Head Lynx Tour - Official Thread

[Suna]

I strung up my 2025 Speed Pro with Gray Lynx Tour 1.25 @ 21kg and I felt it had awesome control but lost its spin pretty fast (~1-2h on court).

I was thinking about re-stringing with 1.20, would that help with maintaining snapback for longer ? I feel like O-Toro has been the only S-tier string to keep a good spin potential for over a week of hitting.

 

[Klatu Verata Necktie]

I'm not familiar with a string losing its spin. Tell me about that.

 

[thebigz]

I strung up my 2025 Speed Pro with Gray Lynx Tour 1.25 @ 21kg and I felt it had awesome control but lost its spin pretty fast (~1-2h on court).

I was thinking about re-stringing with 1.20, would that help with maintaining snapback for longer ? I feel like O-Toro has been the only S-tier string to keep a good spin potential for over a week of hitting.

It’s a different kind of string than Toroline. Lynx Tour takes significantly more force to move so you will need to generate higher racquet head speed imo to see its benefits imo. The string maintains control super well for like 10-15h even, and I personally find that helps give me confidence to take big whacks at the ball generating more spin.

My experience with the Otoro or even Otoro Tour is that they take significantly less force to displace(and SnapBack) so if you don’t swing that fast as an player you will see the spin effect a lot more.

But strung at the same tension as Lynx Tour in rather powerful racquets for me lacked control since the string almost moved too much too easily. Not sure if others can chime in who tried both also.

Toroline strings are softer(even their stiffest Otoro tour) and better for average intermediate players. Lynx Tour can feel a lot more boardy and dead when there’s not enough swing speed.

 

[JK208]

It’s a different kind of string than Toroline. Lynx Tour takes significantly more force to move so you will need to generate higher racquet head speed imo to see its benefits imo. The string maintains control super well for like 10-15h even, and I personally find that helps give me confidence to take big whacks at the ball generating more spin.

My experience with the Otoro or even Otoro Tour is that they take significantly less force to displace(and SnapBack) so if you don’t swing that fast as an player you will see the spin effect a lot more.

But strung at the same tension as Lynx Tour in rather powerful racquets for me lacked control since the string almost moved too much too easily.

I agree with this completely. OTT felt a bit inconsistent to me

 

[thebigz]

I strung up my 2025 Speed Pro with Gray Lynx Tour 1.25 @ 21kg and I felt it had awesome control but lost its spin pretty fast (~1-2h on court).

I was thinking about re-stringing with 1.20, would that help with maintaining snapback for longer ? I feel like O-Toro has been the only S-tier string to keep a good spin potential for over a week of hitting.

Also, just to share my experience with the 1.20mm Lynx Tour vs 1.25mm both in Champagne color. I didn’t feel like the 1.20mm is more spin friendly especially not in the way that Toroline strings are so “SnapBack” focused even when there’s not a lot of racquet head speed put in.

the 1.20mm is more lively with easier depth and more pocketing than 1.25mm lynx tour. But also loses a good chuck of the peak control identity that 1.25mm lynx tour has for me. It’s less predictable for me at least without upping the tension.

I find the 1.25mm offers better trade offs especially adding control in rather powerful frames. There are better strings that offer more predictable response for me that has similar pocketing and power as the 1.20mm lynx tour champagne

 

[thebigz]

I agree with this completely. OTT felt a bit inconsistent to me

With that string I feel like tension needs to be upped quite a bit to get similar control if you are coming from Lynx Tour 1.25mm. I’m glad I tried around my usual tension now I know.

 

[JK208]

With that string I feel like tension needs to be upped quite a bit to get similar control if you are coming from Lynx Tour 1.25mm. I’m glad I tried around my usual tension now I know.

