taught Eastern forehand, 1hbh playing at the 3.5 level, maybe better strokes and serve but not so good movement.

Tension(s) used for playtest - 50 pounds, strung on a Gamma Progression ES II

Regular string set up - Gamma TnT Aramid 19ga mains / Ashaway Monogut ZX 17 ga. (red) pre stretched crosses (salvaged from a full bed that I did not like) strung at 50#

Racquet brand and model used for test - Volkl V1 Pro

Power of test string - The Max Power felt pretty powerful, I never felt that I had to over swing to get depth. serves had good pace and nice bite.

Feel - I liked the feel, not too stiff and not too mushy (like Head Rip Control), would that make the feel crisp? I was able to hit good top-spin lobs to the corners as well as drop shot weak second serves.

Spin - I felt that it had good spin especially noticeable on my serves, they were dropping in nicely. Not extreme fall out-of the sky spin but very predictable. Topspin ground strokes were also dipping inside the lines.

Comfort - This is a comfortable string even on off center contact it did not feel harsh. And, after 3 hours 4 sets of doubles, I did not feel anything in my arm. (unlike my regular hybrid that fatigued my arm the first time I played with it)

Durability - we will see

Playability Duration

Control - Control was excellent! The ball went where I wanted it to go on the trajectory I wanted it to fly.

Compare to the string you use most often - Compared to the Gamma / ZX Pro hybrid, this string was more comfortable, it felt like it had more controllable power and more feel. (maybe I was just concentrating better because of the playtest) I have more confidence with this string that my shots will go where I want them to go.(I was getting flyers with the hybrid set up).

Tension recommendations - I feels good at 50, maybe I would drop it down to 45 to get more power, hopefully it would not lose any accuracy.

List any additional thoughts - I liked this string, it was comfortable, with adequate power and spin, was easy to string easy to tie, will have to see how long it lasts before it dies. Thank you TW for this opportunity!

There's NO WAY dicktracey is playing at 10 pounds. And if he is, his review means nothing to us.

swfh said:

Stung up today at 48 lbs in my dunlop. Felt stiffer than my bhb7. Piece of cake to string; no kinking at all.

As I said in the super smash orange Playtest, I was again short on string, needing to bridge the last cross. Luckily, I had a few inches left to tie the knot.

Benching the ball around, there seems to be a lot of feel. I'll be hitting with it for the next week or so, and I'll report back.

Click to expand...

How was it it short on that racket??? What kind of machine are you using?

Update - Day 3:
I fixed the stiffness/notching/pocketing problem, with a blade.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=508361

If any of you guys feel this string is stiff or you want to drop some tension. Try this out! The spin, power, and pocketing came back!

Hit with MP today and it was great. It played really well for the first two hours. I'm excited to determine the longevity of this string, because it could be worth the price if it holds tension/ maintains playability.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 45 lbs.
Regular string set up: Kirschbaum Proline II @ 55 lbs.
Racquet brand and model used for test: Head Graphene Radical Pro
Power of test string
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The strings felt crisp. I'm going through a bit of tennis elbow and wasn't able to pull the trigger often but overall, the strings worked better with a faster head speed.
Spin: It was good. These reminded me of Luxilon Alu Power
Comfort (off-center shock?): see above
Durability: n/a (It's only been 1 day, will report back).
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): n/a (It's only been 1 day, will report back).
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): The spin these generated helped with control of the ball placement.
Compare to the string you use most often: Much crisper than the Proline IIs.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): 45 lbs. seem like a good tension at the moment.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I liked the color. It was a dark grey with a slight glimmer in sunlight. Looked metallic in a way.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 lbs

Regular string set up: Pacific XCite mains 52lbs, Pacific Power Line 50 lbs


Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Play Pure Drive

Power of test string: On par with most polys. Little power and encouraged me to really swing for a winner and not worry about over hitting.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I thought this played like a run of the mill poly. During the first 5 hours it felt great and crisp, but after those 5 it really stiffened up and my arm became sore. This could've been due to I'm not used to using a full poly set up, but I thought this string didn't provide any thing extra than another poly.


Spin: Average, to slightly above average for a poly

Comfort (off-center shock?): During the first 5 hours this was a fine string to play with. However, after that it starting hurting my arm.

Durability: I logged about 12 hours with the string and noticed a little tension loss and the usual notching.


Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): It felt great to take a real rip at the ball with a western forehand and watch the spin take control! This poly had great spin and slice.

