Any alternatives to the Rpm Blast Rough ?

[tennisintheeighties]

I really like the rpm blast rough, It's a really good string, my favorite from Babolat. Just a bit pricey.
Any idea on a similar strings / feel at a cheaper value ?
thank you

 

[AceyMan]

What gauge do you play?

 

[tennisintheeighties]

I like the 17 Rpm rough (the yellow one is the best)

 

[WYK]

RPM Rough is worth the price. It lasts much longer than standard RPM and has great feel and control.
I would suggest purchasing it in a reel, where it is rather affordable.

 

[AceyMan]

OTTOMH I'd say Kirschbaum Max Power Rough 1.20 mm might be worth a try.

It's not slippery like Blast Rough but the stiffness & tension maintenance is similar. I also think it has good feel (for a poly).

/Acey

Disclosure: I do not play poly myself but running a stringing business I try to test drive everything I stock.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

RPM Rough is worth the price. It lasts much longer than standard RPM and has great feel and control.
I would suggest purchasing it in a reel, where it is rather affordable.

It's around 309$ CAD, one of the most expensive reels here

 

[tennisintheeighties]

OTTOMH I'd say Kirschbaum Max Power Rough 1.20 mm might be worth a try.

It's not slippery like Blast Rough but the stiffness & tension maintenance is similar. I also think it has good feel (for a poly).

/Acey

Disclosure: I do not play poly myself but running a stringing business I try to test drive everything I stock.

Any other idea below the $100 CAN ?

 

[KungfuTennis]

Possibly Cyclone Tour? Gonna have to play with tension though

 

[AMGF]

Same boat as you. I really like the Blast Rough in hybrid gut/poly. However the rough part wears off and some of the snap back is lost after a few hours. so not the perfect string for me but definitely my favorite hybrid so far.

Not exactly the same feeling string but I like the poly tour pro. It is more lively and it also loses its snap back rapidly. So ok but not quite it.

I just ordered a bunch of string sets to try to find an alternative. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

Same boat as you. I really like the Blast Rough in hybrid gut/poly. However the rough part wears off and some of the snap back is lost after a few hours. so not the perfect string for me but definitely my favorite hybrid so far.

Not exactly the same feeling string but I like the poly tour pro. It is more lively and it also loses its snap back rapidly. So ok but not quite it.

I just ordered a bunch of string sets to try to find an alternative. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Awesome, can't wait to hear your feedback

 

[TennisJrDad]

Tour Hex is $89 / reel ...

Any other idea below the $100 CAN ?

 

[happyandbob]

I really like the rpm blast rough, It's a really good string, my favorite from Babolat. Just a bit pricey.
Any idea on a similar strings / feel at a cheaper value ?
thank you

In case it helps, here is the list of strings in the TWU database that are most similar to RPM Rough 16 (used to be called RPM Blast Rough 16). can run it for 17 or 15L gauge if those are what you're using.

String	Material	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	StS Cof	StB Cof	Spin Potential
Babolat RPM Blast Rough 16	Polyester	1.3	209.7	29.5	90.1	0.07	0.577	8.2
Diadem Solstice Power 16L (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	209.2	27.1	88.5	0.076	0.555	7.3
Dunlop Explosive Bite 17 (1.27)	Polyester	1.27	201.7	28.3	88.5	NA	NA	NA
Gamma Zo Dart 17 (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	206.9	26.7	88.7	0.085	0.452	5.3
Gosen Polylon Premium 16 (1.32)	Polyester	1.32	217.7	31	88.9	0.077	0.447	5.8
Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution 17 (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	208	28.9	88.9	0.09	0.437	4.9
MSV Focus-Hex 16 (1.23)	Polyester	1.23	218.9	29.1	89.1	0.082	0.619	7.5
Solinco Outlast 16L (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	208	28.8	88.7	0.073	0.474	6.5
Solinco Revolution 16L (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	212.6	28.4	88.5	0.068	0.542	8
Tecnifibre Black Code 4S 17 (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	209.2	28.3	88.9	0.067	0.658	9.8
Tecnifibre Razor Code 18 (1.20)	Polyester	1.2	216.6	28.3	88.7	0.083	0.509	6.1
Tecnifibre Ruff Code 17 (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	207.5	28.7	90.2	NA	0.461	NA
Yonex Poly Tour HS 16 (1.30)	Polyester	1.3	213.7	28.1	88.4	0.087	0.431	5
Yonex Poly Tour Spin 16L (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	213.7	27.2	88.5	0.1	0.632	6.3
Yonex Poly Tour Strike 16L (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	199.5	27.9	88.4	0.097	0.451	4.6

