Head rip control the best string ever

[pete101]

I find that this string is so underrated and not sure why it isnt a top seller or why stringers dont recommend it.

In the 16 gauge it has great control, great durability, good power, good spin, great tension maintenance, cheap and super comfortable.

The durability is so good i am not breaking these even with hard hitting for 2-3 months of play like 60 hours to the point there is no need to use any type of poly

Every other multifilament breaks much sooner and i conclude it is not being promoted by stringers as it would put them out of business

Why promote a string you only need to restring once every 3 months vs ones you need to do every month?

The only down sides are it is a little bit under powered compared to other multi's and does not have the same amount of spin as poly (but what else does in a multi which also has great durability - they dont all multi's that do break quicker because control/durability are the opposites of power/spin in a string relatively properties wise cant have it all)

If you havent tried it yet and have tennis elbow or injuries you'll find you probably will not use anything else and have no need to use poly.

The only issue i see is if you are coming from poly down to this you will think the spin is not good because of what you are accustomed to so really it depends what barometer of measurement you use

 

[Kevo]

For me, while I liked the string quite a bit, the initial tension loss is not great, and the durability is also not that great. I had to string it higher than I wanted to get a good playable tension after break in, and then it would usually drop quite a bit of tension again right before it broke. I only used it full bed a handful of times before giving up on it due to the variability in tension mainly. Overall play time was reasonable for me compared to other softish strings, but I eventually went full poly to get enough durability.

It is phenomenal as a cross in a hybrid, but it has absolutely horrible durability when put with a stiffer string, especially poly.

 

[JustTennis76]

I find that this string is so underrated and not sure why it isnt a top seller or why stringers dont recommend it.

In the 16 gauge it has great control, great durability, good power, good spin, great tension maintenance, cheap and super comfortable.

The durability is so good i am not breaking these even with hard hitting for 2-3 months of play like 60 hours to the point there is no need to use any type of poly

Every other multifilament breaks much sooner and i conclude it is not being promoted by stringers as it would put them out of business

Why promote a string you only need to restring once every 3 months vs ones you need to do every month?

The only down sides are it is a little bit under powered compared to other multi's and does not have the same amount of spin as poly (but what else does in a multi which also has grear durability)

If you havent tried it yet and have tennis elbow or injuries you'll find you probably will not use anything else and have no need to use poly.

The only issue i see is if you are coming from poly down to this you will think the spin is not good because of what you are accustomed to so really it depends what barometer of measurement you use

I also really like the Rip control but its durability is poor and lasts only 10 hours tops at 4.5/5.0 level pace. So I ended up going to gut/poly which lasts way longer than any hybrid I have tried. With that said, the thread is rekindling my interest in the rip control. I may buy a couple of sets.

 

[lucky44]

I like it too, it cured my arm pain but as you said its underpowered, shots that would end the point with other string get returned because it lacks power but still a good multi

 

[DariaGT]

FYI as is out of the pack 1.35mm tourbite @ 40lbs in any open pattern frame is also worth comparing to HRC @ 16g
Lasts forever with even feel, control, power and spin all in one but works best in 98+ 16x19 and 16x18 or Prince 14x18

 

[pete101]

For me, while I liked the string quite a bit, the initial tension loss is not great, and the durability is also not that great. I had to string it higher than I wanted to get a good playable tension after break in, and then it would usually drop quite a bit of tension again right before it broke. I only used it full bed a handful of times before giving up on it due to the variability in tension mainly. Overall play time was reasonable for me compared to other softish strings, but I eventually went full poly to get enough durability.

It is phenomenal as a cross in a hybrid, but it has absolutely horrible durability when put with a stiffer string, especially poly.

It is multi though so surely it's tension maintenance should be tremendous especially compared to poly

I find all the reviews on TW a bit misleading cos when they say 67 out of 100 for a poly string for tension maintenance im assuming it is compared to other polys not to multi cos otherwise the rating would be like 40 then people wouldnt buy it lol

I find it holds tension really well throughout the life of it and it lasts ages but again im comparing the tension loss vs poly rather than a multi that breaks in 2 weeks.

