Inexpensive, arm-friendly poly?

loosegroove said:
Kirshbaum Evolution is an awesome poly that is arm and wallet friendly.
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I use the Pro Line 2 and my arm never hurts.

Admittedly it's in a hybrid setup. And I really love my other racquet with Cyclone Tour full bed, but that hurts my lower arm (like actually makes it tender to the touch). But the KB is SO cheap and arm-friendly that it has to be mentioned here
 
avisar said:
Lot of string, what you guys wrote here are good comfy string, but they durability and tension mainstance are **** ! :D
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Amusing.
I have not played for 4 years due to COVID then injuries.. Not related to tennis.
When I picked up my raquets, 6 of them, they were still playable.
Stiff but playable.
So, unless one is a ”tennis diva”, PP strings will last.

I've only broken 3-4 strings over 10 years. I usually have to cut them.
I'm a medium hitter due to age and injuries. But they still run like rabbits to catch the balls.

Just enjoy the stringing time as some sort of meditation time. You will enjoy it more, instead of rushing time.
 
Picked up a 200m reel of MSV Focus Hex Soft for £40. Plays very comfortable with great feel, above average spin and after an initial tension loss holds it very well afterwards. An absolute steal at that price.
 
SinneGOAT said:
Topspin cyber flash is a soft poly that is budget friendly but plays good. Just try it at a lower tension, makes the string much better between 42-46.
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HolyMountain said:
Lynx Tour is very nice in my experience, very soft
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Just how do these two come up in a soft poly thread is beyond me. CF is up there with the likes of luxilon, RPM blast et al and lynx tour is only marginally softer than CF.
 
Kirschbaum Proline II - a very cheap soft poly (currently on sale at TW).
Signum Pro Firestorm - a more expensive option but the most comfortable poly string I've ever hit.
 
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what_army said:
Just how do these two come up in a soft poly thread is beyond me. CF is up there with the likes of luxilon, RPM blast et al and lynx tour is only marginally softer than CF.
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Some people think 4g is super soft and can be played at high tension, and others think it is the stiffest string imaginable. I’m in the latter camp, but it all comes down to individual experience.
 
One thing I've learned in this tennis journey is that for maximum comfort, with any poly just pick a right "soft" tension for you. A tension where the string isn't super dead or stiff and plays soft, for every player that number could be different, but there is a range for polys for sure.

Another thing is to make sure you're playing with a swingweight that makes things comfortable to you with your racuqet. I've noticed that low swingweight racquets pass more vibrations, and it doesn't matter what string you play, arm is going to hurt. More mass should absorb, but don't go crazy with a racquet that swinging it will make things hard on you because that will also hurt you.

The key is to find the perfect balance for you between string stiffness, string tension, swingweight, static weight and correct technique.
 
With the exception of IsoSpeed isn't a soft poly a bit of an oxymoron anyways? Go low low tension or go hybrid poly/multi. Or gut. I am surprised how many folks have never tried a full bed of gut at high tension - its pretty amazing and most club players don't have enough racquet head speed to really benefit from the key advantage of full poly. My experience at least - myself included.
 
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what_army said:
Just how do these two come up in a soft poly thread is beyond me. CF is up there with the likes of luxilon, RPM blast et al and lynx tour is only marginally softer than CF.
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Topspin Cyberflash is nowhere near as stiff as Lux 4G or Head Lynx Tour. It is actually quite comfortable. Lynx Tour is definitely stiffer than Cyberflash.
 
Topspin markets Cyber Blue as softer than Cyber flash, if you're looking for softer polys. Cheaper than the solinco soft polys.
 
ey039524 said:
Topspin markets Cyber Blue as softer than Cyber flash, if you're looking for softer polys. Cheaper than the solinco soft polys.
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To me CB is stiffer than CF. CB is muted but stiff, CF is crisp but soft, this might explain the different opinions on the two strings.