 

[AMGF]

I bought a reel of 4S, plays well but not like the Rough. Despite the stiffness ratings I feel the 4S feels more stretchy. Like the gut slides over the rpm rough but the 4S feels like it stretches with the gut. Can’t explain it much better than that sorry.

As a full bed I prefer the 4S though. It has more power a bit more lively the rpm rough feels dead.

 

[tennisintheeighties]

I bought a reel of 4S, plays well but not like the Rough. Despite the stiffness ratings I feel the 4S feels more stretchy. Like the gut slides over the rpm rough but the 4S feels like it stretches with the gut. Can’t explain it much better than that sorry.

As a full bed I prefer the 4S though. It has more power a bit more lively the rpm rough feels dead.

The RPM Rough is twisted, right ? , not the 4S (shaped and squared, it's more like a volkl v square if i'm not wrong )

 

[AMGF]

The RPM Rough is twisted, right ? , not the 4S (shaped and squared, it's more like a volkl v square if i'm not wrong )

Rpm Rough is not twisted. It is like un polished metal. It has small creases and bumps all over. Really deserves the rough name. But it feels super slick. In a hybrid the gut will polish the surface where there is movement and the strings will get smooth like a round poly.

The 4s is supposed to be squared as I believe that is where it gets its name. But there are no sharp edges (like ultra cable). A rounded square if it makes sense.

 

[happyandbob]

The RPM Rough is twisted, right ? , not the 4S (shaped and squared, it's more like a volkl v square if i'm not wrong )

RPM rough is more like a golf ball. There are little divots all over the surface meaning less string to string contact making it slicker. It works great as a cross, I just wish it lasted longer

 

[Fintft]

Tour Hex is $89 / reel ...

It's actually 3 reels for $200, but you get to pay brookerage fees (as high as %50 with UPS, should be lower in the future with USPS, after I wrote them).

 

[kevonian]

If you're really looking for budget brands, maybe Pros Pro Kudeta, Strategem 8, or Lethal 8. How often are you restringing?

 

[tennisintheeighties]

If you're really looking for budget brands, maybe Pros Pro Kudeta, Strategem 8, or Lethal 8. How often are you restringing?

I snap relatively fast my strings ( 2 hours ), thats why I never notice tension loss.
Stratagem 8 didnt feel like rpm rough i got 2 reels here
I never tried the 2 others.

Maybe the Hexaspin twist is the closest from pros pro?

 

[sp1derman]

I really like the rpm blast rough, It's a really good string, my favorite from Babolat. Just a bit pricey.
Any idea on a similar strings / feel at a cheaper value ?
thank you

Big hitter blue rough! Check it out.

 

[kevonian]

I snap relatively fast my strings ( 2 hours ), thats why I never notice tension loss.
Stratagem 8 didnt feel like rpm rough i got 2 reels here
I never tried the 2 others.

Maybe the Hexaspin twist is the closest from pros pro?

Haven't tried hexaspin twist but I can recommend Tier1 Black Knight for which is less budget brand and more mid tier $

 

[TRU PRO Official]

We think that Tour Status actually plays closer to RPM than Black Knight.

 

[Trip]

@tennisintheeighties - As you already know, what makes RPM Rough so unique is its combination of being 1) gently shaped (8-sided flower petal), 2) rough, 3) extremely slick / great snapback (at least initialy) and 4) fairly firm. You're not really going to find a close alternative, let alone a cheap one, that has all of those qualities in a single string. It just isn't out there, at least not readily available to the Canadian market.