So it is all relative

And again there is no perfect string esp if you factor in cost of restringing. It seems that if money is no object and you are happy to restring every week then yeah there are better options but some of us want to keep the cost down to a minium rather than spending hundreds a year on restringing every week so cost factor had to come into play when discussing goat strings

 

[pete101]

For me, while I liked the string quite a bit, the initial tension loss is not great, and the durability is also not that great. I had to string it higher than I wanted to get a good playable tension after break in, and then it would usually drop quite a bit of tension again right before it broke. I only used it full bed a handful of times before giving up on it due to the variability in tension mainly. Overall play time was reasonable for me compared to other softish strings, but I eventually went full poly to get enough durability.

It is phenomenal as a cross in a hybrid, but it has absolutely horrible durability when put with a stiffer string, especially poly.

Doesnt the poly just saw into it also are you using 16 or 17 gauge cos a full bed if it lasts me ages

 

[pete101]

I also really like the Rip control but its durability is poor and lasts only 10 hours tops at 4.5/5.0 level pace. So I ended up going to gut/poly which lasts way longer than any hybrid I have tried. With that said, the thread is rekindling my interest in the rip control. I may buy a couple of sets.

The durability is best out of all multi's i ever used did you use the 16 gauge or 17? The 17 does not last long but the 16 gauge does but again it depends on how hard someone hits

When you use babolat xcel for instance are you breaking that in 2 hours?

Cos i hit hard allbeit i am more a flat hitter and it lasts me 60 hours like 3 months easy of 8-12 hours a week of play easy allbeit i am stringing it low at like 50-51lbs when i increase the tension I'll need to see how long it lasts

What tension are you doing it full bed cos i reck over 55lbs you arent gona get the same durability i do

 

[pete101]

I like it too, it cured my arm pain but as you said its underpowered, shots that would end the point with other string get returned because it lacks power but still a good multi

Also remember we cant have everything

Like with any poly if you look at them pound for pound they are terrible as in expensive, poor tension maintenance, very uncomfortable on the arm the only unique selling point is you get superior spin (which i understand is important) and i guess does not break easily but it is all negatives very little positives when factoring in cost to restring.

If money is no object and people are accustomed to stringing every week then yeah the rip control cost is less important and what i said does not ring true.

I find it has more power when i go lower tension allbeit that mainly changes the launch angle.

I am going too low i am at 51.5lbs and thinking maybe i need to experiment with 54lbs cos i have so much power i cant use cos it flies long but i prob wont get as much durability at this tension so need to find a balance.

 

[pete101]

FYI as is out of the pack 1.35mm tourbite @ 40lbs in any open pattern frame is also worth comparing to HRC @ 16g
Lasts forever with even feel, control, power and spin all in one but works best in 98+ 16x19 and 16x18 or Prince 14x18

But isnt tour bite a poly? It's tension maintenance is really bad.. head rip control is a multi so it's tension maintenance is superior to anything poly based

 

[Kevo]

It is multi though so surely it's tension maintenance should be tremendous especially compared to poly

I have found that some polys will lose a bit of tension initially but then I can play them until they break. Some polys are really bad with tension and lose tension continually. I won't play a poly like that. With a decent poly I probably get double the playtime of a reasonably durable multi. Some multis it's way less.

I find all the reviews on TW a bit misleading cos when they say 67 out of 100 for a poly string for tension maintenance im assuming it is compared to other polys not to multi cos otherwise the rating would be like 40 then people wouldnt buy it lol

I find it holds tension really well throughout the life of it and it lasts ages but again im comparing the tension loss vs poly rather than a multi that breaks in 2 weeks.

It held tension reasonably for me after the initial drop, but the wraps would start shredding at some point and then it was a short span until serious tension loss and breakage. I really did try to make it my goto string for a little while. Also tried Head's hybrid, I think it was intellitour, and also IsoSpeed Control and Professional. All are good strings, but once I found some decent polys I never really looked back and have been poly ever since other than the occasional string test for fun.

 

[Kevo]

Doesnt the poly just saw into it also are you using 16 or 17 gauge cos a full bed if it lasts me ages

Yes, almost anything saws into it, it's just a matter of how quickly. Even regular syngut will chew it up pretty quick. I tried both gauges. The 16 was a bit better in terms of durability, but it didn't make enough difference. Once you start opening those wraps up it goes pretty quick. I thought about trying string savers as well, but I decided I was too lazy and I didn't want to mess with it.