Didn't even come from LT, and honestly, I'm not a huge fan of LT either, but OTT is just way too muted and inconsistent, especially given the 1.23 size

 

[Rednael]

Also, just to share my experience with the 1.20mm Lynx Tour vs 1.25mm both in Champagne color. I didn’t feel like the 1.20mm is more spin friendly especially not in the way that Toroline strings are so “SnapBack” focused even when there’s not a lot of racquet head speed put in.

the 1.20mm is more lively with easier depth and more pocketing than 1.25mm lynx tour. But also loses a good chuck of the peak control identity that 1.25mm lynx tour has for me. It’s less predictable for me at least without upping the tension.

I find the 1.25mm offers better trade offs especially adding control in rather powerful frames. There are better strings that offer more predictable response for me that has similar pocketing and power as the 1.20mm lynx tour champagne

Which string 1.20 would be a better string than Lynx Tour? With the same tension maintenance and all. Grapplesnake m8 for example? ReString Zero?

Thanks!

 

[ramb]

Didn't even come from LT, and honestly, I'm not a huge fan of LT either, but OTT is just way too muted and inconsistent, especially given the 1.23 size

What did you come from?

Would like to know OTT actual gauge (I'll have to measure), TWU has LT 1.25 at 1.3. OTT 1.23 mint full bed 52/50lbs feels good in Tecnifibre t-fight 305s, can compare with razor soft 1.25 carbon which has pretty consistent launch angle at least. For a sharp edged hexagon OTT feels fine to me.

 

[thebigz]

Which string 1.20 would be a better string than Lynx Tour? With the same tension maintenance and all. Grapplesnake m8 for example? ReString Zero?

Thanks!

Haven’t tried those 2 you listed. But Confidential Soft 1.25mm I just tested has similar pop as 1.20mm lynx tour with better control and great playability duration. The 1.20mm lynx tour feels about the same thickness and weight as most 1.25mm strings

 

[ramb]

My experience with the Otoro or even Otoro Tour is that they take significantly less force to displace(and SnapBack) so if you don’t swing that fast as an player you will see the spin effect a lot more.

This may well be one thing OTT does better for me than LT. Maybe I'm more comfortable defending and directing pace with OTT. One of my main problems in tournaments is that I'm holding back that 10-20% from my fully committed swings. Playing against ~7 utr players just can't afford to be passive at my level/age, need to identify spots where you let it rip. Earlier in a point the better.

 

[thebigz]

This may well be one thing OTT does better than LT. Maybe I'm more comfortable defending and directing pace with OTT. One of my main problems in tournaments is that I'm holding back that 10-20% from my fully committed swings. Playing against ~7 utr players just can't afford to be passive at my level/age, need to identify spots where you let it rip.

Positive or negative will just depend on your game and preference, and what type of frame it’s paired with. For me it’s a negative because my confidence to swing out is not there with OTT with my Shift or BOV2. But it probably improves with higher tension or in more controlled frames I don’t like Lynx tour as much anyway.

 

[JK208]

What did you come from?

Would like to know OTT actual gauge (I'll have to measure), TWU has LT 1.25 at 1.3. OTT 1.23 mint full bed 52/50lbs feels good in Tecnifibre t-fight 305s, can compare with razor soft 1.25 carbon which has pretty consistent launch angle at least. For a sharp edged hexagon OTT feels fine to me.

Previously I used Mach 10/HGR and now I use Tour M8

 

[jj4545]

Any round cross similar to Hawk Touch but with better durability? I got good 6h out of Lynx Tour/ Hawk Touch hybrid, but after that slow decline and after 8h started to hurt my elbow.

 

[JK208]

Any round cross similar to Hawk Touch but with better durability? I got good 6h out of Lynx Tour/ Hawk Touch hybrid, but after that slow decline and after 8h startet to hurt my elbow.

Ghostwire is a classic. Otherwise I've heard good things about Wasabi X (never used it though), and I really like Hyper G round as a cross, but not sure how it will be for someone with an existing elbow issue.

 

[thebigz]

What did you come from?

