Solinco Polys
- Thread starter AHJS
- Start date
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
The pick of the litter for me is still Tour Bite because of the spin potential and predictable tension maintenance. Lots of different gauges have been brought out since I first began using it back in 2010, which makes fine-tuning easy. I am loving the thinner gauges. Note: I have not tried Hyper G yet and have no compelling reason to try it in the very near term.
Thanks! How does Tour Bite differ from Revolution?
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
I have found Revolution to be a bit lifeless and stiffer feeling than Tour Bite in a full bed. I may have liked it more in a hybrid with my game, but I prefer a full bed of poly. If you are an exceptionally hard hitter, Revolution may edge out Tour Bite in terms of control. These strings are cut from the same big piece of cloth, so the best way to figure out how they work for you is to try them out in different configurations and different tensions.
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Ihatetennis
Hall of Fame
Outlast revolution and barb wire are stiffer and deader than tourbite
MarcusInKensington
Hall of Fame
Tour Bite is still the best.
Hyper-G is ok, but Diamond Rough is particularly underwhelming.
Hyper-G is ok, but Diamond Rough is particularly underwhelming.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I really liked the Hyper G at lower tensions like 48-50 lbs. Insane spin and good control. but I can't use it anymore due to its propensity to cause shoulder pain for me. it is unfortunate
I agree. TB is really a great string. Power plus insane spin. There are so many great polys but TB is special.
Maybe I'm stringing TB too tight, because I'm not finding that much power. What tension to you guys string at?
sovertennis
Professional
I used TB for a couple of years (strung at 50#) but could no longer justify the cost of a reel so switched (after play testing a few polys) to Nano Vendetta. TB feels better for the first couple of hours, but after that I could not find a difference between the two. I've been using Nano Vendetta for over a year and will stick with it because it plays well for about 12 hours and is very cost effective.
jayserinos99
Hall of Fame
I'm currently testing Hyper-G 1.25 against my normal TB 1.25 and Hyper-G is slightly softer, has a little less spin, and has a higher launch angle than TB, so I'm going to stick with TB but I actually dig the Hyper-G color.
darklore009
Hall of Fame
i still prefer TB over the rest of their line of string. I do have a client that strings with TB diamond rough. Although diamond rough is my nightmare string to string on anybody's racket because of it's texture
ShahofTennis
Hall of Fame
I used the last of my Outlast 18 reel today, I'm honestly going to miss the stuff as its most redeeming quality was the deadness and comfort. Red polys, and I don't know for what reason, are always more powerful except this stuff. Tension maintenance on an 18g is bad anyway, but the 1.30, and 1.25 gauges hold tension well. TB is the opposite of this string, stiff and powerful with some pretty quick to fall tension. Love TB nonetheless.
After testing all the Solinco polys in the 18g... Solinco seems to run thick, so the 1.15 seemed more like a 1.20
Barb Wire- A pretty soft string with some good spin. I enjoyed the way it played the first time out, but after that it just went to crap. This string has no tension maintenance whatsoever.
Hyper G- A softer TB. More comfy and muted, slightly less spin, eye catching color.
Diamond Rough- This is a very interesting string and feels nothing like TB. Super comfy and muted with good spin. It lost a lot of tension pretty quickly and then turned into a rocket launcher. Also, I don't like rough strings due to their inconsistent response, and this was no exception.
Revolution- Very interesting string. Very muted with awesome control. While it is textured, it does not have very sharp edges at all, but it does have a very slick coating so the string does have good snapback. A good string, but not a feel I'm a huge fan of and I never really found my groove with it.
Tour Bite Soft- I had to string quite tight to get any control, and when I did, there wasn't much power. I see no reason to use this string. If you want a softer ride, just string TB lower.
Tour Bite- Super crisp, spin friendly and low powered. Awesome string if thats what you're looking for, but it was pretty jarring and stiff for me.
Outlast- Very interesting string. Crisp but dead, smooth but very spin friendly with a medium power level. Personally, this is my favorite Solinco string I've tested, with TB as a close 2nd. These are some great polys at a great price point, well done Solinco!
Barb Wire- A pretty soft string with some good spin. I enjoyed the way it played the first time out, but after that it just went to crap. This string has no tension maintenance whatsoever.
Hyper G- A softer TB. More comfy and muted, slightly less spin, eye catching color.
