ClownCar96
Professional
that's why I like to cross with a 1.25, better control. Hawk touch is low power for a cross. M8 a little more power
Introducing Grapplesnake USA!!!
Sorry, never tried these strings on the Blade 18x19 pro stock.
Federerkblade
Hall of Fame
For control Max Power 1.25 in 42 or 44 lbs, for comfort and more power Cyber Flash 1.25 in 46 or 48 lbs. Both have excellent feel.
M Pillai
Semi-Pro
No worries. We already got a few other leads from some other good string manufacturers, and they were generous to send some string samples. It looks like we should be able to select the required reels from these. We will consider Grapplesnake next time.
Carreau
Semi-Pro
I have noticed that in Game Changer and GC/PP case mains moves a lot and does not come back in to their place, you need to straighten them by hand periodically.
In full bed GC crosses were moving as well. Strung with DP and noticed that GC stretches significantly.
Have you noticed same behaviour?
In full bed GC crosses were moving as well. Strung with DP and noticed that GC stretches significantly.
Have you noticed same behaviour?
Yes. Game changer stretches a lot.
To me, game changer starts to move and not come back after 4 or 5 hours of play...the same as other polys.
In the first hours I have a nice combo of spin, control and confort in a pure aero Rafa origin.
Carreau
Semi-Pro
In my case it starts moving from the first minute of hitting. Very strange.
Tranqville
Professional
I bought a reel of Grapplesnake Alpha 1.25 and had my first hit today. Happy to report that it worked splendidly at 44 lbs in my Tfight ISO 305. My stringer was surprised I found success at such low tension. The string has soft, velvetry feel yet not mushy. Actually, the string and the feel matched Tfight 305 character perfectly. Quite sensational, to be honest. My coach also loved the string, complemented better quality of my play with it.
jimdontcare
Rookie
Probably looks cool in the TFights too, white and gold
Tranqville
Professional
80s industrial acid vibe, love it.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
Excellent. And you hit the nail right in the head with your impressions - soft, yet crisp enough for good communication with the ball. Thank you!
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
It's a thing with square strings. They are a different animal. Massive spin due to geometry, but not a ton of snapback. The magic behind Game Changer was achieving great feel despite this.
Carreau
Semi-Pro
I have a reel of Ultra Cable, it is square as well but there is no such behavior.
J-Wildcard
Semi-Pro
I heard beckett (Canada) say he wqs enjoying using the grapplesnake on a podcast from earlier this season. Where is the best place to get a demo of this string before committing to reels? Am I right in thinking its popular stuff right now, this thread is a lot of pages, I did see it was available @ Tennis warehouse europe but that was 2019. I have seen the European direct sites but its expensive for posting on demo sets the last time i checked.
Any info on Tour Mako?
zeneto1234
New User
will it be similar to tour m8? A better version of paradox pro? round, square or pentagonal?
I have 4S and there is not much snap back, but Toroline Wasabi and ether both have great snap back.
@Grapplesnake USA Official Yess, info on Mako pls. Looks like a round and rough string? Competing with Alu Rough?
zeneto1234
New User
If Mako is a more spinny and durable version of paradox pro i will instantly buy a reel haha
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
If you are in the US or Canada, you can buy sets from our website, which can be found by googling our name. Can't post links here.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
Love that photo. Mako is coming to the US soon, hopefully before the end of August. It's round, with playing characteristics similar to Paradox Pro, but without the use of metals. It is sort of a mix of Tour M8 and Paradox Pro, using the best attributes of each. I will be able to say more in just a few days. And I love the Mint Green/Teal color.
zeneto1234
New User
For my game it is potentially the best grapplesnake string. Lets give it a try when it comes out
jimdontcare
Rookie
Been playing more with M8 lately. It's quite, quite good. The pocketing and predictability are delightful, and the spin for a round-adjacent string is super impressive. Great feel for a string this spin-friendly. Coming from seven-ish months of Alpha, there is a tradeoff playing with a stiffer string. There's more of a power punishment for not achieving sufficient racquet head speed, but that's typical soft vs stiff poly stuff that most rec players have to consider. I do think M8 is more rec friendly (and overall better unless you straight up don't like the feel) than something like Confidential, which I see as a frequent comparison. Possibly a little less forgiving than Lynx Tour, but the predictability you gain over Lynx Tour is so much better that it's worth the tradeoff to me, personally. I'd rather have to swing harder to get power than swing harder to get control. I may have to try hybriding M8 with something a little more forgiving to see if I can get the best of both worlds.
I know it's not the end of August yet, but any updates?
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
It was shipped from Germany today. For sure long before the end of the month, I would say a week from now max as long as the folks at customs don't hold the shipment for whatever reason. Can't wait!
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VanDerVaart23
Rookie
Maybe M8 mains and the classic Ghostwire crosses?
PistolPete23
Hall of Fame
I have a question about how tennis strings are incorporating metals. Are metallic particles embedded in a polyester matrix or is the metal actually part of the polymer molecule itself?
Carreau
Semi-Pro
M8 + Alpha works well for me.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
Wouldn't want to get into too much detail here, but the metal is essentially mixed with the polyester and you would see a not-completely uniform structure under the microscope, hence the commonly used terminology of co-poly as a string that's not only poly at that level, which would fit the first of your assertions there. Thanks for the great question.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
I enjoy this hybrid myself, especially in certain frames such as Auxetic Heads or the v8 Blade.