Would like to know OTT actual gauge (I'll have to measure), TWU has LT 1.25 at 1.3. OTT 1.23 mint full bed 52/50lbs feels good in Tecnifibre t-fight 305s, can compare with razor soft 1.25 carbon which has pretty consistent launch angle at least. For a sharp edged hexagon OTT feels fine to me.

Razor Soft feels deader and more predictable to me than OTT. Didn’t hit them side by side but I used almost a reel of Razor Soft in the same frame I’m testing OTT now

 

[JK208]

Razor Soft feels deader and more predictable to me than OTT. Didn’t hit them side by side by I used almost a reel of Razor Soft in the same frame I’m testing OTT now

I agree with this completely.

 

[ramb]

Razor Soft feels deader and more predictable to me than OTT. Didn’t hit them side by side but I used almost a reel of Razor Soft in the same frame I’m testing OTT now

Fresh razor soft carbon is pretty stiff but has good elastic pop factor, not as muted as OTT for sure. After maybe 2-4 hours tension drops around 5-6lbs then the pop is gone, still very playable with slight notching and needed to string bit higher to keep shots in (for me 53/51lbs on 98 head size 18x19). Comparing round and sharp edged hexagonal strings in predictability isn't ideal. Bought a reel of snap tour flex 1.25 mint for crosses, not sure if it will bring any real benefits compared with full bed OTT. Might be a bit livelier string bed and more generous sweet spot.

 

[Torps]

Any round cross similar to Hawk Touch but with better durability? I got good 6h out of Lynx Tour/ Hawk Touch hybrid, but after that slow decline and after 8h started to hurt my elbow.

poly tour strike

 

[Bal]

I got a golfers elbow practising kick serve with poor technique using LT fullbed on gpro. Haven't used OT yet fullbed on vcore 98 tour.

Might be the racket together with the string/tension that’s given you golfers elbow. I suffered from GE a few years ago and it was because my strings went dead in my VCore Pro 97D during a match, I was catching the ball late on my FH and the 97D wasn’t a forgiving frame.

 

[ramb]

Hitting forehands late with non pressurized balls (ball machine) and stiff string like lynx tour 1,25 champagne likely were culprits in my case. Kick serves surely can't cause so much shock to a hitting arm. Maybe even softer RA racquets like blade and gpro used with stiff control polys can cause issues. My golfers elbow luckily didn't interfere with playing normally. Took over 8 months to get rid of GE. I was warned about non pressurized balls but used them anyway.

 

[babyhagrid]

Ghostwire is a classic. Otherwise I've heard good things about Wasabi X (never used it though), and I really like Hyper G round as a cross, but not sure how it will be for someone with an existing elbow issue.

Wasabi X is a great cross string, have tried it with LT 1.25 & M8 and does soften the bed versus full bed of both for me. It’s a slick string with no coating so it keeps the snapback going throughout its life.

 

[Suna]

Hitting forehands late with non pressurized balls (ball machine) and stiff string like lynx tour 1,25 champagne likely were culprits in my case. Kick serves surely can't cause so much shock to a hitting arm. Maybe even softer RA racquets like blade and gpro used with stiff control polys can cause issues. My golfers elbow luckily didn't interfere with playing normally. Took over 8 months to get rid of GE. I was warned about non pressurized balls but used them anyway.

Did you have GE beforehand ?
I'm waiting for my ball machine, got my unpressurised balls and my full bed of lynx tour 1.25
Let me know if I'm running head first into trouble

 

[ramb]

Did you have GE beforehand ?
I'm waiting for my ball machine, got my unpressurised balls and my full bed of lynx tour 1.25
Let me know if I'm running head first into trouble

Didn't have before, and first time ever. Hit like 20+ hours during maybe 8 week period. Hit hundreds of forehands as hard as i could. If you have gray LT 1.25 supposed to be more arm friendly than champagne. Used Gpro 2021. Maybe mix it up hit backhands one day an forehands the other etc.