Diamond Rough- This is a very interesting string and feels nothing like TB. Super comfy and muted with good spin. It lost a lot of tension pretty quickly and then turned into a rocket launcher. Also, I don't like rough strings due to their inconsistent response, and this was no exception.
Revolution- Very interesting string. Very muted with awesome control. While it is textured, it does not have very sharp edges at all, but it does have a very slick coating so the string does have good snapback. A good string, but not a feel I'm a huge fan of and I never really found my groove with it.
Tour Bite Soft- I had to string quite tight to get any control, and when I did, there wasn't much power. I see no reason to use this string. If you want a softer ride, just string TB lower.
Tour Bite- Super crisp, spin friendly and low powered. Awesome string if thats what you're looking for, but it was pretty jarring and stiff for me.
Outlast- Very interesting string. Crisp but dead, smooth but very spin friendly with a medium power level. Personally, this is my favorite Solinco string I've tested, with TB as a close 2nd. These are some great polys at a great price point, well done Solinco!
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mikeler
Moderator
How much more power does the soft have versus the regular? I thought the soft version was too springy.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
More power ? you are sure about this ? and what about control ?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
So you also agree that Soft version has more power than tour bite regular ? if so , I will probably will order a set from TW and try it. I am currently trying the tourbite regular 18G. HyperG was way to jarring on my shoulder, my shoulder was killing me after just 2 hour of play.
branman1986
Rookie
Wow, seems like hyper g is rather polarizing. I found it to be the most comfortable poly I've tried(only about ten though), but my control was lacking.
That being said, it was on a new racquet that came from tw with rpm strung at 50lbs, and I strung the hyper g myself at 50lbs. So theres a chance my stringer is not calibrated properly and the actual tension was like 45 or something. I much preferred the rpm blast.
That being said, it was on a new racquet that came from tw with rpm strung at 50lbs, and I strung the hyper g myself at 50lbs. So theres a chance my stringer is not calibrated properly and the actual tension was like 45 or something. I much preferred the rpm blast.
It has quite a bit more pop.
Blast is certainly better in the first few hours, after that it totally goes to crap. Hyper G was pretty average for comfort, far from a BHB7 or TCS but better than 4G or TB.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
so you are saying if I want more power than tourbite offers ,, then I should buy the tourbite soft ??
KenC
Hall of Fame
TBS has a springy "feel" to it but in my hands it really isn't as powerful as many of the other popular soft polys. I personally find it easier to control than Cyclone Tour or BHB7 at the same tension.
Agreed. Still a soft poly, but not an insane amount of jump like a super elastic BHB7 or something like that.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
WOW,,,surprising... so you guys are saying BHB7 and Cyclone tour has more power ? because everything I have been reading on forum and TW site has been that BHB7 and Cyclone is one of the Lowest polys in the market.....so I had been staying away from them....... If that is wrong then I am thinking of trying them,,Especially BHB7 with all the crazy spin that string is capable of...........
Doc Hollidae
Hall of Fame
I don't think anyone has ever considered BHB7 to be low powered. It is consistently talked about as one of the most powerful and soft polys out there. Also, Hyper G is supposed to be softer than TourBite Soft, so if Hyper-G bothered you expect Soft to as well.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
is BHB7 one of the better polys out there ? like in same class as luxilon or babolat polys ?
Doc Hollidae
Hall of Fame
That's for you to decide. Tennis is a feel sport and everyone prefers different things. Unqiue/Tourna do make good strings though.
You're being Fedaced
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Thank you so much....I think I will buy a set of BHB7, and try it..... due to my shoulder problems lately, I have been needing bit more powerful and softer polys lately
Matthew Lee
Professional
Personally, Revolution to me was better than Tour Bite because my racket has a lower stiffness rating.
If your racket is a bit on the stiffer side, then maybe Tour Bite would be better.
I only chose Revolution for its high scores on spin, durability, and control by TW.
If your racket is a bit on the stiffer side, then maybe Tour Bite would be better.
I only chose Revolution for its high scores on spin, durability, and control by TW.
mikeler
Moderator
Interesting, I'm finding Cyclone Tour works great for me in the cooler weather but I like Cyclone better in the heat. When I tried TBS, it was during a very hot run of weather in late spring when hot/dry/fast conditions were in place.