PistolPete23
Hall of Fame
Thanks a lot, it's as I suspected, the metallic particles are a separate phase surrounded by the polyester. That's why the surface is less smooth, similar to ALU Power. Really cool stuff! Would love to know mechanistically how the metallic phase contributes to string performance.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
And that's where we get into cutting edge territory, such as with Paradox - new metals, not aluminum, and Mako - new, non-metallic additions. This is where almost all the research goes and where our competitive advantages are.
optic yellow
Legend
Oh so you view yourself more as a materials science company.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
I wouldn't necessarily say that, but we obviously have a background in engineering, and for the most, my view is that we don't have to make strings plus racquets, balls, and baseball mitts. We only focus on the strings and don't really compromise when it comes to quality. We're a small team and go to great lengths to ensure things are done right. And I personally also try to make your guys' experience special by engaging and providing sort of a direct line of communication, which is something unfeasible to get with the "big" brands and their product development teams.
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
How is the manufacturer’s website not the first place you look when curious and you’re not finding them on the major retailer sites?
boulderchips
Rookie
In case no one else says it, for me this makes a real difference. Grapplesnake initially won me over with string quality, but it has become one of my favorite tennis companies because of the community engagement and push for innovation. Not every GS string is my cup of tea, but I have to admire a company that's constantly trying to improve on what's on the market. Having you here for things like tension recommendations makes this thread, in my opinion, one of the brighter corners of these forums.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
Thank you so much for this. And you are all responsible and to be thanked for in keeping this thread positive, useful and fun during all these years now, with virtually none of the senseless attacks on each other or the negativity we see every day in other online forums of all kinds. We have all built an awesome little community here.
M Pillai
Semi-Pro
Not sure whether you understood my question. I "found" them. The question was "What is the best place to order them from?" Anyway, it is irrelevant now. Already ordered all the reels I need for now.
M8. More predictable trajectory on flatter strikes. String 1.25 as low as you can possibly go, and you'll be loving the balance that it gives you.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
As much as I like Sniper in the Ezone, M8 feels even better, and the pocketing is just right.
So string lower than what you normally would? 1-2 lbs or more you think? Why is it better than tour sniper for those with flat groundstrokes?
M8 better because of the pocketing then? Would you say both are comfortable strings or are they stiff? Does m8 have better power and spin then sniper?
IMHO, it's better than Sniper for those with flatter strokes because Sniper being pentagonal (albeit with softened "points") has a slightly higher tendency to exhibit random launches than M8, which, being octagonal, acts more like a purely round string, and products a more consistent launch angle, time and time again.
As for tension, yeah, in the EZ98, I would try stringing M8 in the mid-upper 40's at the most for starters. If you have to go up to or over 50, so be it, but I would try lower initially, to compensate for the EZ98's central mains being so compact (you should get plenty of firmness from M8 1.25 in the mid-upper 40's, I would think).
A bit better pocketing and power, yes. Also, a more linear power response as well. As for spin, M8 has better snapback than Sniper, while Sniper is sharper than M8, so M8 will yield better/tighter spin towards the top end of racket head speed, whereas Sniper will yield easier access to spin (at lower racket head speed).
Overall, I think M8 would be the better choice for you in the EZ98.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
They are both comfortable and perform very close. Same ultimate goal behind them, but their feel is different, and M8 develops a little more pocketing. We can talk about Sniper and M8 for days splitting hairs, but ultimately people decide on their preferred feel, and for that you simply just have to test yourself.
Grapplesnake USA Official
Professional
Very good post.
Heard good reviews from grapplesnake in the past year but getting hold of it here in Europe is a little bit difficult. Sounds like your m8 has that predictable stringbed and launch angle, similar to that of a Solinco confidential. What would you say the feel is like with tour m8? Crisp and firm?
That’s handy to know as I was planning to string around the usual tension I play at (53lbs). Will look to go around 48-49 perhaps to begin with. I worry that if it was lower, the control would be tough in a racket like the ezone.
Does sound like m8 would fit better than sniper. How does m8 compare to ptp or razor soft if you have tried those strings?
What’s the difference in feel then between the 2 strings? Is one more softer than the other or is one more livelier than the other? Ultimately, will probably lean more towards trying m8 to begin with. I am hoping it’s not too stiff as normally would use poly tour pro or tour bite soft which aren’t that stiff. Both sound like they are very good which is promising.
I’m no big string aficionado, but I’ve tried Sniper, M8 and Polytour Pro in an Ezone98. Didn’t think one was particularly stiffer than the other, they all feel softish to me. Both last quite a bit longer than PTP too.
I’ve also played with m8 a bit in the Percept 97D, which is 18x20. There too it feels softish.
I keep stringing lower and lower with both TS and M8, they perform well in the low 40s too. I started around 52 and now it’s around 43-45.
I’ve also played with m8 a bit in the Percept 97D, which is 18x20. There too it feels softish.
I keep stringing lower and lower with both TS and M8, they perform well in the low 40s too. I started around 52 and now it’s around 43-45.