 

[Suna]

Didn't have before, and first time ever. Hit like 20+ hours during maybe 8 week period. Hit hundreds of forehands as hard as i could. If you have gray LT 1.25 supposed to be more arm friendly than champagne. Used Gpro 2021. Maybe mix it up hit backhands one day a forehands the other etc.

I'll mix up the exercises and try to hit with something that's less stiff, like Toro Toro and see where that leads me. Thanks for the cautionary tale ! I hope you keep that GE at bay from now on

 

[Bal]

Did you have GE beforehand ?
I'm waiting for my ball machine, got my unpressurised balls and my full bed of lynx tour 1.25
Let me know if I'm running head first into trouble

I would avoid using pressure less balls with your ball machine if at all possible and buy a load of pressurised balls, which is what I did many years ago when I purchased a Tennis Tutor Pro-lite and the retailer at the time threw in 150 pressure less balls.

My local tennis club uses pressure less tennis balls on social sessions, and I absolutely hate them. There’s absolutely no point in using them because when in a match, you’ll be using pressurised balls.

They did use US Open balls one season but they went back to Babolat Gold pressure less balls, because the US Open’s went flat. The club coach also uses the same Babolat balls for longevity reasons.

Plain fact of the matter is shot outcomes are different between the two types of balls, not to mention the difference in feel off the string bed.

HTH.

 

[Suna]

I would avoid using pressure less balls with your ball machine if at all possible

I mean, I'm all for it, but then the cost of my hitting sessions would skyrocket. I fell like pressurized balls go flat pretty fast, within a couple of weeks even without hitting with them.
Do you have a preference for pressurised balls that have a good longevity?

 

[Bal]

I mean, I'm all for it, but then the cost of my hitting sessions would skyrocket. I fell like pressurized balls go flat pretty fast, within a couple of weeks even without hitting with them.
Do you have a preference for pressurised balls that have a good longevity?

Agree it’s an additional cost, but I’m rarely using my ball machine nowadays. When I was using it on a regular basis, I think I used the same balls I would use in a match back then(2 years ago), Dunlop ATP Tour. My current go to are the Kuikma All Court Pro supplied by Decathlon. I’m based in the UK, so not sure where you are based, but I would buy these in bulk as they’re great value and stay consistent for a long time. There’s probably a thread on the TT forums with opinions on ball machines and what balls have worked well.

 

[Suna]

Agree it’s an additional cost, but I’m rarely using my ball machine nowadays. When I was using it on a regular basis, I think I used the same balls I would use in a match back then(2 years ago), Dunlop ATP Tour. My current go to are the Kuikma All Court Pro supplied by Decathlon. I’m based in the UK, so not sure where you are based, but I would buy these in bulk as they’re great value and stay consistent for a long time.

I'm in France and I've bought ~120 of the pressureless balls (TB 160) from Decathlon/Artengo/Kuikma.
When new they feel pretty close to a day old Dunlop AO IMO. They run me a little over a euro per ball, and they can take a beating!

I've tried to do some match play with them and after a couple of sets of heavy hitting with 8 balls in play, about half of them are flat though. But in a basket for serve drills, it's been such a better experience than putting all my old match play balls.

When I used a mix bag of a little of everything, I got quite acute shoulder/elbow pain the day after a 30min serve drill session. I think variance in between balls was the source of the injury.

 

[Bal]

I'm in France and I've bought ~120 of the pressureless balls (TB 160) from Decathlon/Artengo/Kuikma.
When new they feel pretty close to a day old Dunlop AO IMO. They run me a little over a euro per ball, and they can take a beating!

I've tried to do some match play with them and after a couple of sets of heavy hitting with 8 balls in play, about half of them are flat though. But in a basket for serve drills, it's been such a better experience than putting all my old match play balls.

When I used a mix bag of a little of everything, I got quite acute shoulder/elbow pain the day after a 30min serve drill session. I think variance in between balls was the source of the injury.