Compare to the string you use most often: Like RPM Blast or XCite this is similar but nothing special. If anything, it felt stiffer.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would drop about 5 lbs and see if I could get some more comfort out of it. 52 was just too high in a PD that is already stiff as a board.


List any additional thoughts (optional): If this were priced below $10 Kirschbaum might have me, but I doubt that will be the case. I didn't see any advantage of this string if it were in the same price range as RPM, XCite, Tour Bite, or other polys in the class. Strung up pretty easy on my Silent Partner Jazz. Little coiling.

Thanks TW for allowing to string it up and review it.

My review

Before I start, I don't generally use full poly setups. I've been playing around with full nat gut as of late but generally i use a poly/syn gut hybrid. 4.0 topspin player if it matters.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50 lbs
Regular string set up: Tourna Black Zone mains and Gosen AK Pro Cx crosses @53 all around
Racquet brand and model used for test: Dunlop F3.0 Tour
Power of test string: I found it to be a tad more powerful than most polys but it wasn't at off the chart levels.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I felt it was a little stiff for my taste as I personally haven't used full poly for a good half a decade now. It was a run of the mill firmer poly
Spin: It was ok for me in terms of spin. I feel black zone gets more spin than max power though probably due to the slick surface of black zone.
Comfort (off-center shock?): My racket of choice doesn't really forgive me on off center shots anyways (i'm in the market to switch) and like most polys it did not feel good on off center shots.
Durability: I haven't played with it long enough to break it. I've hit with it for 2 hitting sessions and it doesn't seem to be anywhere close to breaking.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I personally feel that it's already going downhill slightly. I've been hitting for the past two days straight for minimum 2 hour sessions and it doesn't feel the same as before. Done with it.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Like most polys this string wants you to grip it and rip it. Good control on full fast swings with a western grip but it didn't dip as much as I would have wanted it to.
Compare to the string you use most often: Stiffer than Black Zone, not as much spin as Black Zone, sure as heck feels like it died faster than black zone.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I'd go even lower in tension. Maybe in the mid to high 40s. I feel like it might improve the comfort a tad and open up the sweetspot even more.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Not a fan of it but am thankful to tenniswarehouse for the opportunity.

chay337 said:

Tension(s) used for playtest: 45 lbs.
Regular string set up: Kirschbaum Proline II @ 55 lbs.
Racquet brand and model used for test: Head Graphene Radical Pro
Power of test string
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The strings felt crisp. I'm going through a bit of tennis elbow and wasn't able to pull the trigger often but overall, the strings worked better with a faster head speed.
Spin: It was good. These reminded me of Luxilon Alu Power
Comfort (off-center shock?): see above
Durability: n/a (It's only been 1 day, will report back).
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): n/a (It's only been 1 day, will report back).
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): The spin these generated helped with control of the ball placement.
Compare to the string you use most often: Much crisper than the Proline IIs.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): 45 lbs. seem like a good tension at the moment.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I liked the color. It was a dark grey with a slight glimmer in sunlight. Looked metallic in a way.

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Day 2 Feedback

As others have noted, the strings did stiffen up a bit on the second day. Didn't notice too much tension loss. Thanks to TW for letting me review these strings.