That being said, I think relaxing the requirements of having rough finish will open up a lot of possibilities, and although that roughness may allow the gut to slide a bit easier, I think you can find other strings with smooth finishes that may offer the same level of sliding and snap, especially inside of your typical breaking point of 2 hours. As such, I would look at the following strings:

- Gosen G-Tour 1 1.25 - Infused with silicone oil, it's just as slick/snappy, while being a bit softer on the arm. ~$12 CAD / set (TW USA), ~$125 CAD/reel (elsewhere online).
- IsoSpeed Grey Fire 1.25 - Infused with Liquid Wax, just as slick as RPM, with a bit more Alu Power like properties going on. ~$9 CAD / set (TW USA)
- MSV Co-Focus 1.23 - Still one of the best slick value crosses after all these years. A bit more plasticky in feel than RPM Rough, but very close in performance. ~$105 CAD / reel (at Guts And Glory Tennis).

Hope those help. Any questions, feel free.

 

[Pekoms]

What would be a good cross for this rpm rough?

I would out rpm on the mains for Spin and Control and for crosses?

Isospeed? To make it a little more confortable?

 

[happyandbob]

What would be a good cross for this rpm rough?

I would out rpm on the mains for Spin and Control and for crosses?

Isospeed? To make it a little more confortable?

Is your goal just to make it more comfortable? Honestly, anything else you put in the cross is probably going to cause you to sacrifice a little bit of snapback because RPM rough is so slick. If so, then sure, Cream or Ghostwire in the crosses will soften it up a little with just a little loss of spin. Glide and Monogut ZX will soften it up even more without sacrificing spin.

 

[Pekoms]

Is your goal just to make it more comfortable? Honestly, anything else you put in the cross is probably going to cause you to sacrifice a little bit of snapback because RPM rough is so slick. If so, then sure, Cream or Ghostwire in the crosses will soften it up a little with just a little loss of spin. Glide and Monogut ZX will soften it up even more without sacrificing spin.

Here's the thing. I play with blade 98 4G mains and isospeed crosses. I think it doesn't have much spin, and I can't feel that grab/ connection that I havs with RPM rough. I can play full bed RPM rought, but ideally I would like a little bit confort. But the connection/controll is key for me, as well as spin.

 

[happyandbob]

Here's the thing. I play with blade 98 4G mains and isospeed crosses. I think it doesn't have much spin, and I can't feel that grab/ connection that I havs with RPM rough. I can play full bed RPM rought, but ideally I would like a little bit confort. But the connection/controll is key for me, as well as spin.

I don't care what you're putting in the crosses. Going from 4G mains to anything else is going to be more comfortable. Here are the stats for 4G vs RPM Rough. I'd just start out with full bed of rough to see how it plays. I can't believe you won't think it's more comfortable than your current setup.

String	Material	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	StS Cof	StB Cof
Luxilon 4G 16 (1.30)	Polyester	1.3	286.9	23.5	90.1	NA	NA
Babolat RPM Blast Rough 16	Polyester	1.3	209.7	29.5	90.1	0.07	0.577
Luxilon 4G 16L (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	258.9	21.3	90.8	0.095	0.366
Babolat RPM Blast Rough 17	Polyester	1.25	196	35.7	86.1	0.057	0.564

for what it's worth, the TW data suggests that RPM with provide you with both more ball grab and more snapback.

 

[Pekoms]

I don't care what you're putting in the crosses. Going from 4G mains to anything else is going to be more comfortable. Here are the stats for 4G vs RPM Rough. I'd just start out with full bed of rough to see how it plays. I can't believe you won't think it's more comfortable than your current setup.

String	Material	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	StS Cof	StB Cof
Luxilon 4G 16 (1.30)	Polyester	1.3	286.9	23.5	90.1	NA	NA
Babolat RPM Blast Rough 16	Polyester	1.3	209.7	29.5	90.1	0.07	0.577
Luxilon 4G 16L (1.25)	Polyester	1.25	258.9	21.3	90.8	0.095	0.366
Babolat RPM Blast Rough 17	Polyester	1.25	196	35.7	86.1	0.057	0.564

for what it's worth, the TW data suggests that RPM with provide you with both more ball grab and more snapback.

Alright! I'll try full bed rpmr
Btw, knowing what I'm looking for, would you consider other option/s?