 

[pete101]

I have found that some polys will lose a bit of tension initially but then I can play them until they break. Some polys are really bad with tension and lose tension continually. I won't play a poly like that. With a decent poly I probably get double the playtime of a reasonably durable multi. Some multis it's way less.


It held tension reasonably for me after the initial drop, but the wraps would start shredding at some point and then it was a short span until serious tension loss and breakage. I really did try to make it my goto string for a little while. Also tried Head's hybrid, I think it was intellitour, and also IsoSpeed Control and Professional. All are good strings, but once I found some decent polys I never really looked back and have been poly ever since other than the occasional string test for fun.

How long did it last you before you broke it?

Cos from my pov my recommendation of it is for people who are not string breakers

Hard hitters and 5.0 people with a lot of spin break poly quick so rip control drf isnt for them lol

 

[pete101]

Yes, almost anything saws into it, it's just a matter of how quickly. Even regular syngut will chew it up pretty quick. I tried both gauges. The 16 was a bit better in terms of durability, but it didn't make enough difference. Once you start opening those wraps up it goes pretty quick. I thought about trying string savers as well, but I decided I was too lazy and I didn't want to mess with it.

I find i do not break it for absolute ages but i prob dont hit with as much spin as you and also using a much lower tension.

Im experimenting with my clash with it at 53.5lbs to offset the initial tension loss (which must help with increasing durability slightly)

 

[pete101]

I have found that some polys will lose a bit of tension initially but then I can play them until they break. Some polys are really bad with tension and lose tension continually. I won't play a poly like that. With a decent poly I probably get double the playtime of a reasonably durable multi. Some multis it's way less.


It held tension reasonably for me after the initial drop, but the wraps would start shredding at some point and then it was a short span until serious tension loss and breakage. I really did try to make it my goto string for a little while. Also tried Head's hybrid, I think it was intellitour, and also IsoSpeed Control and Professional. All are good strings, but once I found some decent polys I never really looked back and have been poly ever since other than the occasional string test for fun.

The problem with poly is it is harsh on the elbow and i have tennis elbow
Head rip control kind of offers best of both worlds for the durability + comfort

If you're breaking poly then you are a seruous big hitter and no multi will suffice

 

[JustTennis76]

The durability is best out of all multi's i ever used did you use the 16 gauge or 17? The 17 does not last long but the 16 gauge does but again it depends on how hard someone hits

When you use babolat xcel for instance are you breaking that in 2 hours?

Cos i hit hard allbeit i am more a flat hitter and it lasts me 60 hours like 3 months easy of 8-12 hours a week of play easy allbeit i am stringing it low at like 50-51lbs when i increase the tension I'll need to see how long it lasts

What tension are you doing it full bed cos i reck over 55lbs you arent gona get the same durability i do

I was referring to the 17g lasting about 10 hours. I can try 16g soon and let you know. Maybe it lasts few more hours but definitely not 60. I can report back to this thread after I log my time with it.

 

[Seth]

Does it fray?

 

[DTLwinners]

Stringers don’t promote it because it’s a pain in the @$$ to string. It has recoil / memory and tends to kink a bit and easily turns into a mess of string. At one point there were Some reviews of the reels on Amazon, where a reviewer said it kinked and became a mess and they dumped the reel.

ive strung it and played it. agree with others saying good durability and low powered. have another set to string but never have the patience to give it another go. Took me at least 2x as long as other strings like velocity and 3x synthetic gut

 

[Kevo]

How long did it last you before you broke it?

Back when I was playing it I think it was about 14-15 hours maybe. I believe I was getting about 30 hours out of the poly I was using at the time which IIRC was Kirschbaum Competition. These days I get a bit less, maybe 20-24 hours depending on how competitive the play.

 

[Kevo]

The problem with poly is it is harsh on the elbow and i have tennis elbow
Head rip control kind of offers best of both worlds for the durability + comfort

If you're breaking poly then you are a seruous big hitter and no multi will suffice

Yeah, poly can be harsh, but modern frames can be harsh as well. I actually play with an old frame that is more fiberglass than graphite and it's very flexy. Makes the soft poly I'm using feel nice. I tried a couple of sets of synthetic gut not that long ago just to get a comparison, and I didn't notice a lot of difference in comfort in my frames. The durability wasn't good, but other than that I thought the syn gut was pretty nice. For people that aren't worried about durability I tend to recommend syn gut until they start breaking it regularly. There are a lot of good cheap syn guts that work well if you aren't too compulsive about the strings sticking a bit out of place. Some people can't stand that.