First 3 days of playing

I love Kirschbaum Pro Line II 17g and Super Smash Orange 17g so I was quite excited to playtest the new Max Power string. Super Smash Orange is a stiff, low powered, but very predictable poly that works well for me at lower tensions. I was hoping that Max Power would retain the desirable traits of Super Smash Orange but offer a bit more pop. It did offer more pop, but unfortunately at the expense of linearity, predictability and control.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 45/40# strung on an electronic CP machine. Measured at 42.3# on RacquetTune. Based on SpinToWin's review that this is a powerful, stiff yet comfortable poly, I strung it up +2# higher than my regular tension.
Regular string set up: Set up #1: Discho Iontec Salmon 1.30/1.25 @ 43/38#; Set up #2: Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.30/1.25 @ 43/38#
Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat 2013 APD modded to 11.8oz static weight and 32cm balance
Power of test string: The string was more powerful than Iontec, but not as powerful as Cyclone Tour in general but i found that it plays quite differently in the hot 90-100 degree day time temps vs the cooler 65-70 degree night time temps. i found the string to be springy, too powerful and hard to control in the hot temps while it was more tame in the evenings.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Overall stiff & crisp. Crisp, springy & slightly stiff in the hot temps. Crisp and stiff in the cool evening temps.
Spin: For a round poly, levels of spin were less than average to average.
Comfort (off-center shock?): For a stiff string, comfort is good, but after serving a basket of balls, my shoulder was a bit sore.
Durability: appears to be on par with most other polys after 6 hitting sessions (~11 hours total). would need more time to know how the string holds up over a longer period of time, but won't find out as i plan to cut of the string due to the lack of control given the hot temps we've been getting in so cal lately.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): The string felt OK on the first day (late afternoon session). By the 2nd & 3rd days (day sessions), the string seems to gain some liveliness decreasing the amount of pocketing and feel and increasing the springiness and pop off the string bed. Tension measured 37# on RacquetTune after the 3rd day. 35-40#s is usually when poly strings play amazing in the APD, but somehow Max Power hasn't felt amazing yet. the 4th session (evening), tension had dropped to ~36# and started to feel and play better. Better pocketing, control and spin. By the 5th session (evening), tension had dropped to ~35# and feel and play continued to improve. The 6th session was during 10-12 noon in 90-25 degree hot and humid weather. String bed was springy and lacking control again.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Depth control was pretty poor across the board for me because the string bed was stiff initially during the cooler evening temps resulting in no pocketing so it felt like i was hitting with a 2x4. Groundstrokes were either going a few feet long or they were hitting the net just like with any other string that is too tight. The ball was flying off the strings. I had a hard time controlling depth by varying the amount of spin like i am usually able to. Directional control was good though. As tension settled around 35-36#, depth control improved significantly when i played in the evening, but during the hot day time temps, balls would still fly long. i haven't been able to dial in my lobs and drop shots yet. due to the stiffness of the string, it doesn't transmit great feel on droppers. because the ball just springs off the string bed so quickly, i had a tougher time generating good spin on my kick serve. volleys were fine.
Compare to the string you use most often: For the stiff 2013 APD, my favorite strings are Discho Iontec Salmon 1.30/1.25 and Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.30/1.25 because they're comfy and offer fantastic control due to the excellent linearity, feel and pocketing I get from them. With Max Power, I got little to no pocketing which made it difficult to add spin and feel the ball. As a result, I was hitting groundstrokes long more often than usual. Also, due to the lack of pocketing, my kick serve had less spin as well. Even after the tension had dropped to 35#, i still have more control with Iontec. i know exactly where the ball is going with iontec whereas, i find that i am missing a little long or wide with Maxpower. However, now that the tension has settled down, i feel much more confident hitting w/ Maxpower.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): After trying hard to adjust to this string the past 3 days of hitting, if I had a chance to do it again, I would definitely string it 3-4# lower next time to get the pocketing I am looking for right off the stringer.
List any additional thoughts (optional): After letting the tension settle and drop down to ~35#s, in cooler temps the stringbed really opens up and pockets better allowing for better control and spin but it's still hard to keep the ball from flying long when temps are hot due to the springy nature of the string. Maxpower is aptly named because it's a springy, powerful string. If you're looking for pop from your strings, you might find this string to be just what the doc ordered. however, for me, it's delivers more power than i need in my APD so i have tendency to hit long more than usual. i think Maxpower would be a great match in a lower powered, flexier stick. i generally prefer lower powered control strings over springy, powerful strings so this Maxpower isn't ideal for me. I find PL X, PL II and Super Smash Orange to be more to my liking.

Thanks TW & Kirschbaum for the opportunity to playtest Max Power!

I find it strange that this is being described as a stiff poly. IMO this string feels quite comfortable and this is in a Ai 100 which is not the most flexible racquet. It definitely has a crisp feel to it but I would describe as comfortably crisp. Similar to Alu Fluro, Polybreak or RPM or even a thinner gauge TB (1.20) I did string it up on a lockout machine using a modified JC Method if that makes any difference.

Murray_fan1 said:

I find it strange that this is being described as a stiff poly. IMO this string feels quite comfortable and this is in a Ai 100 which is not the most flexible racquet. It definitely has a crisp feel to it but I would describe as comfortably crisp. Similar to Alu Fluro, Polybreak or RPM or even a thinner gauge TB (1.20) I did string it up on a lockout machine using a modified JC Method if that makes any difference.

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I agree for the most part, because I typically play with stiffer strings. This is definitely middle of the road, if not on the softer side, even at high tensions. It does have a crisp feeling, but I haven't the slightest twinge in my arm, even after hitting at high intensity for a 2-3 hours, three days in a row.

Played w/ Max Power tonight and the results were much better. Better feel, better pocketing, better spin, better control. Used RacquetTune to measure the tension of the string bed and it showed 35.8-36#. As i expected, the more the tension drops, the better it's playing. the string still has considerable pop, but it's controllable now.