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Muppet
Legend
The drawback on BHB7 is that it has poor tension maintenance. Otherwise, it's soft, powerful, spinny, and a little springy. It would be one of the greats if it held its tension better. If switching out strings frequently is not a problem for you it's a very good choice. Also, string it at 16g synthetic gut tension for your racquet. Lower than that could feel mushy.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
so what tension should I string it at ? I cut out my strings every 4-6 hours of play so I do string frequently
Tour Bite by a mile. Then Hyper G. Never going to Revolution ever again.
I prefer Tour Bite just like what the others have said: the spin production and the predictability. It is probably one of the few polys I have used that I can always expect it to play the way I expect it to. Sorry if that sounds confusing.
Although I love strings like Volkl Cyclone, I always prefer Tour Bite. I guess I pay a little more just for a little more. Whenever I playtest a new racquet or buy a new one, I always go with Tour Bite because I know how it plays.
It comes in many different gauges and even in a soft form. The Soft version is okay to me. However, I just prefer the regular Tour Bite because I am so used to it. Also, the playability lasts very long for me as well. I still get spin even towards the end of its life time. And it has a feel that I can't get with other polys.
Revolution destroyed my elbow a few years back. Never again.
I prefer Tour Bite just like what the others have said: the spin production and the predictability. It is probably one of the few polys I have used that I can always expect it to play the way I expect it to. Sorry if that sounds confusing.
Although I love strings like Volkl Cyclone, I always prefer Tour Bite. I guess I pay a little more just for a little more. Whenever I playtest a new racquet or buy a new one, I always go with Tour Bite because I know how it plays.
It comes in many different gauges and even in a soft form. The Soft version is okay to me. However, I just prefer the regular Tour Bite because I am so used to it. Also, the playability lasts very long for me as well. I still get spin even towards the end of its life time. And it has a feel that I can't get with other polys.
Revolution destroyed my elbow a few years back. Never again.
Muppet
Legend
If you string your racquet with synthetic gut 16 @55, string the BHB7 1.25 @55. Going with a pound or more lower will make it feel mushy and higher tensions will decrease control. An increase in tension will not add to longevity. It is what it is.
Muppet
Legend
What about a full bed of Outlast 1.20? Has anyone played with this? I thought it played great in my signature frame @47, but there was too much of a feeling of "noise" in the strings. Is there a good hybrid application for this string that would play similar to the full bed? Or just a similar string that isn't so noisy?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I thought higher tension gives you More control ??
I honestly love Outlast. I think its an awesome string thats often overlooked in favor of Solinco's flagship Tour Bite.
Chris tennis52
Rookie
Just tried Hyper g this morning for the first time and I must say I was very impressed. I strung it up at 55 and got really good control and still got good spin for that high of tension. Not a ton of pop with these, it has a more "deadened" feel but that was alright because of the amount of spin it produced. When these are done I may lower it a little to get even more spin. I put an hour and a half in and i cant wait to try it some more. This was the first solinco string I've tried and I'm glad I finally did.
branman1986
Rookie
Hmm, maybe I should give it another go again at a higher tension.
Chris tennis52
Rookie
You should. Why didn't you like it the first time?
bobombom
Rookie
I too am looking into trying Solinco, but I find myself at a loss on how to find one that feels like my trusty volkl cyclone.
I have no idea on how to describe what strings feel like. I have been trying to find a string that feels like cyclone for a while, but when I try to use a descriptor for what I want, I have no idea. Would cyclone be considered muted? soft? dead?
Going based off those things, people told me to try Head sonic pro edge, and while I played well, I hated the feel of it...
Any help on which solinco strings play similar to cyclone? (And how to describe cyclone?)
I don't care about the spin potential as much as how it feels coming off the stringbed..
I have no idea on how to describe what strings feel like. I have been trying to find a string that feels like cyclone for a while, but when I try to use a descriptor for what I want, I have no idea. Would cyclone be considered muted? soft? dead?
Going based off those things, people told me to try Head sonic pro edge, and while I played well, I hated the feel of it...
Any help on which solinco strings play similar to cyclone? (And how to describe cyclone?)
I don't care about the spin potential as much as how it feels coming off the stringbed..
branman1986
Rookie
Thought it was a little too powerful and a bit erratic, especially the launch angle. Loved the comfort though. I'm going to try it maybe at 55lbs next time.
I would say to try Barb Wire, Diamond Rough, and TB Soft.