 

[pete101]

I was referring to the 17g lasting about 10 hours. I can try 16g soon and let you know. Maybe it lasts few more hours but definitely not 60. I can report back to this thread after I log my time with it.

Yeah the 16 gauge lasts absolutely ages for me but i was having it strung st around 50lbs tension which is a bit low

 

[pete101]

Does it fray?

Yes eventually when it starts to fray after like 30-40 hours for me then i get about another 15 hours before it breaks of hard hitting

 

[pete101]

Stringers don’t promote it because it’s a pain in the @$$ to string. It has recoil / memory and tends to kink a bit and easily turns into a mess of string. At one point there were Some reviews of the reels on Amazon, where a reviewer said it kinked and became a mess and they dumped the reel.

ive strung it and played it. agree with others saying good durability and low powered. have another set to string but never have the patience to give it another go. Took me at least 2x as long as other strings like velocity and 3x synthetic gut

Oh i had no idea i dont string i just get my stringer to do it so that probably explains it

Sounds like a nightmare to string

 

[pete101]

Stringers don’t promote it because it’s a pain in the @$$ to string. It has recoil / memory and tends to kink a bit and easily turns into a mess of string. At one point there were Some reviews of the reels on Amazon, where a reviewer said it kinked and became a mess and they dumped the reel.

ive strung it and played it. agree with others saying good durability and low powered. have another set to string but never have the patience to give it another go. Took me at least 2x as long as other strings like velocity and 3x synthetic gut

I bought a reel recently how do i avoid it kinking when i give it to my stringer?

Spent a lot on that reel thinking it would be more cost effective but not if it kinks as you said

 

[pete101]

Yeah, poly can be harsh, but modern frames can be harsh as well. I actually play with an old frame that is more fiberglass than graphite and it's very flexy. Makes the soft poly I'm using feel nice. I tried a couple of sets of synthetic gut not that long ago just to get a comparison, and I didn't notice a lot of difference in comfort in my frames. The durability wasn't good, but other than that I thought the syn gut was pretty nice. For people that aren't worried about durability I tend to recommend syn gut until they start breaking it regularly. There are a lot of good cheap syn guts that work well if you aren't too compulsive about the strings sticking a bit out of place. Some people can't stand that.

Yeah tbh my thought process was along the lines of those who hit hard and dont want to use poly the rip control offers great durability for a multi i dont know any other which does not break after such a long time even a 15 gauge babolat xcel lasts much less than 16 gauge rip control.

I use a wilson clash and comfort is high priority for me + cost effectiveness so was looking for something which was durable and rip control ticked all the boxes i needed though i need to increase the tension which will prob affect how many hours i get out of it. Days of 60 hours+ seem unlikely at 53.5lbs

 

[Kevo]

I bought a reel recently how do i avoid it kinking when i give it to my stringer?

Spent a lot on that reel thinking it would be more cost effective but not if it kinks as you said

I think a lot of stringers are pretty used to avoiding kinks with the proliferation of polys. I never found Rip Control to be all that bad at kinking. Definitely worse than a typical multi or syn gut, but a lot of polys kink pretty easily too, so you just get used to managing slack. It's not that big of a deal IMO. Of course if you lose the tail into the reel then you might be in for a bit of fun trying to fish it out without causing some problems. I've done that once or twice and it was pretty annoying.

 

[Cerdany]

How do you think a Rip Control/HyperG Soft hybrid play and last?

 

[Kevo]

How do you think a Rip Control/HyperG Soft hybrid play and last?

RC on the mains would last a bit longer than it would on the crosses, but if I were playing that setup I wouldn't expect to get more than a couple hours out of it. I haven't played HyperG Soft though, so my guesstimate could be off.

 

[DariaGT]

But isnt tour bite a poly? It's tension maintenance is really bad.. head rip control is a multi so it's tension maintenance is superior to anything poly based

It is in the top 3 for tension maintenance on the TWU ratings yet with much lower stiffness ratings than top 2.

It does not have that overpowered pop and stays even in all areas instilling confidence
allowing you to swing out or hold back, counter and even hit some incredible cutting slices
and topspin loopers if you want thanks to the extra dwell time offered by the lower tension.
You can flatten out as well with depth but just enough spin to bring it back into the court.