2nd week update

I play once a week so this would make it the 3rd to 6th hours of play, the tension feels to have softened a little, originally strung at 50 lbs.

On my Volkl V1 Pro, the strings have adequate power, and control, more so than my Kevlar/ZX Pro hybrid. The first 40 minutes we were hitting from the baseline and I was able to swing freely without having the ball sail on me. I was happy that even my OHBH topspin drives were dipping in nicely. I hit a sidespin slice backhand that bounces towards the left and those were biting big time.

Spin potential seems to have increased as I was able to hit a kick serve that had more juice than normal.

So these strings are on the 8th day in the racquet, 2 playing sessions for a total of 6 hours and they still feel comfortable. This week was rallying for 40 minutes then 1 set of singles and 2 sets of doubles and no arm pain.

So far so good, I am liking this string, I have tried Head FXP Tour, Prince Premier Attack 17, Ashaway MonogutZX pro in full bed and hybrid, and Head Rip Control in the Volkl and this Kirschbaum Max Power plays the best so far.

Curious to see how much longer it lasts before it starts to hurt my arm or loses control.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 lbs on a drop weight stringer

Regular string set up: Yonex Poly Tour Pro Yellow 1.20 50 Lbs (string previously used on test racket…always trying different strings)

Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson Blade 16x19 customized to about 11.8 ( leather grip,over grip and 2g lead total at 3&9)

Power of test string: This string had some pop! I was used to low powered YPTP. The ball was coming off the stringbed faster that what I was used. But after playing with it for 2 weeks I got used to it. It was still controllable power.

Feel: The string was stiff and crisp. It didn’t have the “feel” I needed for touch shots though.

Spin: Spin was good. I was getting more spin with YPTP. The string wasn’t grabbing the ball more that I like

Comfort: Surprisingly this string was comfortable. Every time I see a dark grey colored string I assume I will get some arm problem. With full poly or poly/syn gut hybrids I get some arm soreness but no real TE/GE problems. I did string KBMP lower that usual (48 lbs vs 50 lbs) just because of my assumption of the string

Durability: I am not a string break. Durability was good.

Playability Duration: I really didn’t feel any tension drop but that’s not to say there wasn’t any. I don’t have Racquetune. But after two weeks the string is still playable. I feel that the pop has dropped off about 25% however.

Control: With all the pop this string has I thought I was going to have some control issues. As long as my swings ( serve, groundies) were technically sound and smooth there was a good amount of control. I really like the string for my serve. I really don’t have a big serve but I was getting good pace with control. It helped me out in some big deuce games.

Compare to the string you use most often: I will compare to the YPTP 1.20 since I try different strings. This string didn’t have ball pocketing and spin like YPTP 1.20. I think this could be due to the stiffness of the string. YPTP is softer which I prefer because of previous arm problems.

Tension recommendations: I would have strung it at 50 Lbs just tame the power.

List any additional thoughts : I don’t think I would use this string full bed. I would use a syn gut or multi to soften it up just a bit. This one heavy string. The weight of the string came out at about 19 grams at 48 lbs while YPTP 1.20 weighed in at 16 grams at 50 lbs. Wouldn't think it would be that much difference even with 2 lb difference. Big Thanks to TW for allowing me to perform my first string playtest!

after 3 hours of tennis tonight: 2 hrs of rallying and drilling and 1 hr of doubles, MaxPower has dropped down to 35# on Racquettune and continues to feel better. i think another 1# drop would make the string bed feel ideal.

i've also noticed that Max Power is more powerful, springy, and harder to control in hot daytime temps vs the cooler night time temps. the characteristic change is quite marked.

i've updated my review to reflect this.

Serb4life Kirschbaum Max Power 17g Review

Tension(s) used for play test: 58 lbs on Gamma constant pull

Regular string set up: Kirschbaum Proline X @ 58 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Head YouTek IG Speed MP 16x19

Power of test string: 9/10 for a poly. Even at high tensions, it has loads of pop. I'd say its comparable to Proline II, but with just a touch more power.

Feel: Max Power was refreshingly crisp, reminiscent of Alu Power. It wasn't too harsh, or too stiff, unless hit consistently outside of the sweetspot.

Spin: Easily 8/10 for a round poly. The control achieved with this string is rivaled only by Lux strings.

Comfort (off-center shock?): Average for a poly.

Durability: I've got 8 hours on it and its still going strong. Average amount of notching for a polyester.

Playability Duration: Middle of the road.