Good to hear your experience of the Decathlon balls too. I pretty much recycle the Kuikma’s once the felt bobbles and I can no longer see the lettering. I’ve had the same experience when using a mixed bag for serving practice, hence try to use just one brand of balls and discard those that are flat/dead. FYI, I think we’re going a bit off topic with regards to this thread

 

[DJG-CO]

Hitting forehands late with non pressurized balls (ball machine) and stiff string like lynx tour 1,25 champagne likely were culprits in my case. Kick serves surely can't cause so much shock to a hitting arm. Maybe even softer RA racquets like blade and gpro used with stiff control polys can cause issues. My golfers elbow luckily didn't interfere with playing normally. Took over 8 months to get rid of GE. I was warned about non pressurized balls but used them anyway.

I think pressure-less balls were at least a factor, if not the factor to some elbow pain I've had recently. The last few months is the first time in my life I've ever had any arm pain from tennis, and also the first time I've ever hit with pressure-less balls. Might start getting a racket strung with a hybrid of gut mains and poly cross that I only use at the local club for group sessions where they use pressure-less balls and keep my regular setup for when I'm playing with normal balls.

 

[dmtree]

Haven’t tried those 2 you listed. But Confidential Soft 1.25mm I just tested has similar pop as 1.20mm lynx tour with better control and great playability duration. The 1.20mm lynx tour feels about the same thickness and weight as most 1.25mm strings

1.20mm Lynx Tour is in fact 1.20mm thick.
If the champagne 1.20 is too much, try the orange. It's stiffer, doesn't have much extra pop, and has a very predictable and linear response.

 

[thebigz]

1.20mm Lynx Tour is in fact 1.20mm thick.
If the champagne 1.20 is too much, try the orange. It's stiffer, doesn't have much extra pop, and has a very predictable and linear response.

Very difficult to get a hold of in North America! I had to get my Champagne 1.20mm from China

 

[Suna]

Out of curiosity how large is the comfort/power difference between 1.25 and 1.20?
I've stocked some 1.20 grey LT but haven't tried it myself.
From what I read changing Colors will already be a stark contrast between black and grey, but what should I expect by going to a thinner string ?

 

[dmtree]

Very difficult to get a hold of in North America! I had to get my Champagne 1.20mm from China

Easy reels order from the German river site, also I've seen single packs on other european river sites like UK and France.
Are you sure the 1.20 champagne was legit? I've looked for that color before but couldn't find it anywhere.

 

[dmtree]

Out of curiosity how large is the comfort/power difference between 1.25 and 1.20?
I've stocked some 1.20 grey LT but haven't tried it myself.
From what I read changing Colors will already be a stark contrast between black and grey, but what should I expect by going to a thinner string ?

1.20mm is stiffer than the 1.25mm "soft" polys (think Tour Bite Soft) but softer than 1.25mm control polys. Power level is low-medium for both grey and orange. So less power and better control than Mach-10 1.25, but more than something dead like Poly Tour Strike.

 

[thebigz]

Easy reels order from the German river site, also I've seen single packs on other european river sites like UK and France.
Are you sure the 1.20 champagne was legit? I've looked for that color before but couldn't find it anywhere.

Yes. It’s too niche off a string to have fakes. Got through reputable distributors there that carries other name brand strings at legit prices. Came with everything as usual you see with other Head reels.

The default/most popular string gauge in China market is 1.20mm so the availability of that gauge of any string there is important for brands vs. other markets like US with 1.25mm being the default

 

[thebigz]

Out of curiosity how large is the comfort/power difference between 1.25 and 1.20?
I've stocked some 1.20 grey LT but haven't tried it myself.
From what I read changing Colors will already be a stark contrast between black and grey, but what should I expect by going to a thinner string ?