Im not into polys unless they are the softer offerings but at lower tensions this is a gem that
plays like the 1.25mm version but lasts longer and has more feel only at lower tensions.

I coach with 97-100 16x19 sticks but compete with 95 18x20 where I find polys only feel good
within 3-4hrs @ sub 1.25mm and multis get mutilated in 2 hrs. Stuck in a hard place for a while.

The Combo I enjoyed the most with bigger frames for polys with crazy feel for years was
Weiss Cannon UC @ 40lbs w/ Scorpion/PP Concept (same thing) 1.23mm X @ 35lbs
and TB 1.35mm @ 40lbs a close 2nd but 1st by my colleges and customers.

 

[veelium]

Stringers don’t promote it because it’s a pain in the @$$ to string. It has recoil / memory and tends to kink a bit and easily turns into a mess of string. At one point there were Some reviews of the reels on Amazon, where a reviewer said it kinked and became a mess and they dumped the reel.

ive strung it and played it. agree with others saying good durability and low powered. have another set to string but never have the patience to give it another go. Took me at least 2x as long as other strings like velocity and 3x synthetic gut

I never had an issue with it kinking or being hard to string. Very easy for me to string.
The rippling coating makes weaving easy too imo.

 

[DTLwinners]

I never had an issue with it kinking or being hard to string. Very easy for me to string.
The rippling coating makes weaving easy too imo.

Very cool. maybe you have special talent that us mere mortals don’t have

you can search the threads and internet, has been discussed before including https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-rip-control-please-help.407708/#post-6203665

everyone is different. Stringing set up and machine may play a factor as well as reel vs set. But personally I find it one of the most difficult I have come across so far

 

[JustTennis76]

I remember stringing rip control full bed one piece when I was learning to string like 15 years ago. It was such a pain honestly but I convinced myself the effort is worth the pain because it Played so wonderfully. These days I am used to stringing a lot and shouldn’t be an issue. I posted on the string trade thread that I’m looking for a couple of sets to try out.

 

[veelium]

Very cool. maybe you have special talent that us mere mortals don’t have

you can search the threads and internet, has been discussed before including https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-rip-control-please-help.407708/#post-6203665

everyone is different. Stringing set up and machine may play a factor as well as reel vs set. But personally I find it one of the most difficult I have come across so far

Guess I got a lucky reel.
On older racquets with shared holes I can imagine it's a bit of a pain to get the string through.

 

[veelium]

Strung up a full set of rip control 1.25 after being inspired by the bump on this thread.
Went low in tension and this worked very well, 21/20kg in an 16x19 98 headsize frame.
The combination of spin/control/power/price is very good when looking for a comfortable non-poly setup.

Btw, is there a difference between black and natural in playability?

 

[jmacdaununder2]

If you kink RIP Control badly enough to break the outer ‘shell’ - for lack of a better word - then it will have a substantial weakness at that point. If this weak point ends up in or near the sweet zone, rather than on the periphery of the string bed, the restring will often fail prematurely at this point.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

On a side note, bitd a full bed restring of RIP Control would usually break on a cross string first, as the cross string ribbons were prone to lifting from the friction applied longitudinally by the mains during play. Presumably this phenomenon would be mostly negated by using RIP Control in the mains with a smooth, round poly in the crosses, as is more common nowadays, due to the ribbons being more resistant to lateral friction than longitudinal friction.

 

[pete101]

I recall someone said head rip control is made by isospeed or some other brand for head?

So is there an identical string out there made by them which is cheaper due to not having the head branding? If so what is it?

Also did isospeed have variations of the head rip control string not just in mm but maybe in properties ie a spin version etc

 

[veelium]

I recall someone said head rip control is made by isospeed or some other brand for head?

So is there an identical string out there made by them which is cheaper due to not having the head branding? If so what is it?

Also did isospeed have variations of the head rip control string not just in mm but maybe in properties ie a spin version etc

See other thread.

Yes

Not really

Not really but kinda yes.

 

[Happi]

See other thread.

Yes

Not really

Not really but kinda yes.

Agree, but closest to RIP in Isospeed line up might be the Professional, but then again not really.

 

[Max_22]

I find that this string is so underrated and not sure why it isnt a top seller or why stringers dont recommend it.

In the 16 gauge it has great control, great durability, good power, good spin, great tension maintenance, cheap and super comfortable.