CB gave me some arm problems (GE) while no problem with CF
 
Happi said:
TWU has Cyber Flash 17L (1.20) as one of the Softest poly. This is my experience too.

I have my doubts with RSI as there are way too many errors in their testing. An example are Polyfibre strings that makes some of the softest strings out there, are rated as very stiff strings.
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Re: cyberflash, if I have to believe in one of the two readings I know which one I’ll believe in, as the other one simply puts CF in syngut-like stiffness territory which doesn’t make any sense. Especially when you have so many threads claiming CF is a poorman’s alu power (not that I agree with it).
 
what_army said:
Re: cyberflash, if I have to believe in one of the two readings I know which one I’ll believe in, as the other one simply puts CF in syngut-like stiffness territory which doesn’t make any sense. Especially when you have so many threads claiming CF is a poorman’s alu power (not that I agree with it).
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The thing with Cyber Flash is that itis a crisp string, but soft on the arm. I think that throws some players off thinking it is a stiff string. I trust my elbow more in these matters. IMO there are so many errors in RSI like they have Isospeed Cream as a very stiff string (1.30 = 243) and that does not seem to be the feeling for most players here. I have just purchased some Volkl Power Fibre Pro strings, and their stiffness from RSI: 1.30 = 142, 1.25 = 136, 1.20 = 196………….
 
W regards to CF and CB, it looks like the thickness is a major factor, going by TW's stiffness ratings. The 17 looks to be much softer than the 16, even though it's barely thinner.
 
what_army said:
Just how do these two come up in a soft poly thread is beyond me. CF is up there with the likes of luxilon, RPM blast et al and lynx tour is only marginally softer than CF.
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When was the last time you’ve used CF & at what guage??
 
SirCraigoryy said:
Kirschbaum Proline II - a very cheap soft poly (currently on sale at TW).
Signum Pro Firestorm - a more expensive option but the most comfortable poly string I've ever hit.
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Signum Pro Firestorm? It plays like a board! I bought one reel 16G and there was no returners - everyone tried hates it.
So I am the only one using it now. My last job had it at 29 lbs on Head Extreme Pro; okay to be used for coaching. I cannot imagine how Berrettini play it at 65 lbs lol. He's got an arm of steel :)
 
what_army said:
Re: cyberflash, if I have to believe in one of the two readings I know which one I’ll believe in, as the other one simply puts CF in syngut-like stiffness territory which doesn’t make any sense. Especially when you have so many threads claiming CF is a poorman’s alu power (not that I agree with it).
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On the other hand, I also have my doubts about the RSI's test results. For example, they have the Gamma Synthetic Gut 18 stiffness at 221. This is more than some poly strings. There is no way that Gamma synth gut, especially 18 gauge, is that stiff. Re cyberflash, I don't know if it's as soft as TWU claims it is. But it definitely is softer than Luxilon 4G or Head Lynx Tour, neither of which are included in RSI testing since the report is from 2006.
 
jz1jz1 said:
Signum Pro Firestorm? It plays like a board! I bought one reel 16G and there was no returners - everyone tried hates it.
So I am the only one using it now. My last job had it at 29 lbs on Head Extreme Pro; okay to be used for coaching. I cannot imagine how Berrettini play it at 65 lbs lol. He's got an arm of steel :)
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Yes, it was in a 17g so take that with a grain of salt as some 17g strings play noticeably softer than their 16g counterparts. I'm not surprised that no one liked it as it is kind of a niche string. I will stand by what I said, as I found it to be incredibly comfortable AND powerful for a poly but the spin was only average at best (strung at 49lbs for reference). I'm unfamiliar with the Head Extreme Pro but in my opinion the first gen of the Extreme Tour played tinny without any customization which made most string beds feel stiffer. I'm also not sure of any strings that play like a board at that low of a tension but to each their own. I'm more impressed that you can keep the ball in the court at all with that racket and string set up a la Mannarino style? Berrettini for sure is incredibly strong and I'm happy to see him healthy and back on tour in time for Wimbledon.
 