Control

Groundstrokes: Truly impeccable from the baseline. I normally enjoy a more control oriented string, but the pop I expirienced on my flatter CC 2HBH really got me out of some trouble. While the string is fresh (first 4 hrs), it's sensational. I was able to reign in the extra power with a little more spin on the FH wing. The slice BH seemed to work really effectively as well. Plenty of depth control from the baseline. 9/10

Serve: I hit a kicker 90 percent of the time, and it was average in this department. However, the pop I experienced on the flat serve made me reconsider hitting the kicker. It allowed me to take some heat off of the flat serve, without losing control. 8/10

Volleys: The punch on volleys is unreal. Drop volleys were challenging. Above average for a poly. 7/10

Compare to the Kirschbaum Proline X 16: Much livelier than Proline X, seeing as how PLX is a control oriented string. Pretty much night and day in terms of power. PLX takes the cake when it comes to control though.

Tension recommendations: It's a string boasting power, so compensate accordingly. (string higher)

Kirschbaum Max Power is an all around great string that would be a great value if the price fits in accordingly with the rest of the Kirschbaum line. Kirschbaum prides itself in being the "Pioneers of Polyester" and I think they lived up to that title with this string. I would consider switching if this string approaches the $150 range for 660'. Overall 8/10, would recommend.

i cut out Maxpower last night and restrung w/ my Iontec string setup at 43/40# and played this morning from 10-2pm under the scorching sun in sweltering heat. i immediately noticed how much better the pocketing was. the ball didn't jump off the string bed so quickly like it had been doing w/ Maxpower. i was able to take aggressive cuts at the ball and had no issues with them sailing long. only after my legs were toast and i was too tired to move my feet any longer were my groundies sailing which is completely normal for me. it was clear that Maxpower in my APD playing in hot weather was not my ideal string.

i was hitting w/ the same guys today as last Sunday when i was using maxpower and they both commented that i was hitting so much better today and they were having issues dealing w/ my topspin. in fact, i lost 6 balls because 1 guy shanked them all out of the court due to the heavier spin.

MD,

Was this the Iontec or the Yonex set up?

Murray_fan1 said:

MD,

Was this the Iontec or the Yonex set up?

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Iontec 1.30/1.25...thanks for pointing out...i've added this detail to my post above.

Tension(s) used for playtest:
48 lbs on a crappy Alpha Pioneer II with a warped table.

Regular string set up:
Normally, I use TB17 at 48, but I break out ALU Rough for special occasions, such as Districts, which happened to be this last weekend. Thus, I strung my "control" APD+ with ALU Rough mains and TB 17 crosses at 48 lbs, and full Maxpower on the other stick.

Racquet brand and model used for test
2013 Babolat APD+, lead at 12 and putty in the buttcap. 11/10!!!!11!!

Power of test string
Maxpower had less power than ALU Rough.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
At first, I couldn't believe that this string was being touted as an ALU replacement, as it did not have ALU's signature snappiness when fresh. In fact, I thought it was softer than full TB, even.

However, on the second day of districts, the ALU Rough died in the middle of the match, and I switched to Max Power. After settling in the racket for a day, the strings stiffened up and became more similar to ALU and TB. I preferred this stiffer feel over the feel of the string when fresh.

Spin
Not as much as TB or ALU Rough. The ball does not jump as much after the bounce and there is not as much variance between shots.

Comfort (off-center shock?)
At 48 lbs in an APD, i did not experience any discomfort on off center hits or shanks.

Durability
2 hours in and there is barely any notching.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
As I said before, the string is kind of muted and mushy when fresh. After settling for a day, it stiffens up and plays more like TB or ALU. TB also feels more muted when fresh, but still has a snappiness to it that MP does not have.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Control was awesome, at least relative to the dead ALU. By the time I decided to give MP a go during districts, I had just lost the second set of my match 2-6 and the ALU stringbed started to feel rubbery. After going to the fresher Max Power, I noticed that the same swing produced a much more controllable result. The trajectories fell in line with what I expected.

Compare to the string you use most often
TB and MP both have a different feel fresh, then stiffen up as the string breaks in. TB is harsher than MP, and is also snappier than MP. MP seems less powerful and seems to have less spin potential.

Compared to ALU Rough, MP does not have the same power or spin potential, but MP's tension loss and playability are markedly better than ALU Rough, which falls off a cliff after 2-3 hours.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I like this string at 48 lbs.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I wouldn't go as far as to say that MP is just like ALU, although it is a reasonable approximation. Will update this review as I continue to use the racket strung with MP.