The durability is so good i am not breaking these even with hard hitting for 2-3 months of play like 60 hours to the point there is no need to use any type of poly

Every other multifilament breaks much sooner and i conclude it is not being promoted by stringers as it would put them out of business

Why promote a string you only need to restring once every 3 months vs ones you need to do every month?

The only down sides are it is a little bit under powered compared to other multi's and does not have the same amount of spin as poly (but what else does in a multi which also has great durability - they dont all multi's that do break quicker because control/durability are the opposites of power/spin in a string relatively properties wise cant have it all)

If you havent tried it yet and have tennis elbow or injuries you'll find you probably will not use anything else and have no need to use poly.

The only issue i see is if you are coming from poly down to this you will think the spin is not good because of what you are accustomed to so really it depends what barometer of measurement you use

Reading through feel I am not the black sheep and there’s hope for me too

Jokes aside, great thread. Wanted to share my exp with RIP Control over two yrs and different frames / string set ups.

Bear in mind only use RC in hybrid, combined to gut, either mains or crosses and 16 & 17g. Currently on PS Six One 95 BLX 16x18 (crosses 16g @54 lbs)) feel too under powered, low to zero plow through almost regret having done it.

On the other stick PS97LS 18x16 on mains 51 lbs has lasted 3.5 months playing 3-5 hrs per week singles and doubles, amazing feel of control and good power, fair amount of spin. Totally different performance basically.

Newly installed the 17g on the same stick (PS97LS) at 49 lbs can’t wait to play and feel the difference, in particular on the RF97 Autograph V13 (crosses) also newly restrung with the 17g RC.

Next round of RIP going on K-Factor Six One 95 18x20 (16g on crosses) and PS97 CV V11.5 16x19 (same gauge and will be crosses too). Still not clear the tension for both will sleep on it.

Long story short, so far I have tried many multi - sym gut - multimono all hybrid with gut and / or not gut, guess what, RC turns out the best for arm feel, racket handling in combo with gut or powerful multi / mono.

Price point decent, excellent durability and control / feel, decent power when combined with low tension and great stick. Ultimately, It’s a perfect trade-off even though not comparable - if keen to highlight what’s the benchmark IMHO - with Toalson (over the top including the price definitely).

 

[GAS]

Gotta love people that use poly for durability.

 

[lee.jake]

"I've been using the default string, RIP Control, on my HEAD Ti.S6 racket, and I've had a similar experience in terms of durability compared to polyester strings. It maintains tension better and feels more comfortable, with much better durability than multifilament strings like Xcel or X-One."

 

[pete101]

Reading through feel I am not the black sheep and there’s hope for me too

Jokes aside, great thread. Wanted to share my exp with RIP Control over two yrs and different frames / string set ups.

Bear in mind only use RC in hybrid, combined to gut, either mains or crosses and 16 & 17g. Currently on PS Six One 95 BLX 16x18 (crosses 16g @54 lbs)) feel too under powered, low to zero plow through almost regret having done it.

On the other stick PS97LS 18x16 on mains 51 lbs has lasted 3.5 months playing 3-5 hrs per week singles and doubles, amazing feel of control and good power, fair amount of spin. Totally different performance basically.

Newly installed the 17g on the same stick (PS97LS) at 49 lbs can’t wait to play and feel the difference, in particular on the RF97 Autograph V13 (crosses) also newly restrung with the 17g RC.

Next round of RIP going on K-Factor Six One 95 18x20 (16g on crosses) and PS97 CV V11.5 16x19 (same gauge and will be crosses too). Still not clear the tension for both will sleep on it.

Long story short, so far I have tried many multi - sym gut - multimono all hybrid with gut and / or not gut, guess what, RC turns out the best for arm feel, racket handling in combo with gut or powerful multi / mono.

Price point decent, excellent durability and control / feel, decent power when combined with low tension and great stick. Ultimately, It’s a perfect trade-off even though not comparable - if keen to highlight what’s the benchmark IMHO - with Toalson (over the top including the price definitely).

The intellitour multi hybrid is excellent too apparently

Half rip control half isospeed control classic

 

[pete101]

Reading through feel I am not the black sheep and there’s hope for me too

Jokes aside, great thread. Wanted to share my exp with RIP Control over two yrs and different frames / string set ups.