SirCraigoryy said:
Yes, it was in a 17g so take that with a grain of salt as some 17g strings play noticeably softer than their 16g counterparts. I'm not surprised that no one liked it as it is kind of a niche string. I will stand by what I said, as I found it to be incredibly comfortable AND powerful for a poly but the spin was only average at best (strung at 49lbs for reference). I'm unfamiliar with the Head Extreme Pro but in my opinion the first gen of the Extreme Tour played tinny without any customization which made most string beds feel stiffer. I'm also not sure of any strings that play like a board at that low of a tension but to each their own. I'm more impressed that you can keep the ball in the court at all with that racket and string set up a la Mannarino style? Berrettini for sure is incredibly strong and I'm happy to see him healthy and back on tour in time for Wimbledon.
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I am currently using Firestorm 17g on my Head Radical MP 360+ at 48lbs and I definitely agree with you. Comfortable and powerful (for a poly) for me. Lower gauge will definitely help with comfort I think
 
SirCraigoryy said:
Yes, it was in a 17g so take that with a grain of salt as some 17g strings play noticeably softer than their 16g counterparts. I'm not surprised that no one liked it as it is kind of a niche string. I will stand by what I said, as I found it to be incredibly comfortable AND powerful for a poly but the spin was only average at best (strung at 49lbs for reference). I'm unfamiliar with the Head Extreme Pro but in my opinion the first gen of the Extreme Tour played tinny without any customization which made most string beds feel stiffer. I'm also not sure of any strings that play like a board at that low of a tension but to each their own. I'm more impressed that you can keep the ball in the court at all with that racket and string set up a la Mannarino style? Berrettini for sure is incredibly strong and I'm happy to see him healthy and back on tour in time for Wimbledon.
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Head Extreme Pro is the previous gen for Extreme tour; but it’s like a completely different racket. The tour is muffed with low power, lack of pop and spin which were abundant on the Pro. I also own two Tours and I don’t used them much at all. I stock about 50 different polys so far I can say the Firestorm 16g feels stiffest among all polys I stock- thus there was no returners after trying it. I started 50, then 40s, and now 29 lbs it’s okay to play it for coaching. When you coach you block chop lift serve but rarely trying to kill :) and for strings everyone is different but no one likes the Firestorm. I have about 50 regular customers
 
What about thin poly? I believe Tennisspin (so take it with a grain of salt) now made multiple videos saying Tourbite 20 gauge plays the closest to a gut hybrid
 
Quit watching pros and their poly strung rackets. Unless you are hitting UTR 9+ you are shanking, mishitting and praying for your 2nd serve. You need to cut out your poly at 12 hrs and if that sounds expensive you need more lessons, not more point play with poly strings. If that sounds crazy then you are delusional about where your game stands.
 
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gino said:
Couple different sticks ? I’ve never heard someone disparage cyber flash before. I must know more
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All in blades 98 18x20 which is all I play these days. Tried in V4, V7 and V8. I liked the string, don’t get me wrong, it’s got 4g-like control but it’s crisper and a bit more powerful than 4g which I also like. Decent tension maintenance (not as good as 4g but good enough). Other than being a bit too stiff I have no complains.
 
Honestly you can get plenty of arm friendly poly.

Something like a TF red code in a 1.20 gauge at say 45 lbs will do. Kirschbaum super smash 1.23 at 46 lbs works. Actually plays pretty well for quite a few weeks at low tensions.
 
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I read somewhere Pros pro red devil was soft (also cheap) but that's what ruined my arm. 1.25 <4hr was harsher than <8hr Restring zero 1.28!
 
Some of comments in this thread indicate that not everyone should recommend which poly string would be easiest on the arm.
 
Mayami Hit Pro are super soft, plush, and play great. Felt better on my arm than a gut hybrid. Better get some before they stop sales on Wednesday.
 
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