If you have sets then just give them a try. Personally I find the 1.25mm and 1.20mm champagne color has a large enough big power/control difference to feel like a different string. The 1.20mm Lynx Tour didn’t feel the most spin friendly and doesn’t have the deader control of the 1.25mm to let me fully accelerate to get my own spin. Harder to trust in powerful frames. I remember good pocketing though for the 1.20mm tho

 

[Suna]

If you have sets then just give them a try. Personally I find the 1.25mm and 1.20mm champagne color has a large enough big power/control difference to feel like a different string. The 1.20mm Lynx Tour didn’t feel the most spin friendly and doesn’t have the deader control of the 1.25mm to let me fully accelerate to get my own spin. Harder to trust in powerful frames. I remember good pocketing though for the 1.20mm tho

Yeah I dropped my racket at the stringer to switch from Black 1.25 LT to Grey 1.20, I'll see how it feels on the weekend

 

[dave t]

Usually do not like 1.20 (prefer 1.25 or thicker) but LT 1.20 has a really nice feel. Good string for my ezone 98 (22).

 

[jj4545]

Somewhere in the forums there was comparison from racketpedia between the different colors, has anyone link to it?

 

[Suna]

Yeah I dropped my racket at the stringer to switch from Black 1.25 LT to Grey 1.20, I'll see how it feels on the weekend

Well I just got back from hitting ~1h with the Grey LT 1.20 strung @ 21kg in my Speed Pro Legend 2025 and it's just so much more plush than the 1.25 black. I felt like it had a lot more ball pocketing, and a way softer feel and easier power compared to the black 1.25
I wish TWE carried the champagne version in 1.20 as well, I'll try the 1.25 Champagne in a month or so, see how that compares

 

[Rednael]

Well I just got back from hitting ~1h with the Grey LT 1.20 strung @ 21kg in my Speed Pro Legend 2025 and it's just so much more plush than the 1.25 black. I felt like it had a lot more ball pocketing, and a way softer feel and easier power compared to the black 1.25
I wish TWE carried the champagne version in 1.20 as well, I'll try the 1.25 Champagne in a month or so, see how that compares

Didnt you feel the need to up the tension? Or wasnt the power a lot more with 1.20 instead of 1.25?

 

[Suna]

Didnt you feel the need to up the tension? Or wasnt the power a lot more with 1.20 instead of 1.25?

With 1.20 it was more powerful, but I also felt like the black 1.25 was a little low powered so I don't feel the need to adjust it, at least now that it's fresh off the stringer. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel like it's too much, I've got around 4 matches to play tomorrow so I'll report after those

 

[Tommey]

Hi guys
I'm currently on LT Champagne 1.25 23/22kg strung at my Head Speed MP Legend 2k25
Kinda like it but I'm looking for something a bit more lively and with better feedback & crisp

Is there a chance switching to the black version could help with achieving that?

Thanks in advance

 

[Tommey]

Double post, sorry

 

[landcookie]

Got this bad boy and am going to string in on my PA98 which currently has Confidential.

Can anyone who has played both give an account on what to expect?

Thanks

 

[Klatu Verata Necktie]

Got this bad boy and am going to string in on my PA98 which currently has Confidential.

Can anyone who has played both give an account on what to expect?

Thanks

Both strings share similar levels of stiffness and bite on the ball considering they are both shaped, so the resulting shots and playing experience are similar. However, where they differ imo is in their feel. Confidential feels sharper, more plastic/leathery, while the Lynx Tour feels plusher off the stringbed. I would happily play with either, but slightly prefer the feel of Lynx Tour.

 

[landcookie]

Both strings share similar levels of stiffness and bite on the ball considering they are both shaped, so the resulting shots and playing experience are similar. However, where they differ imo is in their feel. Confidential feels sharper, more plastic/leathery, while the Lynx Tour feels plusher off the stringbed. I would happily play with either, but slightly prefer the feel of Lynx Tour.

Thanks. How about tension maintenance and playability duration?

 

[Klatu Verata Necktie]

Both have excellent tension maintenance as per my experience and the Tennis University resource pages. As to durability, both are long wearing, so the decision for me comes down to feel.