Bear in mind only use RC in hybrid, combined to gut, either mains or crosses and 16 & 17g. Currently on PS Six One 95 BLX 16x18 (crosses 16g @54 lbs)) feel too under powered, low to zero plow through almost regret having done it.

On the other stick PS97LS 18x16 on mains 51 lbs has lasted 3.5 months playing 3-5 hrs per week singles and doubles, amazing feel of control and good power, fair amount of spin. Totally different performance basically.

Newly installed the 17g on the same stick (PS97LS) at 49 lbs can’t wait to play and feel the difference, in particular on the RF97 Autograph V13 (crosses) also newly restrung with the 17g RC.

Next round of RIP going on K-Factor Six One 95 18x20 (16g on crosses) and PS97 CV V11.5 16x19 (same gauge and will be crosses too). Still not clear the tension for both will sleep on it.

Long story short, so far I have tried many multi - sym gut - multimono all hybrid with gut and / or not gut, guess what, RC turns out the best for arm feel, racket handling in combo with gut or powerful multi / mono.

Price point decent, excellent durability and control / feel, decent power when combined with low tension and great stick. Ultimately, It’s a perfect trade-off even though not comparable - if keen to highlight what’s the benchmark IMHO - with Toalson (over the top including the price definitely).

I wish they made the k six one range in a 100 that colourway was my fave of all time

 

[pete101]

Agree, but closest to RIP in Isospeed line up might be the Professional, but then again not really.

Im just glad there are variations of the same string

 

[fritzhimself]

I have had Rip Control in my repertoire for more than 25 years.
The string has lost nothing of its appeal and great durability over the years.
One of the best strings that Isospeed has developed for Head.
I have heard that it took over a year to develop.

 

[SOY78]

I really like this string in 17g in the mains with a smooth poly crosses.

 

[oldmanyellingatcloud]

on the latest Tennisnerd podcast, Dennis Fabian mentioned that the majority of recreational or civilian poly players are often playing with dead strings. at the same time, there hasn't been much by way of innovation in the multi space.

when'd Head stop pre-stringing their racquets with RIP Control and start installing poly instead?

it's hard to have it both ways. I agree multis deserve more love and innovation but the racquet + string companies are mostly to blame for mainstreaming poly. it's one of the starkest differences I noticed coming back to tennis a few years ago. even a 70+ year old auntie I took lessons with when I began my journey anew was playing with Babolat and poly and would complain of wrist pain

EDIT: changed poly to multi

 

[Happi]

There is a player in my country, who has been ITF World Champ individual and still at 65+ has an UTR around 7.50 - I have trained with him and he is a monster hitter (mostly flat drives). For me I look more at players like him, than I do at pro players for strings. He has been playing with RIP Control for more than 20 years, and I think if RIP is good enough for him to become a World Champ, it might be good enough for most of us. He uses the 17g version in black.

I enjoy RIP control very much, I use it in 3 different setup, all 17g natural (never tried the other colors):

- RIP full bed, really like this setup but I prefer the other 2 combos
- RIP mains / Isospeed Professional Classic as cross - this is Head Intellitour setup, very good for the arm too
- RIP mains / Multifeel Black as cross - a little crispier than intellitour, but snapback and spis is much improved. This is my favorite setup with RIP Control.

 

[aus89]

There is a player in my country, who has been ITF World Champ individual and still at 65+ has an UTR around 7.50 - I have trained with him and he is a monster hitter (mostly flat drives). For me I look more at players like him, than I do at pro players for strings. He has been playing with RIP Control for more than 20 years, and I think if RIP is good enough for him to become a World Champ, it might be good enough for most of us. He uses the 17g version in black.

I enjoy RIP control very much, I use it in 3 different setup, all 17g natural (never tried the other colors):

- RIP full bed, really like this setup but I prefer the other 2 combos
- RIP mains / Isospeed Professional Classic as cross - this is Head Intellitour setup, very good for the arm too
- RIP mains / Multifeel Black as cross - a little crispier than intellitour, but snapback and spis is much improved. This is my favorite setup with RIP Control.

Intellitour Grey seems to be RIP Control/Axon Multi cross and Intellitour Natural seems to be RIP Control/Isospeed Control or Professional Classic (depending on the gauge) from what I can see of the strings - the grey cross is identical to Axon in appearance (transparent with a black core)